melbunz

The current single pension in Australia is $1032 per fortnight. You can own your own home and have $200,00 in savings or investments here and still get the full pension. There is a rental supplement available for those not owning a home. There are discounts for most things for pension card holders, including transport, medical treatment at hospitals, bulk billing general practitioners (doctors) electricity and even council rates. You can continue to claim the pension if you move to Thailand , but forgo all of the other benefits. If you rent out your property in Australia whilst overseas then that income affects your eligibility for a full pension. Profits fro the sale of your principal place of residence are tax exempt, but capital gains tax applies when you are renting the house out on any profit that you make. The married pension (even for gay couples) is somewhat less the double the single rate. Hence the reluctance of older gay couples in Australia to marry. Two sharing an owned property in Australia can live a decent existence and save money. The tax planning in the years prior to full retirement is crucial .

Watching this from home in Australia. Hard to believe that this behaviour could be tolerated and allowed to continue. His and Hers cells should be in order.