No Increase to Aus Pension

[keith101]

Due to the corona virus and economic downturn in Australia there will be no increase to the pension this month the first time in over 20 years . However those living in Aus are going to get a $25 a fortnight covid payment until at least December and those of us stuck or living overseas get nothing . 

 

[Swimfan]

Look on the bright side. You're in Thailand and not Melbourne.

[keith101]

Not for long having a ME Visa means having to go back because they closed the borders and didn't think of an alternative like going to the local office for the 90 day stamp .

Already used a 60 day extension and they wont give me another .

Looks like i will have to go somewhere until i can get a flight out , certainly cant afford the commercial airlines wanting over 40,000 baht for a seat in economy . 

Edited September 9, 2020 by keith101

[JWRC]

OP, your pension is not nothing, and you will receive that. It's the $25 a fortnight that your bitching about, well why should you get it, you are not in the country, , you are not spending anything in the country if you are living overseas, so far enough I reckon, more to the point you are not loosing anything and that includes the pension increase as it hadn't been given yet, and even if it had what would you have gotten, $4 a fortnight or some such pittance. None of it worth whinging about.

[AussieBob18]

The pension did not increase because inflation was actually negative in Aust.

Pension increases are linked to CPI increases - but payments were held not reduced (of course).

There is no $25 increase in Aust for those on pensions.

 

Ignorant comments about being overseas and not deserving anything are always ignored.

 

[JWRC]

Nobody said there was an $25 increase in pensions, what are you reading?

[AussieBob18]

On 9/11/2020 at 11:44 AM, JWRC said:

Nobody said there was an $25 increase in pensions, what are you reading?

"However those living in Aus are going to get a $25 a fortnight covid payment until at least December"

 

That is from the OP and is what I was referring to. 

I still have not seen anything about that increase payment for pensioners due to Covid.

 

Meanwhile, those on the dole have been getting an extra $500 per fortnight for many months, and from end September those on the dole will get $250 a fortnight until end December (at least). 

 

Pensioners being ripped off yet again - unbelievable.

 

[Laza 45]

On 9/9/2020 at 3:28 PM, Swimfan said:

Look on the bright side. You're in Thailand and not Melbourne.

...yes.. and the $Au is looking better.. @ 22.79 Bt to the $ today.. ????  

[Laza 45]

21 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

"However those living in Aus are going to get a $25 a fortnight covid payment until at least December"

 

That is from the OP and is what I was referring to. 

I still have not seen anything about that increase payment for pensioners due to Covid.

 

Meanwhile, those on the dole have been getting an extra $500 per fortnight for many months, and from end September those on the dole will get $250 a fortnight until end December (at least). 

 

Pensioners being ripped off yet again - unbelievable.

 

You get one of the best pensions in the world.. you should be able to live on it quite comfortably here.. 

[AussieBob18]

13 minutes ago, Laza 45 said:

You get one of the best pensions in the world.. you should be able to live on it quite comfortably here.. 

I hope to - but right now I am here in Aus. 

People here on the dole have been getting more money than those on the pension.

Basically the dole was doubled and pensioners got a once-off $750 payment.

 

[luckyluke]

22 minutes ago, Laza 45 said:

You get one of the best pensions in the world.. you should be able to live on it quite comfortably here.. 

Not that sure,

but leaving comfortably here, yes.

Of course "comfortably" is a relative concept.

[steven100]

I'm a long way off getting any pension,  so how much would I get on the dole if I were living there as a single   ?   thx

[Laza 45]

1 hour ago, AussieBob18 said:

I hope to - but right now I am here in Aus. 

People here on the dole have been getting more money than those on the pension.

Basically the dole was doubled and pensioners got a once-off $750 payment.

 

I believe the dole is about to be cut back.. I thought there were 2 $750 payments.. I got one as I had been visiting Australia early in the year but missed the second one as my concession card had expired by then. I'm glad I'm here in the land of smiles.. I know it is hard to get by on the pension there with high rents and electricity and other charges.. I have a few friends stuck there now with no idea of when the might be able to return.. I was there in March.. I got nervous and cut my stay short.. I got back March 17th I think it was... with 5 hours to spare!! I'm very thankful I made it back! 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

I'm a long way off getting any pension,  so how much would I get on the dole if I were living there as a single   ?   thx

It went up to $1100 per fortnight including Jobseeker but that's reducing to $800 this month and then back to normal after that. Not sure if you get extra for rent assistance etc. Jobkeeper was more than that at $1500 if you had a job you can't do. That is reducing to $1200. 

