I'm an Australian born citizen, been living in Thailand 10 years....no address or property in Australia and my accountant declared me as a non resident for tax purposes some years ago. I had in the back of my mind as a plan B, I may go back and live in Aus for the necessary 2 years to qualify for portability of the old age pension and after return to live in Thailand.

I am currently 5 years away from being eligible for OAP

 

I was reading in another group today, as an Australian non resident you are likely liable to pay 33% of your OAP in Australian tax if you are a non resident and living abroad. I also saw a lot of replies seeming to confirm it.

 

I have, or thought I had researched the subject  thoroughly and have never seen any such thing? In my case I will have no other investments, assets or yearly income apart from maybe some superannuation withdrawals which are already tax paid. The only actual income I will be receiving would be the OAP.  

 

Normal OAP I believe is somewhere around 35-40k per month and I could live reasonably comfortably on....If taxed -33% of that it wouldn't and wouldn't be worth the expense of going back to Australia for the required 2 years and not enough to live on here. Please someone tell me this isn't true 😞

 

If I returned to Australia for the 2 years does that make me a tax resident again? And if it does, does it mean I am ok for a couple of years when I return to Thailand and later deemed a non resident for tax again and start paying tax on OAP? (I believe if you are out of the country more than 2 years you are a non res for tax purposes if you have no property in Australia). I don't think its as simple these days as using a family member address etc.

 

Would appreciate any advice, there must be a ton of Aussies living here getting the OAP and are technically or officially non residents. 

I do not receive the OAP because I did not satisfy the 2 year requirement (10 years ago). But all the information at that time was that once you received the OAP it was transportable tax free to Thailand under the tax agreement between the two countries.

Will wait to see if things have changed.

21 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

I'm an Australian born citizen, been living in Thailand 10 years....no address or property in Australia and my accountant declared me as a non resident for tax purposes some years ago. I had in the back of my mind as a plan B, I may go back and live in Aus for the necessary 2 years to qualify for portability of the old age pension and after return to live in Thailand.

I am currently 5 years away from being eligible for OAP

 

I was reading in another group today, as an Australian non resident you are likely liable to pay 33% of your OAP in Australian tax if you are a non resident and living abroad. I also saw a lot of replies seeming to confirm it.

 

I have, or thought I had researched the subject  thoroughly and have never seen any such thing? In my case I will have no other investments, assets or yearly income apart from maybe some superannuation withdrawals which are already tax paid. The only actual income I will be receiving would be the OAP.  

 

Normal OAP I believe is somewhere around 35-40k per month and I could live reasonably comfortably on....If taxed -33% of that it wouldn't and wouldn't be worth the expense of going back to Australia for the required 2 years and not enough to live on here. Please someone tell me this isn't true 😞

 

If I returned to Australia for the 2 years does that make me a tax resident again? And if it does, does it mean I am ok for a couple of years when I return to Thailand and later deemed a non resident for tax again and start paying tax on OAP? (I believe if you are out of the country more than 2 years you are a non res for tax purposes if you have no property in Australia). I don't think its as simple these days as using a family member address etc.

 

Would appreciate any advice, there must be a ton of Aussies living here getting the OAP and are technically or officially non residents. 

Returning to Aus 2 years immediately prior to claiming the pension is fine. You must be in Australia on the day your pension commences.  You can even take short holidays back here with no penalty.

Married rate is currently $816/ft after portability kicks in. Single rate is possibly now around $1,000/fn.

I did the 2 years & returned in May this year, even got some Jobseeker while I was there which made transitioning to pension a breeze.

I rented in the country...cheapish.

Beware that similar to Thailand IO's, you will not get the same answers/stories from 2 Centrelink (C/L) staff.

Do what I did, just go to C/L every week until you get what you qualify for.

No. You will not be taxed @30%. Zero tax involved if you have no other income. Also be aware of the increasing qualifying age.

I hated the 2 years but the C/L pension compliments my financial position here.

 

Also note that you will need to apply for a new Medicare card. Once you are out of Oz for 5+ years you are a persona non grata.

