AUSTRALIANS are paying $100 million every year to thousands of disability pensioners living overseas, prompting concern that taxpayers are financing holiday lifestyles. As the Abbott Government prepares to slash entitlements and introduce a debt tax to rein in the Budget deficit, the Herald Sun can reveal 7313 disability support pensioners are living overseas, costing $99.9 million a year.
Almost 82,000 pension payments, mostly the age pension, go to people overseas.
Several attempts to strip the disability support pension from those living overseas for extended periods have been overturned by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Some had repeatedly missed Centrelink assessments and weren’t considered Australian residents.
Michael Urdzal kept his disability pension despite living in Bali for almost nine years and returning on day trips for Centrelink appointments.
Michael Urdzal kept his disability pension despite living in Bali for almost nine years and returning on day trips for Centrelink appointments.
The AAT ruled last month that although he was not an Australian resident, he was entitled to the pension because of the severity of his disability
Paul Ray, who’s travelled to Bali 18 times since being granted a disability pension in 2003, and who has started a family there, also successfully appealed against a departmental move to strip him of the pension over breaching residency requirements.
http://www.news.com.au/national/youre-paying-100-million-for-pensioners-to-live-overseas/story-fncynjr2-1226901383832
Almost 82,000 pension payments, mostly the age pension, go to people overseas.
Several attempts to strip the disability support pension from those living overseas for extended periods have been overturned by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Some had repeatedly missed Centrelink assessments and weren’t considered Australian residents.
Michael Urdzal kept his disability pension despite living in Bali for almost nine years and returning on day trips for Centrelink appointments.
Michael Urdzal kept his disability pension despite living in Bali for almost nine years and returning on day trips for Centrelink appointments.
The AAT ruled last month that although he was not an Australian resident, he was entitled to the pension because of the severity of his disability
Paul Ray, who’s travelled to Bali 18 times since being granted a disability pension in 2003, and who has started a family there, also successfully appealed against a departmental move to strip him of the pension over breaching residency requirements.
http://www.news.com.au/national/youre-paying-100-million-for-pensioners-to-live-overseas/story-fncynjr2-1226901383832