Living in Australia
The following information is about some of the important things you should consider before deciding to apply to migrate to, or remain permanently in, Australia. The information provided here is a general guide only and it is entirely your own responsibility to investigate your settlement prospects in Australia.
Cost of living in Australia
The cost of living in Australia is high when compared to many other countries. It is essential that you think about how you will provide for yourself, and any family members, for at least the first 2 years. The cost of relocating is high. There are significant costs involved in travelling to Australia, moving household goods and setting up a home.
Waiting periods for social security
All new Australian permanent residents must generally wait for a specific period of time before they are eligible for social security payments. A 2 year waiting period applies to the following social security benefits:
- Unemployment assistance (Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance
- Student assistance (Austudy, Youth Allowance)
- Carer assistance (Carer Payment)
- Disabilities assistance (Mobility Allowance)
- Hardship assistance (Crisis Payment)
- Concession cards (Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card).
A 10 year waiting period applies to Age Pension and Disability Support Pension. Other social security payments have 'qualifying residence' requirements which are separate to the waiting period. It is very important to understand that you should have enough money to support yourself, and any family members, for at least 2 years in Australia. If you have a sponsor, you should ask them about the support they are willing to provide prior to your arrival in Australia.
Waiting period exemptions
A payment called Special Benefit may be available during the waiting period if you are in hardship because you have suffered a substantial change of circumstances beyond your control. This payment is only available in very limited circumstances. An inability to find a job or remain in employment is not considered a change of circumstances. If you become widowed, disabled or a single parent after you have commenced living in Australia as a permanent resident, you may be eligible for an allowance or pension. You may also be able to get a pension without having lived in Australia for 10 years if you are covered by an international social security agreement.
A list of countries which have social security agreements with Australia can be found on the Centrelink website.
Help for families with children
New migrants with dependent children may be able to receive Family Assistance payments to help with the cost of raising children. Generally, you must hold a permanent visa in order to be eligible, but there are some exceptions. There is no waiting period for these payments. Family Assistance payments are intended only as an income supplement and do not provide enough to live on. Family Assistance benefits include Family Tax Benefit Part A, Family Tax Benefit Part B, Child Care Benefit and Child Care Tax Rebate. The amount of Family Tax Benefit you may be entitled to depends on the age and number of children in your family and on your family's total annual income over the current income year. Child Care Benefit may be paid to help with the cost of putting your child into child care. The amount of Child Care Benefit you may receive will depend on your family's annual income over the current income year, the type of child care you choose (approved or registered), the number of children in child care, the reason you are using care and how many hours of child care you use. Your child must also be up-to-date with immunisation or have an immunisation exemption for you to be eligible to receive the Child Care Benefit.
From 1 July 2008, the Child Care Rebate increased from 30% to 50% of out-of-pocket
costs (the amount you pay for child care after your Child Care Benefit amount is taken
out), up to AUD7,500 (indexed) per child per year. You may be eligible for the Child Care
Tax Rebate if you use approved child care, are eligible for Child Care Benefit and you
and your partner pass the work, training, study test.
There are also 2 other forms of extra assistance for families with babies. The Baby
Bonus Payment provides money to help with the extra costs of a new baby. Maternity
Immunisation Allowance is a separate payment for families with children who are up-todate
with immunisation or are exempt from the immunisations requirements.
In Australia, you will find the Family Assistance Office in all Medicare offices, Centrelink
Customer Service Centres and Australian Taxation Office shopfronts.
Further information can be obtained from:
www.familyassist.gov.au
Telephone: 136 150 (in Australia)
131 202 (for information in languages other than English)
Further information on social security
Centrelink contributes to the social and economic outcomes set by government by
delivering services to assist people to become self-sufficient and supporting those in
need. There are many rules which affect all Centrelink administered entitlements. The
information provided here is a general guide only and you must discuss your specific
needs with Centrelink.
You can find Centrelink office locations and telephone numbers in the local telephone
directory. You can speak to Centrelink staff and have your questions answered in
languages other than English by calling 131 202. This is not an interpreter service. Calls
to this number are charged at the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia. Calls
made from public pay phones or mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate.
