INDUSTRY EXPERTS

ENTITLEMENT HELP

The self employed and the age pension

Being self-employed and on an age pension can be tricky, as with running a “company”.

Centrelink looks at your annual tax return (plus financials for companies) and base the income for the following year on the previous year’s results.

For companies, assessments can take some time as they are referred to the Complex Assessment officers, whereas self-employed income can be adjusted at the front line, but that will depend on the experience of the Centrelink officer you are taking to.

If you do not make enough to submit an annual tax return, then you will need to submit a profit and loss statement.

The issue for 2021-22 is that a lot of business for both self-employed, and companies will be assessed on income during Covid — either inflated due to job keeper or deflated due to covid implications.

Assessing this year’s income against what you expect to earn during 2021-22 will depend on how you keep Centrelink updated.

Adjustments can made during the financial year however getting it wrong can be expensive.

CAPA Services can help.

NARELLE COOPER

DIRECTOR CAPA SERVICES CENTRE FOR AGE PENSION ADMIN SERVICES 07 5354 0144 OR 1300 043 197 ADMIN@CAPASERVICES.COM.AU

LEGAL FUTURE CHOICES

Is it time to review your Will and Enduring Power of Attorney?

If you have recently moved to Queensland from another Australian state or territory, it may be time to review your Will and Enduring Power of Attorney.

The legislation regarding Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney differs between each of the states and territories.

In Queensland, a Will or Enduring Power of Attorney properly executed in another state or territory can be recognised as still valid in Queensland in certain circumstances.

A move to Queensland not only provides you with an opportunity to start supporting the Maroons in the State of Origin, but may also provide a perfect opportunity to review your existing estate plan with a solicitor.

Not only can you confirm if existing documents from another state or territory are still valid, you can ensure your estate plan still reflects your wishes, particularly if your family or financial circumstances may have significantly changed as a result of the move.

If you do update your documents as a result of the move to Queensland, it is also sensible to obtain your previous original documents.

One step at a time to finding care

Having to consider the need for residential aged care can be emotionally draining and dispiriting.

And watching someone struggle at home can be equally challenging and exhausting, especially when you don’t live nearby.

A daughter contacted me recently. She lives in Central Queensland and needs to find permanent placement for her father in North Queensland — except he lives with dementia, alone, in his own home north of the Sunshine Coast.

What are the steps required to make this happen? • Ensure ACAT approvals are in place to cover respite and permanent care. • Find a respite solution in a facility in his current town until permanent care transfer is possible • Understand his financial position to enable his daughter to make the best decisions for a permanent placement • Analyse all the facilities in the North Queensland location and match them to his needs, ensuring they have a strong compliance record • Prepare and submit the application documents to expedite timely decisions for admission approvals

Your Future Care is able to provide these services remotely.

TRENT WAKERLEY PARTNER, KRUGER LAW LEVEL 3, OCEAN CENTRAL, OCEAN STREET, MAROOCHYDORE 5443 9600, KRUGERLAW.COM.AU CARMEL MORGAN DIRECTOR YOUR FUTURE CARE, 0488 221 678 CARMEL@YOURFUTURECARE.COM.AU YOURFUTURECARE.COM.AU

ORTHOPAEDIC

Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons for a patient to see an orthopaedic surgeon. Sometimes there is a clear injury such as a shoulder dislocation. Pain may develop after lifting something too often or too heavy. More often there may be no incident at all that leads to shoulder pain. Pain can be felt anywhere from the neck to the elbow.

Minor shoulder problems may be due to inflammation in the bursa causing pain with movement, or perhaps inflammation in the joint causing a frozen shoulder. These conditions often do well with conservative treatments such as steroid injections and physiotherapy.

More serious conditions such as rotator cuff tears and tearing of the shoulder lining (labrum) may require surgery to repair. These types of shoulder problems often result in more than just pain but loss of shoulder movement and loss of strength and function. Specialist shoulder surgeons often take further fellowship training internationally and are able to repair rotator cuffs and labrums through minimally invasive keyhole techniques.

DR SHANE BLACKMORE SUNSHINE COAST ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP SUNSHINE COAST UNIVERSITY PRIVATE HOSPITAL. SUITE 12, 3 DOHERTY STREET, BIRTINYA. 5493 8038. SCORTHOGROUP.COM.AU