Taking PSB Medication to LOS then returning to OZ to get more

[mickjn]

Greetings Gentlemen

 

I was wondering if I went to LOS and the doctor gave me enough medicine to last me 6 months.Then I had to go back to Australia to get more medicine,is there a rule I would have to stay so long or could I come in and out in say a week.I was wondering in anyone else has to do this.I am 65 and on the OAP I cannot figure out any other way to do this.2 years ago 2 of the 3 medications were not available in LOS and the one that was is very expensive

 

Thank you

[Ron Rat]

If you have a retirement visa you could leave when you felt like it.You may find a generic in Thailand, keep asking. Failing that try Cambodia. As long as you have a Drs script you can take what you need. i normally find it cheaper in Thailand.Or have someone collect in Australia and post to you.

[mickjn]

OK Thanks for your help

[Musongman]

My understanding is that Centrelink, now Dept Human Services, will kill off your entitlements after 6 weeks out of the country. This would mean your OAP will be stripped to the bone and your Pensioner's card for medicine will be cancelled. This is of course if they know you have left the country. I would imagine that the cost of returning to get your medications from Australia would be more than you could obtain them for in TH or another neighbouring country. Now that Abbott is in The Lodge, the Libs are doing their best to grab as much back from recipients as possible, and they are on guard for the "abusers". Good luck with all that!!

[biggles]

This is not correct. The six week limit overseas is for Disability Pensioners only, not Old Age they have no limit on travel time. Centrelink always know when you leave and when you return, they have a feed from Immigration database that is how they catch out disability receivers.

 

I have a number of OAP friends inPattaya who have been here many years, they have the pension paid directly into their thai banks. They dont get some allowances, such as telephone etc.

 

I have severe Glaucoma, and though I am not on any pension I get PBS subsidy prices as many medicines are. When I get a prescription from my eye specialist he endorses it with some regulation that allows me to get all the repeats at once before I leave. I also take the prescription with me. I have actually found pharmacies in Pattaya (Fascino north pattaya rd) where I can buy them, similar price. When I return,once every eight months, I see him again, using my Medicare card for the rebate and get a new prescription.

 

I would not be concerned about your situation, talk to your doctor

[Musongman]

Sorry Biggles, but the 6 week limit IS for Age Pensioners, I get reductions every time I leave the country for more than 42 days, and I get letters from Human Services/Centrelink, telling me exactly what they are going to do and the timeframe involved!

You maybe unaware of recent changes in Legislation as regards Pensions and allowances for the Australian population since January 01, 2013.

An individual may stay away as long as they like, but could face having to re-apply for the Age or other Pension payments upon return.

I don't like this, but there is nothing I can do about it.

Also, I was not aware that Thailand was one of the countries where one could get Age Pension payments made to bank accounts.

I am planning to get a TH retirement visa, but figured I'd have to kiss my entitlements good-bye, if I became a non-resident Aussie.

I am a self-funded retiree, receiving a reduced Age Pension in AUS.

[barry1949]

Why do we spend 50 years working in Australia and paying taxes and because we choose to live in a country where you can actually live not survive on the small pension paid get payments cut. These should be a right in return for 50 years working. But then I suppose the Government has to claw back the money Labour wasted. Just wish they would cut the dole rather than take money off people who have never taken any money from the Government in 50 years as we worked for a living.

[Kenjataimu]

Just wish they would cut the dole rather than take money off people who have never taken any money from the Government in 50 years as we worked for a living.

. So, some guy works his nuts off for 20 years, thrown on the scrap heap through no real fault if his own, needs help to pay the bills until he can find Hus feet, gets fuck all from the dole and you want it cut ? Some guy 2 years before retirement age is chucked in the scrap heap and he's a cnut for being unemployed but 2 years later on the aged pension he's an upstanding guy ? The dole is fuck all. They should be raising it, not lowering it.

 

And yet you had 50 years to save up but couldn't be fucked ? I worked for 25 years, saved and am retired. Certinaly won't be expecting the aged pension when I am due in 20 years.

[DarksideTours]

 I remember I collected the dole for a one off payment as I had never claimed before in my life and thought bugger it... I may as well top up with a cheque while i was in Patts.  I got an sms while i was clearing immigration on departure to let me know my benefit had been suspended!  they gave me a half payment as it was all I was due and I got an sms on arrival to let me know when my next appointment was.

 

This is a great service I think, as it stops all the fraudsters.

[Ron Rat]

I become a superannuant in a few months and was told I had to have it paid into an Australian (read thieving bastards) Bank. So you are resigned to paying transaction fees one way or another unless you have a steady supply of mates travelling to Pattaya and can bring you cash. It is not a pension so Centrelink can go fuck themselves.

