Thawing UK Frozen Pensions

[transam]

4 minutes ago, jonbeen said:

1200 posts and 600 likes,must be in your smile!  You are not stating facts here concerning the State Pension. As someone who stated he worked at DWP,I have my doubts,     mopping the floor maybe

Well, perhaps the truth hurts those on the fiddle, as well as it creating bum burps......????

[BritManToo]

17 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Had to repay £5 per month...died before he finished the job.

Please post copy of court order requiring that repayment.

When someone threatens me, I always suggest they take me to court.

So far they always lost, and that includes the Law Society taking me to court. 

 

It's really hard for big business to win against private individuals in court.

Edited July 28, 2022 by BritManToo

[david555]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

No UK government party has changed locked pensions, including Socialists....

So they are all the same when in Gov.....????

I did not refer to any party when  ...i quoted  U.K. gov.????

[transam]

1 minute ago, david555 said:

So they are all the same when in Gov.....????

I did not refer to any party when  ...i quoted  U.K. gov.????

I know you didn't, I was pointing out that any UK government, whether from the left or right, have the same attitude, otherwise Brexit will be back on the screen here.....????

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Yes. Another friend (same town). He was daft enough to say that he had been in Thailand for 5 years!

 

Had to repay £5 per month...died before he finished the job.

Was that the actual UK state pension and nothing else, ie pension credits? It says on the DWP website that they cannot  take repayments from you if you only have a state pension, unless you do not cancel a pension credit, if you have one, when you leave the UK. 

[david555]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

I know you didn't, I was pointing out that any UK government, whether from the left or right, have the same attitude, otherwise Brexit will be back on the screen here.....????

That Brexit trauma is still with you ...?????.....the fear of a return ????????

Dont worry for that ....????

[jonbeen]

20 minutes ago, transam said:

No UK government party has changed locked pensions, including Socialists....

Basically the checkers never check,could not give a toss ,the international Pensions HQ do sod all,again could not give a toss, as  for those being paid out by them  (frozen pensioners) are keeping them in a cushy job .  Should scrap them and all  UK pensions paid into UK banks for the recipients to claim them,such as Wise,  save a fortune,so too the frozen bunch,could go unfrozen in a millisecond

 

  Actually the unfrozen should give a heads up for the frozen pensioner sacrifice as more money into the pot for divvying for the unfrozen.  Thank You

 

Huge,but huge increase in SP this time around,not just SP but defined pensions as well, plus 500 pounds for Christmas tree, plus tenner for Christmas bonus, Thank You Father Christmas

Edited July 28, 2022 by jonbeen

[Liverpool Lou]

22 hours ago, sanuk711 said:

Well 2 ways I guess--1/ You dont get it paid into a Flip bank account, a lot of guys here still just draw from there UK account, wise etc---or 2/ let it be paid into a flip bank acc, draw it from where ever.

"let it be paid into a flip bank acc, draw it from where ever".

My point was how does a pensioner living in Thailand get a Philippine bank account?

 

"a lot of guys here still just draw from there UK account".

Those having their pensions paid into a UK bank account don't need to be concerned as they will be getting the increases.  

[JayClay]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

When someone threatens me, I always suggest they take me to court.

Doesn't really work when the person threatening you is the person issuing your pension payments.

 

It would surely be on you to take them to court to get the correct amount reinstated. In the meantime SOL. 

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, JayClay said:

Doesn't really work when the person threatening you is the person issuing your pension payments.

 

It would surely be on you to take them to court to get the correct amount reinstated. In the meantime SOL. 

I don't live hand to mouth, I can survive a break in my pension payments for a few years.

Last time a government agency (the police) took unauthorised unilateral action against me it cost them 7,000 pounds. 

 

My policy is to hold my ground, and never back down.

Edited July 28, 2022 by BritManToo

[JayClay]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I don't live hand to mouth, I can survive a break in my pension payments for a few years.

Lucky you.

