British press support UK pensioners losing out in Thailand

[webfact]

file photo

 

by Michael Bridge

 

Almost 500,000 UK state pensioners living overseas are excluded from this month’s annual increase.
 

Half a million UK pensioners living overseas including Thailand will be left out of pocket by up to £5,600 this year after being excluded from this month’s annual state pension increase.

At last this issue is making the front pages of the British press.

As we at AseanNow.com highlighted back on March 1st many UK pensioners who chose to retire in Thailand are losing up to THB241,418 a year. 

Retire in Spain and you still get these increases, and if you decide to move to the Philippines, but not if you live in the Land of the Smiles.

WWII Veteran 

They include the 103-year-old second world war veteran Albert Johnson, one of the last remaining survivors of the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, and his 95-year-old wife, Mary, who are originally from Lincolnshire and now live in Beechboro, Western Australia.

They are receiving UK state pensions that are a fraction of what they would get if they had stayed in the UK or moved to one of a list of other countries.

The couple is among 492,000 older Britons living abroad who are losing out as a result of the UK’s “frozen pensions” policy. 

When we posted this topic on AseanNow over eight weeks ago it was one of our most popular posts with over 8,500 views and 254 posts. As a result, many signed the UK Governments’ petition, “Give U.K. pensioners living abroad increases with parity as those in the U.K.”

 

Government must now respond

Today thanks to many of you, that petition has had over 10,296 signatures which means that Government must respond to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures.

These people’s basic state pensions do not increase every year, as happens in the UK, but stay at the level they were on the date the individual moved away if they had already retired or became entitled to the payment if they were already living overseas.

We are Frozen Pensioners

 

Some of the oldest ‘frozen pensioners’ are receiving payments of only £30 to £40 a week, which never go up.

On 11 April, all UK state pensions and most state benefits went up by 3.1%. As a result, the basic state pension rose by £4.25 to £141.85 a week, while the full new state pension went up by £5.55 to £185.15 a week.

 

Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

This will give UK pensioners a little more protection from the rising cost of living but the 492,000 Britons who emigrated or retired to countries such as Australia, Canada, and South Africa will not get a penny extra.

Some of the oldest “frozen pensioners” are receiving payments of only £30 to £40 a week, which never go up.

For example, a single pensioner who retired in late 1982 after having made the full contributions would be getting £32.85 a week, or £1,708 a year, if their pension were frozen then. If they had stayed in Britain, they would now be getting £141.85 a week, or £7,376 a year.

The End Frozen Pensions campaign, run by the International Consortium of British Pensioners, says: “Although we welcome the rise in UK pensions, we are hugely disappointed that the UK government is continuing to treat British citizens living in an arbitrary list of countries unfairly.”

The UK state pension is payable overseas, but it is not “uprated” annually unless there is a legal requirement to do so – for example, where there is a relevant reciprocal social security agreement in place.

Apparently, there are more than one hundred countries worldwide where the UK basic state pension is not uprated each year. 

In addition to the three mentioned previously, they include New Zealand, Thailand, and India, plus British Overseas Territories such as the Falkland Islands.

 

If you retired in the UK

For those who reached the state pension age after April 2016, this means a rise in the full state pension of £5.55 a week, to £185.15.

Pensioners receiving the basic state pension receive an increase of £4.25 a week, with the new rate £141.85.

This year’s state pension rise was not based on the triple lock, as in previous years, because of changes introduced by the Government in response to Covid-19.

Why was the triple lock scrapped this year?

Due to the way in which the Covid-19 pandemic and end of the furlough scheme artificially increased wages, the Government decided to temporarily scrap the triple lock to avoid a costly increase for pensioners.

Under the triple lock policy, the state pension increases every year by whichever is the highest of inflation, earnings growth or 2.5 per cent.

Rather than give pensioners an eight per cent uplift in line with wages, ministers created a double lock, severing the link between wage growth and pensions.

