prakhonchai nick

I'd think twice to give up Kuwaiti nationality to become a 3rd world citizen.

Kuwait may have oil but it is hardly a super-power!

How long I wonder before Dad sells his new car.

Better to go to Goose's or Pig and Whistle.

I am told the Fish and Chips in Coffee Corner Prakhonchai are the best in Isaan. I would agree!

As I mentioned earlier 500bt seems to be the going rate for notarisations from an ordinary accredited Lawyer Of course you can pay more if you go to a fancy lawyer with expensive offices.

2000bt from a bloke at the station?? Like buying something that fell off the back of a lorry but at quadruple the real price!

They've got to charge high fees so they can get the money to pay for their 150,000 Baht a month condos on Sukhumvit.

you forgot the Champagne, Caviar and cucumber sandwiches...

and I also forgot the yearly pension increases they'll be entitled to which retirees in Thailand are not.

It is only their civil service pensions that are increased annually in line with inflation. Most UK Company Pensions increase annually regardless of where the former employee lives. But State Pensions are frozen for everyone living in Thailand and certain other countries, even Civil Servants.

Never mind the names the OP uses to refer to his Father in Law. The issue is that he, like so many farangs, is taken for granted by their Thai families.

A Thank-you now and again for services rendered would be great but rarely obtained.

Where were all the family when the car was needed. The farang was the easiest option. Sure he is frustrated when travelling a long way only to find upon arrival that plans have changed. Why did nobody call him? Thais use their phones nearly all day long! But the farang doesn't matter!

A great post from Guest House. I would have done the same. Never mind embarrasing the family. He probably saved the old ladies life, which because of greng-jai , face etc a Thai would never contemplate!

Stupid or Ignorant. Probably BOTH!

My earlier post, like that of some other posters, was Off Topic. The original OP was about the high cost of Notarisations.

Typically, most accredited Thai Lawyers will notarise documents for 500bt/page. No extra charges for a staple.

Most Embassy day to day work is carried out by Thai staff, who command a much smaller salary than their UK counteparts. There is in my mind no justification for their excessively high charges for most services.

Why. even a replacement UK passport costs £128 + courier charges to and from Hong Kong, and a 4 week wait, whilst the same item is available in the UK for under £80!

Out of every Benefit comes the checkbill.

i.e. My wifes UK Visa = £870.

Benefit to her = Free NHS care.

More than a fair deal to my way of thinking and nothing to do with "Greedy Brits" as the Stupid Topic Title suggests! where does the OP think the money comes from? for her health care, Thailand?

If you were in Britain, and had a British wife who did not work, she would get Free NHS care too. Why? BECAUSE SHE IS YOUR WIFE!. Surely, it does not matter where your wife hails from. And anyway it is not FREE! What about all the NI contributions you made over the years? The Income tax? VAT at more than double the Thai rate and about to increase again shortly.

What about all the NI contributions I made? I am in Thailand. If I return to the UK for medical treatment I have to pay! My pension is frozen! No cold weather allowance for me! No Christmas Bonus! No Child tax Credits! But they still take 20% tax off me from my private pension! Part of my contribution is helping to pay for your wife's FREE NHS treatment, and all the enormous benefits handed out to the millions of immigrants who pour into the UK.

I could go on -but I won't

Thais are great perusers.

I would have thought being retired you would have all the time in the world to go shopping.

I didn't realise you were retired Cardholder!

Happy Air's advert is a scam

Quote 650bt, but when you go to book they add on all the extras. Cost more than double their initial price. AVOID!

I live part time here and there 183 days UK, yes of corse I do .

I think in the main the thing is you only need 30 yr cons at this moment in time.

I am also told when you are in receipt of your pension and not in UK for more than 183 days you don't get any rises.

If you live permanently in Thailand (or what the Pension Service regard as permanently) then your pension is frozen at the rate it was when you first claimed it. I believe they work on 92/93 days out of the UK and the remainder in the UK to receive the increases. Not 183 day as you had hoped.

You only get the 5 years NI credits if you are living in the UK

Unless the rules have changed regarding NI credits since 2006, I don't think you're right.

I'm looking at a letter that I received from HMR&C dated 31st July, 2006 sent to me at my address in Thailand.

I quote;

Thank you for your letter dated 04/07/2006. I can confirm that voluntary contributions have been paid for the full period 07/04/1996 - 08/04/2006 (10 full tax years). As you will be 60 years of age on 13/10/2006, your account will be awarded with auto credits from the beginning of the tax year in which you turn 60, (09/04/2006) to the beginning of the tax year in which you turn 65, (April 2011) as long as you do not qualify to pay Class 1 contributions, while working for an employer or working in a self-employed capacity, for any period.

A full 5 years of auto credits will contribute a further 5 years to your final Retirement Pension (PR), I hope this answers all your queries.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs C. Hymers

Self-Employment Services

It would therefore appear what you say is incorrect that one has to be living in the UK to get NI credits.

I can only say that you are very fortunate.

