Australian Aged Pension

[RJRS1301]

19 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You are simply deflecting. 

 

An older report, but still relevant. 

 

https://www.9news.com.au/national/dole-bludgers-worst-in-australia-revealed/cf24a1bc-b329-4982-a9ce-5c04ce23acf8

 

"According to the report nearly 50,000 people in Australia that are capable of working did not attend job interviews in the past year, but are still not being penalised."

 

The reports says 50,000, but according to you, very little fraud.  As said, the reason little fraud is found is because the recipient "qualified" but that doesn't mean they can not work.   

 

This woman got away with it for 21 years.  Had over $240,000AUD in cash in her home.  She even instructed others how to defraud the system.  Where's the checks and balances to be able to get away with it for so long, and for so much?   

 

 

You don't comprehend the difference between "fraudsters" and to use your word, "qualified" recipients.  You still don't see it's the ease of obtaining a welfare payment that is the issue. 

 

Here's an example that's closer to home.

 

Say an Aussie expat has been living in Thailand for many years.  He now reaches retirement age.  He goes back to Australia to stay for 2 years to re-establish residency.  He tells Centerlink what they want to hear, that is, his intention is to live in Australia.  After 2 years he achieves portability, and flies back to Thailand a day later.  He had no intention of remaining in Australia at all.  Now, he "qualified" for the welfare, but has he committed "fraud?" 

 

 

 

Over 5 million people receiving some form of government assistance from people with disabilities to aged pensioners

You quoted Thai example is not fraud if he gains portability, & has paid tax in Australia in the lead up, and qualifies for such under the rules.

You one outlier is from a clickbait media, not research.

Ch9 is hardly a reliable source of unbiased information

I am well aware of the  meaning of fraudster, this applied after someone is convicted in a court of law, not a court of personal bias

  I will rely on government and university sources for facts

• Age Pension:

  2.6 million recipients, accounting for 52% of all income support recipients. 

   
• Unemployment payments:

  Around 920,000 recipients, representing 16% of all income support recipients. 

   
• Disability Support Pension:

  Around 769,300 recipients, also accounting for 16% of all income support recipients. 

   
• Carer Payment:

  Around 300,000 recipients, representing 6.1% of all income support recipients. 

   

Additionally, around 1.3 million income units were receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) in June 2023, and approximately 418,400 households were in social housing programs. 

 

You are married to your point of view and unable to engage in research

[KhunHeineken]

2 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

You quoted Thai example is not fraud if he gains portability, & has paid tax in Australia in the lead up, and qualifies for such under the rules.

You've added your own criteria in there.  It's criteria that Centerlink does not require.  Eg. has paid tax. 

 

Say he's never worked a day in his life, and never paid any tax.  He qualifies, but does he deserve it?  Should he get it?  Should the taxpayer fund is retirement in Thailand? 

 

5 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Ch9 is hardly a reliable source of unbiased information

This guy openly admits it.

 

CH9 or no CH9, hear the story from his own mouth. 

 

People work hard to give this deadsh*t money every fortnight, and YOU defend the system that allows it, simply because he "qualifies." 

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Around 920,000 recipients, representing 16% of all income support recipients. 

How many of these are able bodied and can work????

[RJRS1301]

51 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You've added your own criteria in there.  It's criteria that Centerlink does not require.  Eg. has paid tax. 

 

Say he's never worked a day in his life, and never paid any tax.  He qualifies, but does he deserve it?  Should he get it?  Should the taxpayer fund is retirement in Thailand? 

 

This guy openly admits it.

 

CH9 or no CH9, hear the story from his own mouth. 

 

People work hard to give this deadsh*t money every fortnight, and YOU defend the system that allows it, simply because he "qualifies." 

 

 

 

How many of these are able bodied and can work????

