(Uncle) Les - wishing you a speedy return to good health

[Cbtours]

Just now, NSWP said:

Thank you, My superannuation scheme was compulsory from day 1 back in 1967 until I retired in 2003.  Fortnightly deductions from my pay for 36 years. Now at 74 the government gives me zilch apart from no tax payable on my defined benefit State Super Pension because I am self funded, not reliant on government handouts.

 

The whole system needs an overhaul. I sometimes think in this country you are better off with nothing then the government gives you everything.  In UK, NZ and there is no means test for things like aged pensions, health benefits etc. But here they look at every cent you get or have.

Totally agree with you.

[Mareblu]

22 minutes ago, Cbtours said:

Totally agree with you.

I do too.  The original intention of the aged pension, all those years ago, was to acknowledge and compensate retirees for a working life of income tax contributions.  It was never intended, at inception, to be means tested.  

Years of poll-driven political philosophy and media pontificating have delivered the shambles we have today, where responsible and loyal senior citizens  in your situation, Les, are actually punished.  

 

I’m not suggesting that in the current economic climate all retirees should be automatically granted a full pension;  the idea of compulsory superannuation  was to alleviate the burden of the pension as our population aged.  The problem is that there are cracks in the system;  there are those who exist just outside the margin of comfort and security because they  fall through the gaps.  They should be afforded the fear-alleviating benefit of complete medical cover, particularly for vital and expensive procedures and tests, at the very least. 
 

I do know that a referral from a Specialist ensures a lower fee than that of a General Practitioner, but it still incurs an outlay many can barely afford.  Scandalous.

[Mareblu]

Oops.  I got so steamed up I posted before adding that we’re all riding this one with you, Les.  Please keep us posted, and thank you for your updates to now.  Hope the test results contain some positive notes🤞

[MMDown Under]

16 hours ago, NSWP said:

Gut, they said if I had a Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card or Pension card they could bill me, nil to pay. But I dont. You know the story.  In last couple of years I have been to a couple of specialists, they sent me for various ultrasounds and cat scans but I was always billed. Rogues.

Queensland Public Servants were on a defined benefit scheme, like you.

Our Govt convinced us to change, because, if we were made redundant, we would have lost our superannuation.  I always resented this.  However, reading of your experience on a defined benefit, without Govt, benefits, seems so unfair.  I put $30,000 extra in my superannuation when I had children, so I wouldn't be behind in my superannuation benefits.  In a downtown, I lost the $30,000.  So I waited until my superannuation recovered the $30,000 (so only lost interest on the $30,000), and closed my account and withdraw all my funds from superannuation. Understanding superannuation is only worth the amount on the day you withdraw it, it was a relief to not have to follow the market.  All my recent medical were bulkbilled.  

I hope you will benefit from the increased amount from your defined benefit account and be eligible for Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, which is like Gold to Seniors.  Not like the Gold Card retired armed forces get, but gold nevertheless.  

[NSWP]

18 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Queensland Public Servants were on a defined benefit scheme, like you.

Our Govt convinced us to change, because, if we were made redundant, we would have lost our superannuation.  I always resented this.  However, reading of your experience on a defined benefit, without Govt, benefits, seems so unfair.  I put $30,000 extra in my superannuation when I had children, so I wouldn't be behind in my superannuation benefits.  In a downtown, I lost the $30,000.  So I waited until my superannuation recovered the $30,000 (so only lost interest on the $30,000), and closed my account and withdraw all my funds from superannuation. Understanding superannuation is only worth the amount on the day you withdraw it, it was a relief to not have to follow the market.  All my recent medical were bulkbilled.  

I hope you will benefit from the increased amount from your defined benefit account and be eligible for Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, which is like Gold to Seniors.  Not like the Gold Card retired armed forces get, but gold nevertheless.  

Thanks, we had the CSHC card for a few years, but when my wife died mid 2020, they took it off me next day as I had no dependents, before that they deemed my super pension as split icome, now it is not of course, but I do a fair job of spending it every fortnight, lol.  My son and daughter tell me I spend too much and should save more, save? For what? My $ lol.  SKI.

Edited October 29, 2022 by NSWP

[possum52]

17 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Thanks, we had the CSHC card for a few years, but when my wife died mid 2020, they took it off me next day as I had no dependents, before that they deemed my super pension as split icome, now it is not of course, but I do a fair job of spending it every fortnight, lol.  My son and daughter tell me I spend too much and should save more, save? For what? My $ lol.  SKI.