More information about social security payments or international agreements before
arriving in Australia can be obtained from:
www.centrelink.gov.au
Mail:
Manager
International Services
Centrelink
GPO Box 273
HOBART TAS 7001
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 131 021 (within Australia to make an appointment)
131 202 (within Australia for information in languages other than English)
61 3 6222 3455 (outside Australia)
Health
The Australian Government provides help with medical expenses and hospital care
through a scheme called Medicare. The government also subsidises the cost of most
medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Medicare and the PBS are
administered by Medicare Australia.
To find out if you are eligible, and to enrol in Medicare, visit your local Medicare office
with your passport, travel documents and permanent visa. If you are not already the
holder of a permanent visa, you will also need to provide details of any permanent visa/
migration applications you have lodged.
Most temporary visa holders are not eligible to enrol in Medicare, however there are
some exceptions, for example, people who have applied for a permanent visa and meet
the necessary criteria. You should visit your local Medicare office to find out if you are
eligible. If all eligibility requirements are met, you may be given your Medicare card
number to use until your card arrives in the mail in about 3 weeks. In most cases, you
will pay for medical care then receive a refund for some of the payment.
Medicare Australia administers the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register. If you
have a child under 7 years of age, please make sure that you bring their immunisation
records to help your doctor in Australia determine if their immunisations are up-to-date.
This is a requirement for some Family Assistance payments.
Medicare Australia administers the Australian Organ Donor Register (the Donor
Register). People who are over 16 years of age can register their organ donation decision
on the Donor Register. For people with serious or life-threatening illness, organ or tissue
transplantation may mean a second chance at life.
In addition, Medicare Australia provides help with Family Assistance payments and
services. Some of the payments available at your local Medicare office include Family Tax
Benefit, Baby Bonus, Child Care Benefit, and Maternity Immunisation Allowance.
Medicare Australia has an information kit which is translated into 19 languages and
is available in English large print, Braille and on audio CD and cassette. The kit has
information about Medicare Australia's services and explains the eligibility requirements
for benefits and payments. Copies of the kit are available from the Medicare Australia
website or from your local Medicare office.
For more information:
www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
E-mail: info@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Telephone:
(in Australia): 132 011* – Medicare
1800 020 613** – Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
1800 653 809** – Australian Childhood Immunisation Register
1800 777 203** – Australian Organ Donor Register
1800 552 152** – Hearing and speech impaired
131 450* – Translating and Interpreting Service
Mail:
Medicare Eligibility
Medicare Australia
PO Box 1001
TUGGERANONG DC ACT 2901
AUSTRALIA
Private health insurance
Many Australians choose to take out private health insurance. This covers some or all of
the cost of treatment as a private patient in private or public hospitals, and can extend
to some services that Medicare does not cover, such as dental care, most optical care
and ambulance transport. If you are considering taking out private health insurance you
should be aware of the following:
-All Australians are eligible to claim the 30 percent rebate if they are eligible for Medicare and have a complying health insurance policy that provides hospital treatment, general treatment ('ancillary' or 'extras') cover or both.
The rebate will generally give you back 30 percent of the total cost of your private health insurance with the following exceptions: -for people aged 65–69 years, the rebate is 35 percent -for people aged 70 years and over, the rebate is 40 percent.
-Most Australian taxpayers have a Medicare Levy included in the amount of tax they pay. The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an additional one percent surcharge imposed on people who earn over a certain income threshold and do not have hospital insurance. You should check the website for current information on income thresholds for singles and couples/families.
-Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) is a financial loading that may be payable in addition to the normal premium for private health insurance hospital cover. To avoid the LHC loading, you must purchase hospital cover before your LHC deadline. The deadline is generally 1 July following your 31st birthday, but as a new migrant to Australia your LHC deadline may be later, depending on your age when you arrive in Australia. If you purchase hospital cover after your deadline, you may be required to pay a LHC loading which is an extra 2 percent on your premium for each year you are over 30 at the time you commence cover. For example, if you wait until you are 40 years old, you could be paying an extra 20 percent on the cost of your hospital cover.
New migrants to Australia who are already over 31 years old do not pay an increased cost if they purchase private hospital cover within 12 months from the day they are registered as eligible for Medicare. It is important to consider taking out hospital cover in the first year after you are registered for Medicare. If you choose to wait more than 12 months after you are registered for Medicare, then you will be required to pay a LHC loading in addition to your premium. If you are aged under 31 years when you arrive in Australia, then your LHC deadline will be the same as everybody else's (1 July following your 31st birthday). More information about private health insurance can be obtained from:
www.privatehealth.gov.au
E-mail: privatehealth@health.gov.au