I applied for credits and was told that they are only available to those resident in the UK

This is the official ruling

A man aged 60 to 65 Class 1 credits You must be either not working, or not earning enough to make the year a 'qualifying year' for State Pension purposes. If you're self-employed, you must have a Small Earnings Exception Certificate – follow the second link below. You must live in the UK for at least 183 days in the tax year.

Since they stated they would award you the credits when you were only 60, they may very well check to see that you were indeed resident in the UK for a minimum of 183 days each TAX year. Be prepared.

And when you come to claim the state pension, they will ask very searching questions as to the time spent outside the UK. This is where you can easily trip up.

A final point - since you will not receive state pension till 2011, you only need 30 contributions for full pension. maybe you will have enough without the credits!

You are most certainly correct "she will get a £2000 Bereavement Payment"of which I have it in writing from the DWP,this is a one off payment for the first year after the Spouses death,which replaced Widows Pension,which has also been replaced with Widowed Parents Pension/Allowance,providing you fit the current rules.

The problem with these type of posts is that many Expats flit off to "Sunny Thailand" thinking all the legislation was set in stone from their departure date from the UK,

Only to find out years later the rules have all changed.

At this moment in time we have a new Government in the UK, so over the next year or so we can probably expect even more changes,yet again!

Actually Majic the £2000 Bereavement payment did not replace anything. It has always been payable. The Widows pension has gone to be replaced by a Bereavement Benefit payable for just 1 year provided the widow is 45+. The Widowed parents Allowance once again has always been payable -previously called a Widowed Mothers Allowance.

You cannot claim both Bereavement Allowance and Widowed Parents Allowance together.

So to summarise:

Every Widow............................£2000 Bereavement Payment and UK State Pension at some age between 60-66, based on husbands NI

contributions

PLUS

Widow over 45 no children.............Bereavement Benefit...1 year only

Widow with children............Widowed Parents Allowance whilst child either

pre-school or up to 20 and receiving primary or

secondary education (not university)

You are most certainly correct "she will get a £2000 Bereavement Payment"of which I have it in writing from the DWP,this is a one off payment for the first year after the Spouses death,which replaced Widows Pension,which has also been replaced with Widowed Parents Pension/Allowance,providing you fit the current rules.

The problem with these type of posts is that many Expats flit off to "Sunny Thailand" thinking all the legislation was set in stone from their departure date from the UK,

Only to find out years later the rules have all changed.

At this moment in time we have a new Government in the UK, so over the next year or so we can probably expect even more changes,yet again!

Thank you Majic for your support.

Things do indeed change. It was not so long ago that Widows Pension was paid continuously until the widow reached state pension age. Now under a new fancy name it is payable for just 1 year - and only providing you are 45+ at the time of widowhood.

No doubt at some time in the future, these bereavement benefits will only be available to UK residents. State pensions will probably go the same way!

Sorry Mr Leech

If you are going to criticize information given over the last 42 posts, and I appreciate there has been much misinformation,including from yourself, then please say what is wrong

My last " when you die (assuming you go before your wife) she will get a £2000 Bereavement Payment; plus either a bereavement benefit (similar to the former Widows pension) for a period of 1 year only, or if she has children under 20 and still at school a Widowed Parents Allowance which provided you have paid sufficient NI contributions could be as much as £97 a week.; "She will also be entitled to the UK state pension for herself" etc, etc, etc

PLEASE BE SPECIFIC. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS INFORMATION.If there is some misinformation in what I wrote I will acknowledge fault.

I think it rather depends how long you spend each year in Thailand, and perhaps more importantly whether the NI Benefits Office know.

You must live in the UK for at least 183 days in the tax year to qualify

You only get the 5 years NI credits if you are living in the UK

It is however possible to "buy" up to 12 years of NI credits, but at a cost of some £600 a year for most of the past years.

The Allocation of NI numbers is now dealt with by jobcentreplus,part of the DWPso you were nearly right!

I think you will find that the jobcentreplus deal with the allocation of NI numbers for those in the UK. Where bereavement benefits are claimed from overseas, it is the International Pension Centre that deal with the claim and it is they who obtain a NI number (quite possibly through jobcentreplus)

Elliss is correct, to obtain a NI number the applicant must be resident in the UK,albeit on a Settlement Visa/or another type,she would also need to prove the address she is residing in the UK is genuine.

In most foreign Spouse applications,they will need to attend an Interview,which they will be unable to comply with,if they are not residing in the UK,a Passport with Visa entry and several other documents will also need to be produced.

And finally the NI dept,would no doubt ask:why would you want a NI number for this Lady unless she intended to work in the UK? (with a suitable Visa she can work for 1 year without a NI number) having first learned some passable English and obtained a relevant "Sponsored Visa"????

I can only think that you may require a NI number to reduce her Tax Bill on her husbands Pension (which she now receives a proportion of spousal Pension)by having the normal Tax exempt Allowance that Resident British Citizens receive.

If so? IMO im afraid it does seem a catch 22 situation,namely, the Pension was generated in the UK and will attract UK Taxes at source,and the only way that a NI number can be obtained to claim the allowances in order to reduce taxation, is as already stated above.

