Agree with supernova
Mountains of money going overseas on pensions, people who come to Australia, get citzenship then go back home to live off Australia's generous pension is a start.
That statement is not accurate. Especially the come here and get citizenship part.
AGED PENSION
How long must I have lived in Australia?
To qualify for Age Pension you must have been an Australian resident for a total of 10 years, at
least five of these in one continuous period. You must also be an Australian resident and in
Australia on the day your claim is lodged, unless you are claiming under an International Social
Security Agreement.
If you have spent a significant amount of time in another country, or have significant ties to another
country before you claim, Centrelink may make the decision that you no longer regard Australia
as your permanent home and are therefore not an Australian resident. In deciding whether you
regard Australia as your permanent home, Centrelink will look at your intentions, and your
established links with Australia, for example property, bank accounts and family ties.
What if I want to live overseas
Once Age Pension is granted, it can be paid overseas indefinitely for any absence (including living overseas permanently), subject to proportional portability and the restriction for former residents.
2 fs_ap
Proportional portability means that if you have spent less than 25 years in Australia between age 16 and Age
Pension age, you can only receive a proportion of your normal amount of payment overseas. (There is
currently a proposal to change this to 35 years from 1 January 2014).
If you are a former resident and have been living overseas, return to Australia and then claim Age Pension,
the restriction for former residents means that you need to remain in Australia for two years before you can
leave and be paid overseas.