Good Luck in your forward planning.🙃🙃

38 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

Returning to Aus 2 years immediately prior to claiming the pension is fine. You must be in Australia on the day your pension commences.  You can even take short holidays back here with no penalty.

Married rate is currently $816/ft after portability kicks in. Single rate is possibly now around $1,000/fn.

I did the 2 years & returned in May this year, even got some Jobseeker while I was there which made transitioning to pension a breeze.

I rented in the country...cheapish.

Beware that similar to Thailand IO's, you will not get the same answers/stories from 2 Centrelink (C/L) staff.

Do what I did, just go to C/L every week until you get what you qualify for.

No. You will not be taxed @30%. Zero tax involved if you have no other income. Also be aware of the increasing qualifying age.

I hated the 2 years but the C/L pension compliments my financial position here.

 

Also note that you will need to apply for a new Medicare card. Once you are out of Oz for 5+ years you are a persona non grata.

Good Luck in your forward planning.🙃🙃

Appreciate your reply. I think the issue is the non resident for tax purposes thing. If u have property in Aus you are always a resident no matter how long you are away, but otherwise 2 years out of the country for most of the time you are a non res for tax. I was formally declared as a non res by my accountant due to tax issues a few years ago it was favorable to do it, but whether u declare it or not they must know these days with info from immigration etc where and when you have been. Maybe going back to Aus for 2 years reinstates you as a resident again? But I am wondering if going back after being away as a non res for 10 years if I would even recieve a tax free pension while Im living in Oz. 

 

Did you return as a non res or you retained property etc in AustraliA? 

18 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Appreciate your reply. I think the issue is the non resident for tax purposes thing. If u have property in Aus you are always a resident no matter how long you are away, but otherwise 2 years out of the country for most of the time you are a non res for tax. I was formally declared as a non res by my accountant due to tax issues a few years ago it was favorable to do it, but whether u declare it or not they must know these days with info from immigration etc where and when you have been. Maybe going back to Aus for 2 years reinstates you as a resident again? But I am wondering if going back after being away as a non res for 10 years if I would even recieve a tax free pension while Im living in Oz. 

 

Did you return as a non res or you retained property etc in AustraliA? 

I ceased doing tax returns when I sold my Oz property in 2017, having been here since 2013. Apparently my (then) tax agent advised the ATO that I had left for good & wouldn't file future returns. Apparently I became a non-resident for tax purposes. Was I a resident or non- resident when my pension commenced?....who knows!

Sounds like you are still a way off applying. If you have Aus Citizenship & tick the boxes you will get a pension 2 years after you return & follow the rules, even if you stay in Australia for good. That is why you go back 2 years prior to pension age.

C/L is a huge cumbersome animal & the people who make decisions hide behind unlisted phone calls to you. 

 

If you are considering living in Thailand full time in 5 years time on OA pension only, you are already in the deep do-do.

Give C/L International in Hobart a call. They are the go-to section. But as you are still quite some time off applying they can't give a great deal of info.🙃🙃

12 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

Appreciate your reply. I think the issue is the non resident for tax purposes thing. If u have property in Aus you are always a resident no matter how long you are away, but otherwise 2 years out of the country for most of the time you are a non res for tax. I was formally declared as a non res by my accountant due to tax issues a few years ago it was favorable to do it, but whether u declare it or not they must know these days with info from immigration etc where and when you have been. Maybe going back to Aus for 2 years reinstates you as a resident again? But I am wondering if going back after being away as a non res for 10 years if I would even recieve a tax free pension while Im living in Oz. 

 

Did you return as a non res or you retained property etc in AustraliA? 

I understand you wanting to get your ducks in a row, but so much can and probably will change in 5 years time.

 

Just a few things, owning property in Australia doesn't make you a resident for life, not that that will affect you.

 

Secondly, our tax system is based on self-assessment, so when you lodge your first tax return after arriving back in Australia, just declare yourself as a resident.

It's that easy.

 

 

20 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

If you are considering living in Thailand full time in 5 years time on OA pension only, you are already in the deep do-do.

