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Pensions

More eligibleCommentsPremiumChanges open door to big discounts card for more seniors

The changes include the freezing of deeming rates and a big increase in the cut-off limits for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which will see thousands of seniors become eligible for the first time.

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsKeep the peace among kids with $10,000 each for a wedding

Can I give money to my children for their weddings without jeopardising my full age pension . . . and peace among the family?

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumWill gifting money affect the full age pension?

My mother-in-law wants to sell her $140,000 parcel of BHP shares and split the proceeds between her three children. How will that affect her full pension?

Nick Bruining

A little helpCommentsPremiumNew thresholds a saving grace for welfare recipients

With the cost of a shopping trolley full of groceries rising each week, mechanisms designed to protect welfare recipients are about to kick in once again. 

Nick Bruining

Countdown to July 1CommentsPremiumThe changes coming to affect your savings under Labor

With the election done and dusted, now’s the time to see what has been promised and how you can immediately make plans to take advantage of the changes, many of which will apply in just five weeks’ time.

Nick Bruining

Social switch?CommentsPremiumSmall tweaks could mean big changes to ballooning super pot

Why the capacity to use Australia’s rapidly growing super savings pot as an avenue to achieve social change shouldn’t be underestimated.

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumCouples who split finances don’t always get a pension

‘When we got married, we determined to keep our finances as separate as possible and completed a pre-nuptial agreement to that effect. Will her financial position affect me getting a pension?’

Nick Bruining

opinion
opinion
Let’s do the mathCommentsPremium
opinion
Numbers on ScoMo’s deeming rate promise just don’t add up

Last week’s declaration that the freezing of Centrelink deeming rates by the Federal Government would benefit more than 80,000 West Australian seniors by $1300 a year has this old scribe puzzled.

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumSuper boost in move to downsize

Here’s how you can use the proceeds from the sale of your home and inject it into the superannuation system to help fund your retirement.

Nick Bruining

New ruleCommentsPremiumThe GESB change that makes it easier to plan for death

A big change has been made to GESB funds that will help members better prepare for the division of their estate after they are gone.

Raymond Pecotic

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumYes, you’re well overdue a pension

‘You should immediately commence a pension claim with Centrelink and I would hope your existing financial adviser would have alerted you to your entitlements and will assist you with your claim.’

Nick Bruining

Closer lookCommentsPremiumA few hidden gems in the Budget for self-funded retirees

At first glance, it appeared there was little in last week’s Budget for those who don’t qualify for a pension or a concession card. But a closer look reveals self-funded retirees are better off than they think.

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumWhy do I get smaller couple’s pension instead of a single’s?

Can you shed any light on why a married person about to go on the pension with a non-working partner receives less than a single person?

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumWhy didn’t my parents get the full pension increase?

While the headline figure of a $30.20 increase in the pension would have been music to the ears of many, not everyone has benefited from the inflation-fuelled hike. Here’s why ...

Nick Bruining

Budget boostCommentsPensioners to receive $250 cash bonus in Budget

A $250 cash top-up is on the way for people on social welfare payments to help vulnerable Australians with cost of living pressures.

Kimberley Caines

Special rulesCommentsPremiumRent help for downsizers caught in building bottleneck

Pensioners cashing in on WA’s property boom are becoming more frustrated as building delays upset planned moves from one home to the next. But there are special Centrelink provisions that can help.

Nick Bruining

Big winnersCommentsWhy some wealthy seniors may now be eligible for a pension

Centrelink income support recipients, including pensioners and jobseekers, are the big winners from Australia’s recent inflation spike, with payments increasing by the biggest amount in years.

Nick Bruining

Money for jamCommentsPremiumWorked in the UK? Here’s how you can get yourself a pension

For thousands of Aussies who spent time working in the UK, and ex-pat Brits, tick a few boxes, send a few quid back to Blighty and you could get an effective 200 per cent return on your money. Here’s how.

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsHow to share an inheritance and keep your pension

‘Can I give an inheritance from my late mother’s estate to my wife’s super and keep the full age pension?’

Nick Bruining

Not giving upCommentsEx-pats vow fight for UK indexed pensions not over yet

For UK pension expert Mike Goodall, it’s a case of “don’t mention the war”. That “war” is the ongoing battle to secure indexation of UK state pensions for those living in Australia.

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumCentrelink and your ABP withdrawls

Nick Bruining explains why the old rules are not always the best when it comes to ‘grandfathered’ account-based pension changes and collecting extra financial support from Centrelink.

Nick Bruining

Super effortCommentsPremiumHow millions of unsung carer heroes can get cash support

They are the unsung heroes of our society — saving the Australian economy billions of dollars, with many of an estimated 2.6 million carers unaware they are missing out on thousands in support payments.

Nick Bruining

Looking aheadCommentsPremiumSilver lining for savers after rough financial start to 2022

It has been a rough start to the year so far for share markets and crypto. The good news is that amid the turmoil, there are a number of positive changes to help your finances over the next six months.

Nick Bruining

Bruining Q+ACommentsPremiumSpend a little before retiring to maximise pension payment

Spending a little extra as a would-be asset-tested pension before giving up work can help maximise what you get from Centrelink later. Here’s how.

Daniel Newell