British press support UK pensioners losing out in Thailand

[NorthernRyland]

UK people, what is the nature of these pensions? Are they like Social Security in America where a percent of your income is taxed each year and all people receive it or is a public sector pension for government employees like police, school teachers etc...?

[Grusa]

3 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

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

Then watch the wang-king bankers steal it. That's what happened to me!

 

[Cake Monster]

As with many of these kind of sensationalist reports, the OP does not state the reason why exactly there are 100 Countries Worldwide, where a pensioner cannot get the full entitlement.

if it is indeed correct that some Older Citizens that retired some time ago are still receiving the pension they first received upon their retirement Day, the british Government should be ashamed of themselves.

These are good hard working Folk that have paid their dues all their working lives, and are entitled to more respect than this from their own Government.

Even the wetbacks get more respect and State Aid than a Pensioner

[scubascuba3]

4 minutes ago, Grusa said:

Then watch the wang-king bankers steal it. That's what happened to me!

 

How did you lose it? private pension?

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

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.

A legal challenge was brought some considerable time ago which was lost by pensioners . Judgement effectively said ,yes it makes no sense and is unfair but HMG was nevertheless legally entitled to set those rules .
Some things in life are unfair  to which you can only react  to by "cheating " ,so have a registered address (if you can) back in UK.

Further restrictions mean you cannot for example get tax relief on further contributions to a private pension nor add to an ISA investment. Don’t get mad,get even ! ???? 

[steve187]

2 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

The full state pension is about 10 000 per year and the yearly tax free allowance is about 12 000 per year

tax free allowance is £12,500, and if claiming 10% of wife's allowance makes it £13,875, so,

 

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

Your state pension can be higher than the allowance.

some 'old' state pensions are higher than the new 'fixed' pensions, but if they could be higher than £12.500 i don't think so but always willing to be corrected with links.

[apples11]

What makes it even worse is if you receive a pension paid by the UK Government and live outside the UK you are required to pay UK tax on the total income.  For state pension they class you as an overseas resident and freeze it from the date you left the UK. I have an MOD pension and an NHS pension and for these together with my state pension l am classed as a UK resident and pay 300 pounds a month tax. How they can get away with two Government departments that apply opposite ruling to the same person is a mystery, it was challenged in the UK courts a few years back and the Government won

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

Your state pension can be higher than the allowance.

Higher than £242 per week? I don't think so!

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

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

Worse is the arbitrary inconsistency. So you’d lose increases if you retired to Thailand,Australia,NZ,but not if to Philippines! Canada and USA are treated differently too. The official reason is because of ‘reciprocal agreements' …except there is no tangible reciprocity. Philippines doesn’t provide anything different to aforementioned. Your pension is simply paid by UK government. 

[prakhonchai nick]

5 hours 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.

I fear that could come about before too long.

[prakhonchai nick]

10 minutes ago, steve187 said:

tax free allowance is £12,500, and if claiming 10% of wife's allowance makes it £13,875, so,

 

some 'old' state pensions are higher than the new 'fixed' pensions, but if they could be higher than £12.500 i don't think so but always willing to be corrected with links.

The Tax Personal Allowance rose by a massive £70 on 6th April last to £12,570.

[Chongalulu]

9 minutes ago, steve187 said:

tax free allowance is £12,500, and if claiming 10% of wife's allowance makes it £13,875, so,

 

some 'old' state pensions are higher than the new 'fixed' pensions, but if they could be higher than £12.500 i don't think so but always willing to be corrected with links.

While you are essentially not wrong most people will have other occupational or private pensions and perhaps income from investments (house rent etc) which will push you over the limit,so yes you will pay tax on state pension. In my case such that I’m paying higher rate tax (40%) on it ! 

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Funny thing is even if you are Married in Thailand the must have 400k in the bank, is less than a UK pension. 

I am married and live in Thailand and I don't have 400k in my bank. I take it you are referring to a Thai bank account?

I only keep enough money in my Thai bank to cover living expenses. Why should I trust a bank in a country which has an unelected soldiers government?

Money in a Thai bank was safe up to 5000000Bt, it was recently reduced to 1000000Bt. You can bet there was a reason for that.

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

There is a housing shortage in the U.K and its better for all if pensioners go to other Countries to live , it frees up much needed housing and cuts down on NHS and care costs  . 

