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Just my guess work, there seems to be 2 'groups'. 1. OAP recipients who have 'qualified' for portability and requested to be paid by international funds transfer every 4 weeks to a nominated bank account abroad and receive their entitlements through this method. I'm in this group same as many other aussies, I've been receiving my full OAP and the full supplement into my K bank account every 4 weeks for several years. Never ever had any correspondence asking about returning to OZ or mentioning that my entitlement could be reduced. Never. 2. Another group consisting of OAP recipients who receive their entitlements every fortnight to their bank in Australia but have decided to take a long holiday abroad and C'link know they went abroad and know they haven't returned to Oz through the permanent linkage to online immigration records. They seem to be subject to some different regulations including correspondence mentioning time periods and reduction / suspension of benefits. Very confusing. Any thoughts on this?

Why the 'confused' response?

I get the full OAP plus the supplement every 4 weeks into my K bank account, been receiving it for several years. I don't get the alowance e.g. energy allowance.

You do get the full OAP supplement if your OAP is transferred abroad. You don't get the allowances (e.g. energy allowance).

Quote from above: Ialso went to CW to get a replacement of my full PR book. I'm 79 yo coming soon and in a wheelchair. I arrived at the PR book replacement desks at 11:15 am and was told (in good English) by the abrupt lady officer "You have been here before and you know to come early so that you don't disrupt the lunch time of the Immigration officers, come back after lunch." I waited, the officers came back at 2:30 pm, they took my full PR book and said 'come back in 4 days'. I mentioned (in Thai and in English) 'I need to fly back to Chiang Mai.' I was totally ignored. I returned, he officer put the giant ledger on the desk for me to sign, I couldn't reach the spot to sign so I asked if she could please bring the ledger to my lap. 'No', so I had to slowly, in painful steps, move my body in my wheelchair to get closer to the book.

If you want service which is typical in the US etc., then go back to the US (or wherever) to live. Don't try to apply the attitudes and behaviors of another country/society of Thai folks.

Foreigners who have a lifetime Certificate of Residence (also called Permanent Residency - PR) are recorded in the dark blue covered Tabien Baan book. This is because the Certificate of Residence is permanent / for lifetime. Note: PR is not a Visa, it's an official certificate stating that the foreigner has been granted lifetime permission to stay in Thailand. No further review is needed ever unless the holder gains a criminl record. Thai citizens are also recorded in the dark blue Tabien Baan book becaue their status is permanent as they have lifetime citizenship. I got lifetime PR 27 years ago, my name is in the standard dark blue cover Tabien Baan book. (But beware of the confusion with another document with the same name 'Certificate of Residence' which is a simple letter to state your address.) The Yellow covered Tabien Baan book is used to record foreigners who have long-term visas which have an expiry date. The foreigner can usually do a complete re-application for the long-term visa, however renewal is not guaranteed, especially where there's been changes to the regulations attached to the long-term visa. Renewal of the Visa is not automatic .

Don't tell the poster how he/she should think or what he/she should admit or agree with. His/her personal attitude nothing more.

What about Singapore, minister highly capable in terms of education. Vietnam also.

In the initial stages definitely DON'T mention anything about portability.

Quote: "No, I see your point and have considered that. It is a bit hard to discuss with them what qualifies as portability after 2 years if you are on the other hand trying to convince them you are returning as a full resident with no intention of going back to live overseas. " Two points: 1. On arrival in Oz C'link is serious about people proving they are re-establishing a home is Oz, howver this focus seems to reduce / disipate fairlt quickly. 2. (This is at the end of the 2 years.) I waited until about 10 days after I had completed the 2 years. I didn't go out of Oz at all during the 2 years, it was the height of the COVID- 19 situation, departing and returning to Oz had complications and same re entering Thailand. I stayed put and to be honest my son in Thailand pushed me to not travel considering the numbers of new infections every day. So about ten days after the 2 years I called the 'Older Australian Line' 132 300, and said "I've been reading about portability of pension payments but I don't really understand can you please explain it for me?" Response: A friendly "Sure just give me a moment to scan your screen. Then she said "You have already completed the 2 years factor so you are now entitled to receive your OAP payments anywhere in the world forever. And it changes from the fortnight cycle to a 4 weekly cycle". I asked "Do I have to apply for this?" Her friendly response 'Oh No, your're now fully/ auto matically entitled to portability". She continued "If you want to go aboard and get OAP payments abroad you just complete the banking document to notify C'link your bank details abroad. She added "I've just sent the form to you on e.mail so you can see what it looks like." She then said "If you do decide to live abroad you just go to the other country, get the C'link banking doc completed and submit the bank document by e.mail". She added "If you need more details or advice on portability hesitate to call this line again". I did go abroad, I took the bank document to K Bank, they signed it and added their stamp and I returned it to the C'link international banking e.mail. Two days later I got a polite call from that section of C'link, polite young man, went thru the basic security questions then said "This call is to double check your bank account name and account number abroad, the bank name and SWIFT Code etc". He continued "I will say 2lettere / numbers and you confirm they are correct then we do 2 more numbers and you confirm etc." He also said "getting you transferred to the 4 weekly cycle will take a little time, you will get the first 4 weekly payment on xx/xx/xxxx." The date was correct.

But if now all replaced with new will there be a new approach to regular inspections, repair, maintence?

Interesting. I'm soon 79 yo. live in Thailand with my Thai son and his thai wife and kids for take care of me very well. My Thai wife (Dr. of Medicine) now passed on. Live in a w'chair or bed. Several ongoing recognised disabilities from my VN war service. I've asked C'link is my son is eligable for the carers allowance. Their response: If in Oz possibly yes, abroad no. Similar allowance exists in the DVA allowances, same response as with C'link.