This system dictated April 2022’s increase of 3.1 per cent, based on September 2021’s inflation figure.

The Government has confirmed that the triple lock will return for April 2023, which means pensions are set to rise far more sharply than this year.

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey told the House of Commons: “I am again happy to put on record that the triple lock will be honoured in the future.”

There is still time to sign the petition. Here is the latest petition to the British government.
 
Please add your name. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/601821 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-05-02

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[soi3eddie]

Nothing will change. How dare we leave the UK for a happier life in Thailand (or elsewhere). We only exist in the eyes of the UK government if they can still tax us. Nobody stuck in the UK would support an increase for those living overseas. 

 

[Mac Mickmanus]

In regards to this threads headline .

Which press/media in the UK are they referring to ?

Who reported this issue ?

[Upnotover]

5 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

In regards to this threads headline .

Which press/media in the UK are they referring to ?

Who reported this issue ?

The Grauniad has the Albert story;

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/apr/25/frozen-pensions-dunkirk-veteran-among-those-losing-up-to-5600

[webfact]

moved to Thailand news

//Admin

[scubascuba3]

"For example, a single pensioner who retired in late 1982 after having made the full contributions would be getting £32.85 a week, or £1,708 a year, if their pension were frozen then. If they had stayed in Britain, they would now be getting £141.85 a week, or £7,376 a year"

 

Slight extreme example, that would make them about 105, many in Thailand that age?

[baansgr]

Could be worse, you could have to live in UK for 2 years prior to retirement, you could lose on a sliding scale upto 50% if you live abroad or you will not get paid after spending 180 days abroad.

[soi3eddie]

15 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Could be worse, you could have to live in UK for 2 years prior to retirement, you could lose on a sliding scale upto 50% if you live abroad or you will not get paid after spending 180 days abroad.

Is that the Australian system? A friend was going back to Oz every 6 months to keep his "super" alive. Of course that hit the buffers once pandemic started. 

 

[vandeventer]

To me, it should not be a matter of what country you come from, if you are retired you should get the full pension plus a yearly[at least] cost of living increase while living overseas. There are many benefits we give up by living here and the home countries know this but they just keep saving money off our backs.

[itsari]

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

Could be worse, you could have to live in UK for 2 years prior to retirement, you could lose on a sliding scale upto 50% if you live abroad or you will not get paid after spending 180 days abroad.

Yes, just like the Australians have done with there pension contributers . Hopefully that never happens in the UK.

 

[Skeptic7]

Wow...now that is a royal screwing! 

[LivinLOS]

People expect too much.. They also have this false idea that paying into a pension is somehow 'thier money returned to them' when it isnt !! Whats paid in now is spent now, whats paid out now is a drain on the current workforce now. You get the benefits of the now payment in government services when you pay it.. 

Plus UK pension input can be an absolute pittance standard class 2 self employed stamp in the UK is 3:15 a week !! 163 quid a year and you can claim a pension with 10 years contribution.. a full pension with 35 years.. And then you think this is going to pay out 1000s a year for 20 30 years index linked ? Do the math !! 

You want a pension for your expat lifestyle go get a private pension or savings plan. 

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Nothing will change. How dare we leave the UK for a happier life in Thailand (or elsewhere). We only exist in the eyes of the UK government if they can still tax us. Nobody stuck in the UK would support an increase for those living overseas. 

 

I keep putting  forward the theory that by keeping us out of the UK, we are far less of a burden on the welfare state, by not availing ourselves of National Health Service, further benefits, and maybe the winter heating allowance! Hence giving the rises up makes sense......

Mind you, not a popular headline in The Mail, 'UK Pensioners given rises of 100 pounds a week to spend on Thailand's ladies of the night'!

[DUNROAMIN]

Oouch!

[Orinoco]

Unfortunately we are viewed as no more than traitors and scum for leaving the uk and living in Thailand,  that's the government, general population, friends and family, the latter will never say it to your face.

