Should the British Government be responsible for housing and feeding ex-pats returning from Thailand?

[losername]

9 minutes ago, Xaos said:

British gov and its ppl dont have problem to welcome and house extremist muslims, paid them benefits and that. Not so much for thier own or for fellow christians from europe.

You and other contributors mention Muslims.  As far as I am aware UK law and benefits do not favour one faith over others.  Faith need not be mentioned, it only breeds misplaced attitudes.

[moe666]

It really reads more like a troll post

[chuang]

Just tip of an iceberg. 

[mommysboy]

13 minutes ago, edwardflory said:

I am a Yank, feel sorrow that he can not get his life under control, but do not fell sorry for him; he continued to "make the bed he slept in".

 

I worked 54 years to have the life I live now, NO bar girls, very little drinking, but no wife - as yet.  ( I date women who have a work history of at least 15 years, and in management positions if possible )  I always keep money off shore for a emergency trip ( and 3 months NOW ESTIMATED living expenses ) back to home, as well as a credit card that I use once monthly, $10.00 charge to keep the card current - charges paid thru my off shore account.

 

If, as a young man, he had chosen a different "scene - see below", quite possible he could have been successful in Th, or in any country.

 

Party with bar ladies, drinking all the time, buying land you get NO title to, buying a bar business, a great formula for disaster in almost ANY country the past 10 or so years.

 

May God watch over you my man.

 

So, there are winners and losers in life, and this guy can't look after himself.  The question is what can one do?  Your solution seems to rely on the powers of the almighty.  There's no easy solution, but that's why we pay money in to the state coffers.

[473geo]

Why do so many, who have been fortunate to remain in long term employment, reaping the benefits of such position, feel the need to exclude those who have been less fortunate from a helping hand when required.

Enjoy your success, your maturing investments, the result of your 'smart' financial decisions......but try to fit in a little compassion for those less fortunate who perhaps were not afforded similar opportunities. (Again do not let your judgement be clouded by the example provided to incite response)

Perhaps the reaction to this story has provided a pointer to the underlying cause of a few failed Thai Farang relationships.

[darren1971]

3 hours ago, darksidedog said:

The individual in this story doesn't exactly cover himself in glory in his efforts, but it does raise the bigger question of those returning who have paid many, many years of Taxes and N.I. but for whom life overseas, for whatever reason has ended. As a UK citizen, you would like to think you would be offered at least the same benefits as recently arrived immigrants.

 

Recently arrived immigrants are entitled to no benefits until they have worked for 3 months, that includes NHS.

[steven100]

2 hours ago, Xonax said:

This guy should be properly diagnosed and treated for his Depression, which can bring even the strongest man down.

I get depressed every now and then but I fix it each time .....

I go and get a few more bottles of piss into me .....   then I'm right again 

[impulse]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

I get depressed every now and then but I fix it each time .....

I go and get a few more bottles of piss into me .....   then I'm right again  

 

That's not the same thing...

 

[tonray]

28 minutes ago, losername said:

Pre-existing conditions!!  I have insurance and was confident when I came to Thailand that I could always go back to UK if something had to be dealt with that exceeded my insurance cover and I could not afford to pay for myself.  That safety net has now been removed.

Americans have no safety net and we also amazingly have pre-existing conditions  ! But we also know we must have insurance  !

[tingtongtourist]

2 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Why do so many, who have been fortunate to remain in long term employment, reaping the benefits of such position, feel the need to exclude those who have been less fortunate from a helping hand when required.

Enjoy your success, your maturing investments, the result of your 'smart' financial decisions......but try to fit in a little compassion for those less fortunate who perhaps were not afforded similar opportunities. (Again do not let your judgement be clouded by the example provided to incite response)

Perhaps the reaction to this story has provided a pointer to the underlying cause of a few failed Thai Farang relationships.

The guy left for Thailand in his early 20's. I cannot have see him already worked and building a nest egg for life in Thailand.

 

The one you mention usually plan...

They buy a house (asset) while they working, earn, get to a certain age

Have a financial security,  

THEN sell asset, have money to go live away.

 

I would not have dared to go wondering off at 26

[transam]

The guy in the OP should go back, find a job and send cash to feed his family..We all take chances in life but he got involved with a big chance..

[mommysboy]

6 minutes ago, tonray said:

Americans have no safety net and we also amazingly have pre-existing conditions  ! But we also know we must have insurance  !

