[gordon1940]

I am grateful for my pension and appreciate the raise, it will help no end. I try to not complain about money and having spent all my life living to a very strict budget probably find it easier to do than some. I've had to modify my diet of late (who pays $9 for a cabbage or tomatoes?) but that's a small inconvenience. Life is good, the sun is shining, the dogs are asleep at my feet and I have a great community at SDC to interact with every day. My glass is more than half full!!

Love your attitude

 

[Groovy]

What would we do here, if we were on $300 a month??
Thats’s how much my dear mother lived on since my dad passed away.
You see, pensions differ from country to country. Where I come from, the pension is assessed according with how many years they work in life. Mum‘s work was to look after her 5 children and all the work that comes with that. And looking after everything as a housewife does. So when dad passed away her pension was a widow’s pension. She had to come up with a way of earning something. So, she worked from home making cakes and pastries until it was too much for her.
Unfortunately that’s what it is in some countries.
Sometimes I think that in Australia, some people don’t appreciate the good they have.
How many pensioners use their money on gambling, cigarettes or too much alcohol? These things are not a need, so priorities need to be considered.
Hopefully I don’t offend anyone with my opinion. That wasn’t my intention and I apologise before hand, if I did.

 

[DrivingGirl]

homeland is where? mine is the UK

South Africa

 

[DrivingGirl]

What would we do here, if we were on $300 a month??
Thats’s how much my dear mother lived on since my dad passed away.
You see, pensions differ from country to country. Where I come from, the pension is assessed according with how many years they work in life. Mum‘s work was to look after her 5 children and all the work that comes with that. And looking after everything as a housewife does. So when dad passed away her pension was a widow’s pension. She had to come up with a way of earning something. So, she worked from home making cakes and pastries until it was too much for her.
Unfortunately that’s what it is in some countries.
Sometimes I think that in Australia, some people don’t appreciate the good they have.
How many pensioners use their money on gambling, cigarettes or too much alcohol? These things are not a need, so priorities need to be considered.
Hopefully I don’t offend anyone with my opinion. That wasn’t my intention and I apologise before hand, if I did.

Actually I believe Australia bases the amount of pension you receive on how many years you have been a taxpayer here. I am lucky to have worked continuously for my 35 years of residency

 

[DrivingGirl]

Actually I believe Australia bases the amount of pension you receive on how many years you have been a taxpayer here. I am lucky to have worked continuously for my 35 years of residency

Just checked and it doesn’t seem to count anymore, but 16 years ago when I first started looking into it - it was a factor

 

[RhodaStarr]

Good morning!

As we've mentioned in the past, from 20 September 2022 the maximum full Age Pension increases $38.90 per fortnight for a single person, and $29.40 per person per fortnight for a couple.

You can read the full story here.

I've created this post as a place to share any information with one another, or simply vent.

There were some great comments on the original story and I've included a few standouts below.

@Leeta069: '$38.90.....might cover my bread and milk for two weeks....yippee!!!'

@Lizzy: 'Real work on inflation needs to be done, can't just keep increasing payments to each and all. Only adds to the merry go round. Wages up, prices up. Need action on a solution.'

@Lynette Finnigan: 'I don't know about others, but now on aged pension, I can worry less about money than when I was working. Juggling bills and mortgage and trying to ensure my kids had everything they needed, I rarely bought myself anything, now I have more clothes and shoes, go out to dinner regularly, no sporting, school, etc fees.. just hubbie and I to consider.'

So, how are we feeling, members?

I agree 100% - I am able to economise and save as I know how much is coming into the house each fortnight. I say Thank You - We are so lucky not to be a self-funded retiree.

 

[Groovy]

Actually I believe Australia bases the amount of pension you receive on how many years you have been a taxpayer here. I am lucky to have worked continuously for my 35 years of residency

So why is the pension the same to everyone?

 

[DrivingGirl]

So why is the pension the same to everyone?

Sorry to mis lead you - I did correct myself.
It no longer applies but did 16 years back when I was checking

 

[Suzy Q]

I’m very interested in why they don’t just round the amount up to $40 and $30 how do they calculate these amounts. What’s their thought process, it would nice to have it explained. I’m not actually on the pension yet, very close though.

 

[DrivingGirl]

I’m very interested in why they don’t just round the amount up to $40 and $30 how do they calculate these amounts. What’s their thought process, it would nice to have it explained. I’m not actually on the pension yet, very close though.

Yes it’s a bit weird

 

[Groovy]

Sorry to mis lead you - I did correct myself.
It no longer applies but did 16 years back when I was checking

That’s ok, all good We all make mistakes.
I never heard that the pension in Australia was given according with how much tax you deduct. Maybe I never paid attention to it

 

[June E]

me too

Mine too I’ve been here 54 years so a lot longer than I was in the UK. Best thing we did was to come here.

 

[KynetonKid]

Good morning!

As we've mentioned in the past, from 20 September 2022 the maximum full Age Pension increases $38.90 per fortnight for a single person, and $29.40 per person per fortnight for a couple.

You can read the full story here.

I've created this post as a place to share any information with one another, or simply vent.

