Curious... how many Kiwis in Duma?

Yup best of luck on that. The reason I posted it is because I looked it up for my wife who is Filipino but soon to acquire my nationality. She has to apply to be dual, it's not automatic, and once that happens she will continue ownership of the property there otherwise it looks like she loses that even though it was purchased in her name 20 years ago. At least that's my understanding of the reading of it.

 

His pension will reduce after 6 weeks of absence. the amount of reduction varies depending on the extras he may be being paid in addition to his basic pension, rent assistance for example. After another period it will reduce a little more. He should talk to Centrelink to get the facts particular to his case.

 

I wouldn't expect so. As far as his Aussie pension is concerned it would already be set with that taken into account, that is if he declared them. The rental assistance I mentioned is if he is paying rent in Australia he would get assistance on that and that will be lost after 6 weeks absence. There are a few allowances which will also stop after 6 months if he is receiving them but the basic pension he is entitled to will continue. That pension will be paid into an Australian bank which he should set up a withdrawal process overseas or use one of the cheaper money transfer companies available who give a good exchange rate and low cost for transfer, there are a few of those, but I think the Australian pension at this stage is still not payable into a foreign bank directly by Centrelink, although I seem to remember someone contradicting that a year or so ago. As for shipment of his stuff, beware. Heavy duties can be charged once they land in the Philippines (and I have heard of demands for money being made before release but that is another matter which is slowly being cleaned up) and tie them up for ever until paid. Proper import can be arranged once he has established residency but again that may have changed and he should look carefully as to just what he has to do to qualify for duty free import. There are alternatives available to him.

 

I wouldn't expect so. As far as his Aussie pension is concerned it would already be set with that taken into account, that is if he declared them. The rental assistance I mentioned is if he is paying rent in Australia he would get assistance on that and that will be lost after 6 weeks absence. There are a few allowances which will also stop after 6 months if he is receiving them but the basic pension he is entitled to will continue. That pension will be paid into an Australian bank which he should set up a withdrawal process overseas or use one of the cheaper money transfer companies available who give a good exchange rate and low cost for transfer, there are a few of those, but I think the Australian pension at this stage is still not payable into a foreign bank directly by Centrelink, although I seem to remember someone contradicting that a year or so ago. As for shipment of his stuff, beware. Heavy duties can be charged once they land in the Philippines (and I have heard of demands for money being made before release but that is another matter which is slowly being cleaned up) and tie them up for ever until paid. Proper import can be arranged once he has established residency but again that may have changed and he should look carefully as to just what he has to do to qualify for duty free import. There are alternatives available to him.