Australian Aged Pension

[CygnusX1]

OK, thanks, didn’t know that, but as I’m a stickler for following the rules, I’ll continue to inform them in advance of all my many future travels.

[Nemises]

27 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

How does Australian immigration know someone is on the OAP in order to tell Centerlink everytime that person leaves Australia?

 

^{You need to tell us if you’re leaving Australia and any of the following apply, you:}

• ^{are going to live in another country}
• ^{will be away for more than 6 weeks}
• ^{get Age Pension under a social security agreement with another country}
• ^{are leaving Australia within 2 years after coming back to live and started getting Age Pension since then}
• ^{or your partner are getting income from employment.}

^{If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can tell us about your travel plans online. If you don’t have these, you’ll need to create them.}

^{You can also use your online account to get information on how your travel could affect your payments and concession cards.}

^{If you can’t use an online account, tell us your travel plans by either:}

• ^{calling the Older Australians line}
• ^{going to a service centre.}

^{Australia’s immigration department will tell us when you leave. They will also tell us when you return.}

 

 

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/when-and-how-to-tell-us-about-overseas-travel-if-you-get-age-pension?context=22526#:~:text=Australia's immigration department will tell,tell us when you return.&text=To get your payment or,qualification rules at all times.

[Nemises]

43 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

OK, thanks, didn’t know that, but as I’m a stickler for following the rules, I’ll continue to inform them in advance of all my many future travels.

 

You're welcome. I'm also a stickler for the rules and I also frequently return to Aus for holidays, but am not bothered to tell them when they state on their website that immigration tell them anyway.

 

 

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Sorry, not sure what you mean here. I do think it’s important to inform Centrelink of overseas travel, as you’re not paid part of the supplement while outside Australia, and Centrelink apparently checks with Dept Immigration’s database. So, just in case it was lost in the system somewhere, I kept a record of the fact that I’d informed them of the dates of my forthcoming absence from Australia.

 

I think you've been misinformed. OAP recipients who are outside of Australia are paid the full supplement. I got the full OAP, then a bit later I left Oz and came to Thailand. Receiving the full supplement continued and I've been getting the full supplement all of time (now about 6 years). 

 

I'm wondering if you're aware that you can request to be changed to the 4 weekly payment cycle. Every 4 weeks transferred direct to my K Bank savings a/c here in Thailand.

 

Funds sent by Clink go through a Commonwealth gov't banking process (not through a commercial bank in Oz and the fees are tiny.to 

 

K bank fees receive the OAP transfer are also small (about 120Baht from memory) every 4 weeks.

 

K Bank will (if you request it) send an instantaneous email to your email address with an attachment giving some details of what's been deposited into your K Bank savings a/c. No charge. It seems that the deposit into my K Bank savings account is just a few hours after despatch from Oz. 

 

The bank account receiving the OAP funds can be a personal savings account (your name only) or it can be a joint account. I spoke to a CLink officer about that before I returned to Thailand. The officer confirmed it can be a joint account and Clink prefer that the second person be a relative. CLink don't want to know if the a/c needs one signature for withdrawal at a bank or two. 

 

As above, I've received the full OAP supplement since I moved to Thailand. C'Link do always know whether your in Oz or not in Oz. They have a live link to Oz Immigration records. Their systems check every passport number (arriving and departing) and your movements are automatically recorded in C'Link records. 

 

One item that might not be clear, as above C'Link check every passport number in the Immigration records (arriving and departing) and your movements are automatically recorded in C'Link records. But they don't know where you went  or where you arrived from. 

 

 

[Olmate]

4 hours ago, Nemises said:

 

You're welcome. I'm also a stickler for the rules and I also frequently return to Aus for holidays, but am not bothered to tell them when they state on their website that immigration tell them anyway.

 

 

Agree totally, Ive just posted earlier about myreturn after8.yrs, the contact with Centrelink and Mygov etc, Medicare card renewal.The overall positive impression given by staff was, we know when n where you travelled, we still pay your due entitlments and alls well on the OAP front. Show me someone fitting that same scenario thats been jacked around??. KH, nah.😭😭

[Will27]

37 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I think you've been misinformed. OAP recipients who are outside of Australia are paid the full supplement. I got the full OAP, then a bit later I left Oz and came to Thailand. Receiving the full supplement continued and I've been getting the full supplement all of time (now about 6 years). 