 

I'm severely doubt, however, that most people who are worried about frozen pensions have the same luxury of being able to wait it out for a few years until either the courts resolve the situation, or they die.

[hotandsticky]

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

Was that the actual UK state pension and nothing else, ie pension credits? It says on the DWP website that they cannot  take repayments from you if you only have a state pension, unless you do not cancel a pension credit, if you have one, when you leave the UK. 

That I don't know I am afraid - he told the story about his state pension.

[hotandsticky]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Please post copy of court order requiring that repayment.

When someone threatens me, I always suggest they take me to court.

So far they always lost, and that includes the Law Society taking me to court. 

 

It's really hard for big business to win against private individuals in court.

There is no court order - there never is. Your question is redundant and comes across as supercilious.

 

His gonads were not as large as yours; I suspect that the conversation went.... government - "you have to repay the overpayment" - 70+ year old expat says "I can't". "Minimum we can accept is £5 pm" says government. "I can do that" replies the Farang. 

 

I imagine that is what most septuagenarian expats with limited education and life skills would have done.

[konaboy]

On 7/27/2022 at 8:45 AM, rak sa_ngop said:

When you consider the fact that overseas retirees make little or no use of the UK National Health Service, it should make good financial sense for the UK to encourage people to retire overseas.....even pay them extra to do this.

I remember reading years ago (about 7) that the average pensioner costs the NHS £7,000  a year. We are saving the nation heaps by staying in Thailand.

I am an American and have Medicare benefits in USA (75 yrs old). We are allowed the financial benefits in Thailand, but all the medical benefits are not available. These include all the medicines, hospitals, doctors, etc. Seems unfair to be excluded because of where you decide to live in this world.

They always took my monthly payment when I was working.

Just saying.

[Maybole]

On 7/27/2022 at 2:44 AM, Alidiver said:

 I'd never heard of Life Certificate so googled it.

Below is from www.uk.gov

What is the date on this info?

[Maybole]

I was sent a "Proof of Life " certificate 2 years ago which resulted in my pension being frozen. I had informed the DWP of my change of address six years before but my record had not been altered and it had been sent to the old address. A 2 min phone call (not including 14 mins wading through menus and being on hold) rectified the matter.

[hotandsticky]

9 minutes ago, Maybole said:

What is the date on this info?

It is current.

 

All gov.uk websites are current/live/up to date.

[Dene16]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I've not been on the electoral role for 15 years.

That's partly my point, there could now be a question mark on your status however in your case they still have records due to you paying tax. i failed to fill in the electoral list a couple of times and then people came round my house in person to check.

It's not like the 70's and 80's, now, everything is pretty much linked and on a central database that all agencies seem to has access to.

My friend used to claim reduced council tax, 2 weeks after his friend moved in he got a letter stating he was no longer entitled to it, 

 

 

[transam]

4 minutes ago, Dene16 said:

That's partly my point, there could now be a question mark on your status however in your case they still have records due to you paying tax. i failed to fill in the electoral list a couple of times and then people came round my house in person to check.

It's not like the 70's and 80's, now, everything is pretty much linked and on a central database that all agencies seem to has access to.

My friend used to claim reduced council tax, 2 weeks after his friend moved in he got a letter stating he was no longer entitled to it, 

 

 

Our modern tech age, the dots will all join up eventually...????

[The Hammer2021]

On 7/27/2022 at 11:46 AM, sammieuk1 said:

Anyone know what someone would do if you were living in an off grid setup for example a camper van as many do these days as regards to a UK address there is no option when you come to claim your own paid for pension ???? 

PO Box

[The Hammer2021]

4 hours ago, jonbeen said:

Basically the checkers never check,could not give a toss ,the international Pensions HQ do sod all,again could not give a toss, as  for those being paid out by them  (frozen pensioners) are keeping them in a cushy job .  Should scrap them and all  UK pensions paid into UK banks for the recipients to claim them,such as Wise,  save a fortune,so too the frozen bunch,could go unfrozen in a millisecond

 

  Actually the unfrozen should give a heads up for the frozen pensioner sacrifice as more money into the pot for divvying for the unfrozen.  Thank You

 

Huge,but huge increase in SP this time around,not just SP but defined pensions as well, plus 500 pounds for Christmas tree, plus tenner for Christmas bonus, Thank You Father Christmas

Lazy, incompetent, understaffed and now on 3 day weeks or working from home. That's most government  workers in most departments.

