Frozen pension policy turns British expat's dream into a nightmare

[mommysboy]

1 hour ago, AlexRich said:

I think you need more than the UK State pension to survive in Thailand, even if you are benefitting from annual increases. In the UK you will have access to free healthcare as well as other benefits. In Thailand you are only one heart attack away from a financial catastrophe. 
 

I don’t believe the existing policy is fair, but it does raise the issue that you need a few income sources to live here comfortably, and close family who have your best interests at heart, preferably grown up children. 

 

Yes, nobody should be here without at least a few thousand readies to call on for an emergency, and preferably an evacuation plan just in case. I'd go as far as to say that anyone who stays here long enough will end up broke one way or another.  I guess we have to make our choice and live with it. One other thing: the best insurance policy is staying healthy (if possible).

[MicroB]

2 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

Hague is full of it. Most penioners in the UK don't pay tax either. There is always the money - we still have our own bank.

 

 

Fake news. In 2010, 50% of UK pensioners pay tax. Now about 66% of you lot  in the UK pay tax. Pensions are taxable income. People just make up cobblers to suit their own prejudices.

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/11/23/pensioners-paying-more-income-tax/

[PremiumLane]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Can't give you anymore money because illigal immigrants are very expensive for the budget.

 

laughable to think that a Tory government is pumping the money towards immigrants - basically the rich steal the money, and they get idiots to blame it on immigrants 

[nauseus]

51 minutes ago, MicroB said:

 

Fake news. In 2010, 50% of UK pensioners pay tax. Now about 66% of you lot  in the UK pay tax. Pensions are taxable income. People just make up cobblers to suit their own prejudices.

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/11/23/pensioners-paying-more-income-tax/

 

Fake back. Your linked article is a projection. Right now the full UK pension is below minimum  tax threshold. No tax on the state pension as is.

[mommysboy]

Unfortunately, the issue of pension upgrades was done and dusted in the courts a few year's back.  It was handled in the worst possible way by a bunch of blustering old war horses who wanted back dated payments, and their day in court, got just that and failed miserably.  I honestly believe that had it just been a request for future upgrades then the Govt of the day would have been amenable, after all most of the bludgeons were likely Tory voters.  They really messed up big time and that's why we're suffering. More of the same won't do any good. I despair.

[HauptmannUK]

I'm not yet of state pension age and a 'frozen' state pension is unlikely to affect me much in future (I probably won't relocate permanently to Thailand and I have a high passive income from part-ownership of a family business). Notwithstanding my own circumstances I do think that the freezing of pensions for pensioners who have paid the required NI contributions is one of the most unfair, unethical and immoral policies of successive British governments. The freezing of pensions is made all the worse by the provision of Pension Credit.  Pension Credit is essentially a non-contributory UK state pension to which the entire global population above retirement age may claim, if they can show residence in the UK.  Late last year I assisted an elderly Asian lady claim Pension Credit. She is not a UK citizen but by some fairly convoluted means became UK resident a couple of years ago. She has never worked or paid NI. On account of her almost nonexistent English I did a Pension Credit application for her. She was successful and now receives c.£800/month plus Housing Benefit, free dental and optical care etc.  I would guess her benefits amount to in the region of £1600/month.  She lives in a rented room in a shared house. Not a great lifestyle but tolerable. She's a very pleasant lady and I don't begrudge her the Pension Credit, but if does highlight the unfairness of policy when expats who were given no choice but to contribute to their state pension over many decades are deprived of a substantial portion of its value based on some archaic and whimsical policy.

[NemoH]

Can they open a bank account in Singapore n transfer the money to Thailand ? 

[jfeigel]

8 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

cant find anything to back what you said about canada. link please.

 

...I don't know if that is the case with Canada...

[dougieboy]

If you have 36 qualifying years you are entitled to your pension, you’ve earned it. 
so for them to then freeze it just because you choose to live elsewhere is nothing short of criminal. 
Time for change but don’t hold your breath!

[theoldgit]

8 hours ago, Wobblybob said:

A link was all I asked for, I wasn't looking for a sermon. 😀

https://britishpensions.com/are-you-receiving-a-uk-state-pension/

 

https://www.canzukinternational.com/2023/02/canadian-mp-urges-canada-uk-to-negotiate-end-of-frozen-pensions.html

 

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-02-19/debates/24021975000085/FrozenBritishPensions

 

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad/rates-of-state-pension

 

However, pensioners resident in the USA receive the annual increases

 

 

 

 

 

[kwilco]

Thos policy was first introduced in 1946.

After Brexit the situation remains up in the air even for pensioners in EU.

Oddly enough, it is not in place for pensioners in the USA, but is in Canada and Australia.

Pensioners in Thailand should have seen this coming as it is nothing new.

 

Tge pension in 2000 was about £67 whereas now it is around £220. This is still tiny compared to countries like France and Germany.

 

Even on £220 per week, pensioners still have to pay for healthcare.

[BritManToo]

8 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

There was a video on the subject posted a day or so ago explaining  the documentation that the International Pensions Section of the DWP requires to evidence residency.  You don't seriously think that they would just take the best part of half a million frozen pensioners' word for it, do you?!