 

I'm wondering if you're aware that you can request to be changed to the 4 weekly payment cycle. Every 4 weeks transferred direct to my K Bank savings a/c here in Thailand.

 

Funds sent by Clink go through a Commonwealth gov't banking process (not through a commercial bank in Oz and the fees are tiny.to 

 

K bank fees receive the OAP transfer are also small (about 120Baht from memory) every 4 weeks.

 

K Bank will (if you request it) send an instantaneous email to your email address with an attachment giving some details of what's been deposited into your K Bank savings a/c. No charge. It seems that the deposit into my K Bank savings account is just a few hours after despatch from Oz. 

 

The bank account receiving the OAP funds can be a personal savings account (your name only) or it can be a joint account. I spoke to a CLink officer about that before I returned to Thailand. The officer confirmed it can be a joint account and Clink prefer that the second person be a relative. CLink don't want to know if the a/c needs one signature for withdrawal at a bank or two. 

 

As above, I've received the full OAP supplement since I moved to Thailand. C'Link do always know whether your in Oz or not in Oz. They have a live link to Oz Immigration records. Their systems check every passport number (arriving and departing) and your movements are automatically recorded in C'Link records. 

 

One item that might not be clear, as above C'Link check every passport number in the Immigration records (arriving and departing) and your movements are automatically recorded in C'Link records. But they don't know where you went  or where you arrived from. 

 

 

Are you on a Vet Affairs Service pension or the OAP?

 

Everyone I know on here doesn't get any supplements.

[Lacessit]

26 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I think you've been misinformed. OAP recipients who are outside of Australia are paid the full supplement. I got the full OAP, then a bit later I left Oz and came to Thailand. Receiving the full supplement continued and I've been getting the full supplement all of time (now about 6 years). 

 

I'm wondering if you're aware that you can request to be changed to the 4 weekly payment cycle. Every 4 weeks transferred direct to my K Bank savings a/c here in Thailand.

 

Funds sent by Clink go through a Commonwealth gov't banking process (not through a commercial bank in Oz and the fees are tiny.to 

 

K bank fees receive the OAP transfer are also small (about 120Baht from memory) every 4 weeks.

 

K Bank will (if you request it) send an instantaneous email to your email address with an attachment giving some details of what's been deposited into your K Bank savings a/c. No charge. It seems that the deposit into my K Bank savings account is just a few hours after despatch from Oz. 

 

The bank account receiving the OAP funds can be a personal savings account (your name only) or it can be a joint account. I spoke to a CLink officer about that before I returned to Thailand. The officer confirmed it can be a joint account and Clink prefer that the second person be a relative. CLink don't want to know if the a/c needs one signature for withdrawal at a bank or two. 

 

As above, I've received the full OAP supplement since I moved to Thailand. C'Link do always know whether your in Oz or not in Oz. They have a live link to Oz Immigration records. Their systems check every passport number (arriving and departing) and your movements are automatically recorded in C'Link records. 

 

One item that might not be clear, as above C'Link check every passport number in the Immigration records (arriving and departing) and your movements are automatically recorded in C'Link records. But they don't know where you went  or where you arrived from. 

 

 

Your post has me puzzled, because I do not get any supplements, e.g. electricity, phone, rent assistance etc.

 

Every time I leave Australia, the supplement stops being paid after 6 weeks. When I return to Australia, it is restored in my next pension payment. That pattern has been followed for more than ten years.

 

I can only conclude you are getting the supplement as the result of some screwup, which is not unknown in bureaucracies.

 

 

[scorecard]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

Your post has me puzzled, because I do not get any supplements, e.g. electricity, phone, rent assistance etc.

 

Every time I leave Australia, the supplement stops being paid after 6 weeks. When I return to Australia, it is restored in my next pension payment. That pattern has been followed for more than ten years.

 

I can only conclude you are getting the supplement as the result of some screwup, which is not unknown in bureaucracies.

 

 

 

I get the basic supplement and CLink confirmed OA Pensioners get the basic supplement regardless of location anywhere in the world. 

