Australian Aged Pension

[4MyEgo]

Just a quick question lads and I know this has been answered before, but just of the top:

 

1) How much can a pension earn per before their AAP starts getting cut, is it $170 per fortnight ?

 

2) Does the pensioner have to advise Centrelink if they earn less than the amount, i.e. that they would be getting their pension cut.

 

It's just that mum asked me the other day and I said to her I think it's $170 a fortnight, so just wanting to clarify.

[LosLobo]

19 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Just a quick question lads and I know this has been answered before, but just of the top:

 

1) How much can a pension earn per before their AAP starts getting cut, is it $170 per fortnight ?

 

2) Does the pensioner have to advise Centrelink if they earn less than the amount, i.e. that they would be getting their pension cut.

 

It's just that mum asked me the other day and I said to her I think it's $170 a fortnight, so just wanting to clarify.

1) $172/Fn. But it depends on the source (work as an employee, financial investments etc)

2) If there is no change in circumstances no advice is necessary.

 

[4MyEgo]

Just now, LosLobo said:

1) $172/Fn. But it depends on the source (work as an employee, financial investments etc)

2) If there is no change in circumstances no advice is necessary.

 

It's not really a source of income, I asked mum if I could transfer some funds into her account every year so as to minimise you know what and she said, that's fine, but how much can I earn before they cut my pension, that's when I said I think it was $170 per fortnight.

 

So I suppose it's not really an income, although I could say I pay her to do some house cleaning for me ?

[LosLobo]

11 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

So I suppose it's not really an income, although I could say I pay her to do some house cleaning for me ?

I don't know if a gift is classed as income.

She would not qualify as a bona fide employee for the $250 work bonus. ????

 

[4MyEgo]

Just now, LosLobo said:

She would not qualify as a bona fide employee for the $250 work bonus. ????

Not sure what means mate, I suppose I could always say I borrowed some money off of her and paid it back, less that $4,472 per annum of course ?

[moojar]

^^ I don't know the answer to your question 4MyEgo, but I noticed this article recently that seems to be along the same lines?  How much pensioners are allowed to earn, seems to give an explanation:   https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/age-pension/news/pension-income-boost 

 

Hope it's of some use. 

[4MyEgo]

3 hours ago, moojar said:

^^ I don't know the answer to your question 4MyEgo, but I noticed this article recently that seems to be along the same lines?  How much pensioners are allowed to earn, seems to give an explanation:   https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/age-pension/news/pension-income-boost 

 

Hope it's of some use. 

 

FULL Age Pension: Since 1 July 2018, a single person can earn $172 a fortnight (or the equivalent of $4,472 a year), before having the FULL Age Pension entitlement reduced.

 

https://www.superguide.com.au/retirement-planning/age-pension-income-test-thresholds

[norbra]

For returning "owed" monies you must have disclosed this amount as a debt when you applied for the pension

[CARLO BALDASSARRE]

On 2/16/2019 at 6:54 PM, 4MyEgo said:

 

FULL Age Pension: Since 1 July 2018, a single person can earn $172 a fortnight (or the equivalent of $4,472 a year), before having the FULL Age Pension entitlement reduced.

 

https://www.superguide.com.au/retirement-planning/age-pension-income-test-thresholds

Don't forget the $250 .00 bonus scheme.....

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, CARLO BALDASSARRE said:

Don't forget the $250 .00 bonus scheme.....

What is that all about, does she have to register, pa tax etc etc ?

[CARLO BALDASSARRE]

22 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

What is that all about, does she have to register, pa tax etc etc ?

