One in three claim Greek pension

One in three Greek Australian pensioners living in Australia have already claimed a Greek old age pension under the provisions of the newly implemented Social Security Agreement between the two countries, according to the Australian Hellenic Council in Victoria.

The figures were released by the Australian Hellenic Council following a meeting between representatives of Greek welfare and community organisations with officials from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs as well as Centrelink to discuss issues arising from the implementation of the new social security agreement.

Patricia Drivas from the Australian Hellenic Council, Nicholas Katris from the Australian Greek Welfare Society, Dimitris Tsoubakos from the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria, Dimitris Kanellakos from the World Council of Hellenes Abroad and George Liavas from the Australian Macedonian Advisory Council attended the meeting with the Australian Government officials.

The Australian Hellenic Council says that Australian government officials expressed their satisfaction with the implementation of the social security agreement and the positive response of the 56 000 Greek Australian pensioners sent forms by Centrelink. Less than 300 pensioners have yet to respond to Centrelink’s letters.

Officials urged these people to contact Centrelink as soon as possible to help them fulfil their responsibilities and avoid having their Australian pension suspended. The Department granted an extension for the return of these documents from three to seven weeks which lapsed on Tuesday March 31.

Over 1,200 people in Greece are said by the Hellenic Council to have also claimed an Australian Age Pension and that 550 people have had their Australian pensions readjusted after informing Centrelink of previously undeclared Greek pensions.

When a person is overpaid, Centrelink seeks repayment of the additional amounts. A reasonable repayment schedule can be negotiated to avoid financial hardship. Centrelink indicated that those people would not be prosecuted.  

Review and appeal rights are available if people disagree with Centrelink’s decisions.