[Musongman]

Don't worry @ Ron Rat, you can have an account that has no fees, and even some decent interest at the CBA. I am paying no fees at two "thieving bastard" banks, either for my own superannuation payments, or the 1/7th of the Age Pension that I receive fortnightly! This topic has brought out the reality the Pension system in AUS if you want to live abroad. We have over-priced ourselves to death in Oz, making the "ordinary retiree's" life a misery, as it is just not possible to live on the Australian Age Pension alone! I guess the Brits and the Yanks on the forum will be wondering what the hell we are on about!! Their systems and entitlements are so different.

[biggles]

"You maybe unaware of recent changes in Legislation as regards Pensions and allowances for the Australian population since January 01, 2013."

 

Did this only affect OAP of a certain age? my good friend is 75 and has lived in pattaya over ten years. He has an 8'year old son to a thai wife. He still gets his oz pension paid directly into his thai bank no change in the last year. I see him almost every day and he would certainly have said a lot if it had. As I said, he doesn't get some of the extra allowances.

 

He went back to see family about 8 months ago and his pension is unchanged as far as I can see.

[biggles]

I had a quick look at the centrelink website and found this:-

 

You can get Age Pension for the whole time you are overseas, regardless of whether you leave Australia temporarily or permanently.

 

However, the amount of pension you receive may change if you remain outside Australia for more than 26 weeks. Whether or not your payment amount changes will depend on how long you have lived in Australia between age 16 and age pension age.

 

For more information on how the pension payment rates are calculated, go to Pension payment rates while absent from Australia.

 

If you are travelling to New Zealand, the amount you receive may be affected by the social security agreement between Australia and New Zealand.

 

If you returned to live in Australia and were granted or transferred to Age Pension within the last two years, you will not be able to receive your Age Pension outside the country. After you return, to be paid outside the country, you must have been living in Australia for two years since your last arrival for residence. If you travel to a country that Australia has a social security agreement with, you may be able to continue to get your payment under that social security agreement.

[Musongman]

"If you returned to live in Australia and were granted or transferred to Age Pension within the last two years, you will not be able to receive your Age Pension outside the country."

 

The devil is in the detail! I have only been receiving my part Pension in the last 2 years, since March 2012, so the above may apply to me.

@ Biggles, if your old friend is getting the full $A700 odd per fortnight, he is very fortunate indeed! Though, if that's all he gets by way of income in Pattaya,

he may be doing it tough with a family.

[david555]

Don't worry @ Ron Rat, you can have an account that has no fees, and even some decent interest at the CBA. I am paying no fees at two "thieving bastard" banks, either for my own superannuation payments, or the 1/7th of the Age Pension that I receive fortnightly! This topic has brought out the reality the Pension system in AUS if you want to live abroad. We have over-priced ourselves to death in Oz, making the "ordinary retiree's" life a misery, as it is just not possible to live on the Australian Age Pension alone! I guess the Brits and the Yanks on the forum will be wondering what the hell we are on about!! Their systems and entitlements are so different.

I am noYank or Brit but sure surprised to read al this

, as for us in Europe whe can receive our pension in the whole world..., only suplementary payments for very low pension are only in our home country to receive ,as they see it as a 'welfare' payment.

As for sick Insurance it stops by emmigration , but on return or even temporary visit whe are insured for medical care full.

This is only for pension people as the Gov. at least respect the years working and contributing and see it as earned rights untill dead.

All EU countrys as Netherlands , Germany , Belgium ,France & the Scandinavians are similar with few differences .

[DarksideTours]

"If you returned to live in Australia and were granted or transferred to Age Pension within the last two years, you will not be able to receive your Age Pension outside the country."

 

The devil is in the detail! I have only been receiving my part Pension in the last 2 years, since March 2012, so the above may apply to me.

@ Biggles, if your old friend is getting the full $A700 odd per fortnight, he is very fortunate indeed! Though, if that's all he gets by way of income in Pattaya,

he may be doing it tough with a family.

$700 a fortnight is about THB44k a month... thats not too shabby if you live darkside and are in your 70's ... not like he is mongering 5 days a week

[softail08]

Getting back to the topic I also need meds when over here and buy then here or in cambodia.ive found you can buy almost any drug over the counter there.If its not you just go to a doc and they will script anything you need.good luck mate.

[louse1953]

I had a quick look at the centrelink website and found this:-

You can get Age Pension for the whole time you are overseas, regardless of whether you leave Australia temporarily or permanently.

However, the amount of pension you receive may change if you remain outside Australia for more than 26 weeks. Whether or not your payment amount changes will depend on how long you have lived in Australia between age 16 and age pension age.

