Ruth1

On 20/06/2023 at 09:49, Andrew from Vista Financial said:

Well, it seems that the panic is over as an extension has been granted as per below:

Taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 that may increase their State Pension - an extension of nearly 2 years - the government announced today (12 June).

Extending the voluntary National Insurance contributions deadline until 2025 means that people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them and ensures no-one need miss out on the possibility of boosting their State Pension entitlements.

The original deadline was extended to 31 July 2023 earlier this year, and tens of thousands of people have taken advantage to pay voluntary contributions to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) since then. The revised deadline is expected to enable tens of thousands more to do the same.

Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

People who have worked hard all their lives deserve to receive their State Pension entitlement, and filling gaps in National Insurance records can make a real difference.

With the deadline extended, there is no immediate rush for people to complete gaps in their record and they will have more time to spread the cost.

Laura Trott, Minister for Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions, said:

I am pleased to see so many people taking steps to review their State Pension, which is why we have extended the deadline for customers to add extra years to their National Insurance record.

This extension means thousands more people will have time to check their entitlement, and in many cases increase the amount they receive when they retire.

The extension means that taxpayers have a longer period to enable them to afford to fill any gaps if they choose to do so. All relevant voluntary National Insurance contributions payments will be accepted at the rates applicable in 2022 to 2023 until 5 April 2025.

Individuals who are planning for their retirement could benefit from the opportunity to complete gaps in their National Insurance record. Other people who may benefit include those who may have been:

·         employed but with low earnings

·         unemployed and not claiming benefits

·         self-employed who did not pay contributions because of small profits

·         living or working outside of the UK

Paying voluntary contributions does not always increase your State Pension. Before starting the process, eligible individuals with gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 onwards should check whether they would benefit from filling those gaps.

They can find out how to check their National Insurance record, obtain a State Pension forecast, decide if making a voluntary National Insurance contribution is worthwhile for them and their pension, and how to make a payment on GOV.UK.

Taxpayers can check their National Insurance record through their Personal Tax Account.

 Full article here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deadline-for-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-extended-to-april-2025

 

Regards Andy

But if we are eligible for class 2 contributions whilst living in Aus, and have enough years left to top up before retirement, its not going to be worth it right?

I successfully submitted my visa without the police check. I just had to provide an explaination-which I said was due to the delays in processing..

Did anyone submit their visa before getting their police check back. There is an unexpected delay with the checks as they are having to process them manually due to a cyber attack, but I really need to get my HAP ID as there is a 4 week wait for medicals, and I also want to submit before the end of June when prices for visas go up.. this is for a 482 visa

On 25/04/2023 at 13:13, benj1980 said:

Blue Flu has this obsession of bad-mouthing Mandurah and other parts of WA from my recollection. I work and live here in Mandurah and think it is awesome. I like Blue Flu are entitled to my opinion and I really disagree with Blue Flu's version. There are better and worse suburbs as you'd expect, some schools are better than others - I'm presuming Hunter is a son and maybe school age? But the beaches, restaurants, sport clubs and other amenities are as good as anywhere else. I live in the southern suburbs and prefer this area as it is probably a bit quieter than the northern suburbs. There's bit of a Scottish community and a Scottish pub...

I am happy to answer any ongoing questions, feel free to private message. I'll be at the airport 5th May funnily enough dropping the in laws before they fly back to the UK.

I agree with this. I have stopped asking questions in this forum cos they inevitably take over the post going on and on about the same old thing over and over again. Its like a weird obsession. One of my posts (asking advice about Port Macquarie) got shut down because they took it on such a tangent.. I even went on a different forum to get away from it and there was clearly the same poster spouting the same stuff on there aswell. I know not relevant to the post (sorry) but I do think it needs to be called out as they are ruining this forum for everyone else who are just after some advice.

On the topic however I have friends in Mandurah who absolutely love it and I am moving there myself in Sept. I have absolutely no concerns despite birdflus attempts..