Our son and daughter tell us to spend ours however we like as we deserve it now we are retired. They will inherit our house and know that other than super, we don't have much else. It is very easy to spend our fortnightly 'pay'. 

[Jean C]

21 minutes ago, possum52 said:

Our son and daughter tell us to spend ours however we like as we deserve it now we are retired. They will inherit our house and know that other than super, we don't have much else. It is very easy to spend our fortnightly 'pay'. 

Hi, I don't know what it's like in Aus but in NZ once you get too frail or go dolally and go into a care home, the government gets you to sell up your home to pay the substantial fees. The government takes over when they've bled you dry 🥴

 

[NSWP]

43 minutes ago, Jean C said:

Hi, I don't know what it's like in Aus but in NZ once you get too frail or go dolally and go into a care home, the government gets you to sell up your home to pay the substantial fees. The government takes over when they've bled you dry 🥴

 

Similar here I think, I know they take 85% of your income, whether it is private superannuation like I receive pension or government aged pension.  My daughter suggests I sell up and buy into an independent living unit in a seniors living/aged care facility. She has not won yet, lol.  I am content to stay in my house. I get a cleaner in once a fortnight for $60 for two hours and a lawn mower bloke in when I don't feel like doing it myself.

[Jean C]

2 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Similar here I think, I know they take 85% of your income, whether it is private superannuation like I receive pension or government aged pension.  My daughter suggests I sell up and buy into an independent living unit in a seniors living/aged care facility. She has not won yet, lol.  I am content to stay in my house. I get a cleaner in once a fortnight for $60 for two hours and a lawn mower bloke in when I don't feel like doing it myself.

I live alone too (my travel companion is just a friend) and get a lawnmowing contractor in every fortnight. As regards housework, I do it myself although living alone I clean up as I go so to the untrained eye my place always looks good. I pay for the gutters to be cleaned each year.  I get frustrated when people say pensioners get too much money and should receive less - we have to pay people to do all sorts of things younger people can do for themselves 🙁

[ilikeanswers]

On 10/29/2022 at 9:40 AM, NSWP said:

In UK, NZ and there is no means test for things like aged pensions, health benefits etc. But here they look at every cent you get or have.

 

Sweden doesn't seem to means test at all as I remember reading that the guy who created Ikea Ingvar Kamprad was able to collect the Swedish pension despite being a billionaire. Though after he died I also remember Swedes not being to happy about this when they learnt he spent his life avoiding paying Swedish taxes😂.  

It is debates like these that sometimes make me think maybe a universal basic income isn't such a crazy idea especially when compared to our already screwed up social services. If nothing else it would be a heck of a lot less bureaucratic 😵‍💫 . 

[Mareblu]

Thinking of you today, Les.  Hope all goes well.

[MMDown Under]

On 10/29/2022 at 12:20 PM, Jean C said:

I live alone too (my travel companion is just a friend) and get a lawnmowing contractor in every fortnight. As regards housework, I do it myself although living alone I clean up as I go so to the untrained eye my place always looks good. I pay for the gutters to be cleaned each year.  I get frustrated when people say pensioners get too much money and should receive less - we have to pay people to do all sorts of things younger people can do for themselves 🙁

We come for a different era where we provided for ourselves and didn't expect Government handouts.  My pensioner grandmother used to pay people who came around looking for work in the depression.  I saved up when I was planning to have children and paid $30,000 into my superannuation (and lost the lot, but later recouped the money when Stockmarket improved). 

[By The Bay]

On 10/29/2022 at 11:35 AM, NSWP said:

Thanks, we had the CSHC card for a few years, but when my wife died mid 2020, they took it off me next day as I had no dependents, before that they deemed my super pension as split icome, now it is not of course, but I do a fair job of spending it every fortnight, lol.  My son and daughter tell me I spend too much and should save more, save? For what? My $ lol.  SKI.

The legislation was passed into law on the 26 Oct 22 and assented on the 28th. The changes come into effect on Friday the 4th November.  Good luck Uncle Les when you apply for your CSHC card.🤞🙏

[NSWP]

20 hours ago, By The Bay said:

The legislation was passed into law on the 26 Oct 22 and assented on the 28th. The changes come into effect on Friday the 4th November.  Good luck Uncle Les when you apply for your CSHC card.🤞🙏

Thanks for that, don't worry, this little black duck will be on the puter Friday the 4th bashing out his application for the CSHCC. With the changes I am under the threshold.

 

I was up early this morning had brekkie at 5am as I have a big CT Scan of upper body, all organs etc.  Or is it Cat Scan? at 10am. 4 hr fast required. Been in those barrels before, not nice.

