matt796

Thanks for the information. The pension changes came into effect in 2015. Prior to that I was required to do 30 years and receive it but the government made a number of changes which means retirement age and accessing it if you leave has changed.

I need to return within the next 2 years unfortunately or it's frozen until my UK state pension age.

I paid into my UK public sector pension for 16.5 years but the rules changed around 2015 for mine so the only way to get it at 55 is to continue in that job until 55. So if I returned to the UK and my old job (which I can) I'll get it at 55. If I remain here in Oz it will be frozen and paid at my UK state pension age (68 for me). I need to back pay my NI contributions from 2018 and continue that to get my UK state pension. It's a toss up of returning to the UK and being able to more or less retire at 55 or staying in Oz but having to work beyond 60. Obviously I'd rather retire earlier. I took the job and pension for granted in the UK & now realise how good it was!

Im still in one if i go back to my old job in the UK. Perhaps that's the only option. I will get my partial UK public sector pension at 68 and I'll keep my NI contributions up so that we receive our UK government pensions. It's unfortunate that the UK seems a lot easier to live in later life, especially with the health care etc being covered completely.

Hi. Since moving here it has become apparent that pensions like those some of us were lucky enough to be in were accessible at 55 and were index linked and paid a monthly amount in addition to a lump sum. I was surprised that doesn't exist here and wondered how people manage as they get older? Is it a case of working longer to ensure there is sufficient in their super funds? It has raised some serious questions about staying in Oz long term. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks

Thanks AJ. I didn't know that about the 5%. We have both changed jobs as well and one of us had a slight increase and the other a decrease - but as casual has more than we initially thought. We are just about to do next year's estimate now so at least we won't forget this time! Cheers

It was just an oversight as we did the income last July and it was a couple months later we started to get the foreign income. Completely forgot to add it at that stage until now as we got all of our paper work ready in anticipation of the doing our tax returns. One salary is casual as well and the hours fluctuate week to week. Find it all very bureaucratic to be honest - at least we will remember for next year! Cheers

Hi We input our anticipated income into centrelink last year. The only subsidy we get is the child care one. As the end of the financial year approaches we have realised that one of our earnings is a bit higher and we completely forgot to add our foreign income. We plan to amend centrelink (albeit it is late in the financial year) and do our tax returns as normal. Is this a major issue or will centrelink just write to us and ask us to repay anything extra that we now owe them? Many thanks

Hi We arrive next month and everything is in place in terms of flights and jobs. We have temporary accommodation booked in the guise of hotels etc. The one question I have is I'd like to purchase a car reasonably quickly. Has anyone have experience of registering a car at a hotel or work address if they hadn't sourced a long term rental at that point? Many thanks

I would ask my agent if it was relevant to them but I opened a skillselect a year before they did for us and did our application. I can't recall the password and the security question answers don' appear to work so my assumption was it is expiring in a month hence an email from them. It has nothing to do with the agent's creation of a skillselect they did a year later for us. Thanks for the replies.

Hi I opened a skillselect 23 months ago and then ended up not applying or submitting anything. Since then in 2017 I used a MARA agent who opened another I assume and I was granted a 190 (we leave the UK in March). I have received an email from skillselect 23 months to the day I set it up and can't recall the log in and the security questions relate to an old passport. I'm assuming it is to say I have a month before the account is closed? If so does it effect anything? Many thanks

Hi I have been asked for my Australian TFN on some new starter paperwork for a job offer.....I am still in the UK though. Do I need to apply for it once I arrive or can I apply for it from the UK? Thank you

Hi As our plan is to let our UK property out has anyone had any experience in obtaining permission to let from First Direct when in the UK? Thank you

Thanks everyone.

Hi Anyone recently rented their UK homes out? Any confusion with the tax returns or are letting agents witholding basic tax rate etc? Any advice greatly appreciated