Give C/L International in Hobart a call. They are the go-to section. But as you are still quite some time off applying they can't give a great deal of info.🙃🙃

 

No deep do do here lol. Part of my plan to live here is to be able to fall off the perch and leave something for my family, rather than keep digging into savings and leave them penniless. It's not like the pension would be my sole hope but would be nice if it could be, leaving my super in the bank to grow. We live quite comfortably now on 40-50k a month, live up country...2 kids in school. We go out to eat a few times a week, go on holidays and eat like kings (I cook myself at home). I certainly don't feel like we are doing it hard. With a bit of discipline could probably do a lot better. I have heard people comment they don't know how anyone here could live comfortably on less than 100k a month.

 

I was born and worked 40 years in Australia and always salary jobs so paid more than my fair share of taxes and believe I am entitled to the pension no matter where I live. In some ways I don't understand why they don't encourage people retiring OS....No burden on free medical, transport etc. Anyway, whether they see it that way or not is another matter. 

8 hours ago, Will27 said:

I understand you wanting to get your ducks in a row, but so much can and probably will change in 5 years time.

 

Just a few things, owning property in Australia doesn't make you a resident for life, not that that will affect you.

 

Secondly, our tax system is based on self-assessment, so when you lodge your first tax return after arriving back in Australia, just declare yourself as a resident.

It's that easy.

 

 

Well 5 years.... I was planning on going back at 67yo when I will be eligible for the pension but I may bring that forward 2 years and go back at 65 and at the end of the 2 years it will coincide with my eligibility to apply for the OAP. Are there any possible pitfalls in doing this apart from needing to get a job / not being able to get the pension ?

On 9/20/2025 at 6:18 PM, Lucky Bones said:

Returning to Aus 2 years immediately prior to claiming the pension is fine. You must be in Australia on the day your pension commences.  You can even take short holidays back here with no penalty.

Married rate is currently $816/ft after portability kicks in. Single rate is possibly now around $1,000/fn.

I did the 2 years & returned in May this year, even got some Jobseeker while I was there which made transitioning to pension a breeze.

I rented in the country...cheapish.

Beware that similar to Thailand IO's, you will not get the same answers/stories from 2 Centrelink (C/L) staff.

Do what I did, just go to C/L every week until you get what you qualify for.

No. You will not be taxed @30%. Zero tax involved if you have no other income. Also be aware of the increasing qualifying age.

I hated the 2 years but the C/L pension compliments my financial position here.

 

Also note that you will need to apply for a new Medicare card. Once you are out of Oz for 5+ years you are a persona non grata.

Good Luck in your forward planning.🙃🙃

 

Small correction:  Lines 1 and  2:

Correct detail is: You must physically be in Australia on the day you lodge your application for the OAP. You can lodge your OAP application:

 

a). By Oz post office mail direct to Centrelink in Australia (it is checked).

b). by email (it is checked)

c). at any Centrelink office in Australia. I did this process, the local police focused Centrelink officer offered to scan my OAP application and Assets and Income statements. She did it carefully and said 'all complete, just needs your signatue on both forms', so I did that. Then she said if you wish I can submit your forms right now here in this office on our big machine, direct to  Centrelink in Canberra. I responded 'Yes please'. Two minutes later she handed the originals back to me with a printed receipt. 

 

She also mentioned:

- OAP application are NEVER processed in local Centrelink offices.

- All OAP applications are processed by computer (computer only) in Canberra.

- OAP applicants cannot ask for their OAP application to be handled / processed by hand.  

- OAP applications cannot be handled by a specific officer. 

 

Note: Centrelink has a 24/7 online live link to Oz immigration records  -  Records of Oz passport holders coming in and going out are automatically instantly logged on individual Centrelink records. 

 

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Small correction:  Lines 1 and  2:

Correct detail is: You must physically be in Australia on the day you lodge your application for the OAP. You can lodge your OAP application:

 

a). By Oz post office mail direct to Centrelink in Australia (it is checked).

b). by email (it is checked)

c). at any Centrelink office in Australia. I did this process, the local police focused Centrelink officer offered to scan my OAP application and Assets and Income statements. She did it carefully and said 'all complete, just needs your signatue on both forms', so I did that. Then she said if you wish I can submit your forms right now here in this office on our big machine, direct to  Centrelink in Canberra. I responded 'Yes please'. Two minutes later she handed the originals back to me with a printed receipt. 

