Qualifying for the Australian Aged Pension portability

[Nemises]

Am looking for any new information to qualify for PORTABILITY.
I’ve read Aus Gov websites and other threads on here, however with constantly changing Governments and Budgets, the goalposts seem to be forever changing.
I’ve still got 6 years to wait before reaching the AAP age eligibility date.
 
From what I understand I (currently) must return to live in Aus for 2 years as I meet the other requirements pertaining to asset/income thresholds and living in Aus for 35+ years etc.
 
It’s the “2 year home detention” period which is of most concern to me e.g. will it increase from 2 years?

Please share any comments or links that you may have or come across as it may also help others in the same position.
 
Many thanks in advance [emoji120]

[ELVIS123456]

You have seen my statements previously on another thread and it is still the same to all - the best plan is to return back to Aus and live there before you are eligible for the pension (at least 2 years before) - as I am doing now. 

 

Then once the pension is approved you can say goodbye to the Nanny Socialist Feminazi State and take 100% of your entitled pension with you (if you were previously there for 35+ years). 

 

Things are only going to get harder and harder for those who return after they qualify and claim to be going to stay (and then go back).  I reckon it will soon be 4 years 'waiting' and even longer in the future.  And within 10 years, I reckon you will paid the pension at a reduced rate (-10%?) if you live overseas for more than 6 months a year, and then down to maybe 50%? if you stay away for a full 2 years and are no longer a resident - and that may happen sooner than I am thinking it will. 

 

Check out this latest 'cutback' notice and read the rhetoric behind it all:    https://www.dss.gov.au/living-in-australia-and-overseas/updates

The fact that they give all of these payments, and a lot more support, to alleged 'refugees' and have never cut back on their payments or numbers, is hypocritical in the extreme. 

 

Take particular note of this statement from the report:  "This measure will reinforce and strengthen the residence based nature of Australia’s social security system." 

 

That is where things are going to go with the Aust pension system under the Libs/Nats - for residents only.  Unlike in other countries, it is not 'contribution based' - everyone gets the same payment in Aust (depending on assets and income). I reckon it wont be long before they take it further, and reduce payments for 'lack of residency'.  

 

As they say : 'hope for the best, but plan for the worst'.  That way you are never disappointed and are always prepared whatever happens.

 

We plan to be living in both Aust and Thailand after I get the pension approved. Officially I will be an Australian resident as we will maintain a residence here.  And if/when they make it even harder (as above), then we will be able to manage the situation. They are certainly not going to make it any easier for people living overseas that is for sure. 

 

Unless of course, maybe Labor wins the next election and accepts the reports that claim it saves costs if pensioners live overseas. Sure, some of them 'come back' when they are very old and need lots of medical support, but they would have been doing that while in Aust anyway - and some dont come back ever.  I cant see the Libs/Nats ever taking that view - not with their current leadership group. But I am also skeptical of Labor - they have often said one thing to get elected and then done the opposite in Govt - it was Labor (Rudd) who increased the qualification age to 67 and they never mentioned that they were even thinking about it. Labor has blocked the Libs increasing the pension to 70, and has also blocked the increase to 4 years for Migrants, so I guess at least Labor might be going to keep things as they are when next in Govt.  Pensioners and Retirees are not generally part of the 'base' of Labor supporters (Migrants sure are), but the way things are going, especially with the Libs recent Super changes as well, the Libs are going to lose their traditional base.  They have lost me that is for sure.

Yep - that is right - a Trump supporter is voting Labor at the next election in Aust. But I wont stop stirring the Trump haters up ?

 

Edited July 26, 2018 by ELVIS123456

[AlexRRR]

I would think there wont be any major changes next few years as they all ready turned it upside down, both parties are not a retires friend, the voting block of the grey army keeps increasing so for sure if there looking for cuts it would come at the expense of retirees overseas, though the savings wont be large.