On 25/04/2023 at 11:15, SMH said:

I have below querues:

1. What are scope of doctors for immigration to Australia? I know General Practirioner  (Unit Group 2531) and Resident Medical Officer (Unit Group 2531) are in MLTSSL but I am asking also practically.

2. If one has to apply either as General Practirioner  (Unit Group 2531) OR Resident Medical Officer (Unit Group 2531), does it matter? I mean, there is almost no difference.

Thanks.

 

 

What kind of Dr is your wife? There is quite a big difference between the two and she will only be able to apply as a General Practitioner if she is a fully qualified GP with equivalent training to Australian GPs. This is a specialist route whereas the resident medical officer is for non specialist, or junior Drs.. suggest she contacts a medical recruitment company for more advice as there is quite a long process to applying even before the visa stage. Ie having to get qualifications recognized, apply to the medical registration body etc..

I cant comment on quality of companies yet as we are on the other side of the move but I can tell you that prices have come right down. A company that quoted for us last year got back in touch to say that shipping rates are back down to prepandemic levels so they revised their rate from 9.5k to 6.5k and I got back in touch with another who confirned this and quoted under 6k! This is also UK to Perth for 20 ft container.

Out of interest as an aside do you mind me asking why you didnt settle back in the UK?

15 hours ago, Cheery Thistle said:

Thank you for that. So, are you going for it? 

Yep!! Got a job offer so just submitting the paperwork now. Think id spent too long thinking about it and spending time worrying about every little thing that I just have to see for myself

On 14/03/2023 at 08:01, Cheery Thistle said:

Hi yes I have already consulted a migration agent and they seemed confident I’d be ok with the secondary teaching qualification and experience. I still have enough and recent enough teaching experience. I would be advised to do the English test to boost my points though. 
Contrary to popular belief, although I would get the visa based on my teaching qualification, I don’t actually have to teach once I arrive if I get a 189 or 190 (which is what I’d apply for). That’s not to say I won’t but I have put considerable effort into retraining and upskilling and would probably prefer fo stay in my existing field. 

Yes, I have thought about it a lot, you don’t walk away from what we have here without giving it a lot of thought! However, what I did omit was my sob story lol. My mum died in 2020 at the height of Covid after my dad and I had to nurse her at home for 8 months (due to the Covid situation she couldn’t go to hospice or hospital because she wouldn’t be allowed visitors etc etc).  Then in 2021 my husband had a planned surgery which then led to a load of unintended consequences, 2 further emergency surgeries and sepsis and he almost died. Fortunately he has fully recovered and has been back at work for over a year. But my point is going through these things kind of brings your life into sharp focus and that, coupled with our age, gives the migrating/moving issue a now or never and carpe diem aspect that it might not otherwise have! I mean, what’s the worst that can happen if we move and it doesn’t work out - it’s highly unlikely to be more traumatic that all of that!! 
 

 I have checked the health situation with an agent and because none of us are under any medical supervision or on any meds now it should be fine.  

I am so very sorry to hear about this. Its comforting to hear other people having the same thoughts and in a similar situation.. My mum also died last year, out of the blue, at a young age and with no health conditions, and it led me to have the same thoughts about moving. Id been thinking about it for 15 years or so but always made excuses not to. If Im being honest, leaving her was one of my excuses, and I was too scared of change from my comfortable life, but as you say these things put a new perspective on life. I keep thinking that my mum would have wanted me to go for it as Im sure yours would have. She never even made it to retirement age, so I now think that my well paid job, nice house and pension in the UK isnt the be all and end all-life is for living. And as you say whats the worst that can happen, we move back and all thats lost is some money. Anyway, hope you dont mind me adding my experience but its good to know there are others in similar situations. Like you I am early 40s so its definitely a now or never aituation. Eek! x

There isnt much good news regarding finances lately, but I was contacted last week by a shipping company I had spoke to at the start of my journey to say that shipping costs have come down and they quoted me about £2500 less than my original enquiry about 4 months ago. Looks like container rates are pretty much at prepandemic levels although no doubt the costs for the removals people at either end remain high. Anyone else seeing lower quotes. I had all but decided not to bother shipping my furniture but might think again now..

