UK State Pensions - yet another sick joke?

[siftasam]

From July 6th

 

'The elderly could receive an 8 per cent rise in the state pension to £194 a week next spring if earnings growth increases as expected in the next few months, according to the UK's official forecaster.

 

 

An 8 per cent increase would lift the annual payout to older people on the full flat rate state pension to nearly £10,100.

It would increase the old basic state pension - not including second state pension or SERPS that people built up on top - to nearly £149 a week or around £7,750 a year.

 

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said last month:

'Our focus is to ensure fairness both for pensioners and taxpayers.'

 

Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon, says: 'The Office for Budget Responsibilities’ latest report on the economic and fiscal impact of the coronavirus pandemic makes what the pensions industry has been predicting official...State pensions are paid for by National Insurance contributions of today’s workers. So granting state pensioners a rise considerably greater than that those of working age might effectively mean that younger generations are subsidising those above state pension age.'            (Typical that the Office cannot even apparently spell?) (And doesn't today mean yesterday as well? If not, what the hell was I paying in for 40 years for?)

 

So then, am I expecting an unfrozen pension (after 13 years of being a 'cold shouldered' British taxpayer) and a  ........?

[bkk6060]

Good luck with it.

I never understand why and how the UK people put up with it.

Just a terrible system screwing over pensioners.  What ever happened to all the money?

 

The UK has the worst state pension in the developed world- in 2016 it was only worth 29% of average income. It is striking how much less that is than other countries: the EU average is 70.5% meaning that UK pensions receive more than two times less than comparable countries

[whiteman]

Do not complain if you live in Thailand for more than 6 months you get nothing diddle squat from our N.Z. pension scheme. So thank yourself one of the lucky ones 

[jojothai]

Why is it that they cannot even manage dealing with issues and making the payments?

I sent emails to DWP requesting clarifications affecting the payments that were not acknowledged and could not be found.
I had to telephone three times before I got anything done.

Its now 2 and half months since I qualified for payments. Still not got the confirmation letter or any payment.

It seems that Covid is now the designated excuse for incompetence.
Its not only government, most UK private company calls get the standard excuse
"Due to the current Coronavirus epidemic ... blah,, blah,,, blah".
You end up queuing far too long or get cut off, "try again later". 

[RichardColeman]

1. It's already being said that they are considering NOT doing a 8% rise as its an abnormality due to covid.

 

2. I believe, there is nothing stopping any foreign UK resident going back to the UK to reset their pension level back to normal and then returning say to Thailand with bigger income. 

 

That said, I still believe it should be a set amount for ALL recipients, not matter where they live.

[OJAS]

58 minutes ago, jojothai said:

Why is it that they cannot even manage dealing with issues and making the payments?

I sent emails to DWP requesting clarifications affecting the payments that were not acknowledged and could not be found.
I had to telephone three times before I got anything done.

Its now 2 and half months since I qualified for payments. Still not got the confirmation letter or any payment.

It seems that Covid is now the designated excuse for incompetence.
Its not only government, most UK private company calls get the standard excuse
"Due to the current Coronavirus epidemic ... blah,, blah,,, blah".
You end up queuing far too long or get cut off, "try again later". 

You will, of course, find out in due course that DWP don't appear to experience similar issues in dealing with witnessed life certificates, though. Miss their deadline by a single nanosecond and some finger will gleefully be poised over some button at their end, ready to cut off your pension payments immediately after it has been used to press the button!

Edited July 9, 2021 by OJAS

[rickudon]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

1. It's already being said that they are considering NOT doing a 8% rise as its an abnormality due to covid.

 

2. I believe, there is nothing stopping any foreign UK resident going back to the UK to reset their pension level back to normal and then returning say to Thailand with bigger income. 

 

That said, I still believe it should be a set amount for ALL recipients, not matter where they live.

As for 2., i was told that you get the full payment when in the UK, but if you leave it goes back down again ...... they don't miss a trick.

[bradiston]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Good luck with it.

I never understand why and how the UK people put up with it.

Just a terrible system screwing over pensioners.  What ever happened to all the money?

 

The UK has the worst state pension in the developed world- in 2016 it was only worth 29% of average income. It is striking how much less that is than other countries: the EU average is 70.5% meaning that UK pensions receive more than two times less than comparable countries

People have taken it all the way to the EU court of Human rights, via all the UK courts, and got absolutely nowhere. The fallacious argument is basically, the government can't afford to do it for the 400,000+ pensioners living abroad with frozen pensions, stating it would cost £500m. Which begs the question, what would happen if all 400,000 moved back to the UK? The government would have to cough up, and, of course, would find a way to so do. The money's there, it's just pensioners aren't a priority, just a bunch of old codgers the likes of Handoncock and co can kick around. But, how much are the savings to the NHS in not having to take care if 400,000 old age pensioners should the need arise? Far in excess of £500m I'll wager.