For more information on how the pension payment rates are calculated, go to Pension payment rates while absent from Australia.

If you are travelling to New Zealand, the amount you receive may be affected by the social security agreement between Australia and New Zealand.

If you returned to live in Australia and were granted or transferred to Age Pension within the last two years, you will not be able to receive your Age Pension outside the country. After you return, to be paid outside the country, you must have been living in Australia for two years since your last arrival for residence. If you travel to a country that Australia has a social security agreement with, you may be able to continue to get your payment under that social security agreement.

I have been reading a lot on this subject lately,as a mate got caught out.He had been away quite a while,with occasional trips back,and now he has to requalify as a resident.It all depends if they consider you a resident at the time of apply.If they do,you can go os and never come back and they will pay OAP.If they don't,then 2 year qualify with no trips out.This is govt. logic for you.I have 5 years to set a plan in place but info from SS is hard to come by.Nothing to say exactly what a resident is.Good luck cobbers.

[mickjn]

This is not correct. The six week limit overseas is for Disability Pensioners only, not Old Age they have no limit on travel time. Centrelink always know when you leave and when you return, they have a feed from Immigration database that is how they catch out disability receivers.

 

I have a number of OAP friends inPattaya who have been here many years, they have the pension paid directly into their thai banks. They dont get some allowances, such as telephone etc.

 

I have severe Glaucoma, and though I am not on any pension I get PBS subsidy prices as many medicines are. When I get a prescription from my eye specialist he endorses it with some regulation that allows me to get all the repeats at once before I leave. I also take the prescription with me. I have actually found pharmacies in Pattaya (Fascino north pattaya rd) where I can buy them, similar price. When I return,once every eight months, I see him again, using my Medicare card for the rebate and get a new prescription.

 

I would not be concerned about your situation, talk to your doctor

Biggles,you are correct Sir.My doctor will give my scripts for 6 months,and then have I walk next door to the pharmacy and have the scipts filled then I can leave Australia for 6 months of medication.When that medication has nearly run out I have to return to Australia and get it again.That is no problem I just go to the doctor she gives me the scripts and I get them filled.Do you know how long I have to stay in Australia.Could I leave the next day with the medicine.2 of the medicines are not available in Thailand I have been to Bangkok-Pattaya and Pattaya Memorial and Fascinos they just do not have them..I have read your post again and I am going to try something.My doctor gives me the medicine for 6 months but the medicine I want the first time was given to me by a specialist I will go back to him maybe he will give me 12 months worth thank you

[angrykiwibird]

My ex wife inquired about OAP as she wants to retire to Philippines..she was told that the OAP is made up of two parts..part a and part b

If in Australia u get full pension...part a and b

If leaving Australia and heading overseas..eg Philippines in this case then....

She get full pension for 6 months..part a and b

After six months then only part a she will receives

If she wants to keep full pension part a and b then she can be overseas for 6 no the then she has to return to Australia and stay for 3 no tyhs before leaving again ..if she wants to receive full pension.

These are the new RULES and I don't think apply tyopeople already on the pension scheme but as she has not started , then that's what the bird atcenterlink told here..

Of course policy's change all the time so you need to go done and find out exactly.

[mickjn]

My understanding is that Centrelink, now Dept Human Services, will kill off your entitlements after 6 weeks out of the country. This would mean your OAP will be stripped to the bone and your Pensioner's card for medicine will be cancelled. This is of course if they know you have left the country. I would imagine that the cost of returning to get your medications from Australia would be more than you could obtain them for in TH or another neighbouring country. Now that Abbott is in The Lodge, the Libs are doing their best to grab as much back from recipients as possible, and they are on guard for the "abusers". Good luck with all that!!

No it is defiantly 26 weeks then you lose a few allowances including the medical but I will return to Australia for my medication.Ring them up sure you might be told something else,you are only talking to a girl on the phone ask her to put the supervisor on you will be told the right story.I have always happy happy when I have spoked to the supervisor

[mickjn]

I have been reading a lot on this subject lately,as a mate got caught out.He had been away quite a while,with occasional trips back,and now he has to requalify as a resident.It all depends if they consider you a resident at the time of apply.If they do,you can go os and never come back and they will pay OAP.If they don't,then 2 year qualify with no trips out.This is govt. logic for you.I have 5 years to set a plan in place but info from SS is hard to come by.Nothing to say exactly what a resident is.Good luck cobbers.

Was your mate in Australia when he reached pension age.

[Live4Hedonism]

I better look into this more I was told I get pension pay for 13 weeks travelling out of Australia, I just need some dental work and might as well go on vacation as long as I can...