pommysheila

apologies the first didn't work [h=2]Getting divorced | australia.gov.au[/h]www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/.../getting-divorced Getting divorced. Find government information and resources to support couples and families through times of separation and divorce.

www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/.../getting-divorced

Hi ScottieGirl Honestly I am not sure I have done this so many times in the past it is all I seem to think about. I came in 1989 and till 2004 I was staying then I went to see how my Dad was doing as my mum had passed in 2002 and I wasn't there for that and I felt bad. That was it the ponging began and never stopped there would always be a reason to come back to Australia and one to go back to the UK. Then hubby passed and I was on my own I have said on this site before my son who was one of the reason I would come back has fallen out with me again. My husband in 2014 was getting close to a transplant and I asked if we could stay with them for a short time whilst he recovered as we would have to travel up to Melbourne 4 times a week. His fiancée didn't like that idea and so they fell out but when hubby got sick I contacted him to say he should come and see him which he did. Then he passed and for a few weeks thing's were okay between us. Then in 2015 he took offence at a calendar I had bought and threw it at me one thing led to another and that Christmas I was on my own and 2016 so I thought do I want to spend another and here we are. Course there is more to it than this but I would have to keep writing to you for years and really people want advise not my history that is for the Doctors :laugh: Anyway I will be 69 in May so already on both pensions not really rich I have people I can talk to but you shut your door and that is it. Not sure if you are my age you say you will be looking for work. How do we make a decision as this will be the last finally the money runs out.

Hope this helps Medicare 2017 costs at a glance | Medicare.gov

Hello Nik Yes I understand that but Medicare is not free you still have to pay but you get most of it back under Medicare. But when you go to the Doctor in UK you don't pay anything at least you didn't has that changed now.

About the mail just on the news this week the boss of Australia Post gets over $5 million a year well last week now I can see why. I bought a gift for a child that was $11. sadly couldn't find on ebay what I wanted so had to buy then post for the standard post $35.19 to Lancashire how the hell is that sustainable.

Hi Nik Well exciting times the Government Health Minister has just approved an increase in April so they recon singles will have an extra $100 a year to pay and couples $200. Up till 2014 we had it bust when hubby passed I cancelled and now I just have extras late 60s glasses, dentist just had a crown $1700 I paid just a bit over $700 so even with medical insurance it isn't cost free and to try to explain how it all works is a minefield to even the Aussies. Medicare I don't really think is NHS equivalent you still have to pay to see the Doctor but I can pay for a short consultation would be around $60 I would get $30 back or thereabouts. Up till last year I was also having to pay full price for the Flue Jab I am 68 so now I get that free. Our two yearly mammograms now free other female stuff you pay. Ambulance cover some Insurers it is in your plan but I pay $40 year better than over $5000 if you have to call them. In the UK we took an lot for granted I seem to remember. Then you have the Vet bills my little one is just getting over the gastro and I have paid over $200 so far she had a lump removed last year $1700 in some cases there treatment is dearer than ours for the same conditions. Pet insurance is the way to go but I adopted an older dog in 2015 so she can only get accident which is neither here nor there. Nothing is for FREE these day's and how true that is everything has a price even your health. I am surre you will get a lot of replies on this subject and everybody has a different story.

Hello Thank heavens all the thing's I am worried about I thought I must be a little waky. First the packing easy the people come pack up have a chat with you deliver unpack you just put thing's were you would like them to go. Honestly that is the no hassle bit. We have done it 3 times every time the same. I am renting so getting the leave date and the mover date this time I will be solo as my husband passed away 2014 so he did all that and to be honest no problems me doing it well that is a worry also I have a little dog we have done that a few times also but now I am solo. Finding somewhere to live no family friends all over the place last time I saw them 1989 we have already done the staying with friends and in one of my last posts we overdid our stay date so that went badly. When you have nobody were do you pick the UK is huge beautiful far better places to live than the North but the North is familiar I had an email from an Estate Agent yesterday saying it would be hard for me with the dog but we have rented 3 times over the years with no problems so have thing's changed since 2009? when we were last there. Money say you have $40.000 that is going to be halved maybe less no Bank Account over there, and then the Pension you read a lot of stuff and I have been doing this for well over a year the best I have come up with is if you came before 2001 we should be able to keep some of our pension that is the Aussy one but is that right? I am in my last 60 next year I will be 70 and to be honest I think that will be to late even though I am well. If hubby were here we would be off but having nobody to talk thing's through is hard. I do hope you manage to get to where you want to be and settle. Take care. xx

Hi rik Nik Yes Fleetwood is close I think you have the posh people in Southport all the rich people go then there is Blackpool were all us cobble street and factory people live (me) then Fleetwood who lives there ? Tassi well I have only been once but I loved it and the houses are so cheep you can buy a country estate under 100.000 I have thought about it. xx

Geelong is great I think we get the best of all the states when it is warm it is warm but it can be bloody cold toooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Me next BOLTON

Thank you for that I do appreciate it now do you no a good LABOTOMIST to sort me out :laugh:

Hello I am not experienced in these matters but I am really good at stuffing up. My late husband and I returned to the UK in 2004 to see to my Dad my mum had passed in 2002 and I was feeling really bad at not being there for her being an only one and didn't want to make that mistake with my Dad hubby managed to secure a job with Jaguar and all went well. Then Dad decided he really didn't need us anymore and thing's got difficult so we started to look to come back home. We got a job in Albury but it only lasted a few months as they went bust so we came back to Victoria. Then in late 2008 Dad got sick and we were offered a job in Gloucester, but he would have to do the usual meet and greet with the company so we stayed with friends up North well the meet and greet went way past the 2 week promised and we were kindly asked to move on were we were staying. We decided to stay in a Motel down there till we got the start date during this time we also had our little dog it was a nightmare plus our furniture was still in storage since 2007. Well they changed there mind and decided to reshape the company from inside and hubby wouldn't be needed (not a dam thing you can do). So to cut a very very long story short we booked a plane and the pet had to do a months quarantine again but we came back. My Dad passed in 2009 and my husband in 2014 I want to go back home I am in my late 60 but like you am worried about Pensions. What I would say to you on advise is make sure the job offer is signed and sealed we have had both experiences when it is good thing,s are great but if it goes wrong for what ever reason well it is a shocker. We later on made friends with the people we stayed with but even friends do have a stay by date yes we were wrong to stay longer than we thought but the UK is a big place when you have nowhere to go. I do wish you all well. xx

Hello Good luck with the move and making the decision I used Chess when my father passed away in the UK as he had left me some personal items they were great. I am still trying to make a decision but when I do I would have no hesitation in using them they were based in Melbourne I am in Geelong.

Hello Wombat I am like you still wondering what to do not sure how old you are but this year I will be 69 my husband passed 2014 and I am not in touch with my son now since 2015 sadly it is his partner who thinks I am to motherly with her or something anyway 2 Christmases now on my own seems more than enough to me. I was on here last year regarding pensions and if I would be able to keep it I have read if we came out before 2001 we would be okay I came out in 1989 but to be honest I am just to worried to go to Centrelink in casse they say I can't keep it and then it is final I have to stay if that makes any sense to you it is like dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. I would be totally alone has my immediate family have all passed on still have friends over there but been a while and only one still in touch with and I worry they may think I have gone back because they are the only people who I can really call good friends I wouldn't want to put any pressure on them. So here I am shall I or not isn't it artful when you can't make up your mind:confused:

without giving your personal details how did you do it please safely.

Hello Pat So pleased to see you back hope the family is well now. Could you please email me the info to thank you. xx

My friend in the UK as asked for your email address

Category A Basic Retirement Pension If you reached retirement age before 6 April 2010 you will be subject to the old rules. If you reached retirement age on or after 6 April 2010 you will benefit from the new rules. New Rules To qualify for a full (100%) Basic pension you must have contributed for 30 years or more. Each qualifying year gives you 1/30th of the basic pension. You can get a part pension even if you contributed for only 3 years. Current proposals will increase this minimum to 10 years. But you may be allowed to catch up by paying voluntary contributions. Old Rules To qualify for a full (100%) Basic pension you must have contributed for most of your working life from age 16. The minimum pension payable is 25% of the standard rate, based on years of contribution, with a minimum of 11 years for men and 10 years for women. If your contribution record is less than this, you may not be eligible for any UK pension. For each additional contribution year the percentage rises by 2% or 3% up to the maximum of 100%. Periods in which you did not contribute may nevertheless count as contribution years, earning you a higher percentage. Among such periods are those during which you may have lived and worked in a European Union country, periods of sickness, periods when you were allowed to be out of the work force because of home responsibilities and, of course, any periods in the armed services. If you have not yet reached Pensionable age, you may be able to pay voluntary contributions, thus increasing your Basic pension. It is beyond the scope of this guideline to list all the conditions. For details, contact the Department of Work and Pensions. So I was born in 1948 I was 14/half when I started work and moved here in 1989. So my pension from uk started aged 60 under the old rules apologies I think I said ways I will be 69 May 2017.

My friend in the UK has just passed her degree I will ask her and get back to you. xx

Hi Dell Thank you for the update I am still is a muddle to go or not I don't understand how you can have a full pension for 8 years yet I have a part pension working from 15 to 42 and topping up we have done to it and it is still only about 60 pound. Even if I got a full pension it is only 143.00 as my age keeps me on the old way even if I was on the new way it is only 153.00. If it is either or no way can the UK pension match the Australian so on that point alone I don't see how it is affordable no matter how much we want to go home sooner or later the money will run out and if you were like me a bench in the park is all you can afford. You have a house to sell so that is great you can probably afford it Dell.

Hi I come from Bolton so hello. REED.CO.UK IS VERY GOOD INDEED UK ALSO My hubby was a FORD man and we went back twice with a job one with Jaguar and another for NORTHELFER depends what your line of work is and where you want to live. Also if you have a place in mind you can check the local papers for jobs. You wont have trouble renting if you have a good history that would be a handy letter to have and your utilities are up to date, you may have to pay 6/12 upfront depends on the Agent. Also I would have copies of your wage slips for the last 12 month or so. I came to Australia in 1989 leaving a good job but apart from work for the dole,job skills and a million courses I never found a proper job. I arrived back in the UK in the May 2004 and was working for a Department store by the end of June full time so if I can get a job there is hope back home. good luck

Hi again Dell, I have just been reading a couple of letters and this name came up a few times MoveCube - Your Own Small Shipping Crate - Seven Seas Worldwide I am going to have a look at it looks very interesting. xx

That is just it Dell village life I miss someone to have a chat with as you peg your wash out or have a chat to at the shops, I miss Church on a Sunday morning, I have been to communion 2 times in 30 years shocking my mum would be so disappointed with me on that. I have told you my husband passed in 2014 and just 2 of my neighbours have said something to me, some say hello and others nothing that is what I find really weird about Oz and always have. A new neighbour moved in 3 month ago and I received a letter with my address but not my name so I went and knocked on the door to see if it was for them then I noticed a sticker on the window IF YOU HAVENT BEEN INVITED DONT KNOCK and don't come to the door the lady car was there so I tried again and left I put the letter in the recycle bin.

Hi again Dell, I am from Bolton and we think of Lythan st Annes as the posh side along with Southport both of which I have spent some happy childhood holidays. good luck if you decide to move. Merry Christmas xx