18 minutes ago, Cobs_Ahoy said:

Thanks @Jon the Hat and @Ruth1 it’s helpful to hear from people who powered through it. I want to set myself a goal of a year before re-evaluating, but just feel this immense guilt at the thought of trying to get my 7 year old back into the U.K. system after that length of time. 

Its natural to feel guilt but there is probably no need. Kids at that are are extremely resilient and catch up very quickly, and this is likely to be a huge adventure and learning experience for them..

2 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

Perfectly normal to have some moments of panic.  I think finding somewhere to live which you like, getting all your stuff around you and starting to feel normal is going to take longer than that.  We are about a year ahead of you in Perth, and only moved into an unfurnished rental in September and got our stuff out of storage.  So only now starting to feel even a little permanent.  Ironically this week the snow in the UK has made me feel a little homesick!  I think stick it out for at least a year or two - if nothing else flights and shipping are inflated at the moment!

Haha, what you are forgetting is the being late for work cos you have to defrost your car, going to and from work in the pitch black for at least 2 months, skidding on black ice, being held up due to a serious accident on an otherwise safe road. All things I have had to contend with this week. Snow is a giant pain unless you can stay inside and just watch it out the window

I honestly think its quite normal to feel that way at first. I remember having similar thoughts after I arrived for my 2 year stay-thinking how quickly can I get back, missing home etc. However that only lasted a few weeks and I remember looking back at those times when I was having to leave, thinking-what was I thinking as I was desperate to stay at that point. So yes, it does take time to settle and its natural to miss the comfort of home. However only you know what is right for you. Perhaps give yourself a timeframe to see how you feel and come back at the end of that if you still havent settled, but one thats long enough to give it a good go and to make sure you dont regret not giving it more of a shot, which I suspect you might if you came back straight away.

 As am aside, I am working in the NHS and it is collapsing around us... even in the short time since you left in Oct it feels lke it has fallen off a cliff and is not really functioning. Its on the news most days in terms of escalating waits, unsafe conditions etc so coming back to an NHS job may be much worse than the one you left..

On 24/10/2021 at 08:05, DanO said:

Well as per the random example below...

When I googled yesterday I obviously looked in a different area....but this was Cheshire.

Am I somehow misreading this because they seem to range between $2,500 and $7,000 ???

Band H are houses over 320,000GBP. Weirdly I note it also says that it is based on the house value from 1991 (??????) so maybe a 320,000 house now was only worth 100,000 in 1991 or something...seems a bloody silly way to tax though?

You are absolutely not wrong.. we live in Cheshire East and our fairly standard 4 bed has been classified as band G (not sure how?) And we pay £3300 per year at the 2022 rates, so more than your table.. The govt has also lifted restrictions so now they can increase that by 5% every year Bins are collected every 2 weeks and I dont see much more benefit than that. Most of it apparently goes on social care and paying for the council. Honestly its one of the reasons Im moving as we soon wont be able to afford to live in our own house!.. Cheshire is fairly standard-not one of the more expensive councils.

1 hour ago, JustJoe said:

Sound advice and something we have been thinking ourselves. I’m leaning towards Brisbane for all the reasons you stated. Apprehensive about the mozies, they love me, it’s not reciprocated. Never been at that time of year so not sure how bad they are but guess it depends where about you are… 

Haha, yes that is a downside but they are only out for the summer months despite it being warm all year round. The first year I was bitten to death and then my body seemed to get used to it and after that hardly got bit at all

I think it would boil down to what you are looking for in the move. Yes you may get paid more in Melbourne but house prices and cost of living are quite a bit higher so it will likely negate the higher salary. Therefore start from what you are looking for.. People move to Melbourne for a vibrant city-it's arguably better for culture, diversity and events than Brisbane. The city itself is always described as more European feeling than others. If you are after what we Brits think of as an Aussie lifestyle then Brisbane is likely to be more for you. It has a more relaxed pace of life, better surrounding beaches, hotter weather (Melbournes weather, whilst probably still better than the UK, is not what people imagine of Australia-it can be rainy, cloudy and colder much more often), so all in all, Brisbane and Melbourne will give you pretty different things from your move, so dont just follow the money unless you have no preference otherwise

44 minutes ago, JustJoe said:

Brisbane is our first choice at the moment, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned.
 

