by James Coyle | Jan 21, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
The great retirement trade-off The start of a new year is often the time when we plan to make changes to our homes – to buy, sell or renovate. Renovating was almost a national pastime this past year when Covid forced more of us to spend more time at home, up close to...
by James Coyle | Jan 21, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Are you a citizen or resident? Does it really matter? Residency and citizenship are very personal matters. They are your own business, right? Well yes, but where your status can become someone else’s business is if you wish to receive a Federal Government entitlement,...
by James Coyle | Jan 20, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Last week we defined the Assets Test and rules which are applied to your assets for Age Pension entitlement. This week we look more closely at the Income Test, one of the three aspects by which an Age Pension entitlement will be assessed. Put simply, Centrelink...
by James Coyle | Jan 20, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Having successfully applied for a full or part Age Pension, your fortnightly payment may be further adjusted by applying the Pension Work Bonus. This week we define the Pension Work Bonus and explain how it works. Originally introduced in 2009 as an incentive for...
by Jeremy Duffield | Jan 20, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves just how lucky we are. A friend’s note did that for me the other day. Brian Jones runs a business based in the Philippines from Australia and he shared how grateful he is to be living here, particularly during the Covid...
by James Coyle | Jan 14, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
In addition to your age there are three major considerations upon which your eligibility for the Age Pension is assessed; the income test, the assets test, and your residency status. Today we share the first of a three-part explanation of how these critical tests work...
by James Coyle | Jan 14, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Taper Rates: Understanding the Age Pension sliding scale This often misunderstood term applies to a sliding scale which sits between entitlement for a full Age Pension, a part Age Pension and no pension at all. When applied to your assets, it means that the value of...
by James Coyle | Jan 14, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension
Can you get free RATs test kits? It’s hard enough to keep up with frequent changes to health rules, let alone changes to your entitlements. So you may have missed the recent announcement of free rapid antigen tests (RATs) for all Australian concession card holders....
by James Coyle | Dec 23, 2021 | Retirement Income
Three ways to fund yourself Many people assume retirement income comes down to being on a pension or not. But it’s not quite as clear cut as this. The recent Treasury Intergenerational Report (IGR) shows that about 65% of retirees will be on full or part Age Pensions,...
by James Coyle | Dec 23, 2021 | Centrelink Age Pension
How can you know what you don’t know? There’s an old saying that an assumption is a gateway to a mistake. And thinking that your already know all the rules is a proposition that is worth challenging. There is a reason that the financial planning industry exists and...
