CJT

On 04/09/2019 at 11:48, Franklin05 said:

Husband and I moved out to OZ 10 years ago, in that time we've moved to 4 states looking for work, got a dog and had two kids and finally after securing permanent work built and bought a house, with the view to returning to the UK in about 3 to 5 years time (missing culture and family - who are now getting on and in need of extra support).

Husband has had a few difficulties with work, new management, change in direction of the organisation and he along with another staff member have become the fall guys and management are looking to remove them and I guess start afresh, not necessarily an easy process and HR and unions are involved. Husband has been essentially been given 2 months, until precisely what they wont clarify but from the way things are at the moment we're expecting him to be leaving the organisation one way or another. 

So the move to the UK we had planned in a few years will now be in the next few months. It's a lot to take in, remaining or moving (yet again) in Australia is not really a possibility due to costs (our last interstate move cost about $10,000 for furniture removal, vehicle transport costs and our flights), securing work and that fact that we have already done that more times than I care to remember, practically it makes sense to return to the UK sooner. Mine and my daughters UK passports are expired, we haven't even gotten around to getting our sons. We are located remotely, there are limited jobs, and a down turn in the property market so we can't sell and will have to rent the house out. We have very little money, most of that went into the house and my parents will be supporting us finically to return and to get set up there.

I feel so overwhelmed, especially with all the uncertainty going on with Brexit and the austerity measures, our daughter requires a specific medication, and several therapies and occasional in class support - we had been hoping to get most of these these therapies out of the way before returning and I am so worried about the affect this will have on her. I know once resident we will be entitled to NHS and school etc, but with therapy under way here there will be a gap in services and starting out on waiting lists again and a system I've not used in a decade. 

What do we need to consider in the move back? 

If you are planning on selling the property at a later date be carefull of the Capital Gains changes for non residents which come into effect From July 2020.  Suggest you get some advice on implications of this.

1 hour ago, Vickie78 said:

Not running away from anything, except a longing to be home  

Good luck with the move, people only pointing out pension thing as we would hate for you to have an oh sh!t moment in the future.  As long as you know where you stand then all good.  FYI I felt the same way as you and moved back to the UK in 2016 - the thought of getting old out in Australia filled me with complete dread. Fitted straight back in and loving being back.

32 minutes ago, Vickie78 said:

 

Mums not retired yet, she's not that old. I have also mentioned plans to work I have no intention of going home to claim benefits(Wouldn't be able to anyway I'd assume there is  few years you have to wait like Aus) . I do have savings, and the funds for the move and mum does too. 

I was just reading on the NI information that as long as I work for at least 10 years then the state pension is a thing. I'm only 41, PLENTY of working years left in me yet and definitely more than 10, I'm pretty sure mum still has her Prudential pension or whatever you call it, bit like aussie super? that she had before we moved here as well.  My kids are old enough now to look after themselves so that's not an issue anymore. Mum worked from the age of 16 in the U.K all the way to 30 or however old she was when we left.  So my plan basically is move, get a job, get the kids into school, work my arse off save more, and yeah all will be ok.  

Also I'm debt free and not a sucker for cash day loans  

Your entitlement to the UK pension will be based on years of NI contributions - the maximum you can get is 36 years which would give you the full state pension.   If you get 25 years of contributions then you will get 25/36 or 70% of around £150pw.  This would be the maximum UK state pension you can get.  Your mum should be able to purchase some years to fill gaps - and she might be able to do this at a reduced rate as she was overseas.  If she can get the state pension from Aus BEFORE she leaves she will be able to get that paid to her when she lives in the UK.

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

It is overwhelming, isn't it?    You'll get there, just take it one thing at a time.   Some answers:

Please don't even try to secure a rental before you get there.  You (or a trusted friend) HAVE to see the place, as adverts can be very very very misleading.   Book an Airbnb or a holiday home for three or four weeks instead.  When you find a long-term rental, you'll be asked to pay six months rent upfront.   If you're currently renting in Australia, get a written reference from your landlord to take with you.

New school year starts in September.

Money - DO NOT close your Australian bank accounts, because it does take time to get your British bank accounts fully set up ( you can open an account on the day you arrive, but it was about three weeks before I could get any money out, and my husband's took six weeks). 

The easiest option is to change banks in Australia now (it's not as hard as you think).   Move to ING Bank and get yourself an ING Everyday account with a debit card. Their exchange rates are pretty good and there are no fees to withdraw money from  ATM's or pay for goods while you're overseas, so you can use it just like you would at home.   That way there's no drama if the UK bank process takes time.

If you have a large amount of money to transfer, consider using Moneycorp or Transferwise - you transfer the money to their account and it then sits there safely until you can transfer it to your UK account.

You'll get a NI number when you get there.   Once you've got it, you can claim any work experience in Australia up till 2001 towards your balance. In your case that won't be many years but every little helps!  You could also enquire about back-paying missing years, but do check whether it's going to be worth it.

I'd suggest rethinking the shipping.  Look into getting a Movecube - the small one works out cheaper than sending a few boxes, and the larger ones hold a lot.   Maybe your furniture is too old to take, but it's well worth taking ALL the small stuff.   Do a trial shop on UK websites like Dunelm.com for all your pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, bowls, Tupperware, bedlinen, towels, doonas, pillows, etc and see what it comes to!   We've all accumulated that stuff slowly so we don't realise how much it costs - I know I was shocked.  And it's not just the cost, it's the time it takes to shop for it all, at a time when you've just arrived in a new country and you already have a thousand other things to do.

 

You cannot get your NI history credited for years prior to 2001 if you did not have a NI number when you left.  It will start from when you actually get your NI number - you also will not be able to purchase years for the same reason.  Make sure you know how you will be able to fund your retirement.

I'd rather have four seasons thanks.  I can get out way more in the UK than I could in Australia and my skin won't turn to leather and be covered in cancers when I'm older.  As lots have also said I found I was way colder in Australia during the winter - our house got down to 13 degrees and it was insulated.  If the kids have such active outdoors lifestyles in Australia why is childhood obesity such a major problem over there ?