In Reply to: can you posted by narnie on Friday, 25. December 2009 at 21:13 Bali Time:
And it is very simple!
All you have to do is notify centrelink that you are leaving the country and your pension goes in the bank while you are away.
You just withdraw from overseas ATMs.
New rules are you can only stay abroad for a maximum of 13 weeks or your pension "May" be cut off.(Except legally blind who are seeking treatment overseas not available in Australia) But you only have to return to Australia for 2 weeks and then you can leave again for another 13 weeks,then another and so on.
New rules also stipulate that you must accumulate 2 years residing in Australia out of any 5 year period.
Although there are many "genuine" cases of pensioner Disability or otherwise living outside Australia (for medical reasons) on Australian Benefits there are many many many more just scamming the system!
You don't even have to be a citizen just a resident!
Disability support is a broad term that covers many able bodied people to scam the system!
By introducing the 13 weeks "out" instead of the old 26 weeks out of the country,centrelink presumes people on DPS cannot afford to leave Australia often!
They dont know about AA or Tiger Air, or that some flights bought in Asia are much cheaper than at home because of taxes.
Its one big loop hole!
Most tax payers would be shocked at the amount of people living in Asia on DPS, they even got the Rudd handouts to spend overseas without any questions asked!
Center link is trying to close the "Loop hole" more so these days as it is being used more and more by "Industrious" refugee migrants
Over the years I have had to ask myself"Perhaps the scammers do need Disability support" Who in here right mind would live their life with no real ambition or goals and on such a small amount of income?
The Government doesn't care as once you are on a pension you are no longer part of the work force so there for not part of the countries false unemployment %.
Depression through drug abuse is the easiest way for scammers to obtain Dissability Suport pension.I know this as I have seen so many do it!
Apologies to genuine DPS recipients as DPS was meant for you to help overcome hardships!