Can I claim both pensions?
I am a 67 year old male and qualified by age for the Australian pension. I was born and worked in Australia up until the 1990's when I moved to the USA for 14 years during which time I earned enough credits to qualify for US Social Security. I returned to Australia more than 15 years ago and worked here for another 10 years before retiring. I have no Superannuation. I applied for and am receiving US Social Security payments every month and the US IRS takes out 33% tax.
My question is - Does the US Social Security payment count as income in the Australian Aged Pension Income Test or is it offset (and subtracted) from any Australian Aged Pension I might qualify for?
I do not know the answer.
What I do "feel" is that, "If you have earned something, then you should be entitled to keep it".
But then, I am not a Liberal voter - they believe retiree's drawing a pension, should remain poor.