4 hours ago, giddyup said:

Never been asked to prove I'm still alive in 14 years of living in Thailand.

Are you 80 or older, because when you turn 82 the letter will be sent to you to prove you are alive.

 

2 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

Are you 80 or older, because when you turn 82 the letter will be sent to you to prove you are alive.

 

I'm 80 now.

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I'm 80 now.

If your OAP suddenly ceases after you turn 82, you'll know you didn't return the letter to prove you're still in the land of the living

2 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

If your OAP suddenly ceases after you turn 82, you'll know you didn't return the letter to prove you're still in the land of the living

What proof do they ask for on the letter? Otherwise anyone could fill it out and return it.

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

What proof do they ask for on the letter? Otherwise anyone could fill it out and return it.

Not quite.

Here are the requirements,

 

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/proof-life-compliance-reviews-if-youre-older-80-and-live-overseas?context=22526

8 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

Not quite.

Here are the requirements,

 

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/proof-life-compliance-reviews-if-youre-older-80-and-live-overseas?context=22526

Can't find what is an "authorised certifier" No, found it.

Proof of life certificates must be certified by an authorised certifier as specified in the Social Security (Administration) (Authorised Certifier) Determination 2019.

The following classes of person are specified as authorised certifiers.

Persons recognised under Australian law:

• a person who

   

  • is admitted to the legal profession, and
  • holds a certificate to practise as a legal practitioner
• a Registrar or Deputy Registrar
• a judge, magistrate or justice, or
• a person with same status as a judge, magistrate or justice
• a justice of the peace
• a notary public
• a police officer
• an Australian Consular Officer, or Australian Diplomatic Officer
• a person who is
  • in a place outside of Australia, and
  • authorised to perform consular acts at that place
• a person who is a medical practitioner.

Persons recognised in social security recipient's place of residence:

• a person who, under the law of or applying at that place, is currently authorised or entitled to practise in that place as:

   

  • a legal practitioner (however described), or
  • a notary public (however described), or
  • a medical practitioner (however described), or
  • a police officer (however described)
• a judge, magistrate or justice
• a registrar or deputy registrar

6 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Can't find what is an "authorised certifier"

This form gives you all the details of what is required,

 

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/aus061es-2006.pdf

21 hours ago, giddyup said:

Never been asked to prove I'm still alive in 14 years of living in Thailand.

Im Amazed You  have not its clearly stated !! l left April 24th 2022 was given self addressed envelope to post bsck to Australia . My Address where l will reside inside Philippines  ! Told every 2 Years you will receive A letter & will have to fill out Too prove you are still alive by Centrelink Overseas Foreign  Affairs based in Tasmania / Canberra also ! You must return as proof you are still Alive or call overseas hotline or Your pension will stop ! Made it very clear to me gave me  self address envelopes ! My American friend also received same letter from US Social security must also prove they have in Manilla A social security office they can refer to ! If he did not his pensions  would cease ! Letter arrived 4 months late pensions was stopped! Lucky for him they as l said have Social security in Manilla .. You must be luckiest man alive who still recieves pension After being out of Australia for 14  years Never retuned in all  thatt time . Centrelink stated you can come back Australia report at any Centrelink office  + leave again of you come back for family  visits its easy so they say but  your paying for Airline ticket to go back or when receive letter return so we know your still alive ? This was bought about many years ago family's claiming deceased relatives  pension ! So now burden of proof is on you ...

On 1/29/2023 at 7:52 AM, Mad mick said:

