In line with its election commitment, incoming Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth, has announced that the termination of the cashless pension card is now underway. This announcement by the Minister coincided with a report from the Australian National...
During our Pillars of Retirement series we have received lots of feedback and commentary on the first of the pillars - The Age Pension. Many of our members find dealing with Centrelink extremely frustrating and many others find the system extremely unfair....
Over the last few weeks we have been running a Pillars of Retirement series. This series outlines the many ways people fund their retirement. These five major pillars are: The Age Pension. For most people this is the most important source of income in...
And why does Centrelink care? A few weeks ago we recounted how the gifting rules worked for Mary, Jeffrey and Hannah. We received a lot of questions from members who were totally confused as to whether they had loaned or gifted money to family and friends....
Is it even doable? Our main topic this week shared the many ways that wealth in the home can be used to increase retirement income. But not everyone owns a home and those who don’t deserve support to fully understand all their options as well. It was once a...
... and mortgage in retirement Boosting your retirement income is the main aim for most retirees. In this, the second part of our 5-part series on the retirement income pillars, we detail the many ways your family home can offer both security and increased...
Five things you may not know Last week we introduced you to the concept of the five pillars in retirement; the major sources of support that ensure income and financial wellbeing post-work. These are: The Age Pension superannuation the primary residence...
A promise to freeze deeming rates gives two years of income certainty The increase in interest rates is a mixed blessing for retirees. Higher rates are a negative for those still paying down a mortgage. They are a positive, however, if you are depending...
Avoid these costly errors A majority of retirees are on some form of government benefit at retirement age – just over 70% in fact. By the time retirees hit their 80s, 80% will be eligible for an Age Pension. So knowing how Centrelink works is critical. And...