I have no idea, you seem to be armchair expert, perhaps you should be working for Centrelink investigations, although requires a open mind, which appears to be somewhat lacking 

[RJRS1301]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

I have no idea, you seem to be armchair expert, perhaps you should be working for Centrelink investigations, although requires a open mind, which appears to be somewhat lacking 

If living in Oz for the length required most likely one has worked and paid tax

• Initial Residence:

  You must have been a resident in Australia for at least 2 years before being granted the Age Pension. If you leave Australia within 2 years of receiving the pension, your eligibility might be lost. 

   
• 24-Month Waiting Period:

  After you start receiving your Age Pension in Australia, there's a 24-month period before it becomes portable outside Australia. 

   
• Australian Working Life Residence (AWLR):

  This refers to the number of years you lived in Australia between the age of 16 and your Age Pension age. 

   

  • 35 years or more AWLR: If you have 35 years or more of AWLR, your Age Pension will generally continue to be paid at the same rate, regardless of how long you stay overseas. 
     
  • Less than 35 years AWLR: If your AWLR is less than 35 years, your pension payment may be proportionalized (reduced) after 26 weeks outside Australia. 
     
• International Social Security Agreements:

  Australia has agreements with several countries, which may allow you to claim your Australian pension while living in the agreement country. 

   
• Temporary Absences:

  If your absence from Australia is temporary (e.g., for a holiday), you may still be able to continue receiving your pension payments for a limited time, as determined by the specific payment rules. 

   
• Former Residents:

  If you were a former resident of Australia, there are specific rules that apply to your eligibility for the Age Pension, including the 24-month waiting period. 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

If living in Oz for the length required most likely one has worked and paid tax

• Initial Residence:

  You must have been a resident in Australia for at least 2 years before being granted the Age Pension. If you leave Australia within 2 years of receiving the pension, your eligibility might be lost. 

   
• 24-Month Waiting Period:

  After you start receiving your Age Pension in Australia, there's a 24-month period before it becomes portable outside Australia. 

   
• Australian Working Life Residence (AWLR):

  This refers to the number of years you lived in Australia between the age of 16 and your Age Pension age. 

   

  • 35 years or more AWLR: If you have 35 years or more of AWLR, your Age Pension will generally continue to be paid at the same rate, regardless of how long you stay overseas. 
     
  • Less than 35 years AWLR: If your AWLR is less than 35 years, your pension payment may be proportionalized (reduced) after 26 weeks outside Australia. 
     
• International Social Security Agreements:

  Australia has agreements with several countries, which may allow you to claim your Australian pension while living in the agreement country. 

   
• Temporary Absences:

  If your absence from Australia is temporary (e.g., for a holiday), you may still be able to continue receiving your pension payments for a limited time, as determined by the specific payment rules. 

   
• Former Residents:

  If you were a former resident of Australia, there are specific rules that apply to your eligibility for the Age Pension, including the 24-month waiting period. 

Thanks for all the important points above. Can I please suggest a small correction.

 

Copied from above:

 

      "24-Month Waiting Period:

       After you start receiving your Age Pension in Australia, there's a 24-month period           before it becomes portable outside Australia".  This is not correct.

 

The correct information:  "The 24 months period starts from the day the person arrived back in Australia (taken from online immigration / passport in/out records). (This information can be found on the Centrelink website).

 

Meaning that the 24 months DOESN'T start from the day the person lodged their application for the the OAP.

 

And meaning that the 24 months DOESN'T doesn't start from the day the OAP was approved.

 

 

 

[KhunHeineken]

On 5/13/2025 at 10:56 AM, scorecard said:

Thanks for all the important points above. Can I please suggest a small correction.

 

Copied from above:

 

      "24-Month Waiting Period:

       After you start receiving your Age Pension in Australia, there's a 24-month period           before it becomes portable outside Australia".  This is not correct.

 

The correct information:  "The 24 months period starts from the day the person arrived back in Australia (taken from online immigration / passport in/out records). (This information can be found on the Centrelink website).

 

Meaning that the 24 months DOESN'T start from the day the person lodged their application for the the OAP.

