UK Confirms Pension Freeze for Expats in Thailand

1 minute ago, bruce123123 said:

Doubt this,used to send money over with Halifax £9.50 a go, Halifax going out of existence soon anyhow

Its policy,written down wotever DWP style on any policies concerning OAP ,please do not confuse,you are making mountains out of molehills or are you jealous with frozen pension

You are talking nonsense - being overseas I was forced to hand over my NI number and a a few months later Halifax froze my accounts, including half a million in a stock account - took me ages to get that out.

For pensions, the DWP catches these cases using data-matching software that cross-references bank accounts, passport border control data, and life certificates (forms sent out requiring physical verification that the claimant is still alive and resident where they say they are).

I am not retired, but effects the benefits of buying years overseas.

2 minutes ago, Nemo. said:

You are talking nonsense - being overseas I was forced to hand over my NI number and a a few months later Halifax froze my accounts, including half a million in a stock account - took me ages to get that out.

For pensions, the DWP catches these cases using data-matching software that cross-references bank accounts, passport border control data, and life certificates (forms sent out requiring physical verification that the claimant is still alive and resident where they say they are).

I am not retired, but effects the benefits of buying years overseas.

Well you're wrong on that,

Life certificates are only sent out to UK pensioners who have declared themselves as living overseas.

If you live in the UK (or have said nothing) it's assumed the ONS reports pensioner deaths to the DWP.

PS. A few years back the DWP admitted they have no valid address data for 40% of current pension claiments. Them having your current address is not a requirement for pension claimants.

Just now, Nemo. said:

You are talking nonsense - being overseas I was forced to hand over my NI number and a a few months later Halifax froze my accounts, including half a million in a stock account - took me ages to get that out.

For pensions, the DWP catches these cases using data-matching software that cross-references bank accounts, passport border control data, and life certificates (forms sent out requiring physical verification that the claimant is still alive and resident where they say they are).

I am not retired, but effects the benefits of buying years overseas.

All poppycock, for OAP... OLD AGE PENSION you honestly think big guns come out...total rubbish,if Id be you I would not get out of bed in the morning,...too terrifying.

Crap,I had long enough there on OAP ,knowing full well I lived in Thailand,inc tax,banks,uncle Tom Coddly and all....nuffin

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Well you're wrong on that,

Life certificates are only sent out to UK pensioners living overseas.

If you live in the UK the ONS reports pensioner deaths to the DWP.

Now ,about your life in Thailand on the unfrozen?

18 minutes ago, VBF said:

Whether the policy is limp or not is moot. DWP / HMRC have enormous powers to investigate anyone they think is abusing the government rules that they enforce (rightly or wrongly!)

Just to illustrate, see attached image "HMRC powers", an AI overview of such powers.

Not sure why you're quoting tax laws, we're discussing state pension payments which is DWP not HMRC.

3 hours ago, Screaming said:

This makes perfect sense not to allow an increase in pension benefits as the money is needed by the socialist Labor Party to support the thousands of migrants that the Labor Party is allowing to invade the UK. Many of these Thai living pensioners voted for the socialist Labor Party so they should understand.

This is an extract from Page 76 of the 2019 labour party manifesto.

"We will ensure that the pensions of UK

citizens living overseas rise in line with

pensions in Britain."

I have never seen any media challenge the U turn on that committment.

6 hours ago, Farage said:

I guess the gov thinks its more important to use the funds to support illegal migrants ...mobile phones, hotels, free food, free medical, free transport....

People who have entered the UK, illegally, even get free legal representation, they have not paid a penny into the system, but they are getting more out of it than the people who have paid taxes, all their working lives.

6 hours ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

But you forget that many of these pensioners (myself included) paid into the system for more than 40 years in National Insurance contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension.

The UK is the only country I know that punishes their pensioners for living abroad ("frozen" pensions) and without ploughing through all the replies to this post, we must save the Government millions of pounds by virtue of the fact that we live abroad and do not have the benefits of the National Health Service, and have to pay for all our medications. And yes, we should have medical insurance, but some of us are too old to even be accepted by the Insurance companies, and for those of us that can get insurance, the list of pre existing conditions makes it hardly worth while to pay a few thousand pounds every year when you would be lucky to get paid out for a sprained ankle!

Its all hot air,all its ever been,frozen get their knickers in a twist ,jealousy actually brings it all out.