Edited July 9, 2021 by bradiston
Extra

[Surelynot]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The UK has the worst state pension in the developed world- in 2016 it was only worth 29% of average income. It is striking how much less that is than other countries: the EU average is 70.5% meaning that UK pensions receive more than two times less than comparable countries

Criminal.......absolutely criminal.

[Jumbo1968]

21 minutes ago, rickudon said:

As for 2., i was told that you get the full payment when in the UK, but if you leave it goes back down again ...... they don't miss a trick.

It only goes back down if you tell the DWP you have left the U.K.

[steve187]

3 hours ago, jojothai said:

Why is it that they cannot even manage dealing with issues and making the payments?

I sent emails to DWP requesting clarifications affecting the payments that were not acknowledged and could not be found.
I had to telephone three times before I got anything done.

Its now 2 and half months since I qualified for payments. Still not got the confirmation letter or any payment.

It seems that Covid is now the designated excuse for incompetence.
Its not only government, most UK private company calls get the standard excuse
"Due to the current Coronavirus epidemic ... blah,, blah,,, blah".
You end up queuing far too long or get cut off, "try again later". 

mine was due in April, applied  10 days before it was due, i received  2 weeks pension and then the regular 4 weekly cycle started on the  2nd June, i applied on-line, a few basic questions about marriage, took a few minutes, they still need to sort out 20/21 class 2 NI stamp, HMRC has not sorted out the payment i made on 6th April, so 1 year short on my pension about £5 a week, but will be backdated.

Edited July 9, 2021 by steve187

[chalawaan]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Good luck with it.

I never understand why and how the UK people put up with it.

Just a terrible system screwing over pensioners.  What ever happened to all the money?

 

The UK has the worst state pension in the developed world- in 2016 it was only worth 29% of average income. It is striking how much less that is than other countries: the EU average is 70.5% meaning that UK pensions receive more than two times less than comparable countries

Imagine if Brexiteers had put down the Stun and Daily Fail for a minute and bothered to see how much the EU average pension is. 

Imagine living in Spain, yet voting "exit" thinking you'd be all right Jack? Did these clowns expect a Royal Marines task force to fly in and raise the Union flag on their sunny villa rockscaping?

As it is they let the spivvy-looks-as-spivvy-does Farage and the PM who can't decide whether he's a Witchetty grub or a floor-mop, serve them oven-ready dog-scraps.  oh well... Tired of experts, I suppose. Probably feeling bluer than your passports. 

Cursed regards,

A <deleted>-off Scot.

Edited July 9, 2021 by chalawaan

[natway09]

I just love all you guys who rely on your "Nanny State" to live week by week.

Think yourself lucky you get anything at all.

As a Kiwi living in Thailand my  entitle,ment is NOTHING

I would need to return & live for 2 years to even be considered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

17 minutes ago, chalawaan said:

Imagine if Brexiteers had put down the Stun and Daily Fail for a minute and bothered to see how much the EU average pension is. 

Imagine living in Spain, yet voting "exit" thinking you'd be all right Jack? Did these clowns expect a Royal Marines task force to fly in and raise the Union flag on their sunny villa rockscaping?

As it is they let the spivvy-looks-as-spivvy-does Farage and the PM who can't decide whether he's a Witchetty grub or a floor-mop, serve them oven-ready dog-scraps.  oh well... Tired of experts, I suppose. Probably feeling bluer than your passports. 

Cursed regards,

A <deleted>-off Scot.

What has your anti-Brexit tirade got to do with frozen pensions? Especially when UK pensions are not frozen for UK citizens living in the EU.

 

“The UK and EU have agreed that the UK will continue paying and uprating state pensions to UK citizens living in EU countries after Brexit – and vice versa,” said James Walsh, of trade body, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.

The low pension rate for UKers being so low has nothing at all to do with the EU or with Brexit, which makes your post rather idiotic

 

Signed

An anti-Brexiteer

[earlinclaifornia]

I think those here from UK get royally screwed. USA SSA is awesome when you have contributed at the top levels. 

[Mario Cosmopolite]

If the 400,000 with frozen pensions all register in the same UK constituency when we are allowed to vote again, maybe at least one MP would support removing the freeze!

[chalawaan]

 

Because Bazza, as remaining EU members, that ongoing membership could have been used as leverage to shame the UK government into being "Eurocentric".

 

Also, your autocorrect changed "imaginative to "idiotic" when referring to my post.

 

[Surasak]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Good luck with it.

I never understand why and how the UK people put up with it.

Just a terrible system screwing over pensioners.  What ever happened to all the money?

 

The UK has the worst state pension in the developed world- in 2016 it was only worth 29% of average income. It is striking how much less that is than other countries: the EU average is 70.5% meaning that UK pensions receive more than two times less than comparable countries

It ain't known as Rip Off Britain for nothing!

[scubascuba3]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Good luck with it.

I never understand why and how the UK people put up with it.

Just a terrible system screwing over pensioners.  What ever happened to all the money?