Any recommendations of suburbs around Brisbane that are rural (ish), good schools, nice cafes, nice feel? Ideally walking distance of a beach but realize we may have to compromise on this. We just want to bear water so close to a nice lake might work too, if that’s a thing?

There isnt really a proper beach in and around Brisbane at all to be honest. If you need to be in the city then perhaps South Bank which has the (fabulous) made made beach with loads of restaurants, bbqs etc. Otherwise, have you considered the North end of the Gold Coast? You can commute to Brisbane from the GC but its a city in itself with loads of job opportunities, stunning beaches galore. Even though there is no beaches as such in Brisbane itself IMO it beats Melbourne hands down, but I am biased and I am sure others may disagree.. Certainly the QLD beaches are way better that the ones surrounding Melbourne once you get to them

2 hours ago, Maths_Teacher said:

Good Morning,

Me and my partner have just been granted a 190 for NSW. We plan on making the move in August 2023 as we have some weddings etc before then. 

I've been focused on the visa for so long that I've not really thought about what to do after that. Is there a checklist or something that can help?

We're going to be renting somewhere in the Sydney area and don't have a house to sell back here.  We have a dog so I am going to start getting quotes for moving him over as I know this can take 7 months+.

Also if there are any teachers here that have made the move, is there anything I can do to prepare myself for finding work once in Sydney? Is it possible to find a role before making the move?

Thanks,

R

Maybe have a look at Port Macquarie in NSW as an option aswell. I am biased as I am hopefully heading that way next year myself, but it seems to be the perfect coastal location us Brits dream of and is expanding massively as lots of people moving there from Sydney for cheaper prices and a sea change, so lots of opportunities in teaching I imagine.. 

Not quite Stoke-bit further up in Cheshire but family all from Stoke. How are you finding life in Port Macquarie? Probably moving over there myself in the next year or so

17 hours ago, proud preston said:

Posted too many times before. Been here nearly 16 years. Homesick all the time but still live a decent life and not battling any depression. Talk to mother in law each week and have such a deep regret and remorse that we took our children /her grand children - then aged 5 and 3 away from all their cousins, aunts/uncles and grandparents. So sad. I hear of my children’s cousins regularly seeing their nanna ( my mother in law) and feel so sad that my children didn’t have that. Also.....husband kept saying ‘ move to Australia for a better life for the kids’ (?!) I see all our nephews and nieces are doing very well in the UK. Uni, travel, good jobs etc How on earth do you ever shake off remorse and regret?! Seems so silly to be a little family of four ( I know I have said this before ) when there is a big extended family back in the UK. 

(Going back for 4 weeks next month and looking at pictures from Air BnB site and marvelling at how pretty England looks!) 

I am so sorry that you feel this way. Just a couple of thoughts about your situation. As the above poster said, do you think that if you hadnt been brave and made the move then you would have similar remorse and regret about not taking a chance? I know several people who thought about going to Aus but never did and live with deep regret.

As for the regret about cousins etc, without sounding harsh, as children get older the relationships with cousins and aunties etc often drift anyway and they end up being like extended family/aquaintainces in a lot of cases. Grandparents are obviously different, but what about the strong relationships your kids have made in Aus that they wouldnt have had otherwise.

As for the feeling that everyone is doing great in the UK-well hopefully they are, but clearly your MIL is only going to give you the positives and whilst on paper going to uni and travel is a great success, are they all completely happy with no problems? are there issues you arent hearing about as usually people dont discuss the bad stuff in families. As a healthcare professional I know that there is a mental health epidemic amongst young ppl in the UK at the moment. And at the same time do you not think that people look at your life with envy and think how lucky you all are without realizing the sadness you feel.

