by James Coyle | Apr 22, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
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 knowing how...
by James Coyle | Apr 22, 2022 | Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
Many people associate Centrelink with Age Pension needs and payments. But it is also the agency which issues and manages the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). Another little known fact is that only 20% of those who might be eligible for this card (Australia’s...
by James Coyle | Apr 22, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Are retirees doing it tougher? As you are well aware, Election 2022 is underway. Claims, counter claims, promises and allegations are flying thick and fast. And during the past two weeks we have seen two older men (Ray from Newcastle and Fred from the Hunter Valley)...
by James Coyle | Apr 14, 2022 | Planning for Retirement
And why is it critical to know how long you will live? Back in 1908 when the Age Pension was first introduced in the Australian Federal Parliament there were two striking features. It was for men only. And the life expectancy of men who would receive this benefit at...
by James Coyle | Apr 14, 2022 | Retirement Income
So why are older Australians penalised for earning more? Current economic data confirms that Australia now has too few workers for jobs that urgently need to be done. With unemployment hovering around 4% and predicted to tighten further there are now jobs available...
by James Coyle | Apr 14, 2022 | Retirement Income
Is a secure income stream achievable? While there are many headlines promising to help you to ‘retire rich’, most Retirement Essentials members have different expectations. The majority tell us that ‘rich’ isn’t a believable goal. They simply wish to maintain a secure...
by James Coyle | Apr 11, 2022 | Planning for Retirement
Is using a TTR the best of both worlds? The days of an abrupt end to full time work, suddenly facing seven days a week of leisure are becoming a thing of the past for many older Australians. Yes, there are unforeseen life events like sickness or retrenchment which can...
by James Coyle | Apr 11, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Will this happen? In an announcement that would help 500,000 older Australians retire earlier, the Greens want to move the Age Pension eligibility age back down to 65. And increase the benefits by 25%. The announcement was made by Greens Welfare spokesperson Janet...
by James Coyle | Apr 4, 2022 | Retirement Advice
Need a retirement top-up? In today’s Jargonbuster we look at the different types of home equity access. This is a complex topic as there are many different types of home equity available for retirees – and each type varies in features, upsides, downsides and the...
by James Coyle | Apr 4, 2022 | Superannuation
The detail you need to know Last week’s Federal Budget included a significant change to the rules regarding decumulation. In particular, how much money you are allowed to draw down from your super account post July 1, 2022. These changes have raised a lot of questions...