 

She also mentioned:

- OAP application are NEVER processed in local Centrelink offices.

- All OAP applications are processed by computer (computer only) in Canberra.

- OAP applicants cannot ask for their OAP application to be handled / processed by hand.  

- OAP applications cannot be handled by a specific officer. 

 

Note: Centrelink has a 24/7 online live link to Oz immigration records  -  Records of Oz passport holders coming in and going out are automatically instantly logged on individual Centrelink records. 

 

Cheers. I figured that having to be in Aus on the day of lodging/qualifying for the OAP Application was a given. If you need a new Medicare card you will need to visit C/L & apply, hopefully you will receive a Customer Reference Number to start your day. I first visited their Office in May 2023, the day after I arrived back.

 

C/L is then in control of you and any contact will come via phone calls from private #'s or via the myGov App once you have registered.

 

I received my OAP through direct transition from Jobseeker payment so I never actually applied for the OAP. Hobart advised this would be a easier path to go down. (Not many advertised jobs are seeking 65+ year olds!)

 

Portability was then arranged through a simple phone call to the C/L International Office in Hobart.

 

I would think that everyone who has gone down the OAP path has a story of their own. Your experience of using a cop shop to lodge papers bears this out. (What year did you commence OAP?)

 

And yes, C/L has direct links to most of your life. I reckon they had my Woolies shopping on record. Having said that, they claimed I didn't have Australian Citizenship & had been traveling on my Kiwi passport which had expired circa 2010, both of which proved to be false.

Have originals or copies of everything, keep expired passports, right from your birth certificate onwards.🙃🙃

 

 

This girl explains it very well.  The video is only 3 months old. 

 

 

Articles 18 and 19 of the Australia / Thailand DTA covers "service pensions."  A Centerlink aged pension is not a service pension. 

 

Here are the proposed changes. 

 

https://hlb.com.au/tax-residency-changes-for-individuals

 

Myself, and some friends here, are self funded and have never paid a cent in non-resident tax.  For me, that's because I maintain a "domicile" in Australia.  I've lived overseas for several years.  I am clearly a non resident for tax purposes. 

 

The whole idea of the proposed changes is, basically, if you are outside of Australia for 183 days, you WILL BE deemed a non resident for tax purposes.  This will be evident by immigration records. 

 

Maintaining a domicile, close family ties, community ties, a vehicle, bank accounts, utility bills etc will no longer matter.  Creating the "illusion" of having the "intention" of returning to Australia to permanently live will no longer work.  That loophole, and many others, will close.

 

The proposed changes move the old system to a physical presence and time based system, similar to Thailand.  The Morrison Liberal government drafted the changes, and the Albo Labor government DID NOT scrap them.  In fact, they progressed them to the consultation phase.  So, for me, it's not if, just when.  The current laws are 90 years old, with a lot of loopholes in them.  

 

https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/c2023-205344-cp.pdf

 

The current non resident tax brackets are below.

 

Foreign resident tax rates 2025–26

Taxable income	Tax on this income
0 – $135,000	30c for each $1
$135,001 – $190,000	$40,500 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over	$60,850 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

 

It must be noted the pension is deemed an income in Australia, and further note that no where in the proposed changes do they mention creating a tax free threshold in non resident tax brackets to cover pensioners.  Also, no means / asset testing, but most significantly, no mention of exempting pensioners.  

 

You are 5 years away, so you have time to observe.   The only way I, and many others, can see that we can escape paying non resident tax is by spending 183 days inside Australia, or spend 45 days in Australia every year AND meeting two of the 4 factor tests in the proposed changes.  

 

One is easy, Australian citizenship.  You passport does that for you.  The second easiest, in my opinion, would be access to accommodation.  This is no problem for me, but you may have to get a little creative with this and have a friend or family member "rent" you a room in their house, or add your name to their lease.  This may or may not have tax implications for them.  Either way, to escape non resident tax, you'll have to do either 183 or 45 days in Australia every year and if 45 days, also meet two of the 4 factor tests. 

