In Reply to: That's interesting posted by anada on Saturday, 26. December 2009 at 14:27 Bali Time:
was diagnosed before 1995 i think it was? and has been on DSP way before that time and was outside Australia at the time of the change!
If he was in Australia at the time of the change he would also have to abide by the new 13 week out rule.
Not sure of the date but DSP recipients after that date were only allowed to leave the country for a max of 26 weeks (6 months),which then changed a few years ago to 13 weeks (3 months) at a time.
He has only had to return to Australia once in the last 10 years for a medical review!
Because The rules are always changing it is very hard to understand what is going on! even people at centrelink don't know from year to year!
Some disabilities and carers can go over the new 13 week period espsially Legaly blind,last time I read up on it! and rightfully so as some overseas medical treatment takes time.
I was only interested so read the act because i couldn't believe that some people on DSP were allowed to live outside Australia year in year out and still get full benefits no questions asked!
some of these people are not even Australian citizens but permanent residents!
That is why they introduced the 2 years in 5 rule, a resident who does not spend at least 2 years in any given 5 year period in Australia is deemed to be a non resident and cannot "In most case" renew there resident return visa so entitled to no benefit.
In reality it only takes one appeal against the 2 in 5 rule to be able to renew a visa and thus continue to claim benefit.
I witnessed this just 6 months ago!
What do i know? I am not a doctor! What I do know is that people i assosiate with have gained DSP purly so they can live overseas for free.
Some taxpayers have no idea that some of the tax money out of their pay is going to some "Short time girls" overseas!