Informing Centrelink re death of Australian Pensioner with UK passport.

[PJPom]

If a person receiving a pension from Australia dies in Thailand but has a UK passport I assume the authorities inform the UK Consul, does anyone then inform The Australian Government ?.

 

[Upnotover]

Highly unlikely.  How would anyone know he even had an Australian pension?  I had a UK friend pass and the UK embassy did nothing about his pension which was paid into my bank account (another story).  It was entirely up to me to stop them paying it.

[scorecard]

On 11/1/2024 at 8:37 PM, PJPom said:

If a person receiving a pension from Australia dies in Thailand but has a UK passport I assume the authorities inform the UK Consul, does anyone then inform The Australian Government ?.

 

This perhaps depends on which passport (Australian or UK, or both) the police became aware of when the person died. 

 

My understanding (from one experience only) is that the police must be called if the deceased is a foreigner and the police then check for a passport and then contact the embassy of the found passport.

 

But would the police keep searching for any additional passports (unless alerted by others present)?

 

If the passport found is Australian the Oz Embassy are required to instantly do some form of 'bulletin' to other Australian gov't agencies (e.g. Centrelink who then cancel all benefits).

 

Re the UK I have no information. 

[KhunHeineken]

On 11/7/2024 at 9:27 PM, scorecard said:

This perhaps depends on which passport (Australian or UK, or both) the police became aware of when the person died. 

 

My understanding (from one experience only) is that the police must be called if the deceased is a foreigner and the police then check for a passport and then contact the embassy of the found passport.

 

But would the police keep searching for any additional passports (unless alerted by others present)?

 

If the passport found is Australian the Oz Embassy are required to instantly do some form of 'bulletin' to other Australian gov't agencies (e.g. Centrelink who then cancel all benefits).

 

Re the UK I have no information. 

If in receipt of an Australian pension, but in Thailand on a UK passport, and any Australian passport hidden from authorities, eventually, the Proof Of Life Form will not be submitted, thus the Australian pension cut off.  It's one of the main reasons such a form exists.   

[PJPom]

On 11/19/2024 at 9:38 PM, KhunHeineken said:

If in receipt of an Australian pension, but in Thailand on a UK passport, and any Australian passport hidden from authorities, eventually, the Proof Of Life Form will not be submitted, thus the Australian pension cut off.  It's one of the main reasons such a form exists.   

I am aware of the UK proof of life but have never heard of Australian equivalent, is this a recent thing ?.

[KhunHeineken]

On 11/24/2024 at 6:17 AM, PJPom said:

I am aware of the UK proof of life but have never heard of Australian equivalent, is this a recent thing ?.

I believe the form was first introduced late 2019. 

 

Here's some details. 

 

https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/6/2/1

 

Of interest, and the source of some debate on this forum, is the government knows when you have been outside of Australia for 2 years or more, thus, they contact you and request you submit a proof of life form.  

 

Some believe immigration doesn't communicate with Centerlink, and others believe immigration does communicate with Centerlink.  This can be seen when a pensioner is outside of Australia for 6 weeks and their pension supplements are cut off.