Can you relocate to Thailand on social security income alone with limited savings?

@David *******

😂😂😂😂

Medicare only pays for medical services in the USA. Medicare is worthless oversea.

@Thom *********

Medicare only works in the USA.

@Thom *********

I'm seeking anything Thom.

@Kari ******

We have insurance, 2 policies on me, and actually 3 on my wife. AFA the records check, it has to be state or FBI. NC required I get fingerprinted for the background check. FL requires no fingerprints, can do online, and they will notarize it too. Thinking the FBI check may take a month or more? The med certificate I've heard you can get it done online easy, no experience with that though

@Danny ******

Mexico is a great option and if there are any issues it's a very short distance to the US.

@David **********

I was going to ask your budgeting advise 😄

@Andrew *******

covers first 15 months

Then 20k

@Joe ******

I don't know what agent you're using but you're being WAY over charged.

@Andrew *******

$600usd is alot to hold your hand putting money in a bank of thai. I mean for me its just a simple bank transfer. The rest is on me to go find a place and get the documents together. Im not helpless. If it was more like $300 then ide be onboard.

@Jacques ****

Who is holding your hand in depositing money in a bank account? You just need a Thai bank account with any amount. You have to provide a lot of documents and physically go to the office at LEAST once and usually more than once. Plus you need to go to your bank and pay fees for statements. I rather just mail in the 3 things I mentioned and wait for it to come back with my extension. To me, not having to do any of that other stuff is worth paying someone to do it for me.

@Andrew *******

and thats fine. But for me ide rather learn how to do it myself and save the money.

@Jacques ****

Sometimes you don't have the choice. I stupidly got into an argument with the head of my immigration office and now she won't even do a 90-day for me. Thank goodness I can do it online.

@Andrew *******

yeah im not arguing with anyone. That is most important i dont cause waves. Im already well versed in the process i just wanted to know what a agent would cost me and if its worth it to me. By the time I get there ill be 100% solid

@Robert **********

you want to try talking to Centrelink international as i was told the same crap you're spreading from Centrelink but Centrelink International know the real rules i didn't even know they had a international branch so do your research from a the right source

@Robert **********

i just rang them no change to my pension

@David ********

the rule changes were on Facebook 6 weeks ago and on tv so who is lying ?

@Robert **********

Tel lie vision we ALL know it

@Paul *********

we will see who is correct.

@Robert **********

I know they Lie on TV. Not everything you see or hear is true.

@Robert **********

really you take notice of what's published on Facebook you must be on drugs lol

@Robert **********

well of course you rang Centrelink international for the right answers ?

i only deal with Centrelink international i spoke to them 2 weeks ago when i came back for my son's wedding and my pension still has not changed which was paid into my account yesterday

@Deb *******

You can look it up as easily as I can.

I just had to do the forms they send each year for you to fill out to say your still a live last week

@Ralph ******

I get the full amount no tax as I'm living in Thailand full time

@Deb *******

when I first changed I got them to pay into my thai bank but there exchange rates are not good so emailed them and they changed it . But when they pay into your thailand bank it every four weeks or into your NZ bank it goes back to every 2 weeks

@Allan *************

I'll ring them tomorrow because on the internet they say if you leave NZ more than 6 months they stop your superannuation payment, in fact you may have to pay it back if you stay somewhere permanently.

@Allan *************

Thankyou, I'm calling them tomorrow! This is such good news!

@Deb *******

Good hope it works out for you once you get all your papers to gether go to your local MSD center get them to sight your paper work passport ectopic then they can scan them directly to MSD international hope this helps you

@Allan *************

once again, thankyou!

@Deb *******

yes talk to them on 0800 number good luck

@Deb *******

I moved to thailand 11 months ago and I get the full amount you can get them to pay it into your thai bank or into your NZ bank as I do just talk to MSD international not your usual MSD office they're very helpful

@Brian ********

and then hijack the post about a different topic.

@Brian ********

Some of us can't see the profiles! I click on it and it doesn't open up...

@Deb *******

really? Not sure why? I have no problem and I’m not special. 😳

@Brian ********

I'm not tecchy enough to fix it!

@Deb *******

should be nothing to fix. Click on a name and then view profile. If the person doesn’t want that they can prevent it but otherwise I shouldn’t be able to see anything you can’t. 🤔

@Ross *********

that is not right

@Lee ******

what is not right ?

@Ross *********

you do not need to be on pension for 2 years in Australia to make it potable.

You can leave after your first payment.

@Lee ******

not what it says on services Australia web site. Would be great if that is the case

@Ross *********

it says if you come back to Australia after moving overseas then you need to do 2 years to make it potable.

