Hi All, I would like to answer my own post re this 2 year resident rule. I went to centrelink yesterday and stated my intention as above.  I was told that as I was a citizen I could leave Australia as I wished and that as long as when I returned I stated my intention was to remain in Australia that my entitlement to a pension would be granted as long as I met the usual asset and income levels.The pension date would be from my application and that it would probably take a couple of months to process but would be backdated to the application date. The clause to search for this ruling is Former Returning Resident. I also asked for a ruling on this to which a supervisor was called and again advised as long as my intent could be proved that I was here to stay then the above would apply. I was then given the International Services advise number 131673, which I called using the centrelink phone, believe it  please, I got straight through not even 5 seconds wait time. They again confirmed I would be entitled to a pension as long as I met the criteria.

Now if you say to them I am here for the dosh and going back to the Philipines on the next plane then apart from being a mug you will not meet the criteria. It is up to you to prove you are here to stay.

There is another additional rule which says that if you have been out of the country for a prolonged period and have returned and then been granted a pension then if you leave within 24months of the grant ( short holidays excepted) then the pension will not be portable and will be stopped from the date you leave the country. Now you cannot say fairer than that.