Ian Horner

Excellent news. Today I got a reply from Australiansuper regarding my complaints acknowledging that the information I supplied in May was infact all they needed to process my fund withdrawal and that a cheque had been issued!!!! Not much in the way of an apology as the whole message pretty much concentrated on how their complaints procedure solved the problem for me. Oh and they did acknowledge that the letter stating I needed to apply for a DASP payment was also blunder. Perhaps I should request a further cheque to cover the hours off work visiting solicitors and their fees for verifying documents they needlessly asked for! Nah just relieved the nightmare has come to an end and my wife and I can look forward to a slightly more comfortable retirement. Thank you everyone once again for your help, without which I would most definitely just have assumed that the fund was not rightfully mine. STAY SAFE... Ian

Thank you once again for your help everyone. As I mentioned in a previous post I have a complaint active with Australiansuper which hopefully I should get a reply to before long but the advice on actually speaking to them would appear to be the best solution. I have a couple of weeks holiday scheduled at the end of the month so I shall prep my Q&As and give them a ring then. Yesterday I came across a Web site specialising in the ins and outs of Australian visas and have requested advice from them on exactly what my expired visas entitle me to with regards to my fund. Thanks again.....stay safe...Ian

Thanks for the reply and advice. My original visa with which I emigrated to Australia was headed...Class AT Resident P sub class 126. My passport containing this visa ran out and was replaced in Sydney and I was issued a replacement visa headed Class BB Resident Return P sub class 155. Both visas state that I was permitted to stay in Australia indefinitely. Verified copies of both these visas have been rejected by Ausraliansuper without explanation except stating that I wasn't a permanent resident or citizen. Since my previous post I have received a typed letter from them stating that if I hadn't supplied any of the required documents they had asked for with 14days they would cancel my application for withdrawing my fund. The letter was dated June 1st and I received it July 1st! Every document they have asked for I have supplied but the only reply I ever get is that I am neither a permanent resident or citizen despite requesting exactly what they require that I haven't already provided....... Stay safe...Ian

Update.......Things not moving I'm afraid. After supplying my replacement visa I eventually received a letter in the post with the heading in bold print.....We can't pay your superannuation fund. Then one more line saying....You are not a permanent resident or citizen, apply for a DASP payment. Had a look online to see what one was but it seemed to be for claiming after holding a temporary working visa. Asked Australiansuper to please help as I was confused on how to proceed after trying to fill in the DASP form online and the site not recognising my visas as they were not temporary working visas. I got a reply back with the same list of options for claiming my fund as I had received from them two months earlier....nothing else. So back to square one and no wiser. I have sent an official complaint through their site and have received a confirmation message stating my concerns will be reviewed with the NEXT 90 DAYS!! Getting really frustrated. Stay safe...Ian

Thanks for the advice guys. I was beginning to believe that I was mistaken in thinking that the money was actually mine. Today I have found after much searching the replacement passport I had issued in Sydney containing another permanent resident visa so it is off to the solicitors again tomorrow to have a copy verified. Taking the fund as a lump sum won't be a problem tax wise as we timed our UK and Australian pensions to be paid out in different tax years but thank you for the advice anyway. So fingers crossed I don't have to take any further action to release my fund. Stay safe....Ian

I have been looking for an answer to my query everywhere without success so here goes. I moved to Australia on a permanent residency visa subclass126 from the UK in 1996. I lived and worked in Sydney until 2004 when I returned to live in the UK after loosing most of my savings in a mortgage scam. I was fully employed and my employers paid into my Australiansuper account with whom I have remained in contact with and have received a six monthly statement from them since leaving Australia. I recently turned 65 so I assumed I was eligible to withdraw money from my fund. I filled in their forms and provided all the verified proofs of identity but was then asked for proof of my citizenship or valid permanent residency. I didn't aquire dual citizenship and my visa has obviously expired so I only have an old expired visa to present to them. I have enquired as to my residency status and have been informed that once you are granted permanent residency then as the visa states it is permanent, only the right to return is removed if the visa is not renewed after five years. So the question is, do I have an entitlement to my fund and if not what happens to it? Of course no further payments have been made into my fund since I left Australia but the fund has grown over the years and is a major contributor to my retirement plans. All the information online tends to lean towards regaining entry to Australia after a visa has expired. Any advice at all would be much appreciated as my super fund just responds with a stock reply requesting a valid permanent visa when I explain the situation. Thanking anyone in advance.....Ian