But keep trying, never say never and all that. 

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Unfortunately we are viewed as no more than traitors and scum for leaving the uk and living in Thailand,  that's the government, general population, friends and family, the latter will never say it to your face.

But keep trying, never say never and all that. 

Well I see it as no different to those who went off to Tenerife and Benidorm,  they do  better in many ways. 

Edited May 2, 2022 by jacko45k

[Orinoco]

11 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

You want a pension for your expat lifestyle go get a private pension or savings plan. 

Or have 3 properties in the uk rented out,

Job's a good'un 

[Orinoco]

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Well I see it as no different to those who went off to Tenerife and Benidorm,  they do  better in many ways. 

yes, your right.

but do you think you get judged by family and friends the same.

Tenerife, and pattaya Thailand.

don't think so,

[LivinLOS]

2 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Or have 3 properties in the uk rented out,

Job's a good'un 

right and of course then have UK sourced income thats UK taxable if over thresholds. 

[Orinoco]

3 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

right and of course then have UK sourced income thats UK taxable if over thresholds. 

Having income is no problem. it pays for my life over here and some.

plus assists are still going up in value.

Wounder when the next Maxwell pension fund thing will happen.

 !!!!!!!!!.

Little tip for you, never seen anyone run away with the walls of a house.

and get away with it.  can we say the same for other types of investments.

Good day

[Mac Mickmanus]

8 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Or have 3 properties in the uk rented out,

Job's a good'un 

Hope they all have an EPC rating of at least a C grade and that you have no mortgage to pay on any of them 

[jacko45k]

8 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

yes, your right.

but do you think you get judged by family and friends the same.

Tenerife, and pattaya Thailand.

don't think so,

From what I have seen of Benidorm on some of the sensationalized TV programmes  Pattaya isn't so bad!????

[kingstonkid]

This may sound crazy but why has no  one sued the government in a class action lawsuit.

 

As a Cdn Vet it makes more sense than trying to get the government to willingly change and also could in fact g et people retroactive payments for the money they lost.

[Orinoco]

4 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Hope they all have an EPC rating of at least a C grade and that you have no mortgage to pay on any of them 

Mortgage , whats that 

only down side was the new electrical inspection cert needed for landlords of residential property lets. cost a 3 grand to fix.

but hey. that's ok. income still comes.

[ASEAN NOW News]

4 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

In regards to this threads headline .

Which press/media in the UK are they referring to ?

Who reported this issue ?

Daily Express and the Gaurdian

[spidermike007]

Truly an abomination, and a boil on the face of British society. Sour grapes? How dare you leave for greener pastures elsewhere? 

[LivinLOS]

11 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Little tip for you, never seen anyone run away with the walls of a house.

and get away with it.  can we say the same for other types of investments.

Good day

You have never seen anyone maliciously sued and lose assets ?? 

Wow what a sheltered life you must have lead.. 

Trusts are superb security against false claims and asset protection. 

[itsari]

I am mystified by the Australian decision to cease the social agreement with the UK . 

The Australian Government said it was because the UK Government refused to index link pensions . 

Mystified because of the number of immigrants that came from the UK over the years .

I think the reason was to save money for both countries . 

[Orinoco]

7 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

You have never seen anyone maliciously sued and lose assets ?? 

Wow what a sheltered life you must have lead.. 

Trusts are superb security against false claims and asset protection. 

Give it a rest mate.it's only 7:30 on a Monday morning.

Have a fresh cup of coffee and chill

[AussieinThaiJim]

5 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Nothing will change. How dare we leave the UK for a happier life in Thailand (or elsewhere). We only exist in the eyes of the UK government if they can still tax us. Nobody stuck in the UK would support an increase for those living overseas. 

 

Just like Australia! Where’s the $250 paid to ALL pensioners? Except if your overseas. At least we get the minimal CPI.