Forgive me if I'm misinterpreting your above post. If you're meaning in regard to the 2 years return to Oz to re-establish residency, then there's some regulations involved: - If you move back to a house/apartment etc., that you own thats' all OK, but you have to also provide proof of council rates and/or utility bills etc., bank statements with your name / address etc. - Or, a detailed / signed rental agreement. Would they accept a rented caravan etc., I don't know, however I tend to believe they would want further proof as I've mentioned above, rental agreement, utility bills etc etc. I'm a Vietnam war veteran. I contacted RSL Lifecare and found they had a nice 1 bed apartment available for rent in their Nth. Beaches war vets village. They provided an official one year renewable rental agreement and I was able to get together enough utility bills / bank statements to satisfy the other requirements. One possibility is to call Centrelink on their international toll free line from Thailand and ask. Thailand 001 800 611 4136 I found that calling this number or the domestic number very fruitfull, I got a lot of focused valuable information. The C.link phone officers are polite, focused, good listeners and give clear answers. They don't rush you to finish a call. As above forgive me if I'm misinterpreting your post.

Of course, everybody has their own circumstances and strengths etc.

Can I suggest you call the C'link international toll free number and discuss any/all of your points above. The C'link phone staff are polite, good listeners, focused and they give clear answers.

I've previously got mine from Piping Rock, shipped from the US, 2 bottles at a time. A few weeks back I tried to repeat the 2 bottles order. The site wouldn't accept my order. Then I got a separate message saying that the government of Thailand has placed Meatonin on a restricted supply list and can now only order 1 bottle at a time. I tried several times to order 1 bottle but the site rejected it.

"I believe you are mistaken, you cannot go overseas several times in 2 years as you suggest, and if you are going to quote this, you really should back it up with some link (respectfully). Below is copy from the legislation, plus the link itself. " I'm not mistaken. When in Oz I called the toll free C'link 'older aussies line' and they confirmed it's true. This exact point has been covered many times before on ThaiVisa/AseanNow and many others people have confirmed it's true from their own experience. Anybody can call the C'link International toll free number and ask. But always be careful what you say / reveal. As with many gov't agencies nowadays all calls are recorded.

"So if they come back to Australia say at age 65 I think it's the dole they can only claim for that 2 year period ? " You can apply for the OAP the day you return to Australia. It's now processed by the C'link computers in Canberra. Not processed at local C'link offices and local offices can't interfere with the processing. But local C'link office can tell you what progress is being made. I was lucky I applied at a time when the number of applications was down and I got approved in 17 days. Backpay in the bank next day. However I'm aware of another guy who returned and tried to play games with C'link. Tried to insist local C'link office process his application. Not possible, and he only gave Canberra part answers to their requests for more details, meaning more questions. took 3 months to get final approval. He got 3 months backpay. If you're renting you must give C'link copies of rental agreements etc., as part of the proof that you are 're-establishing a home in Oz'. From these documents C'link automatically calculate if you are entitled to 'Rent Assistance RA'. The RA entitlement kicks in fairly readily and if the RA is approved it starts with the OAP backpay payment. No need to make any separate application for the RA. - Can apply for the OAP on the day you arrive in Oz. Or later. - Building the 2 years starts from the day you physically arrive in OZ. The 2 years doesn't start from the day you apply for the OAP. Don't hesitate to call the toll free C'link international number to ask about other benefits etc. But do note, as with many gov't agencies nowadays all calls are recorded so be careful what you say.

I've used it (not every night) for several years with good result. Last week I ordered a bottle of 80 tabs on LINE Shopping, all paid etc., a few hrs later got a message 'out of stock, no more stock coming', payment fully refunded a few hrs later.

Sure it's inconvenient, but you can return to family in LOS many times during the 2 years and/or family can visit you. My Thai wife had already passed away. I did the 2 years in a very comfortable rented apartment in a war vets village just nth of sydney. 4 or 5 evenings every week I did free video chat with my Thai son, his wife and their 3 kids. They all speak good English. Son kept me informed re family happenings, asked for advice on some things, I helped my grandkids with their english homework. Son showed me many videos of the kids playing sports etc. For me the 2 years flew by and I certainly wouldn't label the time as jail, or hell etc. There was a purpose which was achieved.

"The 2 year jail term is a bummer for anyone wanting it, i.e. 2 years before they depart, or 2 years after they returned as a foreign resident, that said, if one did it right, they could probably re-coupe the 2 years worth of outlay, i.e. what it would cost them to get it, back in 1 -1.5 years at the most, but would have to be frugal during that jail term, so it's still worth it in the long run". Why describe it as a jail term? It's not. It's what you make of it and you can go abroad and return to Oz several times in the 2 years and the time abroad doesn't intereupt building the 2 years period.

Plus seems to me that the dems need to put forward a totally new slate.

Just wondering whether the 2 foreigner workers (from nearby countries) were well informed about the need to have work permits / need to renew them, etc. Some years back a Thai lady from my family met an Australian guy in Pattaya. She brought the Aussie guy to our house to meet the family. The Aussie guy was working as a journalist for a now defunked Pattaya newspaper. The Aussie guy (still very new to LOS) was keen to ask me about what documents he might need. I asked if he had a work permit? His response: "My boss (indian Thai man) had told him that the newspaper held a multi person work permit and the owner was free to record up to 10 foreign employees on the multi person WP document." I also asked the Aussie gut what Visa he had? Response "Entry on arrival" and he continued "Boss says journalists don't need more than tourist documents to work in Thailand".

But I have little trust that the labels are correct. There's been many cases in the LOS where product labels incorrectly state ingredients, protein, sugar, calory levels etc., etc. Even falsely stating that products have been tested/approved by the Thai FDA equivalent, none of which is true.