 

After departing Oz the other 'allowances' stopped quickly and have never been reinstated. 

 

[scorecard]

6 minutes ago, Will27 said:

Are you on a Vet Affairs Service pension or the OAP?

 

Everyone I know on here doesn't get any supplements.

 

I get the full OAP basic supplement like every OA Pensioner.

 

I don't get any other allowances: phone, rent assistance  etc.

[Lacessit]

10 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I get the basic supplement and CLink confirmed OA Pensioners get the basic supplement regardless of location anywhere in the world. 

 

After departing Oz the other 'allowances' stopped quickly and have never been reinstated. 

 

You mean you get the base pension. A supplement is something that is added to something else, either as a boost or to compensate for a perceived deficiency.

[Bvor]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

I think you've been misinformed. OAP recipients who are outside of Australia are paid the full supplement.

6 weeks outside of oz and your full supplement gets reduced to a basic supplement as you have acknowledged in your later post.

 

37 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I get the basic supplement and CLink confirmed OA Pensioners get the basic supplement 

correct

[CygnusX1]

26 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You mean you get the base pension. A supplement is something that is added to something else, either as a boost or to compensate for a perceived deficiency.

Please correct me if I’m wrong here, but from what I’ve found on the internet, the pension supplement seems to be a fixed amount added to the base pension, and is the same amount for those receiving the full pension and those receiving a part pension. In other words, it isn’t reduced on a pro-rata basis for those on a part pension. That’s why it has to be separated from the base pension. It is reduced to a basic rate for those overseas for more than 6 weeks. Not explained very well on the Services Australia website.

Apparently you also lose the concession card after 6 weeks overseas, but it’s automatically reactivated upon your return to Australia.

 

[Lacessit]

36 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Please correct me if I’m wrong here, but from what I’ve found on the internet, the pension supplement seems to be a fixed amount added to the base pension, and is the same amount for those receiving the full pension and those receiving a part pension. In other words, it isn’t reduced on a pro-rata basis for those on a part pension. That’s why it has to be separated from the base pension. It is reduced to a basic rate for those overseas for more than 6 weeks. Not explained very well on the Services Australia website.

Apparently you also lose the concession card after 6 weeks overseas, but it’s automatically reactivated upon your return to Australia.

 

You are correct.

 

I don't know why the concession card gets cancelled when overseas, where are we going to use it?

[Olmate]

24 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You are correct.

 

I don't know why the concession card gets cancelled when overseas, where are we going to use it?

'Phoot Long' Massage Shop, Pattaya Klang, do anOzziepensioner promotion Fridays, you need the card to make your appointment!! 😭

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Olmate said:

'Phoot Long' Massage Shop, Pattaya Klang, do anOzziepensioner promotion Fridays, you need the card to make your appointment!! 😭

Good one.

[Nemises]

Here are the current fortnightly supplement amounts. Shame they’re not higher, otherwise they could cover the airfares back to Aus to claim them every six weeks 😁

[rhodie]

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

Here are the current fortnightly supplement amounts.

After 6 weeks out of the country, the Pension Supplement goes to and stays at $28.90 and the Energy Supplement goes to zero.

 

The reason that Centrelink cancels the concession card is to stop you getting concessions, like on your energy bill at your home, while out of the country. The companies have to check that your concession is current when they bill you.

[Bvor]

7 hours ago, rhodie said:

After 6 weeks out of the country, the Pension Supplement goes to and stays at $28.90 and the Energy Supplement goes to zero.

Yes, as per attached..........

[Lacessit]

8 hours ago, rhodie said:

After 6 weeks out of the country, the Pension Supplement goes to and stays at $28.90 and the Energy Supplement goes to zero.

 

The reason that Centrelink cancels the concession card is to stop you getting concessions, like on your energy bill at your home, while out of the country. The companies have to check that your concession is current when they bill you.

Why can't Centrelink stop paying the supplements, but still maintain the card's validity?

 

Sensible people turn off all their electrical appliances if they are overseas for 6 weeks or more.

[rhodie]

25 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Why can't Centrelink stop paying the supplements, but still maintain the card's validity?

