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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

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Original poster

Moving to Australia - is there any way for a 61 year old?

29 replies

LadyOfWaffle · 05/03/2009 13:48

DH and I are working towards a move to Australia (very much early stages) but the main 'problem' is my mum. All her family is in Ireland and I expect she would want to come with us. She is a reg. MW (though that may have 'run out'?) , a RGN and works quite high up the NHS so very 'skilled'. But she has high blood pressure (for the 'health check'). And obviously is very much over 45 Thanks

OP posts:

mm22bys · 05/03/2009 15:06

Just quickly googled, and came up with this:

here

There's loads of immigration websites out there, you should be able to find out pretty quickly if it's even possible and what you'll have to do.

All the best,

Original poster

LadyOfWaffle · 05/03/2009 15:11

Thankyou! Seems quite complex (to me), more research!

OP posts:

sarah293 · 05/03/2009 15:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

LadyOfWaffle · 05/03/2009 15:14

All the info I was finding was the 18-45 criteria (only just begun looking into it really) so was unsure if you were over 45 then there was no way you could go.

OP posts:

thumbwitch · 05/03/2009 15:17

If you have enough money you can probably go - I heard a few years ago that you needed about £140,000 behind you and then you can. Not sure if that is still the case though (the money is to prevent the older folk needing care from the state - they need to provide for their own old age out there)

Bubbaluv · 05/03/2009 15:32

mm2bys' link seems to have all the details.
Looks like you'd have to go without her and wait 2 years then apply.
It does happen though and people bring over even their very old rels.

Original poster

LadyOfWaffle · 05/03/2009 15:47

She will have money and it would be years after we go. This looks abit more promising than I thought - thankyou!

OP posts:

mm22bys · 05/03/2009 16:59

No worries, all the best and good luck!

ninedragons · 05/03/2009 23:34

It is possible, but she will need money behind her.

I have an English-born friend. Both he and his sister emigrated here on skilled visas and are now full citizens. His mum (probably about 65 or 70 - she dresses incredibly well so it's hard to tell) and his stepfather (70ish) have emigrated too, but I think they have to pay for private health insurance because they've never worked and contributed to the state-run Medicare or pension systems.

Think she should be able to get her UK pension paid even if she is no longer resident, but I am not completely sure. I am just assuming that's why Spain is swarming with elderly Brits.

ClaudiaSchiffer · 06/03/2009 01:46

I think there are special circumstances when you want to bring over your mum, ie it's a bit easier than if she wanted to emigrate here all by herself iyswim. However, she will need A LOT of money behind her to come. Not sure of the amount but she will need to have enough to support herself and buy Gvmt bonds (I think). I did look into this a while ago as I wanted my parents to come over. It would mean selling her house in the UK unless she has oodles of cash in the bank.

I'm not sure about the pension thing ND, I'm not saying you're wrong, but the Spain thing may have more to do with it being a European country than a general rule for overseas moves. Worth looking into.

differentnameforthis · 06/03/2009 02:29

DH's parents get their UK pensions. They actually came here on the 70's, but I doubt it would be different.

sarah293 · 06/03/2009 07:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mm22bys · 06/03/2009 13:00

Possibly, I know we can't get DS1 and 2 on our private health insurance till they're on our medicare cards. So it seems like you can't get private cover unless you were entitled to public!

differentnameforthis · 07/03/2009 10:24

All health care is paid for in Australia, public or private. If she were a permanent resident she could join medicare & also get private health insurance.

Medicare means that you pay & then claim the cost back (only 80% tho), this relates to public fees. Covers medical & optical, not dental as far as I am aware.

Private medical, works as it does in UK.

You would have to sponsor her, but could only do so if you were a permanent resident or citizen who has been here at least 2 years. I believe that sponsoring means that you agree to bail her out if she gets into difficulty financially, but I am not sure if there are any further provisos on that.

What is sponsorship?
(pg 18) You and any dependants included in the application must be sponsored. The sponsor
gives a written undertaking to provide support for you during your first 2 years in
Australia if you apply outside Australia, or the 2 years following grant of your visa if you
apply in Australia. This includes accommodation and financial assistance as required to
meet your family?s reasonable living needs. The sponsor must be aged 18 years or over"

mm22bys, my girls are on my medicare already. They are 5 & 7 months...can you not just add your boys?

mm22bys · 08/03/2009 15:07

That's what we are going to do, but only after we get there.

bloss · 08/03/2009 15:35

Message withdrawn

chloeb2002 · 08/03/2009 20:15

i think the whole medicare bit depends very much where you live? When i could access medical care in the city it was allways bulk bulled, in more suburban areas i am yet to find a gp that is any good!) who will bulk bill adults!. on the pension front my mother looked into coming to aus recently and she will not be eligable for her pension if she moves outside the eu. so now she is buying a gite in france to run for about 10 years and will come whenshe is a bit older!

chloeb2002 · 08/03/2009 20:16

oh and lady of waffle you mum may be eligable herself dependin on her skills as a nurse to be sponsred by whichever state health board you are living in to come and work! but would probably be full time position.

eidsvold · 09/03/2009 06:26

they must have changed the rules chloe as dh is still entitled to both his state and his private pension.

ninedragons · 09/03/2009 06:31

Sorry to hijack, LOW, but as I know Eids has been in the same position as me, I just need to ask something.

Can you claim back your NI contributions if you worked in the UK and then left? Obviously I will never be able to claim a UK pension and am a bit miffed to have paid into a system I wouldn't ever have been able to get anything out of.

eidsvold · 09/03/2009 06:47

I think I did - can't remember now. I shall have to ask dh - he will know for sure.

I would have thought you would still be eligible for a UK pension if you paid your NI contributions.

sandcastles · 09/03/2009 06:58

Bloss (is diffname here) sorry, that may be for your state but here in SA you pay then claim back via medicare, GPs only bulk bill if you have a health care card. I have alot of family here & friends & they pay & claim back, either medicare or private ins.

Public Hospitals are as you described. Unless you have an op & you pay for the aesthetist (sp). I would have had to pay for mine to do my spinal for my section, but we have a health care card.

Specialists do not bulk bill pensioners, FIL is 80 & needs a knee op & is going to have to use savings. Aunt in law just had a throat op & claimed % on her private medical ins. Not sure about students. Don't know any!

I think it depends on the state Government.

sandcastles · 09/03/2009 07:07

GPs also bulk bill for children.

eidsvold · 09/03/2009 08:51

Ours depends on the surgery - some gps around here bulk bill everyone. Others bulk bill health care cards, ours bulk bills children under 5 and adults with health care cards who have appts prior to 4pm. After that it is the usual fee. Thankfully dd1 has her own health care card and so is covered.

chloeb2002 · 09/03/2009 19:29

sancastles im confused i am a nurse and our patients certainly dont pay for anaesthetics? unless of course they dont have permission to be in australia? and no medicare number or you are going private? We do lots of c sections and use spinals epidurals and ga's and no ne pays for them? surely pain relief is part of the procedure???? am confused.
eids not sure why my mum cant get her pension here but she has looked into it so i presume she is right. she works for the citizens advice bods as an advisor so is quite well versed on benefits and pensions! maybe a new change?

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