JohnandEirian
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Everything posted by JohnandEirian
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Yes, Transferring money into your daughter's account and getting her to make the payment is, by far, the easiest way, Moira. A Banker's cheque can take 3-4 days and unnecessarily cumbersome. Our bank wanted a hand-written letter of authority before they would do it without our presence at the bank. John & Eirian
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Yes, I think you're wrong, David..... luckily for many of us seniors! I've checked all 57 questions on the application form carefully "Claim for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card" form SA296.1204 and there's nothing about two years residence or even "How long have you been a resident of Australia". We cannot apply formally until we actually move "permanently" to Australia in September, but I'm fairly certain we'll get our Commonwealth Seniors card soon after. The lady at Centrelink had no doubts. Wish us luck! John & Eirian:biggrin:
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Thanks, alan. However the advice I'm getting from several sources is that if you are over pensionable age and already drawing pension(s) from the UK, you cannot set up a self-managed super fund. Also, when GBP denominated investments are so unattractive at the mo, why would one prefer these to Oz ones? e.g 2.5% fixed interest over 12 months v 6.2% interest on an on-demand basis? Is this incorrect? John & Eirian
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Yes, that is true, Ann & Roy, Having a permanent visa is necessary before you can get a Medicare card. They checked the paper visa in our passports. I'm surprised they don't consider a 173 to be (almost) permanent, but c'est la vie! Hope all is sorted soon and that you get your 143 quickly. John & Eirian
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I hope you are wrong, David. The requirements I posted were taken from the actual paper form (ref quoted) which I got when I went to CentreLink in Warringah Mall near Manly. I spoke to an adviser there, who actually ticked off all our qualifying requirements then and there. Fingers crossed. I'll keep you posted. John & Eirian.
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The threshold is per year, I should have said. John
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Just discovered that if you are over 60 and under 65, you can make a one-off investment of any spare cash into a "retirement fund". This can be whatever you like - fixed term deposits, bonds or shares or any combination of these. The maximum limit for the transfer is $450,000. All income/interest of the fund and any other drawings of capital are totally free of tax. John & Eirian
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Further to this, I know that, like us, many of you will be worried about the cost of prescriptions. here are the details. For those with Commonwealth Seniors card, $5.80 per item on each prescription; for others,up to $35.40, depending on actual cost. Most items are a lot less than this max, as drugs are cheap in Oz. When total payments by a FAMILY reach a certain total (threshold) a lower charge kicks in for costs after that... for Commonwealth Seniors, FREE; for others they drop to the concessional charge $5.80 Hope this is useful. John & Eirian
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Not quite true, Ian. You're right about the Seniors card but not the Commonwealth Seniors card. You don't need to be resident for 2 years for the latter. Document Ci010.1203 "Info on Commonwealth Seniors Card states requirements for eligibility as : * be resident i.e. moved to Australia * reached age pension age if born between 1 Jan 46 and 30 June 47 - 64 for women, 65 men if between 1 July 47 - 31 Dec 48 - 64.5 for women and 65 for men if between 1 Jan 49 - 30 June 52 - 65 & 65 if between 1 July 52 - 31 Dec 53 - 65.5 and 65.5 between 1 Jan 54 - 30 June 55 - 66 & 66 between 1 July 55 - 31 Dec 56 - 66.5 and 66.5 From 1 Jan 57 - 67 & 67 * not be receiving a Dept of Veterans Pension or Benefit * have an anual adjusted taxable income less than the relevant income limits (50k pa for single, $80k combines pa for couple, $100k pa combined for couples separated due to illness, respite care or one in prison * provide Centrelink with your (and your partner's) tax file number or be granted an exemption from doing so. We've been here in Sydney for three weeks now, sorting out all the requirements for driving license, Medicare, Senior Card, Commonwealth Senior card, apartment, car, etc., etc. Almost all done! The tax file number is essential for most things, so I'd advise you to get this done the minute you arrive in Australia. It takes up to 28 days to get this, apparently. Also essential is an address, so use your son/daughter's address while you look for your own place. This is needed for an Australian driving license too; also, buying a car, etc. Having said all this, it's amazingly easy compared to the UK. We've done the lot in three weeks, even at our advanced ages of 65 & 64! We'd be happy to advise more on any of these things, having had so much help ourselves from this forum to get us here. Good luck. John & Eirian
