hardblogger

I buy this one, from Lotus's South, Pattaya its 950 baht so works out to about (give or take) 240 baht a 70cl Bottle.Its 399 a bottle in 7/11. Its keeps great in the bag, fits well in the fridge. (in Villa Market its 993 baht) 2 glasses gets my GF pretty happy and sleepy lol. Ok its not everyones taste, but for a cheapish wine to sip on the balcony its pretty alright. They have 3 or 4 choices (also White) One is 850 baht. La Vida (Chile) I got one in the fridge, not tried it yet. The others are over a 1000.

That's hard to believe

We wouldn't get paid, but neither would anyone. BOOOOM! Same for every pensioner. Life wouldn't be worth living anyway. Relax.

Not a chance I am afraid. A couple of Tory MPs tried not so long ago, and the country which has tried the most is Canada, better for them if the expats have more money. But it failed to get anywhere at last attempt, No chance at all now with this Gov, so yes forget it.

Gold star for Mr Perfect. There you are.

Unfortunately this is incorrect, it would revert back to your old Thailand rate.........unless you don't tell them and commit fraud. LOL

They are slow for sure, my birthday was in November, so I sent the forms off.....by mail....cost 1200 baht!! They were received at the centre (I got a text!) in August, I finally got my pension in March. Backdated to November, but heck it was a long wait. I finally got a guy on the phone, it ain't easy!! And like you he was very good and did sort out the problem within a week.

I think you ask 20 people you will get 20 different answers. Most people I know anyway retired here have more than one pension. I was military for 35 years. The difficultly with savings is, how long are you going to live for, so how much do you need. But some people invest savings and get a salary that way. Some people have property. It ain't just UK pensioners either. Some however do try and live on the OAP alone, it can be done but it aint easy. Especially if there are no rises. Not many do this though Purdey. Most have a 2nd income of some kind.

What do you think about claiming WInter Fuel allowance (bit late now but,........) for the past 4 years and living here for 9 month a year? Just interested on your view.

Yes that is what I said, every 4th Friday, 28 days. Next payment is Dec 6th and the one after that is Jan 3rd. It is a different Date, but not a different Day,

As others have said it is the Phillipines. You could get your full pension backdated to the day you arrived in the Phillipines. This wouldn't be a quick process though. The form to register for overseas pension, is on the DWP website, but it is 22 pages long. So you would have to send that back to UK, and wait. Eventually they should contact you with you new amount. I think it would take about 4 months. But you would get it backdated Alright if someone is intended on moving there full time, but if travelling around just not worth it.

If you get your OAP paid direct into Thai bank, it is then TAX free, it is not paid from UK,, it is paid from outscorcing company actually in USA. But if it paid into UK bank, then yes it will be subject to tax over 12570. But may or may not suit you to check that out. Mine goes in to my Thai bank every 4th Friday at 9.01am its very good.

I am 67 this month so had OAP for one year. I am also ex service 35 years and have military pension. Live in Thailand, and have done for 6 years. I have told DWP where I am, and I am not going back. So all pretty straight forward. Military pension paid monthly in Thai bank and is taxed in UK. Is indexed linked and can live anywhere and receive that. All good. 72,000 baht a month or thereabouts with the exchange rate Going up about 1.5% in April. OAP is paid monthly into Thai Bank and is NOT TAXED but since my first payment zero. 35,000 baht a month. But the principle of both pensions being so different is daft, am that bothered, No, but that doesn't make it right does it. Could I retire here on OAP alone, No. But to those committing fraud beware, it is possible to inform DWP by a completely 100% anonymous form. Up to them if they follow up your information. They can never contact you, you don't give any of your own details. 100% I have done it.

You make no demands on the NHS until things go pear shaped. Then scurry home cap in hand, tough sh#t. Most of us pay tax. I certainly do.

Not from the date you apply, from the date you returned to UK . Once the process has been submitted and approved.

Yes correct, once you get back, and all the paperwork is done and they are happy (suspect that will be at least 4 to 5 months) then they will pay out, and pay you back to the date you arrived back in UK. Thats it. Shortfall, no chance.

Cheers, Its a good history of what has happened, and giving some reasons. Still wrong though. Not a cat in hells chance of this being reversed now. I would have said Humans rights and all that would be best angle, but seeing that got firmly rejected in 2002, then its head against brick wall time. But it won't go away.

Wrong, you are advising fraud. I don't want to register anywhere illegally, I am not that bothered, I get 135,000 baht pension a month. Why would I put that at risk? The OAP by the way is 35,000 baht. military 100,000 They do have the resources, slow, but they are there, they know we are out of the country, we get paid from a differerent source. Its not a case of having all 3, its not a seperate pension, it is an annual increase. its Why is that a catch, we have just had the annual April rise. (If you register that you are back in UK, it is backdated to the day you arrive, so you would get it, but it also goes back to the level it is now, when you return. So a lot of work if you are only going back for a year or two. But if it were a lot of money the lady in the article, worth it.

A few bits I would like to add, having just gone through the process of getting retirement pension from UK age 66 living in Thailand. No question of going back. I served 35 years in the RAF so do have a 2nd pension, the fact that my oap will be frozen doesn't really worry me financially but morally it is completely wrong. So my service pension indexed linked is taxed. But OAP no longer has increases but is not taxed. I have it paid direct into my Thai bank and it is actually paid from USA (outsourced for us overseas people) so it never actually hits UK. So two different uk governement pensions that work in completely different ways. So I pay tax into UK, but never use, Schools, Hospitals, Police, Fire, Social Services or sit in a park! and never will. I have paid 35 years of National Insurance. But no increase. OK So I knew the rules, yes I did, which I hear many times, yes we know that, but that doesn't make it fair does it. But why is this happening? Outside of EU countries, you can get the increase if you live in Barbados Bermuda, Bosnia, Gibraltar, Guersey, Isle of Man, Israel, Jamacia, Jersey, Kosovo, Mauritus, Mongenegro, Macedonia, Phillipines, Serbia, Turkey and USA. They have a SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT with UK. Now the question might be, why hasn't Thailand? I don't know the answer, but it is a fair question I think. Why hasn't Vietnam or Cambodia (for instance) is it the same reason, or different reason. Just throwing the question out there. There must be a reason why no agreement is in place. Is it actually all UK's fault? Obviously they get the blame. Is that fair blame. Could be. Anyone know.

Yes that is correct, 180 days and you would continue to get the full pension. If this lady went back to UK, she could apply straight away to get the full amount. This would be backdated to the date she returned.