Sat in a bar once there,guy starts talking on this issue,stated how unfair, replied Im not frozen, the bitterness flowed,thought a punch up was coming,but he backed down and cleared off spitting feathers,is a hot subject,but so easy,do not go thru IPC

16 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

No requirement to be on the electoral register.

No requirement to pay council tax either (unless the main occupant).

I haven't entered or left the UK for 10 years, and back then they didn't collect entry/exit data.

Curious as to how you go about renewing your Passport, surely you needed to give HMPO a Thai address so they at least would know you live in Thailand.

6 hours ago, Briggsy said:

The UK government will never willingly amend this rule. It saves huge amounts of money and there is virtually no consequence at the ballot box.

It is here to stay.

"It saves huge amounts of money .............."

Peanuts compared to the amount of money they spend on housing illegal immigrants and asylum seekers! And I'm not even going to start on the amount of money spent on Foreign Aid!!!

When the qualifying years were reduced from 44 to 30, was there a cost to the economy.

Of course there was. The government is quite prepared to put money into the pension system if there are votes involved.

6 hours ago, Kinnock said:

Because we paid into the scheme for at least 30 years, and choosing to live overseas also means we will be less of a burden on state services. No NHS treatment, no cold weather payments or free public transport.

And many of us still pay UK tax.

I don't believe paying for things in the UK was ever a condition for receiving a UK pension? We also visit the UK, and with airport taxes and the obscene price of a coffee and a cold sandwich in Heathrow, probably spend more in the UK than most UK resident pensioners.

It's just penny pinching by UK Gov, and people who agree with this obviously unjust policy are driven by the jealousy created by living in a cold, damp country rather than having the guts to move abroad.

Being a Snowbird is the answer always has been and always will be 6 months Thailand 6 months UK. No finer country on the planet than England during the Spring and Summer, trouble is most moaners have burnt their bridges. And I'm not convinced about your jealousy theory think it's probably the other way around

7 hours ago, Farage said:

I guess the gov thinks its more important to use the funds to support illegal migrants ...mobile phones, hotels, free food, free medical, free transport....

Someone talking Absolute Nonsense yet Again but with a name like that on the site Why am I Not Surprised… 😳

4 hours ago, Andyfez said:

But if you go back to the UK for any duration and claim you live there, it gets uprated:

I attach edited AI conversation in case you are interested:

The long-term impact is severe. One example: a retiree who moved to Thailand saw his pension frozen at £6,360 and it will remain at that level for the rest of his life, leaving him tens of thousands of pounds worse off over time. Ross Naylor

If you return to the UK: Pensioners who return to the UK can get their pension uprated to the current full amount by applying to the DWP, but that higher rate only applies for as long as they remain in the UK. Wikipedia

One practical note on timing: It is your residency status — not where the money is paid — that determines the freeze. Whether the pension is sent to a Thai bank account or a UK account makes no difference; once full-time residence in Thailand is established, the pension is frozen

When you return to the UK, your pension gets uprated to the current full rate — but only for as long as you're actually in the UK. The moment you return to Thailand, it freezes again at whatever the current rate is at that point.

So in practical terms:

• While in the UK: You'd receive the full, uprated pension amount that UK residents get.

• When you return to Thailand: It freezes again at the rate applicable at the time you leave.

This means a stint back in the UK could be worthwhile if you time it well — you'd "bank" any increases that have accumulated while you were in Thailand, and your new frozen rate would be higher than the old one. Some expats do deliberately return to the UK periodically for this reason.

Things to be aware of though:

• You'd need to genuinely establish UK residence, not just visit

Genuinely returning to live in the UK ("ordinarily resident") There is an exception — if you retire abroad "part-time" but live in the UK for part of the year and remain "ordinarily resident" in the UK, you will get annual increases in your state pension.

The downside is that you would become a UK tax resident.

English OAPs tend to be WHITE.

Therefore pensioners are very close to the bottom of the establishments priorities - Only people in employment in the Yookay are treated worse (via the highest taxes in decades - mis-used to pay for Ukraine, unlimited gimmigrants et al).

9 minutes ago, sambum said:

But you forget that many of these pensioners (myself included) paid into the system for more than 40 years in National Insurance contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension.

The UK is the only country I know that punishes their pensioners for living abroad ("frozen" pensions) and without ploughing through all the replies to this post, we must save the Government millions of pounds by virtue of the fact that we live abroad and do not have the benefits of the National Health Service, and have to pay for all our medications. And yes, we should have medical insurance, but some of us are too old to even be accepted by the Insurance companies, and for those of us that can get insurance, the list of pre existing conditions makes it hardly worth while to pay a few thousand pounds every year when you would be lucky to get paid out for a sprained ankle!

