pension when overseas

patmc49 · Veteran Member

pension when overseas

petengail · Guru

I am pretty sure that you can, although there is some small adjustment from memory. A visit to Centrelink would be your best option. Cheers

Big Gorilla · Guru

If you currently claiming the Age Pension, you can go overseas forever, but how long you can claim the Pension for depends on how many of your working life years you spent in Australia between ages of 16 and 65. Use to be 25 years, but I believe in the latest Budget it may be increased to 35 years. If you are going to be in Thailand for 6 months, your husband will receive full Pension for 6 weeks, after which payment drops to basic Pension amount. You lose Pension Supplement, Clean Air payment and Pharmaceutical. I would suggest your husband start collecting the Age Pension before you depart. If you are currently renting, Rent Assistance continues to be paid, but I'm not sure for how long. Don't forget to tell Centrelink you are going. Once you go thru Passport Control on departure, a red flag is raised on your Centrelink file. If you haven't told them of your planned holiday overseas, the Pension is cut off the day you depart. I know all this because I spend 12 weeks each year overseas...

Friar Park · Senior Member

Good onyer BG although not my OP the info is very useful because we are planning to go abroad within the next 18 months.

As has been said before this is one of if not the best and friendliest forums around.

thanks again BG

Friar

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

We are currently spending 6 months overseas each year and continue to receive the pension.
You can not apply for the pension while overseas. You must physically hand the forms over in person.
You can apply up to 3 months before pension age though.

Cheers,
Peter

arthur · Veteran Member

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

-- Edited by arthur on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 08:23:52 AM

-- Edited by arthur on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 08:24:22 AM

amithereyet · Member

Now you have me thinking...as a single aged pensioner where do you folk spend your weeks/months overseas. I would like to know as I might consider a few months out of the country too. Any suggestions appreciated.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

We have use of a MH based in Germany and a 3 year plan for 6 months each year.
Last year we went east including 10 weeks in Turkey.
This year we are in UK and Ireland for 2 1/2 months and France and Spain for about the same.
Next year Poland, Lithuania, Norway and Iceland.

Cheers,
Peter

amithereyet · Member

Oh, that sounds so good. Think I might do some research and see if I might do something similar. Thanks for your post.

Oz Gypsy · Veteran Member

amithereyet wrote:
Oh, that sounds so good. Think I might do some research and see if I might do something similar. Thanks for your post.

You could also consider house sitting overseas. We met a couple recently who spent almost a year in Europe last year. They organised a house sit in UK, then from there found various other house sits in Europe mainly by word of mouth recommendations . In almost all cases they had use of the owner's car, or cycles, so were able to look around the local area.

They said it worked out a cheap extended holiday as apart from the air fares, they really only had normal living expenses.

Cheers, Bev

arthur · Veteran Member

-- Edited by arthur on Thursday 12th of June 2014 09:48:39 PM

-- Edited by arthur on Thursday 12th of June 2014 09:52:28 PM

ozjohn · Guru

The Rules change a little while ago, so check with Centrelink.
When traveling abroad Centrelink must be informed before you depart. No need to tell them your back on your return.
We travelled to Vietnam 2 months ago as were informed that our pension would be decreased by $60 a fortnight each after 6 weeks away.
As we were only away 4 weeks our pension was unchanged.
Have fun,
Ozjohn.