   UK pensioners enjoy living beyond their means in third World Countries , they are rich there instead of being poor in the U.K.

   What more do they want ? 

To be treated fairly and equally, with some dignity and some thanks for a lifetime of hard work, maybe, just maybe? Like you say they are taking pressure off the system. And their health costs are less too. So, maybe they should be given a bonus, instead of a penalty. 

[Tropposurfer]

What a disgrace! Not much about this is at all conceivably fair or equitable!

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, theoldgit said:

It's up to you to prove that you do, the first question they may ask is the name of your GP, that would be a good starting point for the NHS who are now required by law to check by that you are actually resident in the UK.

That's not strictly speaking true - or if it is it means little.

 

I go back to the UK every 9 months / year for full NHS checks up, blood works, etc , and get tables for the next 9-12 months. I'm usually only in the UK for 22 hours. Some conditions (according to my pharmacist - the head pharmacist in a certain Shire) are treated by the UK NHS no matter where you live and tablets issued by law.

 

I do keep a UK address though through my tenant.

[vinci]

are Uk pensions like American Social Security?

[NoshowJones]

42 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

But there's a housing shortage in the U.K and thrifty pensioners take up wanted housing space .

The housing would be better lived in by tax /rent paying people who work , earn money and contribute to the local economy, rather than pensioners spending their meagre income on the basics

and don't forget the illegals coming in on their boats, they have to be put in hotels, given houses etc, etc, etc.

[CharlieH]

Reported post suggesting/promoting FRAUD  has been removrd along with posts responding to it.

[Kwasaki]

Where's my winter allowance.

[Paulbuick1]

The UK pension is really pathetic if you compare to Australian German US pensions for example. To freeze UK pensions just because you live in a different country is unjust and unfair.

[Thailand]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Didn't anyone save money or is their pension their only income? 

And your point is?

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

You don't know what the full state pension is, varies  enormously.

If I was getting the full amount it would  be just short of the current allowance of £12,700. During my working life I came across many earning a great deal more than i did, their pension will be much higher than mine.

The maximum UK State Pension is £185.15 per week x 52 = £9627.80.

[KannikaP]

47 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

While you are essentially not wrong most people will have other occupational or private pensions and perhaps income from investments (house rent etc) which will push you over the limit,so yes you will pay tax on state pension. In my case such that I’m paying higher rate tax (40%) on it ! 

No, you will be paying tax on the private pension or investment income.

[potless]

3 hours ago, theoldgit said:

the Personal Allowance is reduced by the total of the State Pension, thus ensuring, those with maybe an occupational pension, pay tax on their total pension income.

 

 

I would like to politely reword that. All income from, whatever source, is combined and then the personal tax allowance applied to give a taxable amount. How the tax is actually collected depends on the individuals situation. A private pension is usually the first port of call.                When David Cameron was the (not so) prime minister,  he was reported to say "if they keep complaining ,(overseas pensioners), I will take away their personal allowance." Nice.

[PremiumLane]

This is what you get when you have a Tory government - they only care about their rich mates and their own business interests 

[George Aylesham]

Clutching at straws here but as the vote will shortly be returned to those living for over 15 years outside the UK, perhaps the half million cheated pensioners will now be able to carry some weight with MPs.

[steve187]

17 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

The maximum UK State Pension is £185.15 per week x 52 = £9627.80.

that's the max new state pension, the old system prior to 6th April 2016 was not fixed and depended on for your personal contributions, serps (State Earnings Related Pension Scheme) and or S2P (State Second Pension) i don't know what the maximum amount achievable was.

[scubascuba3]

14 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

This is what you get when you have a Tory government - they only care about their rich mates and their own business interests 

You've taken the labour bait put out there easily

[nahkit]

5 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

You get the benefits of the now payment in government services when you pay it.. 

Not entirely true.

 

In my case I worked overseas and from 1984 through until 2014 I paid voluntary contributions towards my state pension and as I wasn't in the UK, I received zero in government services. In fact, when my children went to University I had to pay the full overseas rate for them despite them being British citizens. 

 

The government, in the main, receives revenue through three streams, Income tax, National Insurance and VAT. I was always under the impression that National Insurance was a means to fund a future pension rather than a coffer for government services.