 

One thing to remember is, the proposed changes are not "just for guys like Paul Hogan." 

5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

This girl explains it very well.  The video is only 3 months old. 

 

 

Articles 18 and 19 of the Australia / Thailand DTA covers "service pensions."  A Centerlink aged pension is not a service pension. 

 

Here are the proposed changes. 

 

https://hlb.com.au/tax-residency-changes-for-individuals

 

Myself, and some friends here, are self funded and have never paid a cent in non-resident tax.  For me, that's because I maintain a "domicile" in Australia.  I've lived overseas for several years.  I am clearly a non resident for tax purposes. 

 

The whole idea of the proposed changes is, basically, if you are outside of Australia for 183 days, you WILL BE deemed a non resident for tax purposes.  This will be evident by immigration records. 

 

Maintaining a domicile, close family ties, community ties, a vehicle, bank accounts, utility bills etc will no longer matter.  Creating the "illusion" of having the "intention" of returning to Australia to permanently live will no longer work.  That loophole, and many others, will close.

 

The proposed changes move the old system to a physical presence and time based system, similar to Thailand.  The Morrison Liberal government drafted the changes, and the Albo Labor government DID NOT scrap them.  In fact, they progressed them to the consultation phase.  So, for me, it's not if, just when.  The current laws are 90 years old, with a lot of loopholes in them.  

 

https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/c2023-205344-cp.pdf

 

The current non resident tax brackets are below.

 

Foreign resident tax rates 2025–26

Taxable income	Tax on this income
0 – $135,000	30c for each $1
$135,001 – $190,000	$40,500 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over	$60,850 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

 

It must be noted the pension is deemed an income in Australia, and further note that no where in the proposed changes do they mention creating a tax free threshold in non resident tax brackets to cover pensioners.  Also, no means / asset testing, but most significantly, no mention of exempting pensioners.  

 

You are 5 years away, so you have time to observe.   The only way I, and many others, can see that we can escape paying non resident tax is by spending 183 days inside Australia, or spend 45 days in Australia every year AND meeting two of the 4 factor tests in the proposed changes.  

 

One is easy, Australian citizenship.  You passport does that for you.  The second easiest, in my opinion, would be access to accommodation.  This is no problem for me, but you may have to get a little creative with this and have a friend or family member "rent" you a room in their house, or add your name to their lease.  This may or may not have tax implications for them.  Either way, to escape non resident tax, you'll have to do either 183 or 45 days in Australia every year and if 45 days, also meet two of the 4 factor tests. 

 

One thing to remember is, the proposed changes are not "just for guys like Paul Hogan." 

 

So effectively a 30% tax on op pension.

14 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

 

No deep do do here lol. Part of my plan to live here is to be able to fall off the perch and leave something for my family, rather than keep digging into savings and leave them penniless. It's not like the pension would be my sole hope but would be nice if it could be, leaving my super in the bank to grow. We live quite comfortably now on 40-50k a month, live up country...2 kids in school. We go out to eat a few times a week, go on holidays and eat like kings (I cook myself at home). I certainly don't feel like we are doing it hard. With a bit of discipline could probably do a lot better. I have heard people comment they don't know how anyone here could live comfortably on less than 100k a month.

 

I was born and worked 40 years in Australia and always salary jobs so paid more than my fair share of taxes and believe I am entitled to the pension no matter where I live. In some ways I don't understand why they don't encourage people retiring OS....No burden on free medical, transport etc. Anyway, whether they see it that way or not is another matter. 

You'll have to declare all cash and assets.  Will you make a false declaration? 

3 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

So effectively a 30% tax on op pension.

Yeah, been saying it in the pension thread for ages.  Personally attack me all you like, but the message stays the same, and how now been brought up by another member.  

 

There hasn't been a need to care about it in the past because we have all been getting away with it for decades, thanks to all the loopholes in the current 90 year old laws.  That will change in the future.  