 

And meaning that the 24 months DOESN'T doesn't start from the day the OAP was approved.

 

 

 

Interesting that Centerlink knows one's date of return to Australia, thus, date of departure as well, which means they know how many days spent inside and outside of Australia in a financial year. 

 

Does 183 days sound familiar?  

[KhunHeineken]

New video, only 3 weeks old.   They say it's coming in 2026.  No idea where they get that information from. 

 

Remember, it's the opposite for Aussie expat pensioners, who want to remain a resident of Australia for tax purposes, in order to avail themselves of the tax free threshold. 

 

 

[Captain Flack]

A reported post and replies breaking forum rules have been removed.

 

Rule 28. You will not make changes to messages quoted from other members posts, except for purposes of shortening the quoted post. Do not shorten any post in a way that alters the context of the original post. Do not change the formatting of the post you are quoting

[giddyup]

Anyone received a "Proof of Life" form from Centrelink?

I rang them this morning and asked if they could send the form by email instead of post. Answer no, only post.

Reason I asked is the last (first) one I received arrived afer the due date to return it because of the atrocious mail delivery here. This can result in the age pension being stopped, but it seems sending a PDF by email is too hard or too technical for C'link.

[Will27]

14 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Anyone received a "Proof of Life" form from Centrelink?

I rang them this morning and asked if they could send the form by email instead of post. Answer no, only post.

Reason I asked is the last (first) one I received arrived afer the due date to return it because of the atrocious mail delivery here. This can result in the age pension being stopped, but it seems sending a PDF by email is too hard or too technical for C'link.

That's just ridiculous.

 

I'm mean how hard is it to send one by email.

It's cheaper for them as well.

[giddyup]

21 minutes ago, Will27 said:

That's just ridiculous.

 

I'm mean how hard is it to send one by email.

It's cheaper for them as well.

There was no reason given, just that's the way we do it, and we're not open to any change for the better.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

Anyone received a "Proof of Life" form from Centrelink?

I rang them this morning and asked if they could send the form by email instead of post. Answer no, only post.

Reason I asked is the last (first) one I received arrived afer the due date to return it because of the atrocious mail delivery here. This can result in the age pension being stopped, but it seems sending a PDF by email is too hard or too technical for C'link.

Not yet.

 

I am waiting for one to be sent to my son's address.

 

I would have thought you would also get it in your notices on the MyGov website.

 

If you rang them, surely that's an indicator you are still alive?

 

[giddyup]

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Not yet.

 

I am waiting for one to be sent to my son's address.

 

I would have thought you would also get it in your notices on the MyGov website.

 

If you rang them, surely that's an indicator you are still alive?

 

No, it's not, they need the hard copy witnessed and signed by one of those designated on the form. You can send it back to them as a PDF document via the MyGov.au website.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

No, it's not, they need the hard copy witnessed and signed by one of those designated on the form. You can send it back to them as a PDF document via the MyGov.au website.

Search and maybe you can find the form on line. Complete it, get it endorsed as required and return it by post and by email.

[giddyup]

9 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Search and maybe you can find the form on line. Complete it, get it endorsed as required and return it by post and by email.

Already looked, can't see it anywhere.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

No, it's not, they need the hard copy witnessed and signed by one of those designated on the form. You can send it back to them as a PDF document via the MyGov.au website.

Are the witnesses required to be Australian? Or can a notary public in Thailand do it?

[Olmate]

No, but was in Ozrecently, went to.clink...... But I did get similar from NAB  re credit card! Due diligence check.from Aus banks.Wtf!  Must.do it.seems.Check ID, location, income stream, financial worth, citizen of any other country.Rang  them few.daysago...Nitemare!  Anybody get similar? 

[giddyup]

9 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Are the witnesses required to be Australian? Or can a notary public in Thailand do it?

There's quite a few options, police officer, lawyer, etc, etc. I have used both a police officer (free) for my Comsuper pension and a lawyer (500 Baht) for Centrelink. All Thais of course.