 

Not much point wingeing about it as the sentiments by and large from voters wont be sentiment to you.

[4MyEgo]

Just remember before you can get your AP made portable, the legislation states that apart from all of the other hurdles you have to get through, they MUST be satisfied that you are there to stay, i.e. if they get wind or can prove that you have only come back to get the AP and are going to P off as soon as you get it, they can stop you from getting portability although I haven't read anything to show that this has happened to anyone, that said, as Elvis said, best to return at least 2 years prior to establish a solid residency base, i.e. lease, utility bills, bank account, driver's licence, Medicare card, employment (optional), family if any, etc, etc.

 

Once you can get that all together and are approved, I would say can get back to Day/Night and have some fun.....lol

 

The only thing you have to work out is are the fares, accommodation, i.e. cost to live in Australia going to be worth it for the 2 years you live there to get your AP, because we all know how expensive it is in Oz, that said, if your working and making a coin, you should be right, but I would imagine your quality of life in that cell for 2 years will be hard, especially after living here, that said, if you must return, then you gotta do what you gotta do 555

[Nemises]

Thanks for the advices. Based on those advices I’ll definitely be going back to do my 2 years BEFORE reaching eligibility date, doing so means I don’t have to prove to CL that I intend staying in Aus.
Not sure why anyone would want to do their 2 years AFTER reaching eligibility date...so many stories/documents to tell/show CL. Bugger that.

[wombat]

[JimHuaHin]

23 hours ago, ELVIS123456 said:

You have seen my statements previously on another thread and it is still the same to all - the best plan is to return back to Aus and live there before you are eligible for the pension (at least 2 years before) - as I am doing now. 

 

Then once the pension is approved you can say goodbye to the Nanny Socialist Feminazi State and take 100% of your entitled pension with you (if you were previously there for 35+ years). 

 

Things are only going to get harder and harder for those who return after they qualify and claim to be going to stay (and then go back).  I reckon it will soon be 4 years 'waiting' and even longer in the future.  And within 10 years, I reckon you will paid the pension at a reduced rate (-10%?) if you live overseas for more than 6 months a year, and then down to maybe 50%? if you stay away for a full 2 years and are no longer a resident - and that may happen sooner than I am thinking it will. 

 

Check out this latest 'cutback' notice and read the rhetoric behind it all:    https://www.dss.gov.au/living-in-australia-and-overseas/updates

The fact that they give all of these payments, and a lot more support, to alleged 'refugees' and have never cut back on their payments or numbers, is hypocritical in the extreme. 

 

Take particular note of this statement from the report:  "This measure will reinforce and strengthen the residence based nature of Australia’s social security system." 

 

That is where things are going to go with the Aust pension system under the Libs/Nats - for residents only.  Unlike in other countries, it is not 'contribution based' - everyone gets the same payment in Aust (depending on assets and income). I reckon it wont be long before they take it further, and reduce payments for 'lack of residency'.  

 

As they say : 'hope for the best, but plan for the worst'.  That way you are never disappointed and are always prepared whatever happens.

 

We plan to be living in both Aust and Thailand after I get the pension approved. Officially I will be an Australian resident as we will maintain a residence here.  And if/when they make it even harder (as above), then we will be able to manage the situation. They are certainly not going to make it any easier for people living overseas that is for sure. 

 

Unless of course, maybe Labor wins the next election and accepts the reports that claim it saves costs if pensioners live overseas. Sure, some of them 'come back' when they are very old and need lots of medical support, but they would have been doing that while in Aust anyway - and some dont come back ever.  I cant see the Libs/Nats ever taking that view - not with their current leadership group. But I am also skeptical of Labor - they have often said one thing to get elected and then done the opposite in Govt - it was Labor (Rudd) who increased the qualification age to 67 and they never mentioned that they were even thinking about it. Labor has blocked the Libs increasing the pension to 70, and has also blocked the increase to 4 years for Migrants, so I guess at least Labor might be going to keep things as they are when next in Govt.  Pensioners and Retirees are not generally part of the 'base' of Labor supporters (Migrants sure are), but the way things are going, especially with the Libs recent Super changes as well, the Libs are going to lose their traditional base.  They have lost me that is for sure.