 

The UK has the worst state pension in the developed world- in 2016 it was only worth 29% of average income. It is striking how much less that is than other countries: the EU average is 70.5% meaning that UK pensions receive more than two times less than comparable countries

It's because so much money is spaffed up the wall on benefits and migrants

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, rickudon said:

As for 2., i was told that you get the full payment when in the UK, but if you leave it goes back down again ...... they don't miss a trick.

Not sure on this, but I believe if can prove you intend to stay for more than twelve months it will remain at the higher rate. Although as you say, they don't miss much.

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, Jumbo1968 said:

It only goes back down if you tell the DWP you have left the U.K.

Don't ever think they don't know, and it much easier for them now.

[Surasak]

46 minutes ago, natway09 said:

I just love all you guys who rely on your "Nanny State" to live week by week.

Think yourself lucky you get anything at all.

As a Kiwi living in Thailand my  entitle,ment is NOTHING

I would need to return & live for 2 years to even be considered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhat unfair to tar us all with the same brush. Many paid into private pensions knowing the state handout would not be an amount to live off. I cannot believe you didn't know what would happen to your pension having decided to leave NZ. That as they say, was your choice.

[Jonnapat]

1 hour ago, chalawaan said:

Imagine if Brexiteers had put down the Stun and Daily Fail for a minute and bothered to see how much the EU average pension is. 

Imagine living in Spain, yet voting "exit" thinking you'd be all right Jack? Did these clowns expect a Royal Marines task force to fly in and raise the Union flag on their sunny villa rockscaping?

As it is they let the spivvy-looks-as-spivvy-does Farage and the PM who can't decide whether he's a Witchetty grub or a floor-mop, serve them oven-ready dog-scraps.  oh well... Tired of experts, I suppose. Probably feeling bluer than your passports. 

Cursed regards,

A <deleted>-off Scot.

Very well put, sir

[Eff1n2ret]

27 minutes ago, Mario Cosmopolite said:

If the 400,000 with frozen pensions all register in the same UK constituency when we are allowed to vote again, maybe at least one MP would support removing the freeze!

There is a Parliamentary Committee chaired by Sir Roger Gale MP with all-party support for unfreezing pensions, and occasionally they get the matter debated in the Commons. Unfortunately there aren't enough of them to shift Government opinion, but we do have some representation. It would be interesting if in fact we were able to vote in an overseas constituency, and the one or two seats held the balance of power in a hung Parliament. Otherwise, dream on.

[Surasak]

33 minutes ago, Mario Cosmopolite said:

If the 400,000 with frozen pensions all register in the same UK constituency when we are allowed to vote again, maybe at least one MP would support removing the freeze!

Good try!

[Peterphuket]

One thing for sure, everyday now you'll get more thb for your £.

[jojothai]

Thanks, FYI

I applied in good time but they messed me about on AVCs. Even though I had paid nearly 34 years on the old system, they could only count 30 years on the new system since 2016. So they said that i would have to pay an additional 5 years to 2021 to max up the amount. 
Then DWP could not verify my details because its with HMRC.
Six months before the eligible birthdate responsibility transfers to DWP, but they have no access to the info!!!

Good excuse to screw me about .

So it took some weeks and three calls before they acknowledged info I gave to them promptly.
Paid AVCs before 25 April (DOB) . On 25 may they acknowledged paid to HMRC and credited.
Since then not got anything. I believe that the payments should be confirmed within a month.

Looks like I will have to call again to find out what is happening. Nincompoops.

[Bannoi]

2 hours ago, bradiston said:

People have taken it all the way to the EU court of Human rights, via all the UK courts, and got absolutely nowhere. The fallacious argument is basically, the government can't afford to do it for the 400,000+ pensioners living abroad with frozen pensions, stating it would cost £500m. Which begs the question, what would happen if all 400,000 moved back to the UK? The government would have to cough up, and, of course, would find a way to so do. The money's there, it's just pensioners aren't a priority, just a bunch of old codgers the likes of Handoncock and co can kick around. But, how much are the savings to the NHS in not having to take care if 400,000 old age pensioners should the need arise? Far in excess of £500m I'll wager.

Pensioners living abroad don't vote. All the parasites supposedly running the country care about is getting re-elected and keeping their snouts in the trough.

[Speedhump]

2 hours ago, chalawaan said:

Imagine if Brexiteers had put down the Stun and Daily Fail for a minute and bothered to see how much the EU average pension is. 

Imagine living in Spain, yet voting "exit" thinking you'd be all right Jack? Did these clowns expect a Royal Marines task force to fly in and raise the Union flag on their sunny villa rockscaping?

As it is they let the spivvy-looks-as-spivvy-does Farage and the PM who can't decide whether he's a Witchetty grub or a floor-mop, serve them oven-ready dog-scraps.  oh well... Tired of experts, I suppose. Probably feeling bluer than your passports. 

Cursed regards,

A <deleted>-off Scot.

Explain how both joining and leaving the EU has changed ANYTHING in respect of UK pensions please? 

[fredscats]

1 hour ago, Surasak said:

Don't ever think they don't know, and it much easier for them now.

In what way,please explain,not pie in the sky stuff either,but actual information