DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
Aug 28th 2014, 11:49 am
#16
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
The Oz govt can't and doesn't make you claim your UK pension - but as explained earlier, you need to let them know that you're eligible to claim, and what amount you'd be getting - you're then 'deemed' to be receiving that amount. It does depend on the amount of UK pension you are getting (or would get, had you not deferred), the value of your assets and investments, and any other income you receive, but the usual consequence of either receiving or being able to receive a UK pension is that this will reduce any amount of Oz pension that would otherwise have been payable.
I don't think that Scouse will be eligible for any Oz pension once I commence an allocated pension from my super, but in the interim he may be eligible for a partial one.
Lesleys - you're dead right about it would have been simpler not to send any docs at all, I did sort of suggest that to him but I think he was worried that he'd get lost in the system if he didn't let them know what he was planning
It's a good lesson for anyone in a similar situation though - if you want to defer claiming your UK pension, do nothing until you're actually ready to start receiving it.
I don't think that Scouse will be eligible for any Oz pension once I commence an allocated pension from my super, but in the interim he may be eligible for a partial one.
Lesleys - you're dead right about it would have been simpler not to send any docs at all, I did sort of suggest that to him but I think he was worried that he'd get lost in the system if he didn't let them know what he was planning
It's a good lesson for anyone in a similar situation though - if you want to defer claiming your UK pension, do nothing until you're actually ready to start receiving it.Do you know if you can claim 25 to 50 pct pct of the UK pension being the Australian spouse of a UK citizen ? I think I read something about that somewhere, and if you can, thats a loophole/bypass of the Australian system where you get means tested ? Which I take to mean you (or my aus partner) can get the UK pension despite the fact we get allocated pensions from our Aus Super if we go down that path ?
Thats a very pertinent point for us. Could make a difference on where we end up in retirement.
Last edited by ozzieeagle; Aug 28th 2014 at 11:53 am.
Aug 28th 2014, 1:48 pm
#17
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
I guess the exchange rate is another consideration when choosing the timing of drawing a UK pension?
There's also the particularly insidious policy that the UK government 'freezes' the amount if you live in certain countries (eg Australia) but 'index links' it if you live in other countries. You get the strange anomaly that a person who fought in WW2 can retire on an index linked pension to Germany but it's frozen if that person retires to Australia. There's apparently 558,000 'frozen' UK pensioners living overseas:
Retiring abroad? Don't catch a cold because of the state pension freeze | Money | The Guardian
There's also the particularly insidious policy that the UK government 'freezes' the amount if you live in certain countries (eg Australia) but 'index links' it if you live in other countries. You get the strange anomaly that a person who fought in WW2 can retire on an index linked pension to Germany but it's frozen if that person retires to Australia. There's apparently 558,000 'frozen' UK pensioners living overseas:
Retiring abroad? Don't catch a cold because of the state pension freeze | Money | The Guardian
Aug 29th 2014, 9:38 am
#18
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Aug 29th 2014, 10:56 am
#19
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
Do you know if you can claim 25 to 50 pct pct of the UK pension being the Australian spouse of a UK citizen ? I think I read something about that somewhere, and if you can, thats a loophole/bypass of the Australian system where you get means tested ? Which I take to mean you (or my aus partner) can get the UK pension despite the fact we get allocated pensions from our Aus Super if we go down that path ?
Thats a very pertinent point for us. Could make a difference on where we end up in retirement.
Thats a very pertinent point for us. Could make a difference on where we end up in retirement.
Sorry Ozzie, I don't know that one but I wouldn't think so.
Aug 29th 2014, 11:03 am
#20
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
I guess the exchange rate is another consideration when choosing the timing of drawing a UK pension?
There's also the particularly insidious policy that the UK government 'freezes' the amount if you live in certain countries (eg Australia) but 'index links' it if you live in other countries. You get the strange anomaly that a person who fought in WW2 can retire on an index linked pension to Germany but it's frozen if that person retires to Australia. There's apparently 558,000 'frozen' UK pensioners living overseas:
Retiring abroad? Don't catch a cold because of the state pension freeze | Money | The Guardian
There's also the particularly insidious policy that the UK government 'freezes' the amount if you live in certain countries (eg Australia) but 'index links' it if you live in other countries. You get the strange anomaly that a person who fought in WW2 can retire on an index linked pension to Germany but it's frozen if that person retires to Australia. There's apparently 558,000 'frozen' UK pensioners living overseas:
Retiring abroad? Don't catch a cold because of the state pension freeze | Money | The Guardian
I've met quite a few people who are caught up in the UK pension freeze. It's the reason Australia opted out of its reciprocal social security agreement with the UK. While the pensions of UK origin people in Oz were frozen, thus the Oz government was having to top them up, Australia still indexed the pensions of Oz citizens living in the UK. I think Australia tried for a fair few years to get the UK to change their ruling, but they consistently refused - hence Australia opting out. It's a huge thing for UK pension drawers over here and there are a lot of groups and website dedicated to changing the UK government's mind. Good luck with that
Aug 29th 2014, 11:37 am
#21
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
Hi Spouse, 
Based on the historically high Aussie dollar and the strengthening pound I like the idea of letting it build up in the UK if you can.
Of course, currencies are fickle and it could go against you but I think the odds are stacked in you favour.
Based on the historically high Aussie dollar and the strengthening pound I like the idea of letting it build up in the UK if you can.
Of course, currencies are fickle and it could go against you but I think the odds are stacked in you favour.
Aug 29th 2014, 11:48 am
#22
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
Going home means so much to him, so we'll make it work.
Aug 29th 2014, 3:48 pm
#23
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
Australia Dollar Forecast Higher vs US Dollar, Euro and British Pound as Key Technical Levels are Broken
Aug 30th 2014, 2:59 am
#24
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
We are on the same visa, and been here since 2003.
Quite a few of us on the Sunshine Coast and we meet up every 2 months.
We booked in once as the 4 teners (I know it's not a real word) and they were expecting a men's singing group.
Aug 30th 2014, 9:46 am
#25
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
To the OP - they will only backdate a pension that hasn't been claimed by two years - if you claim after say five, you will only get the two years' backdate.
Last edited by Wol; Aug 30th 2014 at 11:04 am. Reason: Clarification of terms
Aug 30th 2014, 9:54 am
#26
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Aug 30th 2014, 10:58 am
#27
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
Aug 30th 2014, 11:02 am
#28
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
This doesn't apply of course to a deferred pension, only one that hasn't been claimed.
Aug 31st 2014, 4:18 am
#29
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Re: DWP and State Pension - hope we've done the right thing