Yep - that is right - a Trump supporter is voting Labor at the next election in Aust. But I wont stop stirring the Trump haters up ?

 

I regret to state that I strongly agree with most of what has been written here by ELVIS123456.

 

It is certainly getting harder to get the age pension, and there are moves to abolish it altogether, once the majority of the population have been covered by compulsory super.

 

The benefits from and requirements for the age pension are changing almost yearly, and fewer and fewer Australians are eligible.

 

As ELVIS123456 noted 'hope for the best, but plan for the worst'.

[jame trim]

The Australian social security actually phoned me here in Thailand in response to an email I sent them about aged pension.  I am 67 and would have to return to Australia for two years to get aged pension. I have lived and worked in Thailand over 17 years and they confirmed that I am eligle for pension, But what do I do in Australia for two years?  Live under a bridge? I have no family ties

left I need Australia and have wife and child here (Thai), certainly I would be a burden on the system with unemployment benefits rental assist etc. 

[Expatthailover]

13 minutes ago, jame trim said:

The Australian social security actually phoned me here in Thailand in response to an email I sent them about aged pension.  I am 67 and would have to return to Australia for two years to get aged pension. I have lived and worked in Thailand over 17 years and they confirmed that I am eligle for pension, But what do I do in Australia for two years?  Live under a bridge? I have no family ties

left I need Australia and have wife and child here (Thai), certainly I would be a burden on the system with unemployment benefits rental assist etc. 

You are eligible for a pension if you live in oz but it wont be portable.

[Dazinoz]

27 minutes ago, jame trim said:

The Australian social security actually phoned me here in Thailand in response to an email I sent them about aged pension.  I am 67 and would have to return to Australia for two years to get aged pension. I have lived and worked in Thailand over 17 years and they confirmed that I am eligle for pension, But what do I do in Australia for two years?  Live under a bridge? I have no family ties

left I need Australia and have wife and child here (Thai), certainly I would be a burden on the system with unemployment benefits rental assist etc. 

I have contacted a number of people re the 2 years. What I can get from it all is that if you meet the normal pension requirements and have reached the qualifying age you can get pension  immediately. You need to stay 2 years if you want it to be portable. I was also under the same impression i had to stay 2 years before getting.

 

 

[Dazinoz]

http://dspoverseas.proboards.com

[Billy Bloggs]

On 7/26/2018 at 2:53 PM, ELVIS123456 said:

You have seen my statements previously on another thread and it is still the same to all - the best plan is to return back to Aus and live there before you are eligible for the pension (at least 2 years before) - as I am doing now. 

 

Then once the pension is approved you can say goodbye to the Nanny Socialist Feminazi State and take 100% of your entitled pension with you (if you were previously there for 35+ years). 

 

Things are only going to get harder and harder for those who return after they qualify and claim to be going to stay (and then go back).  I reckon it will soon be 4 years 'waiting' and even longer in the future.  And within 10 years, I reckon you will paid the pension at a reduced rate (-10%?) if you live overseas for more than 6 months a year, and then down to maybe 50%? if you stay away for a full 2 years and are no longer a resident - and that may happen sooner than I am thinking it will. 

 

Check out this latest 'cutback' notice and read the rhetoric behind it all:    https://www.dss.gov.au/living-in-australia-and-overseas/updates

The fact that they give all of these payments, and a lot more support, to alleged 'refugees' and have never cut back on their payments or numbers, is hypocritical in the extreme. 

 

Take particular note of this statement from the report:  "This measure will reinforce and strengthen the residence based nature of Australia’s social security system." 