 

But it doesn't do much good when old and with chronic illness.  I think that is the point being made.

[Howiehotspur]

You say this is not a unique story , but it's quite unique really , I mean firstly he's 41 and lived in thailand 15 years so he was 26 when he went there , so he's contributions into the state would have been very low ( Nat insurance etc ) . It looks like he's made one bad decision after another time and time again , and not though bad luck either , so under the circumstances I would say , tough . 

Im all for ex pats etc being treated better than an illegal , or a supposed asylum seeker . Me for example ! , I waited until I got to 55 before I left for the LOS , and paid my dues for 39 years . Hopefully I dont make any bad decisions, like buying into bars etc , I have a budget and try and stick to it , you can't stop bad luck , I don't wish to return but I'd hope if I had to the state may be able to assist in some way . And it will only be through illness I'd imagine if I did . 

Sorry ' Mark ' you made your bed . And you've had plenty of chances . 

[mommysboy]

5 minutes ago, transam said:

The guy in the OP should go back, find a job and send cash to feed his family..We all take chances in life but he got involved with a big chance..

 

Yes but he's sick really, isn't he?  Can't help himself because of his terrible addiction.

[mommysboy]

1 minute ago, Howiehotspur said:

You say this is not a unique story , but it's quite unique really , I mean firstly he's 41 and lived in thailand 15 years so he was 26 when he went there , so he's contributions into the state would have been very low ( Nat insurance etc ) . It looks like he's made one bad decision after another time and time again , and not though bad luck either , so under the circumstances I would say , tough . 

Im all for ex pats etc being treated better than an illegal , or a supposed asylum seeker . Me for example ! , I waited until I got to 55 before I left for the LOS , and paid my dues for 39 years . Hopefully I dont make any bad decisions, like buying into bars etc , I have a budget and try and stick to it , you can't stop bad luck , I don't wish to return but I'd hope if I had to the state may be able to assist in some way . And it will only be through illness I'd imagine if I did . 

Sorry ' Mark ' you made your bed . And you've had plenty of chances . 

 

Yes but the trouble is that if you get sick and return to UK, someone might well utter the following words: "Sorry Howie, you made your bed, and you've had plenty of chances."

[473geo]

13 minutes ago, tingtongtourist said:

The guy left for Thailand in his early 20's. I cannot have see him already worked and building a nest egg for life in Thailand.

 

The one you mention usually plan...

They buy a house (asset) while they working, earn, get to a certain age

Have a financial security,  

THEN sell asset, have money to go live away.

 

I would not have dared to go wondering off at 26

 

You may have miss understood the part in my posts where I advise to ignore the example provided to incite reaction. My response is to the title of the thread. I do not believe the actions of one person should  carry a major influence on the structure of a welfare system.

Is that ok with you?

Edited October 3, 2017 by 473geo

[Jip99]

2 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 

Yes but the trouble is that if you get sick and return to UK, someone might well utter the following words: "Sorry Howie, you made your bed, and you've had plenty of chances."

 

 

But they won't.

[RichardColeman]

No way. I took the responsible approach to coming to live here. I bought a house - I rent it out and live here on the proceeds until I get enough pension to boost my income to take wife and kid to UK. I live within my budget. I plan. Why should someone sell their house, get the money and then go blow it all on 10 years of good living and be promised wealth and housing on return. So, no, live with your decisions and if that means living n the street on your return.......tough !!! You can think of all those lively girls that kept you warm and drained your pockets.

[tonray]

4 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 

But it doesn't do much good when old and with chronic illness.  I think that is the point being made.

It protects against all the other acute or chronic conditions you do not already have. I know many Brits here who cannot grasp the concept of insurance because rightly so they have NHS but have to protect yourself.  You really are protecting your assets more than your health in the end. 

[dick dasterdly]

13 minutes ago, tonray said:

Why not buy insurance ? I know Brits are not accustomed to this but reality necessitates it here.

 

9 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 

You have rather too much faith in insurance as it applies to the elderly.

 

8 minutes ago, losername said:

Pre-existing conditions!!  I have insurance and was confident when I came to Thailand that I could always go back to UK if something had to be dealt with that exceeded my insurance cover and I could not afford to pay for myself.  That safety net has now been removed.

Somewhat off-topic, but mommysboy and losername are right.

 

I bought BUPA UK insurance at the age of 20 or so, and changed to BUPA Int. after moving to Thailand.  During the Bupa uk period I 'came down' with a few chronic (but relatively minor) conditions - but then was unfortunate enough to suffer financial problems and had to downgrade to Bupa Thailand.

