Moving back to UK with Retired Parents

Hi,

myslef and my husband desperately want to go home to the UK after 12 years in Australia. Our main concern a my parents (I am an only child) are not so keen to move back to the UK. They have had serious health issues here in Australia and the health system has been fantastic.

I am concerned that because my parents are now pensioners they will be worse off financially in the UK and will not get the support needed from the NHS..

My parents (who moved with us to Australia from the UK) are the only family (and our teenage son) we have in Australia. All my husbands family are back in the UK.

Anyone had similar issues? I am torn in two and pulling my hair out.

If your parents aren't keen to go back - is yourself/hubby moving back on your own an option?

If your parents aren't keen to go back - is yourself/hubby moving back on your own an option?[/quote

 

 

its not something I want to do to be honest - we came over together so I would like to hope we can go home together.

I'm not sure why you would think you won't get the support from the NHS to be honest ? We have had brilliant service from them since getting go the UK.

Whether they will be financially better iron worse off his hard to say really, pensioners get lots if support here as they do in Australia.

On pensions, I would seek professional advice. There are systems that allow for pensions to be moved between countries, but it is an area that needs professional assistance.

With healthcare, I can only comment on my and my families experience. Generally, it has been excellent. They would be entitled to full NHS care from the moment they arrive.

The bigger question is if they really don't want to move. Then you will have to make the decision for you and your family.

But its their choice! They dont have to keep moving back and forward just because you do. What if in 2 years you decide you want to come back here? Would you expect them to follow?

It sounds to me that you have to accept that your parents don't wish to return to the UK as much as this may be frustrating for you. Pensions are complex and very few people on here could comment on them with any authority. Professional advice seems sensible. If you read all the news the NHS is on the brink of collapse, but there seems to be plenty of satisfied patients!

Fair comment, but we wouldn't be coming back.

It sounds to me that you have to accept that your parents don't wish to return to the UK as much as this may be frustrating for you. Pensions are complex and very few people on here could comment on them with any authority. Professional advice seems sensible. If you read all the news the NHS is on the brink of collapse, but there seems to be plenty of satisfied patients!

I have been hearing the NHS being on the brink of collapse for as many years as I can remember. Pensions aren't actually that complex, you can go onto the Government website, put in a few details and it tells you what you are entitled to.

I do think that the parents should be able to decide on their future though, if they would sooner stay in Australia then I think their wishes need to be listened to.

Fair comment, but we wouldn't be coming back.

That is fair enough, we are the same but your parents might feel differently though.

I have been hearing the NHS being on the brink of collapse for as many years as I can remember. Pensions aren't actually that complex, you can go onto the Government website, put in a few details and it tells you what you are entitled to.

I do think that the parents should be able to decide on their future though, if they would sooner stay in Australia then I think their wishes need to be listened to.

I'm presuming they have super which they would want to transfer which would be a little more difficult?

You do your own thing and let your parents do their own thing I reckon. If they are concerned about moving back because of health care issues I would have to say that with 4 oldies in my stable (parents, aunt and uncle), the health care for them in their declining years has been fantastic (better than Canberra would have been for sure!). Pensions - hmm, whole different ball game but they should seek professional advice on that one.

You do your own thing and let your parents do their own thing I reckon. If they are concerned about moving back because of health care issues I would have to say that with 4 oldies in my stable (parents, aunt and uncle), the health care for them in their declining years has been fantastic (better than Canberra would have been for sure!). Pensions - hmm, whole different ball game but they should seek professional advice on that one.

Unfortunately may parents only receive the state pension as they have been too sick to work. One parent isn't even retirement age but on a disability pension.

I would do your own research on the state of the NHS here and the state of aged care back here before you make the decision only my assessment is that the NHS and aged care is failing the very demographic that your parents fall into, there are posters on here who are extremely attached to the Uk and the conservative govt and for whom they can do no wrong, so I can only recommend that you read some back issues of english papers such as the Guardian, the Mail, the independent, the BBC websites

Unfortunately may parents only receive the state pension as they have been too sick to work. One parent isn't even retirement age but on a disability pension.

Really you need to get some real advice before you make any decisions about coming back, you have children and parents who to my mind fall into categories dependent on benefits which are the most difficult to qualify for here in the UK , I think you should spend some money on getting an assessment from someone in the uk familiar with the uk benefits and pension system, not just for your dependants but for yourselves in regard of your eligibility for pensions here, I would suggest a solicitor specialising in this area of work, it may cost a few hundred but you will have clarity and certainty.

You have to establish your parents position re eligibility for payment of Australian pension back in the UK and I think, and I stress it's my thoughts but if one is not yet eligible for the pension in Australia then they can't claim it once they have left Australia, but that is just my thoughts from what I have seen on here before but check and check again.

Hi,

 

myslef and my husband desperately want to go home to the UK after 12 years in Australia. Our main concern a my parents (I am an only child) are not so keen to move back to the UK. They have had serious health issues here in Australia and the health system has been fantastic.

