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What are the recent changes to the Australian pension affecting expats?

May 6, 2025
a year ago
Big changes in australian pension this month
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers on recent changes to the Australian pension system, particularly how these changes impact Australians living abroad. Participants express skepticism about the adequacy of increases, how the cost of living affects pension value, and the implications for expats regarding pension eligibility and financial relief. They debate whether the changes are beneficial or merely a political maneuver, while some raise concerns about taxation and living overseas, highlighting that benefits may be significantly reduced for those who leave Australia. Additionally, there are discussions about the fairness of the pension system, especially regarding younger generations and foreign retirees.
Stephen *******
How much is the state pension in Australia and how old before you get it ??
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David *********
If this were to become a topic again , and I don't think it will shorterm , but understand now any legislation can be just pushed though , frankly that was not good , hence why understanding the voting system is very important .

The bipartisan position was around indexation overseas , so assuming all stays same , it will require a minimum of 45 days in Auss every 3 years , basically to keep your indexation , UK for example loose indexation of leaving UK .

So there is little doubt that there is mood for change , but this time legislation would not be held up . So let's wait and see .
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Marty ******
Bullshit story
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Jim ************
Not as big as would have happened if Dutton had won: no pension at all after 4 weeks overseas!! Expat retirees dodged a bullet!!
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Steve ******
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Robert **********
@Jim ***********
Only a fool would announce that BEFORE an election.
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Jim ************
@Robert *********
They did... submerged in their costings, released a couple of days before the election and well after almost all expats would have voted....
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Jim ************
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Brenton ******
What are you worried about. Us kiwis who worked and paid taxes in Australia aren’t allowed to bring our pensions to Thailand only get the pension if we stay in Australia. Who says prejudice and discrimination is gone from Australia
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John ******
G'day mate that means one more shrimp on the barbie
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Markie ******
Oh you guys get it šŸ˜† i don't but no hard feeling.
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Ronald *********
$4:50 that's the change
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Rod *********
If you whingers had got off your arses when younger had a decent job and setup for retirement you wouldnt be bludging on the tax payers. You cant blame the govt they dont have any money. You should be telling the tax payers to pay more taxes dont they realize booze is going up
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Sam ******
Huge changes mate, almost $2.50 more per year 🄸
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Andy ***********
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Jake *********
@Andy **********
why causes this? US tariffs? Albanese? Aussie economics? China?
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Andy ***********
@Ja**
-

No

Idea
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Andy ***********
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Roger **********
Get ready for all the whining!
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Peter ******
Paid taxes for 50 years . Get 4.50 increase . Ffs . Kids who haven’t paid one cent in taxes getting their hex’s debt paid for by tge tax payer . The ones who haven’t contributed are are getting the free ride while people like me get shafted for $4.50
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Greg ********
@Peter *****
The immigrants are the ones getting the free ride off of people like us.
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Steve ******
@Peter *****
try being a self funded retiree, no pension after 50 years paying taxes
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Jim ************
@Steve *****
Aged pensions are provided on the basis of need, not how much tax you paid. Probably your taxes went to buy some joint-strike fighters?
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Steve ******
@Jim ***********
it's actually based on previous tax paid in many countries but not Australia sadly
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Jim ************
@Steve *****
Yes, I should have said Australian Aged Pensions. The advantage with our system is that if for various reasons, you haven't paid tax, but are a citizen, you will still get a ( very basic ) pension. Our compulsory superannuation is the scheme that would be equivalent to some countries' pension schemes.
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Jim ************
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Peter ******
Miss the point . They aren’t paying taxes they’re at university getting it paid for by my taxes I contributed for 50 years .
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Gary ***********
@Peter *****
you get the pension courtesy from the young people in Australia paying their taxes. They know that when they are 70 they probably won't be getting any pension. I think it would be better for you to thank them for their contribution to you.
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Adrian ******
@Gary **********
you really are delusional. You win moronic post of the day
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Adrian ******
@Gary **********
i understand it, and I'm sure the tax ive paid more than amounts to a measley pension at the end. So no I won't be thanking young people for what I've done myself
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Gary ***********
@Adrian *****
That's how it is Adrian, whether you understand it or not.
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Gary ***********
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Roger **********
@Peter *****
stop whinging Peter.
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Peter ******
@Roger *********
not a whine Roger. It’s a Disgrace . Kids who paid no taxes getting 100,000 relief while I get $4.50 a week. I feel for the poor pensioner who can’t put heater on in winter . How you treat your elders reflects the type of person or country we are .
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Dianne *****
@Peter *****
not sure anyone is getting $100,000 HECS debt relief or any other form of relief amounting to that much. The majority of former students have HECS debts in the vicinity of $30,000. Former medical students and veterinarians around $50,000. Encouraging more students to study and gain qualifications in a variety of professional roles means less need for Australia to import more and more skilled migrants from overseas to fill skill shortages. Investing in our young people's education means they will likely earn a higher income, pay more tax over their life time and spend more, thus benefiting the Australian economy manifold
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Dianne *****
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Dragan **********
Doesn’t matter .

