I am on a DVA and centerlink disability pension. My first trip is intended to be 12 mnths, I have a permant postal address. Do they really care if you are travelling when you are on a disability.
??
dave06 said
05:26 PM Oct 8, 2009
mate first up let me welcome you to the nomads and second congratulations on being able and wanting to travel with a disability
being disabled doesnt mean you are dead, I deal with the disability side of the social welfare system all the time, honestly they couldnt give a rats whether you are home or out and about provided you answer their letters on time
have someone pick up your mail and advise you if anything needs attantion and just deal with it as it arises.
have fun and see the joint before you are wormbait!
Muzza said
05:34 PM Oct 8, 2009
Thanks Dave, I have just finished reading your posts.
Basil Faulty said
05:44 PM Oct 8, 2009
DVA don't care, they will just put your money in the account you nominate....
My only worry with long term travel is your Tax return, these days it can be done online I guess.... Not that I pay tax but I still have to put in a return so that they can give me back what tax I pay....
suenami said
08:36 PM Oct 8, 2009
Basil Faulty wrote:
My only worry with long term travel is your Tax return, these days it can be done online I guess.... Not that I pay tax but I still have to put in a return so that they can give me back what tax I pay....
What?
Ma said
09:46 PM Oct 8, 2009
Muzza wrote:
I am on a DVA and centerlink disability pension. My first trip is intended to be 12 mnths, I have a permant postal address. Do they really care if you are travelling when you are on a disability.
??
DVA AND Centrelink ?? How did you manage that one Muzza?
dave06 said
10:23 AM Oct 9, 2009
not sure about your state Ma but here in south aus out back we have only one building which deals with all manner of things "welfare"
as we enter the building D.V.A. is off to the left and dole bludgers to the right, the disability sector is off to the right then turn left and down the back (kinda reflects the way society looks at our disabled)
because my son is handicapped and my "other" family combines all our "special" kids in the district I often represent them in conflict (war by any other name) against centrelink, I am very conversant with the ways of the "opposition"
to talk to a "frontline" pencil pushing, half baked, barely audible, desk jockey out front is a waste of time and space, the action must be imediately forwarded to the pensions department and in particular an official from the pensions department particularly the disabled pensions department if he/she is free, is the only one to speak to
but anyway here our "special" kiddies must deal with both centrelink and disability pension side, so I'm not surprised that they throw the D.V.A. in there as well
I might add our "special" kids range in age from 2 to 70 so not "kids" as such but will always be "my kids"
Cruising Granny said
06:21 PM Oct 9, 2009
Hi and welcome Muzza.
We don't have to be absolutely immobile to be disabled - it comes in many forms.
I have long-term chronic health issues which make me an unrealiable employee, but it doesn't stop me hitching up the van, climbing into the cruiser and driving a manual vehicle.
It's in your best interest to advise Centrelink of your travel plans. As said previously, it doesn't bother DVA too much, but you probably should advise them of your intentions as well.
If you change your address you will have to advise everyone you deal with, especially Centrelink.
As you go along you will complete a rental concesson form, get it signed by the park operator and submit it to THE office. This just keeps up your rent assistance.
My mailing address is my daughter's PO box in Edithburgh SA, but I'm currently in Cairns.
I send her a pack of prepaid bags, and when there's enough mail she sends it on, about every 6 weeks, but you may need to get it more often. As long as someone is handling your mail for you, or can just forward it on to wherever you are next, it's all ok really.
My banking, telstra and bigpond accounts are dealt with online.
You won't have power or water bills, or rates and taxes, unless you have real estate somewhere, maybe with tenants, maybe managed by an agent. You'll need to advise them of your plans, and ask them for advice on how they want to deal with it.
You bank account stays the same because this stuff can be dealt with from any branch, or online, or by phone.
If you're retired and not earning too much money from super or investments, you won't have to pay tax after the final year you worked, if you did any paid work. I worked for 2.5 years, half time, receiving Disability Benefits for the other "half". Then I wrapped everything up during the next tax year.
All the best to you, and safe and happy travels. Cheers Chris
Rolly said
07:34 PM Oct 9, 2009
A yahoo/hotmail/gmail or whatever e-mail account will help you communicate more freely with the bureaucracies, as will a mobile phone on the the nextG network (better coverage) where they can send notifications of appointments etc. by SMS/text.
Carrier pigeons are, unfortunely, less reliable in areas heavily populated by eagles/hawks/kestrels/harriers/falcons and the like.
Cruising Granny said
10:05 PM Oct 9, 2009
I have an account with Bigpond for my mobile wireless broadband with Next G. They have a great deal going at the moment. And a laptop/notebook to do it all on. It's a great way to keep in touch with family and friends, keep an eye on the weather, plan your travels on google maps, see the sights before you see the sights, check out the terrain before you hit the road.
My mobile is also Next G friendly. There are a couple of other service providers now doing mobile internet, but Telstra only leases out a little bit of space, which makes these services limited and even less reliable than Telstra Bigpond.
The other providers such as Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail have all recently been victims of hackers, so that may not be the wisest, safest way to go.
In all events, I think Rolly's idea of pigeons would be more reliable.
That 98% coverage Telstra brags about only applies to the populated coastal areas and maybe Alice Springs and a few major outback centres. It's even dodgy near places like Geraldton in WA.
Keep asking questions, do lots of research and ask more questions. That's how we learn, and that's how we who may have had the experience can share it and pass it on.