...give that ago bloke ....then ring centrelink

[moojar]

I don't recall whether we've discussed residency / non-residency here or in the 'general' Oz thread.  But this article / ruling might be of interest to some:  

ABC Article: Expat scores tax victory against ATO over place of residence

 

 

[Bugsy777]

A mate returned from Cambodia to begin his claim for the age pension after living there for a couple of years.  Centrelink told him that he needs to have been in the country for 12 months before he could claim. So he took a job for a year, lodged his claim, and then returned to Cambodia.  The age pension also includes a supplementary payment which cuts out after a short time away. It is also wise to open a 'mygov' account which allows you to instantly inform them of any changes that you may need to report without having to actually phone them. Phone calls can often take over an hour to be answered.  Also, if you are married to a younger person who can work then your are not entitled to the single age pension but you get instead half the couples pension. If she also earns any income you must report this immediately on the 'mygov' account and Centrlink will reduce your pension by the appropriate amount. The reduction is only for the fortnight period that she earned an income so as I said above, it is best to open a 'mygov' account and keep them informed.

[moojar]

1 hour ago, Bugsy777 said:

Centrelink told him that he needs to have been in the country for 12 months before he could claim. So he took a job for a year, lodged his claim, and then returned to Cambodia.  

Thanks Bugsy, always good to get reports of recent actual events.  And I'm guessing your last name is 'Malone'?  :-)   

 

But what's the go there - I thought you could apply straight away upon returning, but did not get 'portability' until you'd spent two years back in the country / since being granted the pension?  Perhaps your mate's short time away - two years - was a factor?  Or he returned prior to pension age?  

 

BTW was talking to my accountant just the other week about residency for tax  purposes.  Not the same as Centrelink, but still.  Accountant says ATO cannot claim I am 'non resident' for the first two financial years I am gone, no matter how little time I spend in Oz.  

[kellio]

I have a different issue regarding my medicare entitlements as an Australian aged pensioner. 
My problem is as follows.
As a pensioner, I'm entitled to free medicare.
However, my Medicare card expired in January 2019 and I have not been issued with a new one. I still have a permanent address in Australia.
I have an appointment with a vascular specialist doctor in a public hospital in 2 weeks and have been advised by hospital staff that because my medicare card has expired,I'll need to bring a new one before I can see the doctor.
 I have tried logging into my "MyGov" account to link my medicare with my Aged pension and Centerlink/Human Resources but the form is rejecting my data. eg, my medicare card number and Australian address and I'm being redirected to a "contact us" page for medicare.
However, the email option doesn't allow for the inclusion of personal details and the phone number is a "02" number which would mean joining ques which would exhaust the prepaid SIM before actually speaking to anyone.
So, basically, does anyone know how long a pensioner can live outside Australia and still be illegible for medicare?
I've been in Thailand for a little over 6 months.

[MalandLee]

You're OK mate, when you get to OZ go into a medicare office and they will organise a replacement. You have to be out of OZ for 5 years before it presents a problem - even then you will be OK.

 

You just fell into the "renew" trap - you (usually) MUST be in OZ to renew.

SOURCE: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-card/managing/what-happens-when-your-card-expires

[MalandLee]

20 minutes ago, kellio said:

I have a different issue regarding my medicare entitlements as an Australian aged pensioner. 
My problem is as follows.
As a pensioner, I'm entitled to free medicare.
However, my Medicare card expired in January 2019 and I have not been issued with a new one. I still have a permanent address in Australia.
I have an appointment with a vascular specialist doctor in a public hospital in 2 weeks and have been advised by hospital staff that because my medicare card has expired,I'll need to bring a new one before I can see the doctor.
 I have tried logging into my "MyGov" account to link my medicare with my Aged pension and Centerlink/Human Resources but the form is rejecting my data. eg, my medicare card number and Australian address and I'm being redirected to a "contact us" page for medicare.
However, the email option doesn't allow for the inclusion of personal details and the phone number is a "02" number which would mean joining ques which would exhaust the prepaid SIM before actually speaking to anyone.
So, basically, does anyone know how long a pensioner can live outside Australia and still be illegible for medicare?
I've been in Thailand for a little over 6 months.

You're OK mate, when you get to OZ go into a medicare office and they will organise a replacement. You have to be out of OZ for 5 years before it presents a problem - even then you will be OK.

 

You just fell into the "renew" trap - you (usually) MUST be in OZ to renew.

