Wayne is homeless

Wayne is from Perth, Western Australia, and today travels in Asia, staying in cheap accommodation. He makes a living, just enough, from his YouTube channel "Fiasco da Gama" (a take on the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama).

In this video, Wayne explains about his lifelong desire not to accumulate possessions, to just be a wandering spirit:

"60 And The Freedom Of Having Nothing. Goa."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUa_SSz29Mo

I've been turning over Wayne's philosophy in my mind...

He does come back to Perth sometimes. I think the last time was for dental treatment. He stays with his sister, who is a regular married person with a home.

Can't say that I agree with him, not 100%. A person can be very happy owning a home, and have pleasure in having kids. Just as, alternatively, those things could be a not-so-happy experience. I think, mostly, it is where you are in your own mind.

Wayne will qualify for the Age pension when he reaches 67, as long as he has been resident in Australia for 10 years, 5 of which must be continuous. There is something called "Australian Working Life Residency" (AWLR), which is how many years you have been resident in Australia since age 16; a figure of 35 or more confers the full Age pension. below that, it declines proportionally -- which could be a problem for Wayne.

However, as far as I can make out, this AWLR rule only applies if you are living overseas while retired. Google AI says this:

The 26-Week Rule:
You can receive your full Age Pension rate while traveling overseas for up to 26 weeks, regardless of your AWLR.
After 26 weeks:
Your AWLR calculation kicks in to determine your ongoing rate.

...so it looks like that 26-week rule will suit Wayne.   

Tags: general