As for the air bnbs - of course they are going to post pictures of the pretty bits - same as Aus bnbs would post pics of the beach or the bush, but I can promise you that a lot of the UK is run down, litter strewn and decaying. I think you are looking at it through rose tinted glasses perhaps?

At the end of the day, only you know how you feel and maybe it really was the wrong choice to move to Aus but alternatively, do you think the issue could be internal dissatisfaction maybe.. are there courses or career moves youd love to take, trips youd love to do or maybe even some therapy to give some personal sense of wellbeing and satisfaction?

12 minutes ago, RandL said:

As far as I know ( my wife receives an NHS pension) the NHS pension is not subject to a freeze once you leave the UK and will enjoy a yearly increase  unlike the state pension .

Great. Thats good to know, thanks!

2 minutes ago, Cup Final 1973 said:

If you have not yet reached pension age your pension amount has not yet been calculated!  It will depend on how many years you’ve contributed and the rules do change.  Once you start receiving your UK pension it is frozen at that rate while you are in Australia.  Each time you go back to the UK or certain other countries the rate is updated to the current rate for the time you are in that country but reverts to the frozen rate once back in Oz.  You have to declare it when you do your yearly tax return in Oz and you are taxed on it.

I was specifically referring to the NHS pension as I have a current defined 'pot' that I will get each year.. I should have been clearer, apologies.

I am giving myself a headache trying to work all this out so apologies if the answers are elsewhere but I am struggling. Does an NHS pension continue to get uprated each year by the cpi + 1.5% if we emigrate or will it be frozen like the state pension is for expats in Aus. This is whilst working age and working in Aus, not as a retiree.. I know we cant transfer it over anymore and I am happy to keep a defined benefit pot but dont want it losing value if frozen..

Also, long way off but how is it then taxed if we stay in Aus?

8 hours ago, Lavers said:

Just go for it Ruth what have you got to lose.

You will always question if its the right the thing to do or not, so your only way of knowing is by doing it.

We (Me,Wife and 2 daughters 10 & 4) moved to Adelaide June 2020 and have never looked back. As Marisa says no one country is better than the other, they are just different.

We had never been to Aus but I've always fancied it for some reason from being a kid. No family here but have got friends that emigrated to other states so just thought that if they can do it why can't I.

We could have easily not moved and just blamed it on covid but the thought of not moving was my biggest driving force as I didn't want to end up like alot of the guys I worked with in there 50s saying I wish I'd have tried that.

Your only here once so make the most of it, if you come and don't like it then you move back. You will lose a chunk of cash but will have no what ifs later on in life which to me is priceless.

This is so true.. I know I would end up always thinking 'what if' and I keep needing to remind myself that the UK is not going anywhere if it doesnt work out for us. Money is just money at the end of the day but time and opportunity is irreplaceable

The estate agent I have approached has said that with a fully managed service they would do regular inspections which I think would reassure me as a landlord but I can imagine would be pretty annoying for a tennant. We arent keen to sell really just in case it doesnt work out and we end up coming back and a managed service through a letting agency, whilst more expensive, I think would work better for us being so far away

5 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

I'm not at all convinced that not losing any sleep over a matter of such significance is the way forward. It requires   a major  commitment these days to migrate in both cost and energy. If one is so fickle about going, I can see issues ahead .

I know you say you were out here for a few years in the mid nighties, but it is a very different country from those days. The migration racket is full of broken relationships and the consequences of that. 

It could prove of some value, although limited probably, to visit for awhile and refresh the mind on the present day reality. It would also at least give an indication if your partner has any affinity even to be in Australia.  

I think that calling it fickle is a but unfair. For me it has been an all consuming passion for 15 years that has dominated my thoughts and life choices at times. All I meant was that my husband himself wouldnt be devastated if we didnt give it a go, but is equally happy to try it for the experience but also because he knows it is what I had planned to do since before we met. It was actually the mid 2000s (noughty) that I was there, but I am aware that Aus is likely to have changed a lot-in the way that the UK has also.