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Hi Ann, I'm sure it won't be long now. We got our letter from DIAC on 7 Feb this year, telling us we'd get a CO within 4 months. In fact we got our first mail from our CO on 14 March, asking for Meds and Police checks. We'd already sent off our Meds and Police checks well in advance - meds in July 2010! Our CO was just great - every mail to her was responded to overnight. Our final mail from her asking for the 2nd VAC was on 2 April! Nisa granted in all but name. Eight weeks from start to finish! Were we just lucky or was it because all our paperwork had been lodged well in advance? Good luck; you're almost there! John & Eirian
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We bank with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Val, and I managed to up our limit to $100,000 online (or was it by phone to the bank?!) just before having to pay the second VAC by online transfer. Foiled by CPA in Perth accepting nothing but personal cheque or bank cheque! John & Eirian
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If you got your letter informing you that you'd get your CO within 4 months in May, I reckon you'll be getting one any day now, Fran. Fingers crossed for you! John & Eirian
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Exactly, Summerdaisy. We guess that you'll get your CO in 2 months and then your visa 4 weeks after that. I'd say wait and see, even to to save money and complication. Great luck! John & Eirian
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Hi Cath, Even getting onto the tracker makes you feel good. I remember well 14 months ago that it was a journey into eternity, yet we have arrived now 15 months later. Amazing how time flies, even when it drags so! John & Eirtian
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The 14 months really do whizz by. We can't believe that the finishing post is in sight. Apartment agreed for purchase, Visas sorted, Medicare arranged, even got the forms for Senior cards to help pay for apartment! ? . What could be more perfect? We cannot believe that we'll be here for good by October. Suddenly, it's a crazy whirl! You'll find the same - after months of "nothing at all" suddenly it all happens. Good luck and holy patience. John & Eirian
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Don't worry about the four months, Val. That's their standard line, so expect your CO in 4-5 weeks and all hell breaks loose after that. We got our visa granted within 7-8 weeks of that letter! Exciting days for you!! Good luck. John & Eirian
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Hi Angie & Ted, We're in Manly right now, doing a recce before our final move in September. Although everything is bliss, apart from the eye-watering apartment prices, we too will be sad to leave family and friends,especially our son who is 39 and still single. Hopefully,he'll be able to visit often! Met some of the lovely ex-pats, Marian & Ian & Rachel at the Dee-Why RSL yesterday, who made us fEeL so at home. All the best, John & Eirian
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We arranged insurance through Letton Percival and saved a fortune! Also, their insurance covers everything - mildew, elictrical damage, etc. John & Eirian
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Oops, sorry! Here's the link "http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/transport-shipping/112260-shipping-cost-top-8-companies-hope-helps.html" Good luck. John & Eirian
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Having studied this forum closely, we got quotes from John Mason, White & Co and Doree Bonner. We selected the latter because they seemed to have the best links in Sydney, where we intend to store our stuff for about six months. I got a lot of good advice from their Sydney people about fumigation, gamma irradiation, etc. All three seemed good, tyhough. John & Eirian
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Congratulations, Mike & Sue; well deserved! Your contributions to this forum have been invaluable. See ya'll this Spring in Sydney. John & Eirian
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We're going to start looking in Manly if we can even get close to the house/apartment/unit prices there. After that, no idea! John & Eirian
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Not true, Moira. We did a paper application too (Feb 2011), and had our medicals done in July last year in Cardiff. They sent the medicals on without any reference number from a Case Officer. In fact, we didn't get our CO until Spring this year. We did them early because we wanted to make sure we didn't fall at the last hurdle. All the best. John & Eirian
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OK Val, I think we're both right. Technically, we don't get our visa until we arrive in Oz on 16 June, one month before our medicals date expires. However, our email giving us the good news was about a month ago. Makes sense? What does anyway. All that matters is that whheeeyyyyyy! J & E x PS Look at the waiting list!
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Thanks, Val & Matt. We updated the tracker the day we heard that our visa was granted! Great to hear that you'll be visiting Sydney as well and that you'd like to come and play. I heard that there is an extra subscription charge for foreigners, but maybe that's not true! :wink: John & Eirian