Huge cuts in UK State Pensions

[Rambo]

The UK's Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed savage cuts in UK State Pension will be effective from 6th April 2020. In a letter dated 14th October 2019 they have confirmed my State Pension will be cut by just over 40 GBP per week, (over 35% cut in my case) with the removal of Adult Dependency. This savage slashing of Pension may well affect my income level requirements for visa extension application as well as  imposing further general  hardship for me and so many already struggling to survive. Amidst all the current Election euphoria and sweeping promises it seems that Pensioners will be the ones paying a huge price. So on top of the scandalous frozen pension comes the swingeing pension cut....soon be nothing left to drain from us. How can this be allowed to happen ? Really surprised the UK media have not picked up the issue and posed some questions to the likes of Johnson and Corbyn....after all many pensioners do vote...

[roo860]

Do you mean an allowance for a dependant is being cut?

[baansgr]

Where is your wife/dependent living? You could apply for pension credit if you are elegible. Wasn't this first brought in ten years or so ago with next year the final stage.

[Grumpy John]

Think you should explain what this means "with the removal of Adult Dependency.".

[BobBKK]

You don't mean a general cut right? I assume you mean just the 'adult dependency' allowance?

[Moonlover]

This is a very alarmist topic header which, in practice, will only affect a small proportion of the pensionable population.

 

My sympathies to those who are affected, including the O/P of course. But the basic state pension which most of draw is unaffected. Some info below.

 

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/02/my-state-pension-was-slashed-by-815-a-year-why-thousands-could-face-state-pension-cuts/

[fishtank]

You knew about this around 8 years ago.

At least you got it for a while.

Some of us never did.

[Liverpudlian]

15 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

This is a very alarmist topic header which, in practice, will only affect a small proportion of the pensionable population.

 

My sympathies to those who are affected, including the O/P of course. But the basic state pension which most of draw is unaffected. Some info below.

 

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/02/my-state-pension-was-slashed-by-815-a-year-why-thousands-could-face-state-pension-cuts/

Cheers ! short / sweet / simples innit.  

[Blue Muton]

A very misleading headline, and why bring Corbyn into the mix, what input has he had in this decision?

 

You also missed out this bit:

 

When payments stop you may be eligible to apply for Pension Credit or Universal Credit.

[transam]

As far as I understand it they are removing the wife allowance payment to pensioners who are married to women from outside the UK...

This payment was stopped in 2010, and we were told it will be totally removed in 2020.  Sadly I got shafted as I retired after 2010..

 

Folk who now get this allowance wife has a N.I. number, this number relates to the pensioner to get the payment and not to continue any payments to the wife, even after death.

Last year a guy I know popped off, so I helped his Thai wife sort paperwork out and speak to pensions. She thought because she had a N.I. number they would carry on giving her cash. The lady had never been to the UK. Anyhooo, after filling in the forms they sent she got nothing. (As far as I am aware)

 

Believe it or not, after doing a lot of work the lady doesn't talk to me anymore because she got no pension, she even came to my place to get on the phone to pensions to give her dosh, I told her no, they have already told me no payments, your N.I. number is to do with hubbies pension, not you.....????

[wgdanson]

43 minutes ago, transam said:

The lady had never been to the UK

So why does she think she is entitled to any money from UK.

[473geo]

6 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

So why does she think she is entitled to any money from UK.

Could be she has heard of some Thai widow getting a spouse pension from a husbands private pension?

[Orton Rd]

Pensions are going up by 4% in April, not being cut

[steve187]

1 hour ago, transam said:

As far as I understand it they are removing the wife allowance payment to pensioners who are married to women from outside the UK...

This payment was stopped in 2010, and we were told it will be totally removed in 2020.  Sadly I got shafted as I retired after 2010..

all dependents, not just living abroad

[bert bloggs]

i lose 70 pounds a week ,my wife has a ni number ,as she lived in the UK for quite a few years . but i fear when i die over here she gets nothing ,luckily she does not have to worry ,but many wives i fear will.

[steve187]

55 minutes ago, bert bloggs said:

i lose 70 pounds a week ,my wife has a ni number ,as she lived in the UK for quite a few years . but i fear when i die over here she gets nothing ,luckily she does not have to worry ,but many wives i fear will.

did she pay 10 years NI contributions

[transam]

3 hours ago, 473geo said:

Could be she has heard of some Thai widow getting a spouse pension from a husbands private pension?

The lady in question does get money from his job pension, I sorted that, but she cannot understand why not from his state pension. She did not understand that she had never paid into the N.I. system, and in any case below the women retirement age of 65.

[transam]

3 hours ago, wgdanson said:

So why does she think she is entitled to any money from UK.

I think some other nationalities pay out...The UK did at one time, I believe..

[Henryford]

4 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Pensions are going up by 4% in April, not being cut

Not for people in Thailand !!

[wgdanson]

4 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Pensions are going up by 4% in April, not being cut

Not if you tell 'em you live in Thailand.

[Guderian]

Actually, the Conservatives are desperate to hang onto the grey vote so they won't do anything to imperil that, at least this side of a convincing election victory. Afterwards, who knows?

 

 

[ivor bigun]

3 hours ago, steve187 said:

did she pay 10 years NI contributions

no not that long ,she only worked for about 4 years and mostly part time .

[steve187]

3 minutes ago, ivor bigun said:

no not that long ,she only worked for about 4 years and mostly part time .

have you done a national insurance check, https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

[DannyCarlton]

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

Not for people in Thailand !!

Yes for this person in Thailand.

[DannyCarlton]

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Not if you tell 'em you live in Thailand.

They didn't ask me.

[ivor bigun]

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Not if you tell 'em you live in Thailand.

What ,some people never tell them ,?

[Pilotman]

My pension is going up with CPI, ( i'm on a long holiday in Asia) not sure what the OP is talking about. It must be a benefit that is related to the OAP, but not part of the basic payment. No need to panic old folks , it would be ;political suicide for any of the normal payment to be reduced, rather it will always increase. 

[ivor bigun]

6 minutes ago, steve187 said:

have you done a national insurance check, https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

thanks i shall do that .

[Pilotman]

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Not if you tell 'em you live in Thailand.

I don't live in Thailand, my Non O proves that fact , I'm just on holiday with my wife.   Mind you, its rather long one, but I do return every 3 or 4 months to the UK for a week or 10 days

[scottiejohn]

4 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

They didn't ask me.

They asked for your 'residence' details when you provided your bank and residence details.  This is along with a statement that says if you change your residence you must inform them.