 

That is where things are going to go with the Aust pension system under the Libs/Nats - for residents only.  Unlike in other countries, it is not 'contribution based' - everyone gets the same payment in Aust (depending on assets and income). I reckon it wont be long before they take it further, and reduce payments for 'lack of residency'.  

 

As they say : 'hope for the best, but plan for the worst'.  That way you are never disappointed and are always prepared whatever happens.

 

We plan to be living in both Aust and Thailand after I get the pension approved. Officially I will be an Australian resident as we will maintain a residence here.  And if/when they make it even harder (as above), then we will be able to manage the situation. They are certainly not going to make it any easier for people living overseas that is for sure. 

 

Unless of course, maybe Labor wins the next election and accepts the reports that claim it saves costs if pensioners live overseas. Sure, some of them 'come back' when they are very old and need lots of medical support, but they would have been doing that while in Aust anyway - and some dont come back ever.  I cant see the Libs/Nats ever taking that view - not with their current leadership group. But I am also skeptical of Labor - they have often said one thing to get elected and then done the opposite in Govt - it was Labor (Rudd) who increased the qualification age to 67 and they never mentioned that they were even thinking about it. Labor has blocked the Libs increasing the pension to 70, and has also blocked the increase to 4 years for Migrants, so I guess at least Labor might be going to keep things as they are when next in Govt.  Pensioners and Retirees are not generally part of the 'base' of Labor supporters (Migrants sure are), but the way things are going, especially with the Libs recent Super changes as well, the Libs are going to lose their traditional base.  They have lost me that is for sure.

Yep - that is right - a Trump supporter is voting Labor at the next election in Aust. But I wont stop stirring the Trump haters up ?

 

Dont bank on the other mob being any different, when I wrote to the minister about this upon finding out about it a tad late, I was told it had been the rule for the last 17 years and that was 2 years ago, so dont know who originally bought it in but neither mob has changed it.

 Im lucky as I have a so called military pension, but had planned on a little amount of AAP to visit back in Oz now and then, but they can keep it when I see the people they waste the money on.

[Belzybob]

It's worth pointing out that there is a fundamental difference between for example the UK pension and the Australian one. The Australian age pension is a means tested welfare payment, not an automatic payment of earned entitlements. The UK situation is an earned eligibility through the National Insurance payments that people make during their working life. The UK are struggling to afford it (because they did not allocate resources for it) and Australia is also struggling to afford it, and they have no general obligation to pay it like the UK.

 

I'm not supporting the apparent meanness in the administration of welfare, but I'd suggest that for anyone planning on getting welfare based payments from the Australia government while living overseas it is going to be more and more difficult.

Edited July 27, 2018 by Belzybob

[GreasyFingers]

It has not been mentioned on this thread but I believe the 2 year requirement does not have to be in one block. You could spend 6 months here and 6 months in Oz and be qualified in 4 years. The pension would be stopped while you are out of the country but the time in Oz is added together.

I was rejected 3 years ago as I could not prove that I was a resident, for pension purposes, even though I was still paying tax, and this was the advice given during 3 appeals.

If you need the pension go back and meet the residence requirements, even better if you are on the dole. If you do not need it it is not worth the hassle.

[TPI]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

I don't think that's true? It was 1.75% of all tax money payed into the soc. sec. fund until 1972 when Whitlam decided he wanted the money to go to "the developers of a surfboard for lesbian surfers ($200,000)! He drained the fund and abolished all of the QUANGO's and absorbed their money as well to fund all of his SJW's dreams! "No problems" he said "we'll pay all pensions out of general revenue!" How do you think that turned out??

[JWRC]

Poster Jame trim

 

You ask what do you do for 2 years in Australia with no ties, live under a bridge.

