British Pensioner Struggles with Frozen Pension in Thailand

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

Son must be useless.

What makes you reach that ridiculous assessment?

[Blueman1]

2 minutes ago, ronster said:

Not if you have been out of the country continually for 3 years or more I was told by the DWP.

Not if you have been out of the country continually for 3 years or more I was told by the DWP....I Think they're telling you Porky Pies M8 !!

[NorthernRyland]

29 minutes ago, surfinglife said:

Bloody windging poms as usual. In some countries the pension is not portable, you can only claim it if you live there (e.g. New Zealand). So consider yourselves lucky and stop windging. 

Maybe you're a chump and don't care but it's your money so why shouldn't you get it back unconditionally? if your answer is "because they said so" then you're a chump.

[Liverpool Lou]

57 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

This explains why we have so many miserable, moaning people here on this forum. 

 

Who can survive on this little money?

That's not a standard pension, many receive higher amounts.

[Blueman1]

3 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

Can you be more specific please?

The People who arrive in The U.K In Rubber Boats, Is That any more specific ??

[Liverpool Lou]

52 minutes 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.

No UK government wants that reciprocal arrangement, regardless of how easy it may be to implement!

[Blueman1]

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That's not a standard pension, many receive higher amounts.

Yes Maybe they DO Lou, & There are Many that get even LESS as I Do.....

[Georgealbert]

14 minutes ago, shortstop2 said:

 

Seems to me, the big issue is not the lack of uprating but the inability to use the NHS.   Yank's equivalent of uprating is Social Security's Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for which we are eligible no matter where we live.  

 

But our inability to use Medicare (which we paid into all our lives) anywhere in the world except in the USA is problematic.  

 

 

 

When returning to the UK, to use the NHS, the official requirement to get free healthcare, is you will need to prove that you’ve returned to the UK to live and you meet the ordinary residence test, or you could be charged for treatment.
 

Most people should be able to get around this, with a bit of common sense, in the information they disclose, and the hospital are rarely going to chase a UK citizen for costs, unless someone gives them a reason to.

 

If you are using accident and emergency services, that will always be free and you will not be asked to show that you live there.

 

 

[crazykopite]

8 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

She would have access to free health care. 

 

Health care costs ars a big part of her current problem. 

As she has been out of the country she would not be entitled to free health care for a period of time and I doubt that she even has a GP in the UK which makes the situation even worse Being under the impression that she could land at Heathrow and be admitted straight to a hospital is pie in the sky if she entered the UK via Dover in a rubber dinghy she would have a lot more chance of being taken care of and that’s very sad !

[ChrisKC]

I say nothing here that suggests she should have thought of THAT at any time in the past.

 

It wouldn't matter how much the pension was/is, her health situation and its associated costs couldn't possibly be met. Can't fairly say that is the UK Government's fault.

 

True, that it does seem unfair that the UK Government increased the NI contributions over the years and doesn't offer them back in reverse!

 

Some. countries, especially in Asia, as in Philippines, do get the annual increases in pension payments that I can tell you is 50% more that it was 15 years ago. For those in Philippines, a pension of GBP 500 per month would now be GBP 750

 

Anyone know what has happened since Brexit for expat pensioners in EU countries that were OK with increased payments previously?

[BusyB]

12 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

 

Yes. Much as I can feel. for her, fact is this policy has been in place since well before her move....But WE Weren't Even TOLD Our Pensions would be Frozen, Well at least I Wasn't 9 Years Ago.....And NOW I'm in the same boat as Her....

 

Again, whilst I feel for your position and hope you find a solution, even as a lefty wokist I think a certain amount of due diligence can be expected from adults planning such drastic changes of circumstances. All the information is on the uk.gov website. I can't remember the headings or exactly what's written, but I read the whole lot as I also get my pension abroad.

 

I am not condoning the policy by the way. I agree that those who have paid in all their lives should be able to cash in wherever they are. But that's not the reality and reality is what we as adults have to adapt to.

[Liverpool Lou]

42 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

This is surprising to me. I always thought the UK had a functioning welfare state.

She's not in the UK so the welfare state's facilities, functioning or otherwise, do not apply to her.

[roo860]

4 minutes ago, ChrisKC said:

I say nothing here that suggests she should have thought of THAT at any time in the past.

 

It wouldn't matter how much the pension was/is, her health situation and its associated costs couldn't possibly be met. Can't fairly say that is the UK Government's fault.

 

True, that it does seem unfair that the UK Government increased the NI contributions over the years and doesn't offer them back in reverse!

