I have a partner 15 years younger than me (the pensioner). This is not unusual with people marrying later, living overseas and re-marrying.
My question is why the Government is persisting with income testing on pensioners. If you are not earning and your partner is, the thresholds are incredibly low. Especially unreasonable with the stubborn inflation.
Just to clarify, I am not discussing the Work Bonus which I am choosing not to avail because of health reasons, I volunteer instead. Each time my pension is reduced by income testing on my partners earnings, it is effectively a double taxation. New Zealand has a social welfare agreement with Australia, yet they do not income test the income of a pensioners partner.
Just wonder what others think about this.
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