Pollyana

There are other countries which have a reciprocal health care arrangement with the UK, not just Aus. Someone was commenting last night in a thread on the Barbados forum that it exists with Barbados too. Its just dependent on whether both countries have agreed to provide reciprocal health care to each other residents.

Veekay

Any thoughts on the car issue. Is it practical to buy one, pay road tax and insurance, keep it for 5/6 months and then hope to sell and not make a substantial loss?

Or is renting for this period a more practical solution? Given that everything is included and we just hand back the keys when we leave? Providing of course we can find a company who has reasonable rates for a long term rental deal.

Quokka

Buying and selling may be the best option. A few years ago we spent six weeks in UK managing to buy and sell at the same price so paid only insurance cost. Even a small loss is way ahead of renting as long as you don't mind driving some thing a bit out of date.

Bijilo123

I know this. But the key issue is - are you resident. Take the scenario of 6 months in each place in a year. If you are in Aus then you have left the UK and so you are not a resident of the UK (because you are away for 6 months) - so you cannot benefit from a reciprocal arrangement. When you come back to the UK you may still be resident in Aus - but I doubt it and so your entitlement to a reciprocal is questionable. On your return to UK for your next 6 month period you are not ordinarily resident for tax purposes nor for the purposes of benefits because it is not your intention to stay (for tax at least it is about 2 years intention) so you don't qualify for NHS or other benefits because you do not meet the habitual residency criteria.

In effect you become what used to be a perpetual traveller which used to be a tax dodge.

I'm sorry but in my view such a scheme is designed to maintain benefit, pension (incountries where it is frozen) and health using a freedom of movement that they are quite entitled to. Sometimes people even make false declarations - 'of course I'm going to stay in the UK for 2 years!'

...No, I'm sure that the last assertion never happens.

wingandapray

Have u thought of living on the canals in the UK?-I have a canal boat in Rugby.

Veekay

Yes, the canal boat is an interesting option and one we should seriously consider. Particularly as the canal system is opening up more and more as time goes on.

We enjoyed a canal boat holiday in the late 90's cruising along the River Avon from Stratford to Tewkesbury and back again. A great experience.

Veekay

The medical entitlements issue is obviously very complicated and will need some serious research before we decide how long we are able to spend in each location. I think you are correct in that although we are citizens of both countries (dual nationality), it will come down to the residency or domicile issue.

johnh009

Ineresting. Do you live on the boat full time or just use it for recreational purposes? Is it maintenance intensive?

wingandapray

Unfortunately I have just received news that my canal boat has sank with my stuff on board-I had people looking after it but not good enough I am afraid-I am running around trying to get it re-floated- If I haven't got enough to do with only one month to go. Which goes to show its so difficult being away -If we hadn't come back to Australia it would have been alright-we are TOO far away-I did live on it for 7 months but the boat I have is TOO OLD-no central heating etc-I am still quite new to it and didn't understand the maintenance issue enough as rain water has penetrated the engine compartment-It could work but MUCH more planning and the understanding that u simply cant just do it! I can provide any info u require so u dont make the same mistakes as I have one-

Veekay

It seems that we are able to suspend our private health insurance with MBF and Medibank Private for the months we are away. This currently costs around $300 per month.

We can then take out travel insurance which will cover us for the time we are away (5/6 months0 at a cost of around $1000.

I'll need to look into this in more detail but it does sound like a possible solution.

Veekay

Sorry to hear about the boat. Hope you are able to salvage something. I thought those canal boats were virtually unsinkable!

wingandapray

Thats what I thought but maybe there is a leak in the hull? It is being attended to-

wingandapray

By the way does anybody know about about the Australian pension? Do u have to stay in the country to receive it? I really dont want to be here now. I thought of the 6 month idea too but its too hot here in summer and its really awful to be here for 6 minutes let alone 6 months-I am worried about the pension though and we will not able to do the 30 years to build up NI contributions (51).

jad n rich

You have to be in the country for the 2 years prior to the claim, so if you hop back to the UK you wont be eligible to claim unless you move back to OZ for at least 2 years. Subject to asset and income tests of course.

Once you have claimed you can 'usually' then take it with you if you leave, however the thought of staying in OZ till your 67+ would probably kill most people off anyway

Superannuation is a different thing, I am talking the aged means tested centerlink type pension.

BTW some idiot last week claimed what I am saying is rubbish, its not, its from the horses mouth, centerlink, pensions dept, I even got transferred to a international pensions expert.

Cheshire Karen

My parents did this between UK and NZ for 12 years. They built a granny flat on the back of my sisters place in NZ and lived in a static caravan in the Lake District when in the UK. There are stipulations on how long you can stay in a static caravan in the UK. If you stay there 52 weeks a year, then its a residence and open to council tax. Most sites won't let you do this.

They got round a lot of the bureaucratic stuff by using our uk address as there main residence address! I know, not strictly legal but it works. they kept a small car which they kept insured which I used / stored when they were not in the UK & we were in the UK. Cheaper and less hassle to keep it insured.

In the end, they got fed up of packing up their life everything 6 months and picking up again in the other country. You end up being disjointed and missing out on a lot of activities with friends and I guess as you get older that is important. Its also a very expensive way to live, travel, rebuying stocks and travelling to see friends etc. It becomes more and more of a hassle as you get older as well. Albeit, they got to spend quality time with grandchildren in both countries while the kids were little so i guess it served its purpose.

They are firmly ensconsed in NZ now and very happy to be stable. (God, I wish they still had the caravan in the Lakes!)