hotandsticky

Because it doesn't suit his agenda.

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/international/travel-money-card/

Correct Mike. The widow's pension is calculated on the original 'gross' amount before the 25% cash free payment. My partner will get that amount (increased to current levels) @ 50%. She will then lose 10% of that because of our 19 year age difference. She will finish up with 45% or around 40,000 Baht per month. It is probably the best provision we can make for our loved ones.

HSBC gave me 5% (the scheme 'maximum') and ignored requests to apply their discretion to pay a higher rate.

Pensions fall outside an estate, I believe. If you have nominated your GF you should have received an acknowledgement from the pension trustees. As you say, a civil partnership is not recognised in Thailand. The bottom line is that pension trustees have not got round to including a phrase significant others' ????. I am 100% confident that my GF will receive a widows pension; I have confirmation from the trustees and her nomination also appears on online records.

That is very sad ????

Unfortunately, this only applies to people on benefits. Living in Thailand she would not have been in receipt of any benefits.

Had you read the notes you will have seen that the claimant has to be ordinarily resident in the UK.

She can't.

I think only a retired government employee would be confused. A Google search of "UK government pension" brings up 2 pages of State Pension items....... and nothing about a government occupational pension.

State pension is paid by the UK government. Presumably a government occupational (not private) pension would be paid by the appropriate pension trustees?

That is private as opposed to occupational.

A typical 'attack the poster' comment where you have been proved wrong.....????

So you have totally ignored the Brexit effect just to suit your pro-Thaksin the Crook agenda. Pathetic! What about the rate being 70 AFTER he left office? Coincidence?

Just to add weight to your comments........ my missus had to get a bank letter/statement for a Schengen visa - she got it same day (or next, can't remember) from a Bangkok branch of Kasikorn - her account being up country.

This is a good site for comparing TT rates - updated during the day as well. http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx In fairness, Thai bank charges are reasonable and I don't think that the 1% max 500 Baht has changed in over 10 years. The exchange rates are also fair which is why you should never convert to Baht in your own country.

I think that you can take a point in a working day and compare rates. The Thai bank fees are published and are usually 1% max 500, + 20 Baht (Bangkok to the boonies) and with K Bank a mysterious, unlimited, charge of 0.1%!

Depending on where you are located.........A name that is often mentioned on here is Maneerat in soi 13/2, Pattaya.

She won't. They were legally married so she will have a valid claim. It is then up to the pension trustees. I completed a nomination form for my partner of 16 years because we are not married.

You are welcome. Sorry it is not good news for the widow, but I don't want you chasing around on a wild goose chase. Look to see if he was in receipt of an occupational pension - that is her best hope.

Don't bother. Date of marriage is irrelevant, only date of death matters. I deal with this stuff regularly. No grandfathering, nothing.

@Pagllim - I may need to offer you an apology. I have no problem doing that when/if I am wrong. Having boldly stated that WISE rates were always better, I thought that I should do a current calculation. I haven't got time to do a full comparison (on a 'working' day) but it seems that on a transfer of 2m Baht, bank to bank is 2,643 Baht better (before local Thai bank commission). On a GBP 2,000 transfer WISE was only marginally better. I will investigate further, and apologies from me.

Yes. Happened to me once. Fortunately, I had taken the advice from Thai Visa posts and had started to check every time.

For sure - NOTHING. Bereavement payments ere payable to Thai Widows until the Pension Act sneaked in a requirement for such claimants to be domiciled in the UK. Her only hope is that he had an occupational pension that carries a widows benefit. Unlikely if he hadn't already made her aware of it - or prepared the appropriate paperwork for her.