More money but cost of living goes up too .

Works out the same
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Oo *****
Don't want any changes now, lodged my pension application last Friday. What a pain.
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Chris ********
Hahaha we got the clown 4 another four years don’t worry be happy you’re not in Australia ļæ¼
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Greg ********
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Steve ******
@Chris *******
😭 suck it up Princess
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Phil ******
@Chris *******
im here so don't have to put up with him
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Steve ********
@Chris *******
do you know what Dutton had planned for people on pensions who were overseas for more that 4 weeks ?
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Mitch *****
@Steve *******
fake news but hey don’t let the facts get in the way of political election campaigning, taking a leaf out of Trump’s playbook by ALP.
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Steve ********
@Mitch ****
it's not hard to find the information on the LNP website , go have a look .
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Mitch *****
@Steve *******
you get what you deserve
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Steve ********
@Mitch ****
wtf are you talking about ,šŸ†šŸ§  , but hey , thanks for that deep and insightful tip all the same .
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Mitch *****
@Steve *******
I’m sure your smart enough to reflect, have a nice day in the meantime
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Mitch *****
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Chris ********
@Steve *******
yep two clowns the sooner we change the ļæ¼voting to one person one vote we will only have those two clowns and their parties. We will never get ahead in the world.
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Howard *******
@Chris *******
what? How many votes did you make?
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Phil ******
@Chris *******
that's why we are here
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Phil ******
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Christopher *********
Roughly how much is taken away by living overseas : if anyone knows

Cheers
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Max **********
@Christopher ********
Any rebates you have living Australia will be deducted if living overseas longer than six weeks. For me it means $180 less.
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Phil ******
@Christopher ********
yeh still have the supplements here like electricity and medicines that require payment too
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Woo***
@Christopher ********
Pension rate for Aussies living overseas:

**********************************************************************************************************
*****
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Oo *****
@Christopher ********
Nice work Chris.
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Oo *****
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Giraffe *********
Think this maybe bs , as I have read 250 $ before the end of May and another 750 in June
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Phil ******
@Giraffe ********
whats this about?
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Giraffe *********
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Giraffe *********
@Phil *****
On Google Chrome there is always info about what pension increases $$ and up dating your info
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Phil ******
@Giraffe ********
its a scam mate. Nothing on government website or services Australia. Only thing referred there to is $150 to help with electricity bill.
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Giraffe *********
@Phil *****
Of course it is it comes up on ipiafrica.org
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Phil ******
@Giraffe ********
just looked on my google and can't see this. Can you send the link please? I fear this maybe spam
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Phil ******
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Ian *******
@Giraffe ********
you can work a bit more without losing money on pension. But they have not adjusted the tax offset, so you will end up paying tax. What they giveth( paltry) they take away, it's all cloke and mirrors.
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Ian *******
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Ronald ******
Yeah... an extra 6 Baht per day...
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Greta *****
What's the change? Albo is delivering it to you personally?
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Craig ********
Really
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De ******************
Even if they give you more $AUD nothing will change much.. that dollar is going down like a shix in a toilet... šŸ˜…
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Noel ***********
@De *****************
It’s not going down but rather up. Currently .64 US expect to go to .70 US. The Thai Baht is artificially high.
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William *******
@Noel **********
USD lost at least 8% this year too.
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Jeff ********
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Jeff ********
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Trevor *******
@De *****************
it’s going up slightly
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Trevor *******
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Todd *********
More money for all?!
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Todd *********
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