SOURCE: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-card/managing/what-happens-when-your-card-expires

[4MyEgo]

17 hours ago, MalandLee said:

You're OK mate, when you get to OZ go into a medicare office and they will organise a replacement. You have to be out of OZ for 5 years before it presents a problem - even then you will be OK.

 

You just fell into the "renew" trap - you (usually) MUST be in OZ to renew.

SOURCE: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-card/managing/what-happens-when-your-card-expires

The moral of the story is to know when your card is expiring, have a MyGov account and if your not going back to Oz for a while, apply online for a replacement card, say 6 months out through your MyGov account, advising Medicare that you lost your card and they will send you a new one with another 5 years to run, to your residential address back in Oz, or a PO Box.

 

NEVER tell them you live overseas, they will eventually work it out when they link up with border control as did Centrelink, that's when your toast ????

 

[Tradewind777]

A few questions about the AAP and Medicare entitlement:

 

- If on the Pension and doing the 2 year qualifying period prior to getting portability under the AWLP rules, as I understand it, the pension is cut following ANY, holiday overseas - however short.  On return my understanding is that the AAP is resumed.   My first query is, how much overseas travel in the 2 year qualifying period is considered reasonable to maintain ongoing residency.   My friend wishes to travel, doesn't mind losing the pension while away but wants to eventually get portability so does not want to loose qualifying time continuity.  If he did say 5months per year travel, (many separate trips), would they deem him non-res and cancel his pension under any circumstances?

 

- Once you get the AWLP approval - after 2 years.  What is the story with your Medicare card?  Do you lose it once you move overseas?  Under what circumstances can you retain it.  I see this as a big issue for him given a heart condition.  If you do lose it and come back to Oz now and again, are you entitled to the Medicare card during your stay?

 

Appreciate any feedback.

 

 

[4MyEgo]

18 hours ago, Tradewind777 said:

A few questions about the AAP and Medicare entitlement:

 

- If on the Pension and doing the 2 year qualifying period prior to getting portability under the AWLP rules, as I understand it, the pension is cut following ANY, holiday overseas - however short.  On return my understanding is that the AAP is resumed.   My first query is, how much overseas travel in the 2 year qualifying period is considered reasonable to maintain ongoing residency.   My friend wishes to travel, doesn't mind losing the pension while away but wants to eventually get portability so does not want to loose qualifying time continuity.  If he did say 5months per year travel, (many separate trips), would they deem him non-res and cancel his pension under any circumstances?

 

- Once you get the AWLP approval - after 2 years.  What is the story with your Medicare card?  Do you lose it once you move overseas?  Under what circumstances can you retain it.  I see this as a big issue for him given a heart condition.  If you do lose it and come back to Oz now and again, are you entitled to the Medicare card during your stay?

 

Appreciate any feedback.

 

 

I am not on the AAP however have read enough to think it is fair to say, your friend shouldn't travel if waiting for the 2 year qualifying period, i.e. he is receiving the AAP and waiting for the 2 years to be up for portability.

 

From what I have read, if he takes say for argument's sake 4 weeks as an overseas holiday and advises Centrelink, they might agree to it and tell him he will have to wait a further 4 weeks on his portability plans, i.e. they add the 4 weeks onto the 2 years for portability.

 

Medicare from my understanding is cancelled after 5 years, however if he returns and uses it to see his/her doctor it keeps going until the expiry date on the card is up. Now Medicare is not yet hooked up like Centrelink who is hooked up with border control/immigration, call them what you want, but in the future it is more than likely that they will be. Now what I suggest if your friend hasn't already got a MyGov online account, to get one and add Medicare to it. The reason I say that is because as I reside overseas, my card was coming up to expire, so I made an application for a new one, i.e. said I lost the other one and they sent me a new one with 5 years on it to my registered address (mates place) in Oz, and I collected it 10 months later when I had planned to visit family.

 

The above said, I would say he/she would lose it if his/her residency status changes, however if he/she returns to Oz to live, he/she will have to apply for renewal of Medicare, and proof of residency will be required with copy of a lease, drivers licence etc etc, then I believe there might be a period before cover kicks in, however not sure if it would be immediate or not, others might be able to share any experiences.