 

Sensible people turn off all their electrical appliances if they are overseas for 6 weeks or more.

 

Here is the scenario: You get the discount with a supplier and you are home for 9 weeks before you leave. After you leave, the supplier tallies your bill for the quarter and at the same time pings Centrelink for eligibility. Fail as your card is no longer valid and you lose the discount. In theory the card is suspended as you get the same number on the card that is reissued.

 

[Artisi]

You think you guys are hard done by, my wife and I  had a son at about the same time I went onto OAP and was getting child support payments, when I left the country for Thailand these payments stopped - at the time they amounted to a few hundred $$ each fortnight - now that's something to cry about. 

[Bvor]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Sensible people turn off all their electrical appliances if they are overseas for 6 weeks or more.

There are individual circumstances where it can make sense to leave power on eg 60 days away - keep freezer content, auto sprinkler system, solar power unit export..........

[Lacessit]

14 minutes ago, Bvor said:

There are individual circumstances where it can make sense to leave power on eg 60 days away - keep freezer content, auto sprinkler system, solar power unit export..........

Centrelink has a Procrustean bed - one size fits all.

[Bvor]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Centrelink has a Procrustean bed - one size fits all.

Maybe so, but IMO leaving power on or off is not Centrelinks call .......unless i'm missing something.

ps when away I do leave a key for someone to check on things. 

[scorecard]

On 12/2/2024 at 6:11 PM, Lacessit said:

You mean you get the base pension. A supplement is something that is added to something else, either as a boost or to compensate for a perceived deficiency.

Direct from the Clink website:

 

As of September 20, 2024, the fortnightly Australian Age Pension is $1,144.40 for singles and $1,725.20 for couples:

Singles

The maximum basic rate is $1,047.10 per fortnight, plus a pension supplement of $83.20 and an energy supplement of $14.10.

 

The pension supplement of AUD83.20 continues forever if you move abroad. 

 

Other items :  e.g. energy supplement, rent assistance etc., stop immediately.

[Lacessit]

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Direct from the Clink website:

 

As of September 20, 2024, the fortnightly Australian Age Pension is $1,144.40 for singles and $1,725.20 for couples:

Singles

The maximum basic rate is $1,047.10 per fortnight, plus a pension supplement of $83.20 and an energy supplement of $14.10.

 

The pension supplement of AUD83.20 continues forever if you move abroad. 

 

Other items :  e.g. energy supplement, rent assistance etc., stop immediately.

Do part pensioners get a pro rata of the $83.20? The notifications I get don't include any mention.

[Bvor]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Direct from the Clink website:

please provide link.

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

The pension supplement of AUD83.20 continues forever if you move abroad. 

Not according to my upcoming payment 19/12/2 4 after 6 weeks in LOS - albeit I have not "moved abroad", but am a frequent travellerand always affected by the 6 week rule. See my above post Tuesday 4.26pm. 

[scorecard]

14 minutes ago, Bvor said:

please provide link.

Not according to my upcoming payment 19/12/2 4 after 6 weeks in LOS - albeit I have not "moved abroad", but am a frequent travellerand always affected by the 6 week rule. See my above post Tuesday 4.26pm. 

 

Can i suggest you call the toll free number and get a clear specific answer. 

[scorecard]

16 minutes ago, Bvor said:

please provide link.

Not according to my upcoming payment 19/12/2 4 after 6 weeks in LOS - albeit I have not "moved abroad", but am a frequent travellerand always affected by the 6 week rule. See my above post Tuesday 4.26pm. 

The pension supplement of AUD83.20 continues forever if you move abroad. 

 

I went back did the 2 years then moved back to Thailand. As above: The pension supplement of AUD83.20 continues forever if you move abroad. 

 

If your not in the group who did the 2 years then maybe it's processed differently and/or different rules. 

 

Only one way to get clarity - call the toll free number and ask.

[Bvor]

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Only one way to get clarity - call the toll free number and ask.

Your link would assist me when seeking clarity from Centrelink - although not applying to me the moved abroad and/or 2 year scenario has me curious and as I am now back in Oz I may contact Centrelink in respect to a few of my OAP mates living in LOS .

cheers