A NI number is automatically issued when bereavement benefits are claimed, and this does not require the claimant to be a British subject, be resident in the UK, or even have ever set foot in the UK.

However this will not help the lady who is the subject of this topic. As Majic states she is neither a British citizen nor resident in the UK and would therefore not be eligible for a Tax Personal Allowance.

She can though, eliminate her UK tax liability since the UK has a double taxation agreement with Thailand. She would be able to receive her pension payment without deduction of UK tax, but would be liable to pay Thai tax on the amount. She would be eligible for a Thai tax personal allowance, but since this would be significantly smaller than the UK personal allowance, she would be paying tax at a lower starting point. Nevertheless the tax % is unlikely to exceed the 20% she is now paying.

I have just received another letter from HMRC informing myself that I did not pay any NI contributions for the last tax year and would I like to send them a cheque for 300+ spon doolies.

Well I have over 36 years NI contribs so I should qualify easily for the UK state pension. (changed this year), though the present government seem to be determined to raise the age limit for state pension.

Its going to at least age 66 for me and even older, WTFK's.

I tossed the letter in file 13, but I seem to remember a paragraph in there about having 44 years NI contribs for your wife to receive full benefits on bereavement and I should continue to pay NI.

My wife cannot read a word of English and I wonder who will sort this out on my passing, hopefully not for some years yet!!!

Since you are not yet at pensionable age, you will only need 30 NI contributions to secure your full state pension.

But as you say, to enable your wife to receive full bereavement benefits (should they be necessary) you must have the full 44 payments. If you don't pay any more NI contributions, then you wife would likely receive approx 80% of the rate at the time. It should not however affect her own state pension when she reaches retirement age.

As to will help all the Widows when it comes to claiming, this is something being worked on and as they say WATCH THIS SPACE!

I write what know it may help, things change over the years.

You can get information H M Revenue & Customs UK internet site.

A Thai person has to reside in England for two years apply for residents and when that is given they get a UK. N.I. number.

If they are paying tax on payments from England depending on the bank or the company they will need a R105 form for non UK residents.

The other form is a R40 I believe again the above site partually explains and when this is filled out, usually you do this every year after the 5th of April tax year.

The lady will get a Tax number and be refund every year ending.

As for claiming berevement benifit I was told when I peg it my Thai wife gets nothing from the UK goverment because she is not a UK citizen.

With the private pension when I peg it my wife will get 50% of for the rest of her life.

The lady in question will get her tax paid back to her no question but like everything with the UK " if you Don't ask !! you Don't get ".

Kwasaki

The Pension people in Newcastle are too fond of telling people here in Thailand that neither they nor their Thai wives are eligible for various benefits. This simply is not true.

Provided you are legally married (in Thailand or elsewhere) when you die (assuming you go before your wife) she will get a £2000 Bereavement Payment; plus either a bereavement benefit (similar to the former Widows pension) for a period of 1 year only, or if she has children under 20 and still at school a Widowed Parents Allowance which provided you have paid sufficient NI contributions could be as much as £97 a week.

She will also be entitled to the UK state pension for herself at some time between 60/66 (depending on her present age)

This is fact. Do not accept what the Pension people tell you.

It matters not whether she is a UK citizen. nor whether she has ever set foot in the UK

The trouble is that when you die leaving a widow, she has little idea of what she is entitled to, and if she eventually has contact with the pension service and they tell her there is no pension for her of course she will accept it.

Once again a contradictory report.

Did he wait a week before reporting the matter - or did he return to his hotel and call the bank.

Surely somebody should check what information goes out. makes the authorities and Thailand look so stupid!

Perhaps the critics (no doubt all females) would rather she dress as a "Mare Baan", and then they could later wonder why she did not win! Meanwhile their husbands are off at the karaokes or with their mia nois - and who can blame them!

It is very difficult to get an accurate picture when people are being so assertive.

It would appear that, despite flexing his muscles, Mr Leech was in error if Prakhonchai Nick's actual experience is anything to go by.

(Note to self - don't go in with all guns blazing if there is a risk of making yourself look a pratt!).

If I understand it correctly (and I have also looked on the directgov website) the OP should be able to help the widow as follows:-

(1) Obtain a £2,000 Bereavement Payment (not "grant").

(2) Obtain a Widowed Parents Allowance.

In addition, at age 60 (or as amended) she will also be entitled to her own OAP.

All these benefits being subject to the required NI payments being satisfied.

If I have misunderstood I am sure someone will correct me.

Indeed Cardholder, that is the correct position.

I have already been in touch with the OP and he made application for all bereavement benefits some time ago, which are now being dealt with. His enquiry as you will recall had nothing to do with bereavement benefits but a NI number for tax purposes. This I have assured him he will get once the bereavement benefits awards have been made.

May I just add that when claiming bereavement benefits, it is NOT necessary to request a NI number. The benefit people will do this themselves, which then enables them to make payment.

They do not notify you of the NI number, but it can be found on bank statements if the payments are made to a UK bank account.