Yes I got caught out by big C,stage 1 would you believe,after trip to India for medical check up. Back to blighty for treatment SRI one submitted, £1500 cheque in hand after few weeks,then £115 or thereabouts every week tax free. Finest treatment,every day pick up from home, private taxi to cancer hospital £160 quid round trip a day ,every day for 5 weeks

Even now ,into my fourth year back in UK ,given too much ,I admit,no council tax,good flat,cheap too ,free whatever,yes Im in there ahead of the migrants

Have been back and forth Thailand few times a year,but do not miss it,fact is wife and dog following...woof woof

7 hours ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

On your theory the government should stop pensions when they go on holiday to Spain and what about the thousands of pensioners living in the E.u.

Another example two twin brothers retire on the same day, one retires to live in the USA fifty yds from the Canadian border while his brother retires to Canada 50 meters from the USA border . They can now call out to each other but only one of them receives an annual increase in their contributed state pension.

5 hours ago, Mywayboy said:

The pension is not government money it's money you paid in over your working life it is yours.

correct, plus interest for so many years.

30 minutes ago, SamSpade said:

Curious as to how you go about renewing your Passport, surely you needed to give HMPO a Thai address so they at least would know you live in Thailand.

There is no connection between my pension and my passport.

HMPO don't have my NI number, or my UK bank account details.

And there's thousands of people in the UK with the same name as me.

7 hours ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

They paid taxes in Britain for most of their lives. Now they got f♡cked by that same government.

6 hours ago, baansgr said:

You don't even need to go for 1 year, live in PI 6 months a year, perfectly legal and get the increase La

NHS won't refuse anyone

Not quite true, we returned to live in the Uk and after about 3 yrs one of my sons having previously gone to the Dr and attending school had an appointment in a hospital, But before he was actually seen by a Dr he was interviewed ( by a foreigner) to asserting his eligibility to receive treatment.

The pension amount is just £241.30 a week? That seems incredibly inadequate!

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

You can give any UK address you like, they don't check.

Obviously you would need to not flap your mouth about living overseas.

Do I understand it right that you will encourage people to break the laws??❓

Interesting mindset😳

30 minutes ago, SamSpade said:

Curious as to how you go about renewing your Passport, surely you needed to give HMPO a Thai address so they at least would know you live in Thailand.

This was a typical Transam subject, from 2012 he held sway on frozen pensions,knew everybody who had been "done" £1000 quid fines,even locked up in Belmarsh, the guy was so lacking OAP funds until his recent death there was not enough fivers to give his butt a good wipe after a dump,

Guys better than him too at giving the frighteners ,One Sheik wotever ,now he was good until he got the OAP mixed up with PC,he curled his toes up pretty rapidly soon after that gaff

Passports forget,diff dept.

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Do I understand it right that you will encourage people to break the laws??❓

Interesting mindset😳

I don't encourage people to do anything.

But those laws I agree with I follow.

Those laws I disagree with I avoid.

33 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

Being a Snowbird is the answer always has been and always will be 6 months Thailand 6 months UK. No finer country on the planet than England during the Spring and Summer, trouble is most moaners have burnt their bridges. And I'm not convinced about your jealousy theory think it's probably the other way around

I still have property in UK, but rented out (hence UK tax), so so bridges burnt, but it's not worth the 12 hour flight for the 3 day UK 'summer'.

3 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Do I understand it right that you will encourage people to break the laws??❓

Interesting mindset😳

What laws would they be? ,if you do not mind me asking, and are you a yank by any chance?. Just asking as to your knowledge of UK DWP

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I don't encourage people to do anything.

But those laws I agree with I follow.

Those laws I disagree with I avoid.

Laws are not made to please you.

You should have someone check your mind.

Laws are for everybody without exception.

To opt for crimes is very questionable at least

1 minute ago, Kinnock said:

I still have property in UK, but rented out (hence UK tax), so so bridges burnt, but it's not worth the 12 hour flight for the 3 day UK 'summer'.

Been back to UK now 6 weeks or so after after delayed middle east conflict. The bloody heat was far too much ,the smoke,smell of <deleted> in the countryside on the rice fields. Was good to get back to cool air,admit weather can be <deleted>,like now, but better here than Thailand,could not move in the afternoon,the heat was awful,under the AC all afternoon