 

Now as for the heart condition, I had a stent put in when I lived in Sydney in 2008, I stock up on meds when I return, 12 months at a time, so it's an annual trip to visit family and the doc and specialists every 2nd year, now watch out because I believe you can only bring in 30 days worth of drugs into Thailand a year, alternatively he/she can buy them here, but look out, pretty expensive as they won't be subsidised like in Oz.

 

Also depending on his/her heart condition, would strongly recommend looking at private health cover with existing condition, I found a provider who took on my pre-existing condition (stent, left descending artery, LDA) in 2008 with no issues since, and it is only an extra $60AUS on top of the policy, being 57 when I took out the policy it was something like 58,000 baht or $2,400AUS in total depending on the exchange rate at the time. Most won't cover, but depending on his/her condition he can give them a try, David Shield who I am with will look at covering pre-existing conditions over 5 years if nothing has changed in that condition since the event.

 

The cover I have is for here (Thailand) and 4 neighbouring countries and up to 90 days emergency cover to Australia. It is for inpatient only, emergency or elective surgery and covers me for up to 1.2 mil US $.

 

Hope the above sheds some light on some of your questions.

[maccastime]

I lived in Thailand for 6 years never lost my Medicare, i returned applied for old age pension waited 4 months to get it, they were concerned I wasn’t staying in Aus, then advised I could not leave the country for a day or week or month for the two year period. As soon as this was served I completed an online permission to trave form put in dates etc went to thail for just under a month all good immigration advise them when I returned. Have been in to have a chat with them re change of address etc I asked do I need to advise them each time I travel is they said yes just advise online. But yes they told me if I left aus during the two year ban my pension would cease and I would have to go through the whole process agai. Hope this helps

[maccastime]

On 3/5/2019 at 11:04 PM, MalandLee said:

You're OK mate, when you get to OZ go into a medicare office and they will organise a replacement. You have to be out of OZ for 5 years before it presents a problem - even then you will be OK.

 

You just fell into the "renew" trap - you (usually) MUST be in OZ to renew.

SOURCE: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-card/managing/what-happens-when-your-card-expires

Yes u will be fine I was away for 6 years all good

[Tradewind777]

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

From what I have read, if he takes say for argument's sake 4 weeks as an overseas holiday and advises Centrelink, they might agree to it and tell him he will have to wait a further 4 weeks on his portability plans, i.e. they add the 4 weeks onto the 2 years for portability.

 

I have heard that this is NOT the case.  Being an Australian resident means living in the place where your main social base is.  You can travel in the 2 year period and the period begins when you apply and ends 2 years to the day in the future.  Travel TIME DOES NOT GET ADDED ON, it just means you loose the pension during the time you are away.  However, my understanding is that if the travel is excessive, there is a risk that Centrelink could assess you as a non-res and CANCEL your pension permanently.

[Will27]

1 hour ago, Tradewind777 said:

I have heard that this is NOT the case.  Being an Australian resident means living in the place where your main social base is.  You can travel in the 2 year period and the period begins when you apply and ends 2 years to the day in the future.  Travel TIME DOES NOT GET ADDED ON, it just means you loose the pension during the time you are away.  However, my understanding is that if the travel is excessive, there is a risk that Centrelink could assess you as a non-res and CANCEL your pension permanently.

I've read and heard what 4MyEgo said.

 

That if you go away on holidays whilst doing the 2 year sentence, the time you're away gets added on.

[4MyEgo]

9 hours ago, Tradewind777 said:

I have heard that this is NOT the case.  Being an Australian resident means living in the place where your main social base is.  You can travel in the 2 year period and the period begins when you apply and ends 2 years to the day in the future.  Travel TIME DOES NOT GET ADDED ON, it just means you loose the pension during the time you are away.  However, my understanding is that if the travel is excessive, there is a risk that Centrelink could assess you as a non-res and CANCEL your pension permanently.