 

Very long story, short - future increases in cover for Bupa Thailand were restricted, and when my financial situation finally improved (approx. 15 months later) -I'd been without insurance for  3 months, and so Bupa Int. not only doubled their previous cost, but they also excluded all pre-existing conditions.  Which made the offered policy not only incredibly expensive, but also pretty much worthless as it would be so easy to blame anything and everything the result of a 'pre-existing' condition....

[Thai Ron]

I had an acquaintance here who spent most of his drinking time slagging off Britain and all the usual gripes: you know, immigration, the women. EU membership etc, etc.

 

Eventually, his heavy drinking caught up with him and he had no insurance to cover his medical costs after he was diagnosed with cirrhosis. So off he went back to the "nanny" state UK where he was last heard of begging his GP for a referral to a hospital specialist.

 

What a complete ******.  I bet he doesn't slag off Britain any more

[Howiehotspur]

4 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 

Yes but the trouble is that if you get sick and return to UK, someone might well utter the following words: "Sorry Howie, you made your bed, and you've had plenty of chances."

Yes but I haven't had plenty of chances , and as I say , I'd only expect the same as any immigrant would receive , plus I have paid national insurance for 39 years , my circumstances to ' Mark ' are completely different . 

Still your entitled to your opinion ofcourse . 

[transam]

6 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 

Yes but he's sick really, isn't he?  Can't help himself because of his terrible addiction.

Maybe, but at birth he was given a UK national insurance number, he has a UK PP, he will not be refused entry to his place of birth, and then the social security office awaits..

The UK has zillions of foreign folk in the UK being taken care of that paid nothing into the system....

[tonray]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

Maybe, but at birth he was given a UK national insurance number, he has a UK PP, he will not be refused entry to his place of birth, and then the social security office awaits..

The UK has zillions of foreign folk in the UK being taken care of that paid nothing into the system....

The Scots are not considered foreign folk.. Not yet anyway 

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

 

The UK has zillions of foreign folk in the UK being taken care of that paid nothing into the system....

 

    People keep saying that .

But is it true ?

[transam]

8 minutes ago, sanemax said:

 

    People keep saying that .

But is it true ?

Yep....Plus the UK borders are now open to all those EU folk wandering in working cash in hand, pay no taxes, but if they need treatment for losing a finger, just walk into a hozzy....

[anon789561]

9 minutes ago, sanemax said:

 

    People keep saying that .

But is it true ?

basically, yes. it is true. but it's no excuse for people of working age to not be doing just that and paying their way. too many people keep going back to the same immigrant thing which i agree with as long as it's not an excuse for your own failures which it seems to be in marks case. perhaps if he loved thailand so much he should have thought more about how to sustain himself here long term and if needed be went home and worked his way back with a plan. which ofcourse as his age he could well do, if he faces the real problem in his life first, the drink. if he doesn;t defeat that he'll end up in the gutter i'm afraid, seen it so many times before, haven't we all.

[Blackheart1916]

"Had to choose between alcohol and food" The poor little poppet !

[sanemax]

7 minutes ago, transam said:

Yep....Plus the UK borders are now open to all those EU folk wandering in working cash in hand, pay no taxes, but if they need treatment for losing a finger, just walk into a hozzy....

 

    There are also many in low paid employment who do pay taxes .

Many do the jobs that Brits dont want to do .

All those Eastern European girls working in Starbucks on minimal pay, paying taxes and supporting Brits girls who are too lazy to work

[dick dasterdly]

Just now, Happy enough said:

basically, yes. it is true. but it's no excuse for people of working age to not be doing just that and paying their way. too many people keep going back to the same immigrant thing which i agree with as long as it's not an excuse for your own failures which it seems to be in marks case. perhaps if he loved thailand so much he should have thought more about how to sustain himself here long term and if needed be went home and worked his way back with a plan. which ofcourse as his age he could well do, if he faces the real problem in his life first, the drink. if he doesn;t defeat that he'll end up in the gutter i'm afraid, seen it so many times before, haven't we all.

At the age of 41, with no discernible skills, he's unlikely to rise much above subsistence living  .

 

His best chance/only chance is to realise that he's hit 'rock bottom' and that he needs to accept any programme offered that may help rid him of his addiction.  A long, hard road, but better than the life he's living.