[scubascuba3]

On 7/27/2022 at 11:46 AM, sammieuk1 said:

Anyone know what someone would do if you were living in an off grid setup for example a camper van as many do these days as regards to a UK address there is no option when you come to claim your own paid for pension ???? 

Maybe try boatmail

 

http://www.boatmail.co.uk/payg.html

[jonbeen]

5 hours ago, JayClay said:

Doesn't really work when the person threatening you is the person issuing your pension payments.

 

It would surely be on you to take them to court to get the correct amount reinstated. In the meantime SOL. 

By law  the UK is required to pay pensioner appropriate amount due,no deductions on OA pension

[jonbeen]

2 hours ago, konaboy said:

I am an American and have Medicare benefits in USA (75 yrs old). We are allowed the financial benefits in Thailand, but all the medical benefits are not available. These include all the medicines, hospitals, doctors, etc. Seems unfair to be excluded because of where you decide to live in this world.

They always took my monthly payment when I was working.

Just saying.

Across Bay of Bengal   2 hours away cheapest/finest medical care in the world

[jonbeen]

As this thread winds to a close,it must be a "well done" to the unfrozen,those that withstood endless barbed and pointless criticising from others who in their jealous rages put some graphic and poiseness statements ,which in turn turned out to be pure garbage

   Well done,most can stride out with extra bulges in our pant pockets,spreading ,and receiving even more happiness amongst the locals,especially from massages,by way of plenty of the filthy lucre

 Well done indeed,a job well done!

[hotandsticky]

47 minutes ago, jonbeen said:

As this thread winds to a close,it must be a "well done" to the unfrozen,those that withstood endless barbed and pointless criticising from others who in their jealous rages put some graphic and poiseness statements ,which in turn turned out to be pure garbage

   Well done,most can stride out with extra bulges in our pant pockets,spreading ,and receiving even more happiness amongst the locals,especially from massages,by way of plenty of the filthy lucre

 Well done indeed,a job well done!

 

My intention in starting this thread was as follows:-

 

1. Show that frozen pensions can be unfrozen.

2. Clarify some of the myths around bar stool advice.

3. Discuss the morals of the options available.

4. Consider the risks/rewards involved in taking up some of those options.

 

 

I am grateful for the knowledgeable comments  that have contributed to this thread - there were always going to be the detractors, but responding to their "garbage" (as described above) helps to get a balanced view of the facts and processes. I learned that DWP do not send life certificates to UK addresses - something I had wrongly assumed they did from friends original story........ that is something that considerably reduces the risk associated with 'unfreezing' process.

[scubascuba3]

2 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I learned that DWP do not send life certificates to UK addresses -

Another benefit is any wife or partner in Thailand could continue receiving the pension after death

Edited July 29, 2022 by scubascuba3

[hotandsticky]

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Another benefit is any wife or partner in Thailand could continue receiving the pension after death

That doesn't seem to happen. IF the embassy are advised news seems to reach DWP.

 

 

[Excel]

10 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

That doesn't seem to happen. IF the embassy are advised news seems to reach DWP.

 

 

Yes, and that capitilised IF being the main point. In another thread  there was a comment that the British Embassy only works for the benefit of the deceased, not the living. There can be no better illustration of that point than then one raised about  informing them of a UK nationals death and thus they notify the UK registrar of said death, and thus automatic notification to DWP.  So it is the matter of IF. I know of two persons  who have not notified the Embassy in the last 10 years. It's their business what they do after all.

[jonbeen]

36 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Another benefit is any wife or partner in Thailand could continue receiving the pension after death

Only if the wife or partner has a shovel