 

Remember, for pensioners, the government is the payer (Centerlink) and the taxer (ATO) and the gate keeper.  (Immigration) 

 

In my opinion, yes, this just my opinion now, why would Centerlink pay out the money, just to have the ATO chase the money, once a pensioner has been outside of Australia for more than 183 days in the year?  They will simply withhold the 30% because you are a non resident.  This is what they do now with the pension supplements after 6 weeks outside Australia.   They simple stop.  Why wouldn't they use the same system to collect non resident tax from pensioners?  

On 9/20/2025 at 11:56 AM, Kenny202 said:

If u have property in Aus you are always a resident no matter how long you are away,

Wrong. 

 

A property or "domicile" allows some loopholes to open up, but simply owning a property in Australia does not automatically give you resident for taxation purposes status. 

 

One needs to know how to use that property and the loopholes to maintain tax residency of Australia. 

7 hours ago, scorecard said:

She also mentioned:

- OAP application are NEVER processed in local Centrelink offices.

- All OAP applications are processed by computer (computer only) in Canberra.

- OAP applicants cannot ask for their OAP application to be handled / processed by hand.  

- OAP applications cannot be handled by a specific officer. 

If you have to go to the appeal stage it will be handled by a specific officer, overlooked by a higher up.

2 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

You'll have to declare all cash and assets.  Will you make a false declaration? 

Why would you say that? You have assumed my cash and assets are over the means test requirements for full pension?

I truly hate our governments for the last 20 years. One thing I take my hat off to Thailand is that Thais come first, right or wrong. Having said that their is no social security or aged care pensions here. Aussies seem to be on the end of the queue in Australia, particularly pensioners.... Older people seem to be the first go to (pensions / superannuation etc) to cover their latest botched budgets and handouts to anyone who whines enough.....and at the head of the queue all the minority groups and immigrants. I paid huge taxes through my working life and feel I deserve a pension no matter where I live. As far as I know we have the worst pension conditions thank most other 1st world countries. With taxes on pensions living overseas and the need / expense to spend half of the year in Australia for me would negate the benefit of receiving the pension in the first place.

23 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Why would you say that? You have assumed my cash and assets are over the means test requirements for full pension?

Trust me, don't engage with him.

 

Most of us have him on ignore.

18 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

I truly hate our governments for the last 20 years. One thing I take my hat off to Thailand is that Thais come first, right or wrong. Having said that their is no social security or aged care pensions here. Aussies seem to be on the end of the queue in Australia, particularly pensioners.... Older people seem to be the first go to (pensions / superannuation etc) to cover their latest botched budgets and handouts to anyone who whines enough.....and at the head of the queue all the minority groups and immigrants. I paid huge taxes through my working life and feel I deserve a pension no matter where I live. As far as I know we have the worst pension conditions thank most other 1st world countries. With taxes on pensions living overseas and the need / expense to spend half of the year in Australia for me would negate the benefit of receiving the pension in the first place.

What irks me about the whole living overseas, returning home aspect, is it depends on where you  live.

 

A friend of mine has been living in Greece for years.

Earlier this year she was able to apply online for the OAP because we have a reciprocal arrangement.

It's a total nonsense.

14 minutes ago, Will27 said:

Trust me, don't engage with him.

 

Most of us have him on ignore.

Great advice, will take care of that now. Haven't been on Asean now for a while due to these sort of people and I think I have had issues with him and his grand standing, look at me, I'm in the know advice before, which from memory was often wrong 5555

43 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

. I paid huge taxes through my working life and feel I deserve a pension no matter where I live.

I agree but sadly many were and still are abusing the system. 

 

The illegal immigrants, those who arrived by boat by illegal means were the worst. 

 

Some would never assimilate or work in Australia, once at an age to receive OAP they would go back to the middle east and live like a King. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Kenny202 said:

Why would you say that? You have assumed my cash and assets are over the means test requirements for full pension?

"I paid huge taxes through my working life."  Your words, not mine. 

 

So, high taxes means a high salary.  Where's the proceeds of all these years of working.  Only you know, but you wouldn't be the first to sell up in Australia, move the money to Thailand, then cry poor to Centerlink. 

 

Given you are 5 years away, you would have worked many years under compulsory super.  That's in the mix also. 

 

Here are the new limits.