Rolly said
01:55 AM Oct 10, 2009
Granny,
As I understood it the services themselves were not hacked but many of their users had replied to phony/phishing emails giving away their personal information to the crooks who sent them.
Have more worry about using your credit card at McDonalds hamburger joints in WA; crooks have somehow scammed $1M or more from skimming information from eftpos transactions made there.
In any organisation there will be crooked individuals, even bent coppers, as they used to call them.
We all need to be very much less trusting of those who stand to benefit from our gullibility, and play our cards (if you'll excuse the pun) very close to the chect.
Cruising Granny said
01:41 PM Oct 10, 2009
That really frustrates me Rolly. All this wonderful technology which makes communication and research and entertainment so easy from home, falls victims to those of the community who's only role in life is to take, and get whatever than can for nothing.
Use vs abuse. I'm too honest and can't comprehend how these so called "smart" people use their smarts for bad instead of good. Imagine how good they'd be at a real, honest, legal business if they put their minds to it, to earn their living, rather than ripping people's hard earned money off them.
I've been a potential victim of a credit card rip off, but thanks to a watchful, dilligent bank person I was saved. They stopped the payment and issued a new card.
I'm much less trusting than I used to be, but those less watchful and aware are sitting ducks and prime targets for the dishonest.
I realise the providers weren't hacked, but their customers were, making the providers' customers vulnerable. Gullible by association, sort of, I think.
Basil Faulty said
04:52 PM Oct 10, 2009
Ma wrote:
Muzza wrote:
I am on a DVA and centerlink disability pension. My first trip is intended to be 12 mnths, I have a permant postal address. Do they really care if you are travelling when you are on a disability.
??
DVA AND Centrelink ?? How did you manage that one Muzza?
Thats easy..... If you have a gold card you can get a pension from DVA and Centrelink, Centrelink love to get in non the act, they will give you a "top up" pension similar to the DVA Service pension which is means and asset tested but I get one and I am on top super, TPI and SWMBO gets carers allowance and her super. Not sure what the upper limit is but it is pretty generous...
Cruising Granny said
05:19 PM Oct 11, 2009
That's it! I'm going back to my original plan, to find a rich old man with a really bad cough, who can keep me in the manner to which I'd like to become accustomed.
Now, if he's a DVA Gold Car holder I'd be in pensioner heaven.
I'm definitely not making light of the recipients of DVA and their services to the country.
I have, and have lost friends of that era. I mean no disrespect, but from a Centrelink pensioner's point of view, it's an ideal world. And I'm a very caring person, so I'd probably qualify for the carer's portion as well.
suenami said
08:44 PM Oct 11, 2009
Cruising Granny wrote:
That's it! I'm going back to my original plan, to find a rich old man with a really bad cough, who can keep me in the manner to which I'd like to become accustomed.
Now, if he's a DVA Gold Car holder I'd be in pensioner heaven. I'm definitely not making light of the recipients of DVA and their services to the country. I have, and have lost friends of that era. I mean no disrespect, but from a Centrelink pensioner's point of view, it's an ideal world. And I'm a very caring person, so I'd probably qualify for the carer's portion as well.
I'm with you Chris.....
Rolly said
01:27 AM Oct 12, 2009
suenami wrote:
Cruising Granny wrote:
That's it! I'm going back to my original plan, to find a rich old man with a really bad cough, who can keep me in the manner to which I'd like to become accustomed.
Now, if he's a DVA Gold Car holder I'd be in pensioner heaven. I'm definitely not making light of the recipients of DVA and their services to the country. I have, and have lost friends of that era. I mean no disrespect, but from a Centrelink pensioner's point of view, it's an ideal world. And I'm a very caring person, so I'd probably qualify for the carer's portion as well.
I'm with you Chris.....
DVA Gold diggers!!!!!
PeterD said
04:16 PM Oct 12, 2009
Ma wrote:
Muzza wrote:
I am on a DVA and centerlink disability pension. My first trip is intended to be 12 mnths, I have a permant postal address. Do they really care if you are travelling when you are on a disability.
DVA AND Centrelink ?? How did you manage that one Muzza?
Most modest superannuates that have an industry super pension are in this boat. Their super pension is taxed but their account based (self funded) pensions do not count towards taxable income. This means their taxable income is below the tax paying minimum so they get the tax back that they have paid.
PeterD
Muzza said
08:40 PM Oct 14, 2009
24 years of hard work
Muzza said
08:42 PM Oct 14, 2009
I wish I got a tax refund, little hard when your interest earnings exceed you taxable limit.
My only worry with long term travel is your Tax return, these days it can be done online I guess.... Not that I pay tax but I still have to put in a return so that they can give me back what tax I pay....
What?
A yahoo/hotmail/gmail or whatever e-mail account will help you communicate more freely with the bureaucracies, as will a mobile phone on the the nextG network (better coverage) where they can send notifications of appointments etc. by SMS/text.
Carrier pigeons are, unfortunely, less reliable in areas heavily populated by eagles/hawks/kestrels/harriers/falcons and the like.
Granny,
As I understood it the services themselves were not hacked but many of their users had replied to phony/phishing emails giving away their personal information to the crooks who sent them.
Have more worry about using your credit card at McDonalds hamburger joints in WA; crooks have somehow scammed $1M or more from skimming information from eftpos transactions made there.
In any organisation there will be crooked individuals, even bent coppers, as they used to call them.
We all need to be very much less trusting of those who stand to benefit from our gullibility, and play our cards (if you'll excuse the pun) very close to the chect.
DVA Gold diggers!!!!!
PeterD
Muz