Charley was a Wal-Mart Greeter:

Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time.Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their Older Person Friendly policies.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job,but you're being late so often is quite bothersome.   Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it.

Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear.

It's odd though your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there ?

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They said, Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, sir ?

A lady I used to work with kept on working, 15 hours a week I think, after her 65 years. I haven't seen her for awhile, but I know she was still working there after she turned 70.

A friend of mine was retrenched recently at 62 and has found it impossible to get another job, and he has several trades behind him. He's very active, and had been renovating their house in his spare time, so the up side is that he's had more time to continue with that, in between job hunting.

Oh, and as an former checkout chick myself, I got a good giggle out of that video.

A bloke I know thought he could retire at the end of the year,due to him reaching retirement age,but as his fife is 10 years younger than him,he was only entitled to a single pension until she reached the stipulated retirement age. If she was not working she would have to go onto the new start allowance ...go out looking for work/ doing courses /and handing in this dole form every two weeks....By the time they both can get the married couple pension he recons he would be to old to travel (as that is what they intended to do ) So now they are both stuck still working until she reaches the pension age so they can get the married pension...He will be over 75 years old. So I guess you either marry a older women or a very young one that can work to keep you...

I did ask him about travelling and her on this new start but he said it would be just to difficult handing in this form and going into CES for interviews every few months and finding dole offices and such.So he is selling his Coach and buying one of those over 50s retirement apartments and a small van just to do the odd trip away.

Yes he is entitled to a Pension Card, you use it for discounts on prescription, and everything else. Once he gets it, tell him to notify his Electricity company, Gas company, Telephone, Water, even Vehicle Registration (car, caravan and trailer) and Council Rates, he will get concessions on these too. Also if he pays to enter into anywhere, like cinemas, shows, etc he just pays the pension concession. also he is entitled to concessions on Rail Travel every year as well. There are lots of concessions out there, it's not a lot, but it helps, and some of them are half the normal price.

edited to add: Kmart have a Pension Day where one day a week you get 10% discount off of whatever you buy by showing your pension card :)

Lynn

Jack Mac wrote:

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I was lucky. About 15 months ago I decided that I needed a few extra bucks and to get out and do something. Result 1 application, 1 interview, I job. Of course I earn less than half my former hourly wage but they fitted in with hours I was able to work and since I lose a percentage off my pension I'm not complaining, just grateful to find an employer who was happy to give me a chance and fit in with me. Sometimes we have to structure our own ambitions and opinions of our own self worth to fit in. It's not now a career (although I only ever had jobs) it's about the ability to feel useful and maybe be of some benefit. It's probably the first time in nearly 40 yrs that I enjoy going to work.

Just as an aside, with the equality opportunity etc. why would any woman think she is entitled to a pension just because her husband has reached retirement age.

Cheers

Jack

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 Just as an aside, my employer also allows me, when possible, to work from home thereby saving me fuel costs etc.

Grams, as I have never had to step inside a CES office in my life,due to maybe luck or just plain determination not to.Could you explain to me please the in's and out's of when you get to the age of retirement are you allowed to keep working and also get the pension. I have bloke who works for me and the poor bugger is 68 years old (top worker ) so what I am saying or asking you is if he went part time working would he get some kind of part pension or do you have to retire from work first ,and then go back to work part time and let CES know of his change in his situation and return to work part time for me. ..Thank you in advance if you could shed some light into all this.

Regards Herbie.

Thanks Gram, I will look into it more on his behalf,as I know he would love to do some travelling,but still have some self worth re working.

I have attempted to ring the CES office here on a few different occasions but always get the same robot messages and after an hr on the phn, I just have to hang up as I have work to be done.and by the time I get back home the office is closed so I have just been running around in circles.

When the pension bonus was still payable it was paid on a pro rata basis according to how much pension you received

Our brother-in-law kept working but was registered for Age Pension and they paid him 'to keep working' is what he said. In other words, he still got a part pension.

Another friend was also due for Age Pension before his wife. He drew down some Super pension (which meant he couldn't get full age pension) but that allowed her to think of his part super pension as her 'pension' until she was entitled to an Age pension in her own right. They managed until they both got Age Pension. And the Single pension is only half of a couple's pension not a SINGLE pension (which is quite a bit more).

Another friend was told that if she worked past Age Pension age (but registered) she would get a Pension bonus. She struggled on until she was 72 then went off to Centrelink only to find she had been misinformed. Instead of getting $42K she was only entitled to $9K due to still having an interest in the family farm. This Pension Bonus no longer applies but they give you a Work allowance. I think it's $6500 you can earn without it affecting your Age Pension.
Tell your friend that his wife could report via internet and be on the road. She could apply for jobs where they travel. Maybe she could go out fruit picking while he cooks tea.