 

What the limits are for a full pension

When your assets are more than the limit for your situation, your pension will reduce.

If you’re a member of a couple, the limit is for both your and your partner’s assets combined, not each of you.

Your situation	Homeowner	Non-homeowner
Single	$321,500	$579,500
A couple, combined	$481,500	$739,500
A couple, separated due to illness, combined	$481,500	$739,500
A couple, one partner eligible, combined	$481,500	$739,500

What the limits are for a part pension

From 20 September 2025, part pensions cancel when your assets are over the cut off point for your situation.

If you’re a member of a couple, the limit is for both your and your partner’s assets combined, not each of you.

Your situation	Homeowner	Non-homeowner
Single	$714,500	$972,500
A couple, combined	$1,074,000	$1,332,000
A couple, separated due to illness, combined	$1,267,500	$1,525,500
A couple, one partner eligible, combined	$1,074,000	$1,332,000

If you get Rent Assistance with your pension, your cut off point is higher. You can find the rates by checking the Payment Finder.

What the limits are for a transitional rate of pension

From 20 September 2025, transitional rate pensions cancel when your assets are over your cut off point.

If you’re a member of a couple, the limit is for both your and your partner’s assets combined, not each of you.

Your situation	Homeowner	Non-homeowner
Single	$641,500	$899,500
A couple, combined	$998,000	$1,256,000
A couple, separated due to illness, combined	$1,121,500	$1,379,500
A couple, one partner eligible, combined	$998,000	$1,256,000

If you get Rent Assistance with your pension, your cut off point is higher.

1 hour ago, Kenny202 said:

I truly hate our governments for the last 20 years. One thing I take my hat off to Thailand is that Thais come first, right or wrong. Having said that their is no social security or aged care pensions here. Aussies seem to be on the end of the queue in Australia, particularly pensioners.... Older people seem to be the first go to (pensions / superannuation etc) to cover their latest botched budgets and handouts to anyone who whines enough.....and at the head of the queue all the minority groups and immigrants. I paid huge taxes through my working life and feel I deserve a pension no matter where I live. As far as I know we have the worst pension conditions thank most other 1st world countries. With taxes on pensions living overseas and the need / expense to spend half of the year in Australia for me would negate the benefit of receiving the pension in the first place.

The British have their amount of pension frozen when they move overseas.  No CPI increases. 

 

You will only need to do 45 days and meet two out of the four factor tests and you will be fine, given you actually qualify for a pension. 

51 minutes ago, Will27 said:

What irks me about the whole living overseas, returning home aspect, is it depends on where you  live.

 

A friend of mine has been living in Greece for years.

Earlier this year she was able to apply online for the OAP because we have a reciprocal arrangement.

It's a total nonsense.

Being able to have dual nationality helps. 

 

Thailand doesn't offer a reasonable pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. 

40 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Great advice, will take care of that now. Haven't been on Asean now for a while due to these sort of people and I think I have had issues with him and his grand standing, look at me, I'm in the know advice before, which from memory was often wrong 5555

Like I said, shooting the messenger doesn't make the message go away.  Likewise, you can put me on ignore, but the message still remains the same.  You can whinge about it, or start looking at your options.  I've already given you one viable option to keep your pension, put it will need to do 45 days in Australia and produce proof of accommodation. 

 

Whichever way you look at it, it's not good news, and not just for yourself, other expats as well. 

 

Australia is broke, and the government will be chasing every dollar from everyone they can. 

 

Pensioners should have been paying 30% non resident tax for decades.  The party had to come to an end at some stage, and the proposed changes to tax resident will definitely end the party. 

39 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I agree but sadly many were and still are abusing the system. 

 

The illegal immigrants, those who arrived by boat by illegal means were the worst. 

 

Some would never assimilate or work in Australia, once at an age to receive OAP they would go back to the middle east and live like a King. 

 

 

I have no problem someone who has worked all their life receiving a pension.  The trouble is, someone who has never worked a day in their life can receive the same pension, and move to Thailand. 

