Residency requirements for aged pension?

A friend of mine (Australian Citizen) has been living in Thailand for the last 4 1/2 years. He recently made enquiries to Centrelink to ask what were the requirements to qualify for an aged pension. He will turn 65 in 12 months and wanted to know if he needed to spend a qualifying period in Australia prior ro turning 65. Centrelink has been unable (or unwilling) to provide him with a definitive answer. All they will tell him is that they will assess his case when he submits his application. He will be elible to receive a pension once he turns 65 but the pension payment will cease immediately he leaves Australia. This is not the case for permanent Australian residents. I can live in any overseas country of my choosing and still receive a pension payment. Previous to his time in Thailand he has lived and worked in Australia all his life. It seems a little unfair that because he chose to live outside of Australia for the last 4 1/2 years he's being penalised in respect of obtaining an Australian pension.

1 comments

I moved to Thailand to work for 2 years as a teacher. I have a son living here. The job required me to be here by August. I became eligible for the pension in September. I decided (even though I only earn $1500/month) I'd apply for the pension next time I came back.



Since then I have discovered that I will have to stay in Australia for at least 2 years once I apply and am given a pension. After that I can go overseas but may have to return once a year (this seems a bit vague).



I had wanted to stay in Thailand, once I stopped teaching, for a while and tour around the area while I'm still fit.



I have worked continuously for over 30 years. My husband who is in Aus worked for less than

15 years but is getting the pension. Seems a bit unfair to me.



dga

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