Yes you have to be an Australian Resident when applying for the AAP, and BE PRESENT IN AUSTRALIA when making the application, meaning you have to be living in Oz when making your application, Centrelink must be satisfied that you are an AUstralian Resident, i.e. make sure that you haven't just returned from abroad to get the AAP and then disappear after the 2 year waiting period to have your pension made portable, if you had been living overseas prior to your application being submitted.

 

If your friend has lived in Oz for 2 years prior to getting the AAP and is approved, he/she can leave Oz at anytime and the pension is made portable, the only thing that gets reduced on the AAP is the subsidies, like electricity, etc etc, pension and or seniors card get cancelled when you are out of the country for more than 6 weeks, and get reinstated when you return, however have to reapply for the cards. 

 

If your friend is returning from abroad and applies for the AAP, and is approved, he/she must sit it out for 2 years, if he/she leaves during that period, Centrelink will apply the stop clock to the 2 year period, ad can even make him/her reapply if they feel he/she is trying to live overseas as a non resident.

[maccastime]

8 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Yes you have to be an Australian Resident when applying for the AAP, and BE PRESENT IN AUSTRALIA when making the application, meaning you have to be living in Oz when making your application, Centrelink must be satisfied that you are an AUstralian Resident, i.e. make sure that you haven't just returned from abroad to get the AAP and then disappear after the 2 year waiting period to have your pension made portable, if you had been living overseas prior to your application being submitted.

 

If your friend has lived in Oz for 2 years prior to getting the AAP and is approved, he/she can leave Oz at anytime and the pension is made portable, the only thing that gets reduced on the AAP is the subsidies, like electricity, etc etc, pension and or seniors card get cancelled when you are out of the country for more than 6 weeks, and get reinstated when you return, however have to reapply for the cards. 

 

If your friend is returning from abroad and applies for the AAP, and is approved, he/she must sit it out for 2 years, if he/she leaves during that period, Centrelink will apply the stop clock to the 2 year period, ad can even make him/her reapply if they feel he/she is trying to live overseas as a non resident.

Yes correct as I mentioned in my post yesterday if you are serving a two year ban to travel that is what it is. If you travel take a number and re apply all over again which they can slow down the process if they wish

[maccastime]

16 hours ago, Will27 said:

I've read and heard what 4MyEgo said.

 

That if you go away on holidays whilst doing the 2 year sentence, the time you're away gets added on.

Incorrect

[4MyEgo]

25 minutes ago, maccastime said:

Incorrect

Link: https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/age-pension/claiming-your-pension-overseas/twoyear-residency-rule

 

Extract: 

 

A. The two-year residency rule applies to those who have been residing outside of Australia and return to claim an Age Pension.

 

If your principal residence has been in Australia prior to claiming the Age Pension, then you do not have to serve the two-year residency period should you wish to leave the country.

 

If you remain a resident of Australia, a temporary absence from Australia during this period would normally still be counted towards your two-year residence period.

 

If you plan to leave Australia permanently, your Pension Supplement payment rate will change and your Energy Supplement will cease. If it’s an extended temporary absence, this will happen after six weeks.

After six weeks absence, your pension will be paid at the Outside Australia rate and after 26 weeks absence, your pension depends on how long you have worked and lived in Australia. You can find out more about how your Australian working life residence is used to calculate your Age Pension payment here.

 

Link: 

 

Extract: 

 

New recipients who travel overseas during the initial 2 year period will have their payments suspended whilst overseas and the time spent overseas added to their 2 year residency period.

So it looks as though all aussies will have to accept their "2 years time" in australia before they can be paid whilst living overseas.

 

Should be clear enough, if not, one more link for you below, happy reading ????

 

https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/age-pension/claiming-your-pension-overseas/age-pension-on-return-to-australia

 

 

[rhodie]

The topic below is recent and the OP seems to have been given information that allows travel for short holidays during the 2 year wait.

 

 

[giddyup]

3 hours ago, maccastime said:

Incorrect

Why?