If you where in Australia for 2 years before receiving you pension it can be potable from day 1

@Lee ******

true I went back 30 months before applying and was portable from day 1.the rate doesn't include all the extra.

@Barry *********

nice work .

It really is as simple as a phone call to cenrelink international who are absolutly amazing and know there stuff 100%.

I am just amazed by people who get on here with their expert advice they get from Facebook and are just plain wrong.

@Lee ******

agreed

@Barry *********

I will take your advice that I am getting from you , on the internet. Thanks

@Bobby ********

ok AUD or USD for instance? Baht would have been better.

Yes aud$785 is a bit light on

@Paul *******

what a bunch of complete nonsense boy. Lots of poor life decisions must follow you around

@Paul *******

Explain to me what "an agent take care of the 800k deposit for you" means to you?

@Danny ******

Basically what you are engaging in is a form of slut-shaming. You feel agents are immoral and illegal, so every time somebody mentions one, you turn all Trumpie and moralistic and try to shame people into complying with your point of view. Sort of like anti-abortion zealots, anti-immigrants (illegal! illegal!) etc. do.

Why do you feel obligated to be the facebook visa agent police?

There are so many other interesting subjects you could troll on as well. . .let's discuss - right now in public - your honest opinion of the king, Lèse-majesté, the role of the military in the election process and the actual level of true democracy here. Let truth be told!!

🙄

Perhaps you could interrogate and scold every guy who appears to be a bar manager on his visa and work permit status. Remind them of the dangers, quick quick!

When someone is heading out to a bar, don't miss the chance to remind them that prostitution is illegal in Thailand.

And so forth. Look, Thailand is not the west, and getting all huffy-puffy about absolute legalities ignores the realities of virtually every level of society and how EVERYTHING works here.

As a man I suspect both of us admire (Tim Walz) has recently been declaring repeatedly lately, "mind your own d*^n business."

Literally 10's of thousands of expats use visa agents here every year, 9999% with no problems or difficulties with the law, decade after decade. You may have a very strong opinion on this, but who appointed you to be the facebook visa agent police?

Don't be that guy.

@Paul *******

thanks Paul. Its just another way for gaining g an Non O based on retirement.

@Phil *****

If the Thai government wanted to end the use of visa agents as we all so clearly understand it, they could and would have done so years ago, overnight. All the levers are completely within their grasp.

But, it's the Thai way, and it works. Quite well actually. End of story.

@Paul *******

So, now you both admit it’s illegal but certain elements in the process are looking the other way for whatever reasons. This is why I laugh at your slander charges warning Paul. 😂

@Danny ******

What's the matter with you?

@Paul *******

Ever read your own expat club's guidance on this issue. You should some time.

@Danny ******

I understand the situation, I think perfectly.

What I cannot understand why you feel obligated to be such a moralistic crusader on the subject? What IS the matter with you? Where does this JD Vance-like fury come from?

In a part of the world with all the frankly horrific problems people struggle with on a daily basis, THIS is what you fasten on as an evil that you must personally stamp out?

What exactly is it about your perception of visa agents that makes you so doggedly obsessive?

I can't walk 100 meters from my home without seeing real tragedy, real injustice. What would make you pick THIS subject to attack like you're some sort of junior Donald Trump?

It's none of your business. The end.

@Paul *******

You feel better now?

@Danny ******

Actually yes.

@Phil *****

You can’t be that naive. Don’t get the guy in trouble before he even gets here.

@Danny ******

I haven't got anyone in trouble and he's an adult. Its not my opinion but Martin's. This type of Non O (retirement) has been going on for 13 years that I know of.

@Phil *****

It’s still not legal and you know it just like Martin knows it and all of us that have been here a while know it. Yes, he’s an adult but that’s no reason to deceive someone that uninformed.

@Danny ******

ok post your source please as I've been here 13 years and its widely advertised esp. By agents in Pattaya. BTW I have never required this.

I'm not deceiving anyone

@Phil *****

Is that your definition of legal ... it is advertised by agents? 🤣 I see ads here by agents that say they will get you a driver's license and you don't have to come take the written or driving test. I'm sure that's legal too. 😂

@Danny ******

the Thai govt are trying to shut DL's down. Retirement visas are advertised and if illegal then the government would shut this down.

@Phil *****

Believe what you want. I believe the OP understands the issue now.

@Phil *****

Why don't you show me were it says it's legal in the regulations? I can't prove a negative.

Yeah, I think the average American monthly Social Security payment is a good bit higher than the average UK pension. Not certain though.

I would never return to the US.

One thing hopefully everybody here agrees on - getting old sucks.

And when it's over, rich or poor, righteous or not, smart or irresponsible, we all end up in a very similar hole in the ground, stone cold dead.

