British Pensioner Struggles with Frozen Pension in Thailand

[prakhonchai nick]

6 minutes ago, ignis said:

adequate health insurance  ??

 

what is that ? 

Pre existing Health Condition + age = if you can can any then costs are out of a Aged  UK Pensioners Frozen State pension range

In which case one must carefully consider whether they should leave the UK.  I have heard many foreigners say they have no health insurance, but  would return to their home country if they needed healthcare.  In many cases  that is not possible, when they are suddenly struck down with a health problem.

[Muhendis]

A point worth noting is that if and when Mrs. Fox returns to the UK, all her pension shortfall over the years is paid back to her and her pension will be brought up to the current level.

[roo860]

7 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

Slightly off the subject here but can anyone tell me why people born after 1955 get more (£40ish) than the older codgers?

How much do they get?

[scottdavio]

4 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

We all know how unfair the system is, but Thailand does not have a treaty with the UK like the Philippines. If she returns to the UK, her pension will be updated to the current level, which begs the question: If she left again in six months, would she keep the new rate here?

 

[sidneybear]

36 minutes ago, vukovar77 said:

What about UK military personel pensions?They are not affected if live in a Thailand?

Pensioners living in the Philippines get annual increases. Those living in Thailand don't. It's bizarre. 

[Mike Teavee]

2 hours ago, DaLa said:

Would it make more sense to lobby the Thai government to enter into a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK government. An increase in all those 'frozen' pensions would result in £ entering the country and ฿ in the economy. If the Philippines have the facility/legislation then it can't be rocket science for it to be introduced here.

I believe Australia tried to do this & UK government refused to enter into discussions so I wouldn’t fancy Thailand’s chances. 

[sidneybear]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There is no reason, or you don't want to see the obvious reason?

a) If she spends the money in the UK then this is part of the UK economy.

b) If she spends money in Thailand the money is lost for the UK.

Why should the UK government support b)?

 

 

You should include c): the state pension is so small that she'd make minimal impact to the economy, as would a resident pensioner who stuffed her meagre pension under her mattress.

 

or point d): Any economic benefit of a pensioners remaining resident would likely be offset by their disproportionately high use of the NHS and other public services financed by the taxpayer

[Expatwannabee]

Some years ago I wrote to my Labour MP Kate Hoey about this. She was sympathetic ( or at least said she was) and forwarded my letter to the Pensions Minister at that time (can't now remember who). His reply when it came was to quote the extra cost to the Government for doing this and to add that it's always been done this way. I replied to him telling him on that basis that slavery could also be justified on the grounds that it was always done that way. I was a bit annoyed at his pathetic answer so I copied my reply to Kate Hoey and the Primeminister. Next time I wrote to Kate Hoey I got no reply. I'd been  blacklisted.

The basic problem is that an adequate properly funded pension scheme was never implemented. The contributions a worker makes over his working life do not accumulate into a fund. Instead those contributions were used to pay the current pensioners. When my turn came to draw my pension it is being paid by those in work today. This allows the Government to cynically claim it is a benefit even though it is contributory and mandatory to pay NI. The next step will be for future pensioners to be told it will be means tested. This means anyone who has a private pension may not receive it or may get a reduced pension. Another scam in this set up is that 35 yrs contributions are enough to claim a full basic pension. Many people like me contributed for 49 yrs but receive nothing extra for those additional 14yrs. As always Governments invariably cheat the workers.

[ade591]

32 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

She will have immediate access to emergency care as well as care at urgent care centers (even tourists have that). And, if in A&E it is determined that there is an urgent need for hospitalization, that will be provided.

 

She will have to register with a GP for regular care. And yes, that will likley take a few  weeks to accomplish.

 

There is no fixed waiting time to get under the NHS after living abroad , but the regulations state she must have an intention to permanently return.  I can't see anyone doubting such a claim coming from an 84 year old.

And her pension will be updated to current levels:

'You will not get yearly increases if you live outside these countries.

Your pension will go up to the current rate if you return to live in the UK.' (UKGov website) 

[csmith]

[Presto]

UK state pension, is that Social Security? Only 300 pounds per month?