[steven100]

43 minutes ago, Laza 45 said:

I know it is hard to get by on the pension there with high rents and electricity and other charges

exactly ....  very expensive place to live.  I was in Brisbane a couple of years back and the markets had cup cakes @ $5  each .... limes were $1.50 each for one small lime.  I think a cup of coffee and a toasted ham cheese sandwich was at least $11.00 or 240 baht .....  or yesterdays stale ham & cheese croissant  $7.50

and with those prices you get sh_t service for free ....  lol

Rent was way too expensive .....  electricity is costly,  food is expensive even in the supermarket. 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2020 by steven100

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

so how much would I get on the dole if I were living there as a single   ?   thx

Mate of mine went back recently, he was on the disability pension which they cut and he has to go through all the cra-p he had to go through 6 years ago, anyway he said he is on the dole and is getting $500 a week till end September then it will reduce to $250 a week, so he is going to sort his disability paperwork and stuff in the interim, he hopes.

 

$250 a week be lucky to rent a room in Sydney, fortunately for him he lives past Newcastle and has a very humble abode which is paid off, so the dole covers his grog ????

 

[BEVUP]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Mate of mine went back recently, he was on the disability pension which they cut and he has to go through all the cra-p he had to go through 6 years ago, anyway he said he is on the dole and is getting $500 a week till end September then it will reduce to $250 a week, so he is going to sort his disability paperwork and stuff in the interim, he hopes.

 

$250 a week be lucky to rent a room in Sydney, fortunately for him he lives past Newcastle and has a very humble abode which is paid off, so the dole covers his grog ????

 

That should give him 1 ctn a week as the rest will go towards weekly/yearly bills

[simple1]

18 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Mate of mine went back recently, he was on the disability pension which they cut and he has to go through all the cra-p he had to go through 6 years ago, anyway he said he is on the dole and is getting $500 a week till end September then it will reduce to $250 a week, so he is going to sort his disability paperwork and stuff in the interim, he hopes.

 

$250 a week be lucky to rent a room in Sydney, fortunately for him he lives past Newcastle and has a very humble abode which is paid off, so the dole covers his grog ????

 

 

After 24/09/20 your friend will receive the additional Jobseeker Covid supplement of $250 per fortnight until 31/12/2020, 

 

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/news/how-coronavirus-supplement-and-eligibility-some-income-support-payments-are-changing#:~:text=Changes to the Coronavirus 

[Poet]

On 9/9/2020 at 9:14 AM, keith101 said:

No Increase to Aus Pension

Good. I'm sick of my tax having to support Australian pensioners.

I've never even been to the f*cking place!

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

7 minutes ago, Poet said:

Good. I'm sick of my tax having to support Australian pensioners.

I've never even been to the f*cking place!

 

Top guy. Your hero medal is on the way.

[Will27]

On 9/11/2020 at 8:44 AM, JWRC said:

Nobody said there was an $25 increase in pensions, what are you reading?

More to the point, what were you reading?

 

No need to apologize

[Don Mega]

41 minutes ago, Poet said:

Good. I'm sick of my tax having to support Australian pensioners.

I've never even been to the f*cking place!

 

If you have never been there what taxes are you paying there ?

[Fat is a type of crazy]

28 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

If you have never been there what taxes are you paying there ?

I had thought he meant he had never gone to Centrelink. I worked there for 4 years so am a bit envious of someone who has never had to go there. But he does appear to be saying Australia. 

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Poet said:

Good. I'm sick of my tax having to support Australian pensioners.

I've never even been to the f*cking place!

 

I daresay the taxes I paid during my working life were more than yours, and you may feel grateful to get the OAP later on. If you are self-funded, good for you. Although there's a few tax rorts such as negative gearing, CGT discount, and the low taxes on superannuation working in your favor.

