Claiming Rent Assistance on the move...

We go on line (if we can, otherwise we go to a public phone and call them) and advise Centrelink of our change of residential address each time we change Caravan Parks that charge a different rate whether up or down. We have asked Centrelink to keep our main address as our post box number. But they still insist on sending us out new cards every time we advise change of parks.
Centrelink have their own rules get their staff to explain them don't try to self educate yourself with their brochures and forms.

Regards
PeteM
Bucasia Beach Mackay Qld

Claiming rent assistance while travelling, what a RORT.

It is great to see my tax money funding your trip.

Hi Julie & John. I say good luck to you both! From past experiences with Centerlink on behalf of some people less fortunate than myself I resolved to be financially independent so as to never have to make a visit. I appreciate that if they assist you then you certainly have a basis. For my part I am not prepared to surrender large slabs of my remaining time trying to deal with a bureaucratic monster that cannot cope with anything out of the ordinary. Happy and long travels to you both! Cheers Leigh

Here is the absolute truth of the matter.

We have been doing it since February 2nd last year

If you dont own a house of any sort LIKE NONE AT ALL. Centrelink consider your Caravan to be your home.

If you are travelling you are entitled to rent assistance.

If it was a boat you are entitled to MOORING FEES. (Read the form doubters)

You must ring them ON THE DAY YOU CHANGE ADDRESS or at least the next morning.
This because in the west by the time you get there it may be after closing time in the east.

We always rang or WENT IN on the day to them and just handed in the forms.

They wont backpay if you forget

They will allow you to ring on Monday if you have shifted over the weekend.

AS WELL you must have the signed forms in their hands within 14 days or you wont get paid. We were late once (Didnt get paid)

You have to pay over an average of $22.50 A DAY to get the full amount of $109 approx per Fortnight.

As I said above since July last year you can ask NOT to have new cards sent out.
However they keep sending rent certificates non stop

To the knockers.

It is no different than if you were renting in a retirement village, that while you buy the unit you only lease the land and dont pay your own rates.

That is also considered renting.

We have bought a retirement house in a village but it is freehold and we pay our own rates so we can no longer get rent assistance with the van while travelling.

So if you dont know the rules kindly dont comment.

It is not a RORT it is an ENTITLEMENT and I have no shame in claiming it.

If fact Centrelink offered it to me or I wouldnt have known about it.

So there!!!!!!.

Hope that sets a few myths to rest.

Julie & John,

Please ignore the knee jerk reactions from ignorant bigots.

They fail to realise that its an entitlement, not an undeserved benefit.

My 86 year old mother is in a nursing hostel, she gets rent assistance and did prior when she was in her own retirement village unit. From my observations there a few in retirement villages who don't rental assistance.

It's an extremely small return for a woman who went full time into the workforce to single handedly raise and educate two children in an age of next to no Government support. She worked alongside male bigots who did the same job but got paid a third more for equal work.

I'm fortunate to own my own home, something my mother was never able to do through no fault of her own, just like many other out there.

Ian

Julie and John,

the information about advising on the day of change is correct, only you can decide if its worth the trouble.

often in the cities the staff arent up to speed with this stuff but in the places where people are travelling often the staff are well versed in this stuff and can explain it to you clearly.

its not a moral issue whatever people might think, the government has legislated this entitlement and if you qualify you can claim it. I cant see why its any different to claim rent assistance in one place for a long time or many places for a short time.

have a great trip!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Grey Nomads are going to do Centelink over!
I love it!

But remember just like those on the dole.....some are entitled to it and have earned it!

But it doesn't make you exempt from a bit of stirring either!

Ignorant bigots...thats a bit hard....Im sure youve mumbled the word , DOLE BLUDGER before?

If its there, and your entitled to it....good on ya!

Cheers