Travelling overseas

The Meeting Place > General Discussion > Travelling overseas

7 yrs ago

This may help others who are new to havng a pension.

Recently I was told that I had to tell Centerlink if I was going to take a holiday overseas. After much hair tearing trying to get through to the correct office/personnel etc I was told no, you don't have to tell centerlink at all. This is in case your pension has to be altered or has to bee sent to another address (I think).

If you are going overseas for 6 weeks or more - you must tell the Dept Immigration - and tell them when you have returned.

If you are going for less than 6 weeks - you don't have to tell anyone.

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21 comments

freed1948

7 yrs ago

And once you move OS you have continuos hassles from them.

If you are an Australian citizen and are leaving Australia for ANY period of time and you are receiving a pension (no matter how small) from one of the 30 countries under the international social security agreement you MUST notify Centrelink of your departure date and, again, the day when you return. So, the under six weeks away rule of not notifying Centrelink DOES NOT apply. You gotta tell 'em!

zeus

7 yrs ago

Totally agree Fast Eddie. I know from personal experience that you are required to notify Centrelink if you are travelling overseas for longer than six weeks. Otherwise, your pension will be suspended. Disappointing to see such incorrect advice on YLC. If in doubt, best to check with Centrelink first.

It's best not to trust ANY information which is not supplied by the relevant authority, body, department, etc concerned. Although the YLC team members and site contributors mean well, no one is a faultless expert on everything, so when it comes to things we consider of great importance it is best to check with those most knowledgeable. No offence meant to anyone, of course.

Debbie McTaggart

7 yrs ago

Please note that this is not a YLC post - the words above were posted by a member. We do not tell anyone that you don't have to advise Centrelink when heading overseas - quite the opposite. It's important that you advise Centrelink of any overseas travel as, should they need to contact you and can't, then they may have to stop your payment or cancel your concession card.

If I want to know something of importance I always go to the source and get it it direct. People often mean well in the advice they give but on many occasions I have found it incorrect.

Bones

7 yrs ago

I believe what is being said is that when you leave Australia it is recorded by the dept of immigration. You passport details are recorded and their computers store the info. This centrelink will receive the info from immigration tee your trip.

I know this works, last year I went to Europe, did not info centrelink because I thought I would not be gone long enough. Wrong, they let me know view immigration records. But it is a good idea to let them know if you havea day spare to Malinger on the phone lol

cranky

7 yrs ago

Bones, you took the words right out of my mouth, I would tell them anyway no matter where I was going or for how many weeks, then all your obligations are covered..

I think it would be wise to leave a message if you can't get through, By the time they get round to reading it ,you'll be back in Australia again to answer any queries they may have about your leaving the country..

Also tell your bank you are going away so they know there may be credit card charges coming through from overseas.

vinradio

7 yrs ago

Yes, immigration and CLink share information. I was quite taken aback when I was at a Clink appointment when I was still on Newstart and the Clink person said in a rather accusing way, "You've been out of the country!" It was a one day stop off in Bali, from a cruise ship.

vinradio

7 yrs ago

I was using some of my redundancy payou, in case eveyone is wondering how I could afford a cruise.

vinradio, it does not quite work like that. Your exit from Australia was recorded & reported to Centrelink when you bordered the cruise ship. Immigration were never made aware that you went ashore in Bali. They are then advised & Centrelink informed, when your cruise arived back at an Australian Immigration Port.

johninmelb

7 yrs ago

Instead of all speculating amongst yourselves about this matter, READ the relevant information on the Department of Human Services website.

Any discussion here is pointless and mostly misleading.

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/payments-while-outside-australia

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Travelling overseas

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