I am very pleased I got out of Melbourne and into Thailand about two weeks before the shutters came down. I'd be climbing the walls by now back there. No intention of going back for the next 2-3 years, or until there are no excess hoops to jump through at both countries' borders.

The pension is what it is. Not as generous as some other countries, but not the stingiest either. Try living on a Thai OAP, 600 baht/month.

The only beef I have with Centrelink's rules is if I marry my Thai GF, I'd lose about 10,000 baht by being cut back to a couple's pension. Which is complete BS, because she is not an Australian citizen, and hence has no entitlement to any pension.

[Poet]

 

2 hours ago, Don Mega said:

If you have never been there what taxes are you paying there ?

 

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I daresay the taxes I paid during my working life were more than yours, and you may feel grateful to get the OAP later on.

As it has flown over a few heads, I should probably explain that I was joking. I was mocking the hostile attitude that some people in welfare states have towards pensions, not understanding that they are payback rather than a hand-out.

I am not Australian, so, my expectations of ever having either an Australian pension or the funny accent are low.

I sincerely wish that all the Aussies in this forum will get to enjoy their pensions for as many lavish and luxurious decades as possible.

 

Edited September 14, 2020 by Poet

[Lacessit]

4 minutes ago, Poet said:

 

 

As it has flown over a few heads, I should probably explain that I was joking. I was mocking the hostile attitude that some people in welfare states have towards pensions, not understanding that they are payback rather than a hand-out.

I am not Australian, so, my expectations of ever having either an Australian pension or the funny accent are low.

I sincerely wish that all the Aussies in this forum will get to enjoy their pensions for as many lavish and luxurious decades as possible.

 

You have a strange way of making the point, perhaps you did not understand pensions are a very sensitive topic with many Australians.

Thanks for the good wishes, I intend to.

[Poet]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You have a strange way of making the point

The subtletly of my humor has been honed in more advanced cultures.
 

 

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

perhaps you did not understand pensions are a very sensitive topic with many Australians

No, that would be exactly why the topic is such a rich vein. You should always make jokes about the things you're not meant to talk about.
 

[4MyEgo]

3 hours ago, Poet said:

Good. I'm sick of my tax having to support Australian pensioners.

I've never even been to the f*cking place!

 

Been living here for 5 years and finally not paying taxes for anyone, albeit it I am all for paying pensioners of they have worked and paid their taxes over the years, however the rules are you only have to have lived in Australia to receive the pension, i.e. you never had to work a day in your life and if you lived in Australia for 35 years, you will receive the full pension.

 

As for me, well at 60 now, I will be going back if still alive to collect the pension if it's still available, by then I should be in a position to have shifted enough funds to be elable, you see the way I see it, if they are going to throw money at everyone who hasn't paid a dime in taxes, then I might as well put my hand up because I paid a lot of taxes in my 40 years of working, so I think I am entitled to it over the others. 

 

In the meantime I will sit it out here and collect the tax free dollars on my investments legally as a non resident ????

 

Don't try and fight the system, play it.

 

Edited September 14, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[Poet]

2 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

the way I see it, if they are going to throw money at everyone who hasn't paid a dime in taxes, then I might as well put my hand up because without all those taxes I paid in my 40 years, I think I am entitled to it over the others

Absolutely. Good for you.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

25 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Been living here for 5 years and finally not paying taxes for anyone, albeit it I am all for paying pensioners of they have worked and paid their taxes over the years, however the rules are you only have to have lived in Australia to receive the pension, i.e. you never had to work a day in your life and if you lived in Australia for 35 years, you will receive the full pension.

 

As for me, well at 60 now, I will be going back if still alive to collect the pension if it's still available, by then I should be in a position to have shifted enough funds to be elable, you see the way I see it, if they are going to throw money at everyone who hasn't paid a dime in taxes, then I might as well put my hand up because I paid a lot of taxes in my 40 years of working, so I think I am entitled to it over the others. 

 

In the meantime I will sit it out here and collect the tax free dollars on my investments legally as a non resident ????

 

Don't try and fight the system, play it.

 

This has probably been said a thousand times on this site but you need to be careful that in taking steps to be eligible for the pension  you are not then  deemed to be a resident for the ATO. You've probably looked into that already.

Edited September 14, 2020 by Fat is a type of crazy