There were some great comments on the original story and I've included a few standouts below.

@Leeta069: '$38.90.....might cover my bread and milk for two weeks....yippee!!!'

@Lizzy: 'Real work on inflation needs to be done, can't just keep increasing payments to each and all. Only adds to the merry go round. Wages up, prices up. Need action on a solution.'

@Lynette Finnigan: 'I don't know about others, but now on aged pension, I can worry less about money than when I was working. Juggling bills and mortgage and trying to ensure my kids had everything they needed, I rarely bought myself anything, now I have more clothes and shoes, go out to dinner regularly, no sporting, school, etc fees.. just hubbie and I to consider.'

So, how are we feeling, members?

We get our next pensions on Tues 21 unfortunately this new payment doesn't apply for us until the following fortnight. What a bummer!

 

[oilsfromoz]

Attempting to shut the door after the horse bolted six months ago. That's when inflationary prices kicked in and have gotten worse since.

 

[Voortrekker]

This is all well and good as I might go out for dinner. The sad part is that I go by myself as I have no female friend. Enjoy

Join the Club !!

 

[Mindygirl12022]

I too am grateful for any increase. When I shifted homes about 3 years ago though in all the confusion of doing this I told Medicare but not Centrelink, imagining that anyhow they would all automatically be told. It was a dumb but honest mistake, Now I am paying back a large amount and when there's an increase in pensions, they take more payments and I end up with about $10 left. I suppose it's something though.

 

[Baz1960]

Good morning!

As we've mentioned in the past, from 20 September 2022 the maximum full Age Pension increases $38.90 per fortnight for a single person, and $29.40 per person per fortnight for a couple.

You can read the full story here.

I've created this post as a place to share any information with one another, or simply vent.

There were some great comments on the original story and I've included a few standouts below.

@Leeta069: '$38.90.....might cover my bread and milk for two weeks....yippee!!!'

@Lizzy: 'Real work on inflation needs to be done, can't just keep increasing payments to each and all. Only adds to the merry go round. Wages up, prices up. Need action on a solution.'

@Lynette Finnigan: 'I don't know about others, but now on aged pension, I can worry less about money than when I was working. Juggling bills and mortgage and trying to ensure my kids had everything they needed, I rarely bought myself anything, now I have more clothes and shoes, go out to dinner regularly, no sporting, school, etc fees.. just hubbie and I to consider.'

So, how are we feeling, members?

Grateful for any help. But reality is, we and governments need to take a stand. Companies and businesses raising costs above and beyond inflation, needs to scrutinised and action taken. For example the price of fuel being raised over the school holidays, price gouging as the "world price" is stable. Supermarkets raising costs when they themselves have fixed price contracts with suppliers. We, as the general population are treated like mugs by most companies. Surely Governments can change laws to prevent this.

 

[Mikeyboy2012]

Good morning!

As we've mentioned in the past, from 20 September 2022 the maximum full Age Pension increases $38.90 per fortnight for a single person, and $29.40 per person per fortnight for a couple.

You can read the full story here.

I've created this post as a place to share any information with one another, or simply vent.

There were some great comments on the original story and I've included a few standouts below.

@Leeta069: '$38.90.....might cover my bread and milk for two weeks....yippee!!!'

@Lizzy: 'Real work on inflation needs to be done, can't just keep increasing payments to each and all. Only adds to the merry go round. Wages up, prices up. Need action on a solution.'

@Lynette Finnigan: 'I don't know about others, but now on aged pension, I can worry less about money than when I was working. Juggling bills and mortgage and trying to ensure my kids had everything they needed, I rarely bought myself anything, now I have more clothes and shoes, go out to dinner regularly, no sporting, school, etc fees.. just hubbie and I to consider.'

So, how are we feeling, members?

Over the last 17 years, since I moved to the Gold Coast with my then young sons, work and income were hard to get. When I did get work, the money was good, but the security was not, mainly being temporary, casual work....and I was a professional with various tertiary qualifications.

Since I retired, with no super, the Pension has given me security and consistency.

Sure the income isn't overwhelming, but I no longer need to seek work and I am grateful for every dollar. Anyone receiving free income should be grateful.

 

[Loren]

Yes, I agree every little bit helps. But..... when you have a boatload of health problems, need to see so many specialists that charge an arm and a leg and the medicare rebate is only a small percentage, need special treatments that you have to pay yourself with no assistance, still have a mortgage and other debts.....shall I continue? It is a real struggle!! It's not so easy and sunny for everyone.

 

[Ricci]

Yes, I agree every little bit helps. But..... when you have a boatload of health problems, need to see so many specialists that charge an arm and a leg and the medicare rebate is only a small percentage, need special treatments that you have to pay yourself with no assistance, still have a mortgage and other debts.....shall I continue? It is a real struggle!! It's not so easy and sunny for everyone.

I agree that it's not easy and that even everyday living can be a struggle but, you have a choice, being sad or mad about your circumstances only helps to pull you down. Taking the time to smell the flowers, appreciating what you do have and can do helps to pick you up. I'd rather have my glass half full than half empty.