Dont waste your time Done that Just get ingnored " Its criminal act by Australian Governments what they are  doing to Age pensioners ! They the Government politicians receive full pensions can work make as much money as they like ! We Australian get kicked in the guts ! You pay taxes from day start working, cant recall correct amount lets say 10 cents in the $ taken out placed in pension  funds  tax you from day you start work to day you stop As it is now 67 Australian pension well below poverty level as it is ! every 2 years must confirm by mail only if overseas  your still alive or Age pensions stops your pension lot mail goes missing in Asia ? Why in modern digital  world we can not prove still alive via embassy or local consulate in country your residing in is beyond me or video link WhatsApp etc ! As it stand now l rtn Australia say hi Centrelink  and leave again within 2 or 3 weeks,  Australian pension is one of lowest paid in the modern worldso called wealth Country reasons lot of retirees leave Aussie can't afford to live there  ! Should not matter of you live outside  Australia & go bac claim age pension You paid during your working  life " taxes into Aussie pension funds  , immagrants to Australia must work 10 year for Age pensions " Australian born 30 + years of paying taxes " ! Its disgusting way Australians are treated by either Political  party Alp + Lnp   As for writing to PM Don't waste your time he's to busy with renewables pipe dream & Voice vote for indigenous Australians ! Deviding Australia is his agenda in similar manner as Bidem did to America via BLM when all lives matter ! We have a vote at  Federal or state elections for voice for all Australians !! Albo too busy bringing in apartheid politics " He does not care about Age pensioners Alp are now devisive political party Age pensions need to rise by 50 % to meet American social security or European standards just to survive in or out of Australia living is not easy ,  2 years must be bsck in Australia to claim its criminal act should be able go back and claim your pension its not charity you paid for it via taxes for your Age pension " IF you happen to die before pension age retirement they dont give your families the money back that you paid int ! Costello  under Howard Government took our pension money or  funds & placed all into future funds billions $$ went missing never seen again Future funds are ponzi scheme Money gone ? All Australians should be entitled to there pension regardless where you now reside in the world! Politicians are greedy parasits or legal Mafioso they receive pension + still make millions on the side Aussie who take Age pensions are limited what they allowed to earn ! In US at 67 you can receive pension and work to limit of $100,000 ontop of your pension ! No limit in NZ either can receive pension  & still work your paying taxes still. You paid for your pension already. Australia treats pensioners like a desease You worked paid your taxes . I find whole Australian system is deplorable treatment or elder abuse,  you cannot live inside  Australia on Aussie pension Its hard enough living  outside Australia but at least van have  meals per day instead of 1 in Australia ! Main reason Australians and other countries US go live in Asia  to survive as best we can on what little we receive 

well said.. and much more.... but the small brain thinks --- ohh I receive some thing for free......  what, are you 5 years old?  think about the countless years of paying taxes and the % forced into the pension funds which they keep trying to tax and abuse.... wake up braindead people!!!  remember all the people doing self sacrifice?  adding to the pension for tax benefits?  lol.. what another mafia idea they fell for....  the list of crimes are endless.....

An inflammatory post using profane language has been removed. 

On 1/29/2023 at 9:28 AM, giddyup said:

Never been asked to prove I'm still alive in 14 years of living in Thailand.

What so you neer left Thailand nor rtn Australia in 14 years ??? ????  From what was clearly spelt out to me was Simple prove your still alive every 2 years ! This started over family members claiming your pension while deceased Over 8 years ago ... I can only honestly tell you what was told to me At Centrelink & Given Self address envelope to send back to Australia Once i found permanent Address. As they will send a letter you must verify back you are living . US Citizens have social security office in Manilla to confirm every 2 years they are still alive ! Same reason  if deceased to ensure family members are not rorting the sustem , of deceased relative .. Australia  bought this in many years ago from Centrelink told me and seniors advice center saud that's a fact stop the rorting of relatives deceased pension etc, UK have the same ! Only if you did return Back Australia report Centrelink as your pension goes back up as your in Australia prior to leaving let them know and you go back to Flat overs seas rate as of now $960 per fortnight its not paid monthly any more from international Hobart ! Paid fortnightly as if your still in Australia at lower rate as you reside outside Australia your medicare card for pbs is suspended once you leave Any thats the fact ! Count yourself lucky if you been in Thailand never gone back in 14 years to Australia good luck to you but those are the rules today almost 8 years ago system apparently changed .. kind regards 

2 minutes ago, Mad mick said:

What so you neer left Thailand nor rtn Australia in 14 years ??? ????  From what was clearly spelt out to me was Simple prove your still alive every 2 years ! This started over family members claiming your pension while deceased Over 8 years ago ... I can only honestly tell you what was told to me At Centrelink & Given Self address envelope to send back to Australia Once i found permanent Address. As they will send a letter you must verify back you are living . US Citizens have social security office in Manilla to confirm every 2 years they are still alive ! Same reason  if deceased to ensure family members are not rorting the sustem , of deceased relative .. Australia  bought this in many years ago from Centrelink told me and seniors advice center saud that's a fact stop the rorting of relatives deceased pension etc, UK have the same ! Only if you did return Back Australia report Centrelink as your pension goes back up as your in Australia prior to leaving let them know and you go back to Flat overs seas rate as of now $960 per fortnight its not paid monthly any more from international Hobart ! Paid fortnightly as if your still in Australia at lower rate as you reside outside Australia your medicare card for pbs is suspended once you leave Any thats the fact ! Count yourself lucky if you been in Thailand never gone back in 14 years to Australia good luck to you but those are the rules today almost 8 years ago system apparently changed .. kind regards 

- Yes the system has changed, a lot.

- I went back after being out of OZ for around 23 years to do the 2 year penance, arrived in OZ December 2019.

- Nothing said at the passport desk on arrival.

- Day after I arrived I started the application for the OAP. First payment received less than 3 weeks later.

- The first day I went to C'link to get a CRN (C'link Reference number) the pleasant lady said 'do you still have your Medicare card?'

