OAP - Permanent portability

[scorecard]

This message is to Aussies who returned to Australia, got the OAP, completed the 2 years then moved abroad.

 

Can you please share what actions you took to proceed abroad with continuing permanent payments / and/or permanent payments to your bank abroad?

 

One specific question; did you contact the older Australians line (Centrelink) and discuss this subject before you moved abroad?

 

Further on this point, I'm wondering if it's a good idea to complete the 2 years then call the older Australian line and ask for confirmation that I'm entitled to permanent portability / payment abroad, before leaving Australia?

 

Can I please ask for specific comments from folks who have completed the whole process.

 

I'm aware that the Energy Allowance cancels when recipients are abroad.

 

I'm aware that Centrelink knows immediately that OAP recipients have left Australia from the passport records data matching.

 

Some specific questions:

 

- Did you change your personal address to your address abroad quickly after you departed Australia?

 

- And/or change your receiving bank to a bank abroad quickly after departing Australia? (I'm aware that some folks choose to continue to receive their payments into their bank in Australia.)

 

Please no rehash of the old chestnuts.  

 

My questions are NOT about Medicare.

 

Thank you.

[Haveasay]

I turned 66 in January stuck in Thailand. But luckily a flight in late Jan and began oap in quarantine.. had it before I left. This 2 years is only Relevant if your working life in Australia is minimal and pro rata applies. As I've spent 2 years of the past 3 years in Thailand, I'm classified as ordinary citizen of Thailand and can leave without paperwork as passport is sufficient. Yes Centerlink knows in and out of austalia. Keep an aus address as your permanent address and I won't be changing banks, just transfer to Thai bank account, via WU who give reasonable exchange rate. Not returning until vaccine, first jab next week, second in 2 months, then decide return on how Thailand is handling 3rd wave. In aust I worked 45 years and unlikely receiving pension will change regardless of future stay in Thailand, though have family in aust will visit 3 or 6 monthly. Maybe others have had longer stints in Thailand, may help more. This is to prompt them for both of us to know more.

[scorecard]

8 minutes ago, Haveasay said:

I turned 66 in January stuck in Thailand. But luckily a flight in late Jan and began oap in quarantine.. had it before I left. This 2 years is only Relevant if your working life in Australia is minimal and pro rata applies. As I've spent 2 years of the past 3 years in Thailand, I'm classified as ordinary citizen of Thailand and can leave without paperwork as passport is sufficient. Yes Centerlink knows in and out of austalia. Keep an aus address as your permanent address and I won't be changing banks, just transfer to Thai bank account, via WU who give reasonable exchange rate. Not returning until vaccine, first jab next week, second in 2 months, then decide return on how Thailand is handling 3rd wave. In aust I worked 45 years and unlikely receiving pension will change regardless of future stay in Thailand, though have family in aust will visit 3 or 6 monthly. Maybe others have had longer stints in Thailand, may help more. This is to prompt them for both of us to know more.

 

Thanks, I'm talking about a case where Aussie was out of Oz for many years but fully qualified for the 35 years rule and in receipt of the OAP 3.5 weeks after return to Oz and lodging the claim.

 

Ongoing, almost completed the 2 years to 're-establish home in Oz',  to qualify for portability. 

 

I'm looking for comments on what others in this situation did when 2 years in Oz completed. 

 

On another site one guy commented he was out of Oz 30+ years, returned got the OAP without hassle.

 

Stayed in Oz for full 2 years, departed 1 day after 2 years completed (didn't contact Centrelink before departing).

 

Then quickly, online, changed his domicile address to home address abroad. And at same time submitted change of banking document to get 4 weekly payment direct to his Thai bank.

 

All actioned promptly no questions asked. Energy allowance did cease immediately (expected) but no other changes to his payments.

 

I'm hoping others could please share how they handled the situation.