 

 

Hi,

 

This is a tough one, and I feel sorry for you. I have recently been through the UK health and social care system with my mother and while she was lucky with the care she was given, it seems to be very much a post code lottery.

 

As my mother grew older and her health began to fail, she needed progressively more help from social services. Then she was diagnosed with dementia. We were lucky in that she had a house to sell and some savings, which gave her enough money to pay the fees for a beautiful care home ten minutes walk from my house. All her needs were met, and I could visit often. Without her own funds though, she would not have had the same choices. Our local social services are excellent, yet mum nearly missed a bed in the nursing wing of the home she had been living in because a social worker could not be found to assess her needs.

 

The social care system for elderly people is creaking at the seams, which is giving rise to the an increase in so called 'bed blocking' i.e. elderly patients well enough to go home but who cannot be discharged because no carers are available to help them when they get there. Obviously you would be helping your parents yourself should the need arise, but it can be really traumatic trying to look after a frail elderly parent for an indefinite period of time.

 

Looking after elderly parents is a really difficult issue, one that crops up on here in many guises, and there is no one solution that fits everyone. But don't encourage your parents to come back to the UK without having a look at what is available in terms of social care. The UK government is following a programme of austerity, one aspect of which is to cut back on some disability payments, which might affect your parents should they return.

 

Whatever you decide, find out as much as you can first, then there'll hopefully be no nasty surprises further down the line. The UK is still a great place to live, but it isn't perfect.

You do your own thing and let your parents do their own thing I reckon. If they are concerned about moving back because of health care issues I would have to say that with 4 oldies in my stable (parents, aunt and uncle), the health care for them in their declining years has been fantastic (better than Canberra would have been for sure!). Pensions - hmm, whole different ball game but they should seek professional advice on that one.

I agree with you Quoll. Chances are the parents may decide to move over subsequently if they start to miss their only child but at least it will be their choice. This might be the best way to go as once the OP is settled back in the UK it will be easier to help the older generation to move back.

My friend has just moved her mother into a care home in Sydney. They required a $1 million deposit, which she had to sell her house to find. I believe the family get the deposit back but that's no help if you don't have it in the first place. Then she has to pay weekly fees. Decent aged care is expensive in both countries.

My friend has just moved her mother into a care home in Sydney. They required a $1 million deposit, which she had to sell her house to find. I believe the family get the deposit back but that's no help if you don't have it in the first place. Then she has to pay weekly fees. Decent aged care is expensive in both countries.

I'm sure this is true. However the original poster was talking about moving parents back to the UK and although several people had mentioned the health service, nobody had mentioned social care, which has run into grave problems in this country in recent times.

But they do need to consider what will happen if they stay in Australia and require aged care. A decision should be made by looking at the pros and cons of each scenario.

But they do need to consider what will happen if they stay in Australia and require aged care. A decision should be made by looking at the pros and cons of each scenario.

You're right. The important thing is to consider the ramifications of being in different countries if things take a nasty turn. It's awful being miles away when your older relatives are suffering but if you choose to stay near them, you are putting your life on hold to do so. I've had a taste of both these scenarios and i can't say either was easy.

T

Unfortunately may parents only receive the state pension as they have been too sick to work. One parent isn't even retirement age but on a disability pension.

Is that disability from the uk or Oz and with state pension do you mean uk or Oz if you parents are not retirment age and they go back to the uk to claim benefits they would need to got through the habitual residency test to get any benefit

But they do need to consider what will happen if they stay in Australia and require aged care. A decision should be made by looking at the pros and cons of each scenario.

T

Is that disability from the uk or Oz and with state pension do you mean uk or Oz if you parents are not retirment age and they go back to the uk to claim benefits they would need to got through the habitual residency test to get any benefit

One parent recieves both Austrlain and UK pension. The other parent is receiving a disability pension. Both have been to sick to work in Australia so I need to clarify if they will receive a proportion Australian pension if they return to the UK. One parent will continue to recieve the Uk pension and the other parent will be entitled to recieve the uk pension from next year, if they return to the uk.

However it appears that they will not be entitled to any low income benefits for 2 years as they will not pass the habitual test. Even though they have lived and worked most of their lives in the UK.

Does anyone one know a good legal firm that specialises in this area?

Thank you

One parent recieves both Austrlain and UK pension. The other parent is receiving a disability pension. Both have been to sick to work in Australia so I need to clarify if they will receive a proportion Australian pension if they return to the UK. One parent will continue to recieve the Uk pension and the other parent will be entitled to recieve the uk pension from next year, if they return to the uk.

 

However it appears that they will not be entitled to any low income benefits for 2 years as they will not pass the habitual test. Even though they have lived and worked most of their lives in the UK.

 

Does anyone one know a good legal firm that specialises in this area?

 

Thank you

If you PM me I can then email you what we went through as it's long and complicated Going through a legal firm to me won't make one iota of difference by the way