They take my word that I still live in England without any documentation.

So why wouldn't they believe I was living in the Philippines without any documentation?

 

As for looking at passport stamps, I always tell everyone I don't have a passport.

There's no requirement for Brit citizens living in the UK to have a passport.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Reportedly, it affects over 480,000 globally.

Quite the saving for the sh#t UK government.

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Sounds like piss poor planning from those whinging about it now !

So you know what's going to happen in 24 years from now... smart Alec?

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Tell them you live in the Philippines then you get full pension!

So you tell them you live in the Philippines but please send money to my Thai bank account?

[RichardColeman]

10 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

free NHS treatment ( which in my case would be quite expensive),

Certain health conditions are still treated by the NHS if you live abroad. I have a great relationship with my hospital and fly back once a year for tests and tablets.

[itsari]

10 hours ago, Wobblybob said:

I think that is a possible answer to those willing to think outside the box. I did an internet search and it's possible to open a Philippine bank account on line without even going to the Philippines. Surely finding a Philippine address can't be that difficult. 

If caught falsifying your place of residence your pension payments would cease. 

[Expat68]

11 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Wow ok 24yrs ago.

 

Sounds like piss poor planning from those whinging about it now !

Not really. Life is now, tomorrow never comes

[jacko45k]

7 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

 

laughable to think that a Tory government is pumping the money towards immigrants - basically the rich steal the money, and they get idiots to blame it on immigrants 

So the cost to the UK taxpayer of rescuing boat people and accommodating and feeding them is zero, along with the 85,000 asylum seekers from  last year alone......well I never. 

[new2here]

I have empathy for those hit with this.. but.. (as a non-UK national) it SEEMS like this issues was known in advance .. and if so, then I have to acknowledge this fact (ie it was known to people in advance) and that’s something quite different as opposed to say the government instituting a brand NEW rule that adversely impacted retirees.. 

[Stevemercer]

At least the British old age pension is not means tested so everyone gets it. The Australian old age pension is means and asset tested and anyone who has worked hard to generate a modest independent income in retirement will not receive it.

 

Plus, any independent income will be taxed at a flat 33% if living overseas.

[Asquith Production]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The problem lies in the UK Government’s position to freeze state pensions for its nationals living in non-European countries like Thailand.

The United Kingdom is a founding member of the United Nations yet they go against the U.N on the principles of equality and discrimination.

[Dogbarker]

11 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

If I was in the UK, I would receive an uprated Pension , Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Winter Fuel Allowance, free NHS treatment ( which in my case would be quite expensive), a Bus Pass and probably other benefits and allowances. It should easily double, and more, what I cost the state!

  You would get a lot unless you have been frugal and  invested  your savings then kiss all that pension credit and stuff good bye as I know .. grrrr

[Presnock]

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

There was a video on the subject posted a day or so ago explaining  the documentation that the International Pensions Section of the DWP requires to evidence residency.  You don't seriously think that they would just take the best part of half a million frozen pensioners' word for it, do you?!

what I fail to understand about users of this forum, how come so many people don't know how to search for a particular subject but instead we users are required to provide a particular address for that info which in almost every case can be found with many additional info-providing sites about the same subject.  

[Chongalulu]

8 hours ago, mommysboy said:

 

Well, someone could just go and live there for a few months.  It would definitely get the required upgrade done.  Some folks would definitely be quids in, and might even decide to stay.

No,it doesn’t work like that. You’d get the unfrozen amount for the time you were there then it’s refrozen when you leave at the rate it was originally frozen at. There’s no reset.

[eumenades]

12 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Wow ok 24yrs ago.

 

Sounds like piss poor planning from those whinging about it now !

 

Yes. And hardly any knowledge of the basics in economics.

[nickmondo]

12 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Wow ok 24yrs ago.

 

Sounds like piss poor planning from those whinging about it now !

its well over 24 years.  its been like this about 70 years, always been like this.  the wingers should have known about this.

[Chongalulu]

7 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

The United Kingdom is a founding member of the United Nations yet they go against the U.N on the principles of equality and discrimination.

What makes you think pensions are under the remit of the UN? Yes it’s in my view unfair,but an internal fiscal U.K. matter.

[Gottfrid]

12 hours ago, orchis said:

I think 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_state_pension

So, no dreams crushed then! Just stupid Brits that don´t understand reality as always and always will be. 😂

Prices go up, during a period of 13 years, but maybe that was something new to Mr Jones. Hilarious!

[Presnock]

7 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

 

laughable to think that a Tory government is pumping the money towards immigrants - basically the rich steal the money, and they get idiots to blame it on immigrants 

same thing is happening in other EU states as well as in the USA where taxes paid for by citizens have to go for the care, housing, schools, etc of the illegals.  Will eventually break the backs of the citizens for sure.  Already the states leading the "take care of the illegal immigrants first" programs are losing hundreds of thousands of citizens each year!  If one reads the news regularly then one would recognize that this is a big problem for the "developed "free" states as China, Russia, N. Korea, Iran, Afghanistan don't have an imigrant problem.  Sorry to intrude on the Brit problem but just wanted to let them know that the problem also exists elsewhere.