A Surprise Pension from New Zealand!

@epiffanie (11326)
Australia
March 28, 2018 11:28pm CST
. Hello Mylot Friends .. Thank you for participating in my previous discussion about retirement and old age pension.. I learned so much from that discussion... A few months after my husband retired, he received a letter from the New Zealand government saying he's eligible to apply for a pension and with it was an application form .. He was very surprised... So he is receiving a little bit over $200 Au per month from New Zealand because he worked there for about two years in the early 70s where he and his young family lived as well.. His ex-wife, even though didn't work there also receives small sum a month from New Zealand now that she is also retired here... So, the Centrelink, deducted that amount from the amount, my husband was supposed to get from Australian government .. Well, isn't that weird that New Zealand is giving more pension now to my husband for working there a couple of years than what he gets here in Australia where he worked a total of 30 something years .. lol .. How do they work that out?... We are wondering that perhaps, New Zealand Nationals also get the same privileges from the Australian Government when they retire back home after working here for a few years.?.. Maybe there was an agreement between the two countries?..If that is the case, New Zealand Nationals who worked here but retired over there, will be so much better off than the pensioners here, because they won't have to undergo means testing .. Anyway, we are grateful to receive that $200 a month that we are saving for a trip to New Zealand in the near future ... Is anyone here in Mylot from New Zealand?.. Please, I would love to know how the social welfare system over there works ...Thank you! Bess.. ..
10 people like this
13 responses
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
29 Mar 18
Hello there. I hope I can help but I am not knowledgeable with New Zealand’s social welfare system. What caught my attention is the title. My parents are pensioners here too and they are living the life they want and their pensions help in renovating our house. The $200 AUD is still something and it is a blessing.
4 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Hi Louise.. did you mean your parents are pensioners in New Zealand?... I'm glad that they are having a wonderful retirement..Thank you for dropping by ..
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
29 Mar 18
I am not from New Zealand ma'am but I am happy to know that good news. $200 Au is really a big help.
3 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
29 Mar 18
Yes.. we are grateful for it ..
2 people like this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
29 Mar 18
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
30 Mar 18
That is so nice of the New Zealand government. At least, it can help to add in your husband's existing pension there in Australia.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
27 Nov 18
@epiffanie That's one way how they can entice people to reaide there as immigrants. Two of my officemates and their families are l8ving and working there already. They all seem well and happy.
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Yes.. I thought how generous of New Zealand to give that entitlement to anyone that only worked two years over there..
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246725)
• United States
30 Mar 18
That amount is better than nothing. Take it an run!
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Yes indeed.. better than nothing.. We'll take it gratefully and run off to New Zealand for a visit ..
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246725)
• United States
31 Mar 18
@Hannihar (129458)
• Israel
30 Mar 18
@epiffanie Bess, Did you get an e-mail or paper in the mail about how much will get for the pension? I grew up in Minneapolis the midwestern part of the United States. I worked there and get Social Security there and also Social Security here in Israel because I have worked here and still work.
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
31 Mar 18
Yes.. my husband did get a letter from them and told him how much he is getting .. Good for you that you get the benefit from two countries..
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129458)
• Israel
1 Apr 18
@epiffanie Thanks Bess.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
29 Mar 18
I will have to ask my New Zealand friends about this, sounds very interesting.
3 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Oh thanks!.. It would be good to know more about their system over there ..
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
29 Mar 18
That is kind of weird but maybe New Zealand is a richer country and can be more generous? Or, do you think that Australia made a mistake in their calculations? Or, is it because Australia has a different way of calculating their pensions and only gives it to those that don't have any others means of caring for their needs?
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
30 Mar 18
@epiffanie Who knows?
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Yes we found it weird that working there for two years entitles him to receive that for the rest of his life .. So who knows how they do it..
2 people like this
@jstory07 (134456)
• Roseburg, Oregon
29 Mar 18
That is good news that your husband will be getting that money.
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Yes.. and we are grateful for it ..
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr 18
Centrelink don't miss out on anything. They must have spies everywhere I think.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
3 Apr 18
No, they don't miss out on absolutely anything .. they have access to your accountant and your accountant knows all your income .. so yeah.. we can run but we can't hide .. lol..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
4 Apr 18
@JudyEv wow! .. that's a bit of a pain isn't it? .. My husband gets very frustrated when he has to wait in line at centrelink and he told me that some people get very abusive at the staff for waiting so long that at one time, they had to call the police .. they had combined Medicare and Centrelink , so less staff ...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Apr 18
@epiffanie For us, it is impossible to ring them or to go online to them. The only option is to drive the half-hour into Bunbury, wait an hour and talk to someone.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26200)
• Singapore
31 Mar 18
Good to receive a pension like that after having worked for only two years! I have no pension but income from investments that I hope will cover me. Most worry about this issue - siva
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
31 Mar 18
It is a bit worrying isn't it?.. when we don't know if our investments would cover our needs for the rest of our lives..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
1 Apr 18
@Shiva49 Don't you get like a senior card over there in Singapore which entitles you to a discount on prescriptions?.. Here in Australia, most our prescribed medication only cost us about $8 .. which is a great help..
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26200)
• Singapore
31 Mar 18
@epiffanie Yes, medical care causes most worry as they are getting more and more expensive - siva
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
29 Mar 18
That is great. I hope you will know more about the social welfare in New Zealand.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Yes.. I really would like to know more ..
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Mar 18
I'm happy you are getting a bit extra money - every little bit helps
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Thank you kindly! ..
1 person likes this
@tarah9 (562)
30 Mar 18
Im not newzy but that is good surprise
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
30 Mar 18
Thank you for dropping by..