 

Well it is a difficult situation and one I completed last year at the age of 67. I didn't want to rent a place and be stuck in the cold in winter, or maybe have to furnish it and buy a whole heap of things I didn't want. Add to that I have no friends there,  So I did what most Aussies do in retirement I followed the sun, it was a rather modest way of doing it however, no flash Winnibago or Caravan, I purchased an old mini van, bought a few things on gumtree, like a stretcher bed, esky and the like and headed for the North (from Perth). Basically I was a retired Gypsy for 2 years. Not the easiest way at my age to live, however I did it, it was tough on occassions especially when rushed to Hospital with Bi Lateral Pulmonary embollism, and during that finding I also had quite a serious heart problem, a few other nasties along the way, but we do what we must. You are allowed out on holidays, during which time you don't get the pension if you are out more than 90 days, you have to start again.

 

I free camped a few days at a time and then would treat myself to a couple of nights in a caravan park, which I might add are very expensive now. I chose to do it this way and in some ways it was great, I got to see all the places I had been to in my working days, it was like opening the pages of a well read book and for the most part the travelling was great, met some really good people on the road. I also picked up some cash work here and there, nothing too difficult and it kept me going.

 

It was scary getting sick and being on my own, it was even more scary at some of the free stops, but that's because I am a woman and I guess I worry more than blokes, who are better able to care for themselves.

Whatever you do, look for the positives. Good Luck

[Nemises]

Fantastic achievement JWRC! You’re an inspiration for those of us unsure of what to do and/or how to survive “those” 2 years. [emoji106]

 Where are you now? Are you surviving ok on the pension?

[JWRC]

I am back home in Thailand, Yes, Thailand is home now and has been for almost 20 years. I didn't have to do Australia like I did because of money, I just didn't want to be stuck in one place, I could have lived better, but it was a challenge to do it like I did. I'm fine on the pension here as I don't pay rent and can still save. Being a woman I have different expenses to what some of the blokes have, if you get my drift, so I live pretty reasonable and definately don't miss out.

 

I heard of one guy from my area who went back, rented a flat and just sat looking at the telly for 2 years, bored stiff, but that was his choice.

 

There are plenty of options,even free rent and utilities in some cases such as house sitting or pet sitting, I did a bit of that just so I could have a proper bed to sleep in now and again. Just tell yourself you can do it and go for it.

[Lacessit]

In my last visit to Centrelink, I was told by an butt-ugly bitch I had to have permission to travel overseas if I was on the OAP.  She is notorious in the area for being difficult. She backed off when I asked her to show me the regulations/legislation confirming this, and eventually referred me to another officer.

 

It is what it is. Fortunately I don't have to put up with this BS any longer. My best suggestion for those who have to serve the two-year sentence is this: buy a cheap camper, and travel around Australia. Become a moving target. Fly under the radar.

 

I can remember some journo nincompoop who even suggested people living overseas shouldn't get a pension, because they weren't being patriotic, by not spending it in Australia. Hello. We spend it overseas because we can get a decent standard living there. Hopefully, with the way print media is going he'll be on the dole queue soon.

 

 

[ripstanley]

1 hour ago, JWRC said:

Poster Jame trim

 

You ask what do you do for 2 years in Australia with no ties, live under a bridge.

 

Well it is a difficult situation and one I completed last year at the age of 67. I didn't want to rent a place and be stuck in the cold in winter, or maybe have to furnish it and buy a whole heap of things I didn't want. Add to that I have no friends there,  So I did what most Aussies do in retirement I followed the sun, it was a rather modest way of doing it however, no flash Winnibago or Caravan, I purchased an old mini van, bought a few things on gumtree, like a stretcher bed, esky and the like and headed for the North (from Perth). Basically I was a retired Gypsy for 2 years. Not the easiest way at my age to live, however I did it, it was tough on occassions especially when rushed to Hospital with Bi Lateral Pulmonary embollism, and during that finding I also had quite a serious heart problem, a few other nasties along the way, but we do what we must. You are allowed out on holidays, during which time you don't get the pension if you are out more than 90 days, you have to start again.