- I said 'No misplaced years ago'.

- She responded 'do you have the number? I said 'no'.

- She responded 'I will do a search, then said 'can't be found, maybe too old, never mind' and at the same time a letter printed out on her desk which she gave to me and said 'If you need medical help/care use this letter and the new number on the letter, you'll get a new plastic card in the post about 2 weeks'.

- The new plastic card arrived about 4 days later, used it shortly after, no questions asked.

 Been here 8yrs, have mygov ac.No contact re dead yet! 

 

 

 

20 minutes ago, Olmate said:

 Been here 8yrs, have mygov ac.No contact re dead yet! 

 

 

 

If you are not over 80 Centrelink will not bother you

On 1/29/2023 at 9:28 AM, giddyup said:

Never been asked to prove I'm still alive in 14 years of living in Thailand.

Lucky you,  never been back to Australia in 14 years is that correct?

2 hours ago, Mad mick said:

Lucky you,  never been back to Australia in 14 years is that correct?

Correct.

A heads-up for people returning to Australia. Centrelink is now privatised under the name Services Australia.

Before, when I landed in Australia Border Force would automatically notify Centrelink of my arrival. Now, Centrelink does not know I am here until I tell them, which has implications in terms of getting a new pension card, and restoration of supplements and the PBS..

Services Australia ( an oxymoron ) does not accept walk-ins anymore, one has to make an appointment. By phoning 132 200, where a wait time can be 1 - 2 hours.

 

One other thing. Because I had all my COVID vaccinations in Thailand, Medicare had no record, so the vax I was offered was first generation Astra Zeneca. I had to have my Thai vax history uploaded to Medicare before the pharmacist would give me a bivalent Pfizer.

43 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

A heads-up for people returning to Australia. Centrelink is now privatised under the name Services Australia.

Before, when I landed in Australia Border Force would automatically notify Centrelink of my arrival. Now, Centrelink does not know I am here until I tell them, which has implications in terms of getting a new pension card, and restoration of supplements and the PBS..

Services Australia ( an oxymoron ) does not accept walk-ins anymore, one has to make an appointment. By phoning 132 200, where a wait time can be 1 - 2 hours.

 

One other thing. Because I had all my COVID vaccinations in Thailand, Medicare had no record, so the vax I was offered was first generation Astra Zeneca. I had to have my Thai vax history uploaded to Medicare before the pharmacist would give me a bivalent Pfizer.

I take it you showed your Thai records to Medicare who uploaded the details for you?

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

A heads-up for people returning to Australia. Centrelink is now privatised under the name Services Australia.

Before, when I landed in Australia Border Force would automatically notify Centrelink of my arrival. Now, Centrelink does not know I am here until I tell them, which has implications in terms of getting a new pension card, and restoration of supplements and the PBS..

Surely Services Australia are informed about outbound travel. 

2 hours ago, Will27 said:

I take it you showed your Thai records to Medicare who uploaded the details for you?

The pharmacist did that, and charged me $20 to do so.

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The pharmacist did that, and charged me $20 to do so.

Crikey, could have bought a lamb chop with that! 

Just now, Olmate said:

Crikey, could have bought a lamb chop with that! 

A bit off topic; however, the change made to the PBS by some bureaucratic genius has me quite gobsmacked. The PBS is only paid on the original prescription, any repeat is no longer subsidized.

Which means I go to a bulk-billing doctor to get another prescription. Any cost saving generated by not subsidizing repeats is well and truly swallowed up by the cost of a bulk-billed doctor.

I suppose it stops guys like me taking six months' worth of medications into Thailand, although the meds I buy in Thailand are quite often the same as the PBS cost.

IMO whoever thought this one up should be on a dole queue.

Paid $65 for 3 eye fillet steaks yesterday.

34 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

A bit off topic; however, the change made to the PBS by some bureaucratic genius has me quite gobsmacked. The PBS is only paid on the original prescription, any repeat is no longer subsidized.

Which means I go to a bulk-billing doctor to get another prescription. Any cost saving generated by not subsidizing repeats is well and truly swallowed up by the cost of a bulk-billed doctor.

I suppose it stops guys like me taking six months' worth of medications into Thailand, although the meds I buy in Thailand are quite often the same as the PBS cost.

IMO whoever thought this one up should be on a dole queue.

Paid $65 for 3 eye fillet steaks yesterday.

I discovered that it's now not easy to buy pasties. Did find one on-line bakery, advertising 3 huge pasties for AUD50 plus AUD5 for home delivery just Nth of Sydney.

 

I took the plunge, delivery slow and huge turned out to be quite small and taste quite lacking, no carrot at all. For over 2 years searched further for pasties in the Northern Beaches area, never found any. 