@Ralph ******

Who do you know staying there that had a stroke or a heart attack ?

I know people 80 plus in Thailand no health insurance .

You do realize each 5 years , is an nsurable sum for anything .

So if you live 5 years you can insure yourself to live another 5 . But you can't past a certain age get insurance at all , supposedly .

@Rob *****

That is very silly. ‘Who do I know…’ that’s like saying it doesn’t happen in Thailand. Ridiculous.

And it’s not life insurance you need, it’s health insurance.

@Ralph ******

I know hundreds of healthy people over 70 who live overseas with NO health insurance for the last 40 years .

How much savings do you think they have ?

Fear drives one group of people only , interest makes anything happen . Lots of people travel with interest .

@Rob *****

You can live into your 70s fairly healthy but one day it will catch up with you and then what? If you’re over 70 you’re not working and adding to your saving. No you are spending that savings and a major medical issue will have you spend a lot of it quickly. Do you have a bunch saved up for the emergency? Most don’t and most never had it and that’s why they never invested in health insurance … they couldn’t afford ever. They gambled and they lost. Not all but some and then it’s GoFundMe. Don’t be that person.

@Ralph ******

You do know that the USA is outsourcing to some of the Indian Hospitals , like heart transplants etc .

@Rob *****

I don’t see the relevance of that to the main topic of this post.

@Ralph ******

The original post is on can you do it , you can .

The post was hi jacked by the fear mongers .

@Rob *****

Yes. I think he really needs advice on what visa he can qualify for that will achieve his objective of staying in Thailand almost permanently. He could do it simply with 60 day visa exemption plus 30 extension, then a border run and keep repeating this. It’s not 100% but suits a small budget.

@Rob *****

been here 64 years, and never heard that one.

@Ken *******

I know people who fly to Thailand from big treatments in USA including nurses of the USA .

Many doctors at the top trained in USA .

I know of treatments for eyes and cancers personally from friends alive because of the quality of care .

@Rob *****

I assume they have more than 2000 in savings, and not 71 years old. I'm not sure what your trying to say Rob. I'm just trying to help a guy out who's thinking of moving here on a small budget and virtually no savings.

I've been here many years now and my biggest concern financially will be , when and if I have need surgery.

@Ken *******

It's a simple difference in perspective. You want to make sure that if or when you face a major medical calamity, you'll be able to pay for good care.

But others consider their quality of life during the weeks, months, years or decades before that calamity occurs as more important.

Both reasonable. We're all wired differently.

I know people who, when diagnosed with cancer, say, treatment? No thank you. When I die, I die.

Others want the best oncologist, at the best hospital with every possible treatment employed. Who is to say which is "right?"

It would be great if every human had the resources to live their life out with dignity, comfort and fiscal responsibility.

But millions don't have that option.

@Stuart **********

I know Stuart, just making sure the op see it. Thanks

@Brandon ***********

Illegal as I assumed. So, now you are locked into the scheme because the next year you have to do the same since you didn't have the required deposits all year.

@Danny ******

correct

@Brandon ***********

Why do they allow these illegal schemes to be posted here all the time? Should be against the rules. 😡

@Danny ******

the owner of this group is a visa agency 😂

@Brandon ***********

Well, that would sure explain it. No wonder

@Mike ********

didn’t reply. 😜

@Aaron *****

Sorry I don't have any knowledge about that, not too many women marrying Thai men!!!

@Vivian ********

it is NOT one or the other. To change to monthly payments of baht you must keep 0 baht in you account for 3 months after the initial stamp is granted AND start tge monthly transfers. Tge account can then go down to 0 baht for tge rest if the year while you make tge other 9 monthly transfers. When you get your stamp based on monthly income you can withdraw the 0 baht. Personally I am keeping tge 0 baht all year while making monthly transfers just un case something goes wrong or my IO office will not accept monthly transfers which some dont. If you do not do this you have not fulfilled tge requirements if your initial stamp and would gave been on overstay since you removed tge money from the bank. Thus does not apply if your embassy will verify your income. UK does not.

@Nick ***********

no all depends where you live in Thailand

@Vivian ********

those are the rules and there is no argument. If you can make an alternative arrangement at your local io or with an agent then good for you.

@Stephen *******

not sure about that but that’s what I read and stated on the immigration website. Maybe they weren’t strict to enforce both. After the bank account was proved with 800k baht. Myself, I’m aggressively getting the right info by reading Thai government official website rather to hearsay. Will be coming over to stay for good in 2 years time with my Thai wife. I will be on marriage visa.

@Aaron *****

it's either or. If you leave 800k in thai bank no need to prove income