 

I free camped a few days at a time and then would treat myself to a couple of nights in a caravan park, which I might add are very expensive now. I chose to do it this way and in some ways it was great, I got to see all the places I had been to in my working days, it was like opening the pages of a well read book and for the most part the travelling was great, met some really good people on the road. I also picked up some cash work here and there, nothing too difficult and it kept me going.

 

It was scary getting sick and being on my own, it was even more scary at some of the free stops, but that's because I am a woman and I guess I worry more than blokes, who are better able to care for themselves.

Whatever you do, look for the positives. Good Luck

Well done JWRC. 

 

[Chrisdoc]

It's worth pointing out that there is a fundamental difference between for example the UK pension and the Australian one. The Australian age pension is a means tested welfare payment, not an automatic payment of earned entitlements. The UK situation is an earned eligibility through the National Insurance payments that people make during their working life. The UK are struggling to afford it (because they did not allocate resources for it) and Australia is also struggling to afford it, and they have no general obligation to pay it like the UK.
 
I'm not supporting the apparent meanness in the administration of welfare, but I'd suggest that for anyone planning on getting welfare based payments from the Australia government while living overseas it is going to be more and more difficult.

Australia is struggling to afford it because they are giving all their resources to Gina Rinehart etc for nothing. Australians could have taxed the miners more but voted for Tony Abbott instead.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Lacessit]

8 hours ago, Chrisdoc said:

Australia is struggling to afford it because they are giving all their resources to Gina Rinehart etc for nothing. Australians could have taxed the miners more but voted for Tony Abbott instead.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

It was the cheapest ( $100 million from memory ) scare campaign ever devised by the mining industry, because it saved the miners billions in taxes. A bit like when John Howard in early 2000's sold off Australian natural gas to the Japanese for 10 cents a litre.

Not that Howard or Abbott have to worry about their pensions.

[Brickbat]

“ Look what you can do for your country. Not what your country can do for you”. Stop whinging ! And don’t give me that bs about paying your frigging taxes.

 

Folks who pay a lot more in taxes, and continue to do so in retirement , as their assets which earn income, exceed the Means Test, do not get any Govt pension . 

 

[Nemises]

Having to do 2 years home detention is certainly a major inconvenience for some, but what about the actual AAP application process?

I thought it was all done online these days and as such there’d be little or no inconvenience, especially no longer having to wait hours on-end in CL offices and potentially copping unfriendly staff service.

I sure hope the process can be done online because I don’t want to go through what these people did.

Below is a link to yesterday’s John Laws radio program. After the podcast begins, roll the tape forward to 08:20 and 1:03:30 to hear how these two particular AAP applicants were treated.


http://2smsupernetwork.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/mp3-jplayer/popout.php
 

 

If the above link doesn't work, click on

http://2smsupernetwork.com/

then scroll down to "John Laws Morning Show - July 27th" 

Edited July 28, 2018 by Gregster

[GreasyFingers]

1 hour ago, Gregster said:

I sure hope the process can be done online because I don’t want to go through what these people did.

You can fill out all of the forms on your computer I had to then print them out to take to CL. Got given a total dropkick to go through the papers (about 60 pages from memory) which he then scanned every one. Told him I had it all on a USB stick but no, did not know how to upload it.

They have computers in the CL offices to use but do not know if they link directly to your file. Anyway it took me about 3 days to complete the forms so you would not want to sitting in the CL for that long.

[Belzybob]

13 hours ago, Chrisdoc said:

Australia is struggling to afford it because they are giving all their resources to Gina Rinehart etc for nothing. Australians could have taxed the miners more but voted for Tony Abbott instead.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Totally irrelevant to the topic of this thread.

[ELVIS123456]

23 hours ago, jame trim said:

The Australian social security actually phoned me here in Thailand in response to an email I sent them about aged pension.  I am 67 and would have to return to Australia for two years to get aged pension. I have lived and worked in Thailand over 17 years and they confirmed that I am eligle for pension, But what do I do in Australia for two years?  Live under a bridge? I have no family ties

left I need Australia and have wife and child here (Thai), certainly I would be a burden on the system with unemployment benefits rental assist etc. 