Edited November 1, 2022 by NSWP

[Mareblu]

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

Thanks for that, don't worry, this little black duck will be on the puter Friday the 4th bashing out his application for the CSHCC. With the changes I am under the threshold.

 

I was up early this morning had brekkie at 5am as I have a big CT Scan of upper body, all organs etc.  Or is it Cat Scan? at 10am. 4 hr fast required. Been in those barrels before, not nice.

Hope there will be some positive elements in your results, Les.  Good luck.  I also hate the "barrels", as confined spaces not my thing.  Although I haven't availed myself, a mild sedative such as Valium is often offered.  You could pretend you're sailing.....

[By The Bay]

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

Thanks for that, don't worry, this little black duck will be on the puter Friday the 4th bashing out his application for the CSHCC. With the changes I am under the threshold.

 

I was up early this morning had brekkie at 5am as I have a big CT Scan of upper body, all organs etc.  Or is it Cat Scan? at 10am. 4 hr fast required. Been in those barrels before, not nice.

Good luck on both fronts.

[possum52]

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

Thanks for that, don't worry, this little black duck will be on the puter Friday the 4th bashing out his application for the CSHCC. With the changes I am under the threshold.

 

I was up early this morning had brekkie at 5am as I have a big CT Scan of upper body, all organs etc.  Or is it Cat Scan? at 10am. 4 hr fast required. Been in those barrels before, not nice.

Good luck Les, hope all goes well.

[Blackduck59]

Best of luck for positive results Les, hopefully they can gain some knowledge to help formulate a treatment plan. I had one of those scans once, not at all good for someone as claustrophobic as me.

Take care mate, we're sending positive thought from Canada.

Lyle & Lynn

[GUT2407]

5 hours ago, NSWP said:

Thanks for that, don't worry, this little black duck will be on the puter Friday the 4th bashing out his application for the CSHCC. With the changes I am under the threshold.

 

I was up early this morning had brekkie at 5am as I have a big CT Scan of upper body, all organs etc.  Or is it Cat Scan? at 10am. 4 hr fast required. Been in those barrels before, not nice.

CT and Cat the same thing, the barrels are getting a bit larger, thank goodness with my size and claustrophobia (albeit mild).

 

Uncle Les with all these Lab tests and Cat scans can’t your vet grandaughter do them, they all seem to involve pets.

[Russell21]

34 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

CT and Cat the same thing, the barrels are getting a bit larger, thank goodness with my size and claustrophobia (albeit mild).

 

Uncle Les with all these Lab tests and Cat scans can’t your vet grandaughter do them, they all seem to involve pets.

Had a Cat Scan on Monday and was surprised at the size of the hole in the new machine. I'm a bit claustrophobic too.

[GUT2407]

1 hour ago, Russell21 said:

Had a Cat Scan on Monday and was surprised at the size of the hole in the new machine. I'm a bit claustrophobic too.

Sounds like we are all a pack of crocks falling apart.

[cruisine21]

My dad is 95. When mum passed away 2 years ago he lost his part pension. He is not eligible for the CSHC. He is in a nursing home and pays $3700 a month for the room plus $300 for the chemist bill. He has to keep his private health cover to be covered for ambulance and his 6 week eye injections for macular degeneration which cost $700.

[lyndarra]

20 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

 

 

Uncle Les with all these Lab tests and Cat scans can’t your vet grandaughter do them, they all seem to involve pets.

And get a lab test while you're at it.🙄

[NSWP]

7 hours ago, cruisine21 said:

My dad is 95. When mum passed away 2 years ago he lost his part pension. He is not eligible for the CSHC. He is in a nursing home and pays $3700 a month for the room plus $300 for the chemist bill. He has to keep his private health cover to be covered for ambulance and his 6 week eye injections for macular degeneration which cost $700.

CSHCC Threshold goes up tomorrow to 90K income for singles. He might apply for a card if income is ok. Good luck. He is going well 95 not out, I wish him well. 

Edited November 2, 2022 by NSWP

[NSWP]

Had the CT scan, not an enclosed barrel but like a big ring with a big hole, not too bad. But they could not do the job properly, they would not/could not put the clarity dye in me because of my poor kidney condition of 27% efficiency. The kidneys have to be able to flush out the dye after CT, otherwise the dye will eventually poison/kill you . So did not get all the good images. Ah well will see what the doctors say in a week or two. I am not feeling real well.

 

If I was given a free ticket on a cruise ship today I would turn it down, too crook.

Edited November 2, 2022 by NSWP