 

But recently had an excellent pastie at the Irish Pub in Chiang Mai, good size, very tasty, 90Baht.

2 hours ago, Olmate said:

Crikey, could have bought a lamb chop with that! 

Or a beer, now rapidly approaching that value. 

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

A bit off topic; however, the change made to the PBS by some bureaucratic genius has me quite gobsmacked. The PBS is only paid on the original prescription, any repeat is no longer subsidized.

Which means I go to a bulk-billing doctor to get another prescription. Any cost saving generated by not subsidizing repeats is well and truly swallowed up by the cost of a bulk-billed doctor.

I suppose it stops guys like me taking six months' worth of medications into Thailand, although the meds I buy in Thailand are quite often the same as the PBS cost.

IMO whoever thought this one up should be on a dole queue.

Paid $65 for 3 eye fillet steaks yesterday.

Is this a very recent change? Back in 11/22 I purchased scripts for overseas travel. All were fulfilled ate the seniors price for a script i.e. $6.30 per Script. 

 

Today bought a small eye fillet steak for $20.00 - cost per kilo AUD$90.00 at the local butcher!

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

A bit off topic; however, the change made to the PBS by some bureaucratic genius has me quite gobsmacked. The PBS is only paid on the original prescription, any repeat is no longer subsidized.

Which means I go to a bulk-billing doctor to get another prescription. Any cost saving generated by not subsidizing repeats is well and truly swallowed up by the cost of a bulk-billed doctor.

I suppose it stops guys like me taking six months' worth of medications into Thailand, although the meds I buy in Thailand are quite often the same as the PBS cost.

IMO whoever thought this one up should be on a dole queue.

Paid $65 for 3 eye fillet steaks yesterday.

I think you are getting confused between the $1 discount some pharmacies give to the aged and the PBS subsidy.

 

I had a repeat prescription dispensed early today with the PBS subsidy but not the $1 discount because I didn't wait the prescribed number of days between the repeats.

 

If you are going overseas your GP can still mark the prescription so all repeats are dispensed with the PBS subsidy at the same time.

 

 

1 hour ago, LosLobo said:

I think you are getting confused between the $1 discount some pharmacies give to the aged and the PBS subsidy.

 

I had a repeat prescription dispensed early today with the PBS subsidy but not the $1 discount because I didn't wait the prescribed number of days between the repeats.

 

If you are going overseas your GP can still mark the prescription so all repeats are dispensed with the PBS subsidy at the same time.

 

 

I can only go by the advice the pharmacist gave me. I don't know if this is a recent change.

4 hours ago, scorecard said:

I discovered that it's now not easy to buy pasties. Did find one on-line bakery, advertising 3 huge pasties for AUD50 plus AUD5 for home delivery just Nth of Sydney.

 

I took the plunge, delivery slow and huge turned out to be quite small and taste quite lacking, no carrot at all. For over 2 years searched further for pasties in the Northern Beaches area, never found any. 

 

But recently had an excellent pastie at the Irish Pub in Chiang Mai, good size, very tasty, 90Baht.

I just shelled out $100 for  pub meals in Australia for 3. I could feed 10 people in Thailand for that money and equivalent dishes, even more at a food court.

Don't get me started on massages, any version.

33 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I just shelled out $100 for  pub meals in Australia for 3. I could feed 10 people in Thailand for that money and equivalent dishes, even more at a food court.

Don't get me started on massages, any version.

When I was staying at a War Vets Village on the Northern beaches I got invited to join some pensioners to go to a local seafood restaurant. 

 

Others quietly mentioned ('it's very expensive but so are all restaurants).  Nothing on the menu re seafood/meals was under AUD80. A seafood platter (for 1) was AUD140. 

 

Big restaurant, good service, apparently full house every meal because of the freshness of the locally caught fish.

 

I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich AUD28 (not toasted), that seemed to be the 'default' several others were ordering.

 

When it came I was quite disappointed, a small amount of ham (1 small slice) and 1 commerial cheese slice. 

 

After that I politely declined invitations to go to restaurants. But no big deal, an excellent big menu professional restaurant within the War Vets village. Roast beef (several thick slices), gravy, yorkshire pudding a 3 veg AUD8.50 (obviously heavily subsidised).

 

The beef and other 'roast of the day meals' often became my default order (other options; roast pork and veg just AUD6, Pie and peas, big pie AUD3.50). And lots more.

 

If I went for breakfast I often ordered a bacon and egg roll, 3 or 4 big rashers of fresh bacon and 2 fried eggs, all made fresh, with B B Q sauce AUD3.50. Good value.

Just back from a working holiday to Perth, underground truck driver, good money @ 42 an hour but that's 12 hours a day for 14 nights and days (7&7) A pack of smokes in Aust is about $60 bucks. No thanks I want to retire in Thailand