[ozfarang]

After being out of Australia about 2 years (Thailand) returned to Australia 28 Feb 2019 and applied for the OAP and was granted the full pension after 11 weeks starting on the day I applied, 05 Mar 2019.

 

Having now completed my 2 years in Australia I will be leaving for Thailand in 3 weeks. I delayed my departure to be vaccinated.

 

I rang the older Australians Clink line this month to confirm my payments after I leave the country. I told them I will be out of Australia for over 6 months but not leaving permanently. I then called the international Clink line to confirm my payments after 26 weeks as the person on the older Australians line said my payments would stop. Hence a call to the international line.

 

I will maintain an Australian address and still have my pension payed into my Australian bank account.

 

No change in payments for the first 6 weeks.

After 6 weeks Pensioner Concession Card will be invalid

The pension supplement will be reduced to the minimum

The energy allowance will cease

After 26 weeks as I have worked in Australia for a minimum of 420 months between 16 years of age and 65 and a half my pension will remain the same as after 6 weeks.

 

Clink know when you leave the country as soon as your passport is scanned and you are cleared to leave the country at border control. I have the Centrelink app on my phone and my future payments were adjusted, then ceased, when I checked within 5 minutes of clearing border control. I made 3 trips to Thailand during my 2 years in Australia after being granted the pension.

 

[LosLobo]

48 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

After being out of Australia about 2 years (Thailand) returned to Australia 28 Feb 2019 and applied for the OAP and was granted the full pension after 11 weeks starting on the day I applied, 05 Mar 2019.

 

Having now completed my 2 years in Australia I will be leaving for Thailand in 3 weeks. I delayed my departure to be vaccinated.

 

I rang the older Australians Clink line this month to confirm my payments after I leave the country. I told them I will be out of Australia for over 6 months but not leaving permanently. I then called the international Clink line to confirm my payments after 26 weeks as the person on the older Australians line said my payments would stop. Hence a call to the international line.

 

I will maintain an Australian address and still have my pension payed into my Australian bank account.

 

No change in payments for the first 6 weeks.

After 6 weeks Pensioner Concession Card will be invalid

The pension supplement will be reduced to the minimum

The energy allowance will cease

After 26 weeks as I have worked in Australia for a minimum of 420 months between 16 years of age and 65 and a half my pension will remain the same as after 6 weeks.

 

Clink know when you leave the country as soon as your passport is scanned and you are cleared to leave the country at border control. I have the Centrelink app on my phone and my future payments were adjusted, then ceased, when I checked within 5 minutes of clearing border control. I made 3 trips to Thailand during my 2 years in Australia after being granted the pension.

 

Curious about how you are escaping Australia's COVID travel restrictions.

 

I am sure many posters here are envious.

 

 

[scorecard]

3 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Curious about how you are escaping Australia's COVID travel restrictions.

 

I am sure many posters here are envious.

 

 

 

There are several exemption circumstances to the current travel 'ban'.

 

I showed the gov't agency copies of my PR book and they replied very quickly that in any circumstances where there is family living abroad there is no need to even apply for an exemption, just show some confirming documents at departure check-in.

 

[ozfarang]

1 minute ago, LosLobo said:

Curious about how you are escaping Australia's COVID travel restrictions.

 

I am sure many posters here are envious.

 

 

It wasn't easy, had to apply twice to border force to get an exemption.

 

 

Some of the reasons I used in my request to leave.

My wife is in Thailand and she has a house that she owns and we shipped all our household belongings to Thailand about 4 years ago and I said I will be not coming back to Australia for at least 6 months or as long as quarantine is required on return to Australia .

[LosLobo]

11 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

It wasn't easy, had to apply twice to border force to get an exemption.

 

 

Some of the reasons I used in my request to leave.

My wife is in Thailand and she has a house that she owns and we shipped all our household belongings to Thailand about 4 years ago and I said I will be not coming back to Australia for at least 6 months or as long as quarantine is required on return to Australia .