Where I come from (NL), it's called AOW. The amount is calculated by the years you resided in NL and paid taxes. So I don't get a 100%, since I moved here when I was 58. So that's reasonable I'd say. But 300 pounds seems like a pittance.

[csmith]

[Liverpool Lou]

31 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

If she returns to the UK, her pension will be updated to the current level, which begs the question: If she left again in six months, would she keep the new rate here?

Yes, but she would not get any further increases.

[Expatwannabee]

33 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

We all know how unfair the system is, but Thailand does not have a treaty with the UK like the Philippines. If she returns to the UK, her pension will be updated to the current level, which begs the question: If she left again in six months, would she keep the new rate here?

I believe if she left the UK again it would revert to the previous frozen level

[Sheryl]

9 minutes ago, ade591 said:

And her pension will be updated to current levels:

'You will not get yearly increases if you live outside these countries.

Your pension will go up to the current rate if you return to live in the UK.' (UKGov website) 

Yes.

 

Let us hope her health improves enough for her to fly back.

[Liverpool Lou]

22 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

A point worth noting is that if and when Mrs. Fox returns to the UK, all her pension shortfall over the years is paid back to her and her pension will be brought up to the current level.

I do not think that is the case, her pension would be updated to the current level, that is all.

[10baht]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

local doctors have yet to grant her a fit-to-fly certificate

Just buy a ticket and get on the plane. How many of you here are asked for a fit-to-fly certificate when boarding a flight. Stop drawing attention to yourself and go home.

[shackleton]

I remember a while back there was a petition online to increase the pension for people living outside the UK

Which included Thailand I put my name to this this petition considering we are talking about 500,000 expats involved worldwide 

The response was around 10,000 people 

Which shows most people don't care and are happy with the way things are  

I won't bother next time 😌 

[Liverpool Lou]

8 minutes ago, Expatwannabee said:

I believe if she left the UK again it would revert to the previous frozen level

It wouldn't reduce, she just would not get any further increases.

[spidermike007]

If anything, the British government should give people living in Thailand an annual bonus, for their vision. Also, they are in theory saving the nation money, by not using it's services. 

[10baht]

4 hours ago, sidneybear said:

There's no reason, other than cruelty, for the British government

It's called  EU nanny state mentality not cruelty - liberalism? stupidity ? all of the former.

[csmith]

[10baht]

3 minutes ago, 10baht said:

Just buy a ticket and get on the plane.

Or a boat or a train? What do you think people did before doctors? I mean airplanes?

[Expatwannabee]

16 minutes ago, Presto said:

UK state pension, is that Social Security? Only 300 pounds per month?

Where I come from (NL), it's called AOW. The amount is calculated by the years you resided in NL and paid taxes. So I don't get a 100%, since I moved here when I was 58. So that's reasonable I'd say. But 300 pounds seems like a pittance.

It is a pittance but that was the amount she was receiving when she left the country 24 yrs ago.

[10baht]

3 hours ago, Chris Daley said:

Get the woman on the 90 days treadmill.

I am not sure what this means, but I gave me a thought. Can't she fail to renew her visa and the Thai government will deport her ? Right?

[Aussie999]

3 hours ago, Chris Daley said:

Put the man in prison for illegally owning a business.  Get the woman on the 90 days treadmill.

Why do you say illegally owning a business  can you enlighten us.

[goldenbrwn1]

Massive hotelier bills need paying in the UK ,new iPhones , and air max trainers for 100’s of thousands of poor young men fleeing war torn countries. 

[Presto]

7 minutes ago, Expatwannabee said:

It is a pittance but that was the amount she was receiving when she left the country 24 yrs ago.

If I read the article correctly, she left the country at an older age than I did. So she must have lived in the UK longer than I lived in NL. That makes it a little mysterious.

[10baht]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why should the UK government support b)?

Because it is not (or should not be) government's role to tell someone where they may decide to live as long as they are not tapping into the healthcare system or whatever other freebies a socialist government provides.

[csmith]

What Else do we not get?