 

When you look at it, the Australian government sees all that pension money get sent offshore every fortnight going towards making another country's economy stronger.  They can't force the individual to reside in Australia, but they  do have some control of the pension they receive and 30% of all aged pensions from those living overseas is quite a savings to the government.     

 

Interesting times ahead. 

3 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

If you have to go to the appeal stage it will be handled by a specific officer, overlooked by a higher up.

Sure.

7 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

Cheers. I figured that having to be in Aus on the day of lodging/qualifying for the OAP Application was a given. If you need a new Medicare card you will need to visit C/L & apply, hopefully you will receive a Customer Reference Number to start your day. I first visited their Office in May 2023, the day after I arrived back.

 

C/L is then in control of you and any contact will come via phone calls from private #'s or via the myGov App once you have registered.

 

I received my OAP through direct transition from Jobseeker payment so I never actually applied for the OAP. Hobart advised this would be a easier path to go down. (Not many advertised jobs are seeking 65+ year olds!)

 

Portability was then arranged through a simple phone call to the C/L International Office in Hobart.

 

I would think that everyone who has gone down the OAP path has a story of their own. Your experience of using a cop shop to lodge papers bears this out. (What year did you commence OAP?)

 

And yes, C/L has direct links to most of your life. I reckon they had my Woolies shopping on record. Having said that, they claimed I didn't have Australian Citizenship & had been traveling on my Kiwi passport which had expired circa 2010, both of which proved to be false.

Have originals or copies of everything, keep expired passports, right from your birth certificate onwards.🙃🙃

 

 

I submitted my completed OAP aplication at a Centrelinkk office. It was submiteed diectly (by machine) to Centrelink Canberra.

 

Then the Centrelink officer (very pleasant, good listener, focused, helpful) asked if I still had A Medicare card. I responded No. 

 

She continued "I can use the information you've given me in the last few minutes to try to find your Medicare number". She couldn't find it, then said "Medicare don't like to issue 2 Medicare numbers to the same person, please give me an approximate year of the last time you every used the card". I responded "35 + years ago".

 

She responded "That's why I can't find it, It's buried deep in ancient history. Never mind I can give that info to Medicare on an internal communication".  She did that quickly and 1 minute later a Medicare advice came out of her printer and she gave me the letter''.

It gave my full name and a new Medicare number. The Centerlink lady then said "use this number and show this letter if you do need to go to a hospital etc., or doctor and a new plastic Medicare card will arrive at your recorded address within 2 weeks". 

 

In fact it arrived 4 days later.  

9 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I submitted my completed OAP aplication at a Centrelinkk office. It was submiteed diectly (by machine) to Centrelink Canberra.

 

Then the Centrelink officer (very pleasant, good listener, focused, helpful) asked if I still had A Medicare card. I responded No. 

 

She continued "I can use the information you've given me in the last few minutes to try to find your Medicare number". She couldn't find it, then said "Medicare don't like to issue 2 Medicare numbers to the same person, please give me an approximate year of the last time you every used the card". I responded "35 + years ago".

 

She responded "That's why I can't find it, It's buried deep in ancient history. Never mind I can give that info to Medicare on an internal communication".  She did that quickly and 1 minute later a Medicare advice came out of her printer and she gave me the letter''.

It gave my full name and a new Medicare number. The Centerlink lady then said "use this number and show this letter if you do need to go to a hospital etc., or doctor and a new plastic Medicare card will arrive at your recorded address within 2 weeks". 

 

In fact it arrived 4 days later.  

Ah. I mis-read that you lodged your OAP application at a police station (presuming that was up bush somewhere.)

Medicare card would be well past its use-by date, 555.

I copped a possible trainee at the Glenelg, Adelaide Office. She read off of the applcation instructions that I needed X, Y & Z as proof of identity. Sadly at that stage I only had X & Y. To obtain Z I had to go and open a new bank account. Yes, her supervisor confirmed that was the case. I even handed my expired card to them!

They told me to use my C/L CRN if I needed a doc. 

Despite me putting a current Adelaide mailing address on the Medicare Card Application they posted it off to my GPO Box that I had closed 10 years previously in another city!

Overall I appeared to be disrupting their day.

Scorecard of 0/10 for them.🙃🙃