You would need someone to put you up for a while for free while you found a cheap place to rent. You would immediately get the pension (if application approved) so you would stay with your mate/relative while waiting for the approval. Get bank accounts licence etc etc etc first.  Once payments start then you get cheap rental or even apply for public housing. Tell everyone you are staying forever - and tell all that you plan to settle and bring the Thai wife and kid over in a few years time. See seperate discussions in the other thread/post for lost of detail and advice from many people.   The 2 years will fly slowly ?  But after 2 years you visit Thailand for 2-4 weeks. And then you wait another 2-3 months and then tell CLink that your wife and son have changed their minds and do not want to leave Thailand, so you want to go back and live with them.   Poertability approved ?   From then until you 'pass' you get $16K PA (indexed) for life (married rate when overseas).  Live til 87 and that is $320K or  8,000,000 baht.  Live longer get more.  IMO that is worth the 2 years of crap. 

[Odysseus123]

8 minutes ago, ELVIS123456 said:

You would need someone to put you up for a while for free while you found a cheap place to rent. You would immediately get the pension (if application approved) so you would stay with your mate/relative while waiting for the approval. Get bank accounts licence etc etc etc first.  Once payments start then you get cheap rental or even apply for public housing. Tell everyone you are staying forever - and tell all that you plan to settle and bring the Thai wife and kid over in a few years time. See seperate discussions in the other thread/post for lost of detail and advice from many people.   The 2 years will fly slowly ?  But after 2 years you visit Thailand for 2-4 weeks. And then you wait another 2-3 months and then tell CLink that your wife and son have changed their minds and do not want to leave Thailand, so you want to go back and live with them.   Poertability approved ?   From then until you 'pass' you get $16K PA (indexed) for life (married rate when overseas).  Live til 87 and that is $320K or  8,000,000 baht.  Live longer get more.  IMO that is worth the 2 years of crap. 

Amazing.

[ELVIS123456]

7 hours ago, Gregster said:

Having to do 2 years home detention is certainly a major inconvenience for some, but what about the actual AAP application process?

I thought it was all done online these days and as such there’d be little or no inconvenience, especially no longer having to wait hours on-end in CL offices and potentially copping unfriendly staff service.

I sure hope the process can be done online because I don’t want to go through what these people did.

Below is a link to yesterday’s John Laws radio program. After the podcast begins, roll the tape forward to 08:20 and 1:03:30 to hear how these two particular AAP applicants were treated.

CLink have been making it harder and more difficult under direction from the current Lib Govt.  They see this as yet another way to reduce the costs of the Pension. 

 

Yes it can all be done online (also saves them money), but make sure you get it all correct and fully completed (see earlier posts) or you will have to go in and be 'grilled' by a CLink person and as soon as they see you used to be in Thailand, you will be treated more harshly.  Go back before the pension is my recommendation - not after you become eligible. 

 

[Lacessit]

10 hours ago, Brickbat said:

“ Look what you can do for your country. Not what your country can do for you”. Stop whinging ! And don’t give me that bs about paying your frigging taxes.

 

Folks who pay a lot more in taxes, and continue to do so in retirement , as their assets which earn income, exceed the Means Test, do not get any Govt pension . 

 

Yes, and they get franking credits, do negative gearing, and can set up family trusts to minimize their tax liabilities before and after retirement. Meanwhile, others have been dudded by a bureaucracy and politicians that are totally ineffective in regulating the finance sector. They would not need a pension save for the incompetence of said pollies and public servants. ASIC ring any bells?

I've had a multi-millionaire boasting to me how his clever accountant got him a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. He'd be the first to whinge if all the tax rorts were stopped.

Do you get the feeling your comment is unwelcome? And BS into the bargain?