We earn $200k and live free on cruise ship<\/a><\/p>\n Woman drops $2.9m on cruise ship home<\/a><\/p>\n But before retirees trade bricks and mortar for a balcony cabin, there is a catch.<\/p>\n From September 20, pensioners on payments including the Age Pension and Carer Payment can keep the full Pension Supplement during temporary overseas travel for up to 12 weeks, double the current six-week limit.<\/p>\n Cruisers Jessica and Marty Ansen at Brisbane Cruise Terminal. Picture: Lachie Millard<\/p>\n The supplement is paid on top of the base pension to help cover everyday costs such as utilities, phone, internet and medicines.<\/p>\n The change is good news for retirees planning longer overseas holidays. <\/p>\n But it is not a green light for anyone hoping to live on cruises long-term while still receiving the same level of government support.<\/p>\n If a pensioner is overseas for more than 12 weeks, the Pension Supplement stops, even if their base pension continues. <\/p>\n If they are away for more than six months, their Age Pension may also be reduced depending on their Australian Working Life Residence.<\/p>\n A fresh Centrelink warning has landed for Aussie retirees just as cruise season heats up, with pensioners told they could lose part of their payment if they stay overseas too long.<\/p>\n And for retirees planning to move overseas rather than holiday, the rules are tougher again. <\/p>\n The warning comes as more older Australians embrace cruising, with a record 1.45 million Australians taking a cruise holiday in 2025.<\/p>\n This includes former Brisbanites Marty and Jess Ansen who decided to ditch the idea of a \u2018normal\u2019 retirement plan and booked 51 back-to-back cruises instead.<\/p>\n In their first year and a bit, they spent 455 days at sea and argued the lifestyle was an affordable way to retire. <\/p>\n They have now spent about three years living on cruises.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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