Could be years, for those who don't have any relatives there, wanting to return to live in Thailand, waiting for a parole from the prison that is now Oz.

Edited May 15, 2021 by LosLobo

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, ozfarang said:

After being out of Australia about 2 years (Thailand) returned to Australia 28 Feb 2019 and applied for the OAP and was granted the full pension after 11 weeks starting on the day I applied, 05 Mar 2019.

 

Having now completed my 2 years in Australia I will be leaving for Thailand in 3 weeks. I delayed my departure to be vaccinated.

 

I rang the older Australians Clink line this month to confirm my payments after I leave the country. I told them I will be out of Australia for over 6 months but not leaving permanently. I then called the international Clink line to confirm my payments after 26 weeks as the person on the older Australians line said my payments would stop. Hence a call to the international line.

 

I will maintain an Australian address and still have my pension payed into my Australian bank account.

 

No change in payments for the first 6 weeks.

After 6 weeks Pensioner Concession Card will be invalid

The pension supplement will be reduced to the minimum

The energy allowance will cease

After 26 weeks as I have worked in Australia for a minimum of 420 months between 16 years of age and 65 and a half my pension will remain the same as after 6 weeks.

 

Clink know when you leave the country as soon as your passport is scanned and you are cleared to leave the country at border control. I have the Centrelink app on my phone and my future payments were adjusted, then ceased, when I checked within 5 minutes of clearing border control. I made 3 trips to Thailand during my 2 years in Australia after being granted the pension.

 

 

From above:

 

"...

I have the Centrelink app on my phone and my future payments were adjusted, then ceased, when I checked within 5 minutes of clearing border control. I made 3 trips to Thailand during my 2 years in Australia after being granted the pension."

 

Can you please share further details of:

 

-    my future payments were adjusted 

         (does that mean the energy allowance

         was cancelled, or more?)

 

-    then ceased, (what was ceased? has it

            ever been restored???)

 

Thanks.

 

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by scorecard

[ozfarang]

5 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

From above:

 

"...

I have the Centrelink app on my phone and my future payments were adjusted, then ceased, when I checked within 5 minutes of clearing border control. I made 3 trips to Thailand during my 2 years in Australia after being granted the pension."

 

Can you please share further details of:

 

-    my future payments were adjusted 

         (does that mean the energy allowance

         was cancelled, or more?)

 

-    then ceased, (what was ceased? has it

            ever been restored???)

 

Thanks.

 

 

This only occurred during my visits to Thailand before I completed my 2 years in Australia for portability. So my next payment due would be pro rata for the days I would be out of Australia and then it would show no further payments as payments cease whilst you are out of the country. Then when I returned my payments automatically were restored. No allowances were cancelled, my payments stopped whilst out of Australia.

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, ozfarang said:

This only occurred during my visits to Thailand before I completed my 2 years in Australia for portability. So my next payment due would be pro rata for the days I would be out of Australia and then it would show no further payments as payments cease whilst you are out of the country. Then when I returned my payments automatically were restored. No allowances were cancelled, my payments stopped whilst out of Australia.

 

So can you please confirm that:

 

1. Payments stopped when you were out of Australia for extended time during the 2 years?

 

2. When you went abroad after you completed the 2 year, payments were not stopped regardless of how long you were outside of Australia? In other words you had achieved permanent/forever portability of payment abroad?   (But I guess the energy allowance was stopped?)

 

Can you please comment on the very specific scenarios above, thanks.

[ozfarang]

4 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

So can you please confirm that:

 

1. Payments stopped when you were out of Australia for extended time during the 2 years?

 

2. When you went abroad after you completed the 2 year, payments were not stopped regardless of how long you were outside of Australia? In other words you had achieved permanent/forever portability of payment abroad?   (But I guess the energy allowance was stopped?)

 

Can you please comment on the very specific scenarios above, thanks.

I sent you a PM

[scorecard]

22 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

I sent you a PM

Thanks, very valuable, I've just replied by PM.