 

Some. countries, especially in Asia, as in Philippines, do get the annual increases in pension payments that I can tell you is 50% more that it was 15 years ago. For those in Philippines, a pension of GBP 500 per month would now be GBP 750

 

Anyone know what has happened since Brexit for expat pensioners in EU countries that were OK with increased payments previously?

Isn't the new pension increase £898? For 35yrs contributions. 

[Blueman1]

2 minutes ago, roo860 said:

Isn't the new pension increase £898? For 35yrs contributions. 

Isn't the new pension increase £898?...Have YOU been Smoking Something Again ??

[Cabradelmar]

At 87 and a UK citizen, she'd be better off going back to the UK and entering into the welfare system. There's no hope hear unless she starts begging and this just not right either 

[Liverpool Lou]

42 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

If she can't fly maybe there is a ship to the UK.

No problem if it takes a little longer.

Maybe you could suggest one to help her out?

[ChrisKC]

1 minute ago, roo860 said:

Isn't the new pension increase £898? For 35yrs contributions. 

Do you mean increase or current level of payment?

 

I believe the current rate is about GBP 11,000 p.a.

 

My example of 500/750 was just that

[Georgealbert]

7 minutes ago, ChrisKC said:

 

 

Anyone know what has happened since Brexit for expat pensioners in EU countries that were OK with increased payments previously?

After Brexit, uprated UK pensions have continued in the EU, as it was part of the negotiations under Article 50 on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

 

Government website, Gov.UK, guidance on the rights of UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland to UK benefits and pensions from 1 January 2021, states: 

 

UK State Pension

 

You can carry on receiving your UK State Pension if you move to live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension from these countries.

 

Your UK State Pension will be increased each year in the EU in line with the rate paid in the UK.

 

[ChrisKC]

1 minute ago, Georgealbert said:

After Brexit, uprated UK pensions have continued in the EU, as it was part of the negotiations under Article 50 on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

 

Government website, Gov.UK, guidance on the rights of UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland to UK benefits and pensions from 1 January 2021, states: 

 

UK State Pension

 

You can carry on receiving your UK State Pension if you move to live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension from these countries.

 

Your UK State Pension will be increased each year in the EU in line with the rate paid in the UK.

 

Thank you for that - could have looked it up myself but decided to include the question while I was here in this topic.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, sidneybear said:

I think you're missing the point. In Britain, you only get a pension if you pay into National Insurance before retirement age. It isn't a free pension. Why should people who leave be penalised, when they've paid in?

Correct.... people who have paid in the same amount but one is penalised because they choose to live abroad.

[ronster]

15 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

As she has been out of the country she would not be entitled to free health care for a period of time and I doubt that she even has a GP in the UK which makes the situation even worse Being under the impression that she could land at Heathrow and be admitted straight to a hospital is pie in the sky if she entered the UK via Dover in a rubber dinghy she would have a lot more chance of being taken care of and that’s very sad !

When I went back I had to register with a GP. Ended up taking 2-3 months before I was in the system.

When on the phone to DWP offices while asking why I couldn't claim benefits for disability I said to the guy I bet if I rocked up in a dinghy at Dover I would have no problem getting everything I said. 

He said we'll no it doesn't quite work like that . I pointed out all the claims I had made took me 2 weeks to find and send off applications as most were not in plain sight to apply. Yet people in dinghies would have someone filling out every form possible to apply for asylum seekers. Where I as a UK citizen was left to my own devices . 

Needless to say I have zero intention of returning to the UK apart from visiting family.

[renaissanc]

Why are so many people posting such uncompassionate comments? It happens every time there is an article about someone in difficulty. Are you so unhappy and angry with life that you cannot do otherwise? Are your lives really barren of love and kindness?

[SportRider]

I have been a long time customer of Jon Fox and his daughter who run their car rental business with friendly professionalism and integrity. 

 

If you are based in Jomtien or Pattaya and need to rent a vehicle, short or long term, I highly recommend QCars.  Easily found on Google. 

 

[nickmondo]

1 hour ago, khunpin said:

Obviously basic intelligence has never been distributed in England. 🤦🏼‍♂️

You only have to look at the Brexit voters to confirm that statement.

[ChrisKC]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Correct.... people who have paid in the same amount but one is penalised because they choose to live abroad.

Living abroad isn't the problem - it is being in a particular country that doesn't have a reciprocal arrangement.

[pookett]

"The Department for Work and Pensions maintains that information about the financial implications of moving abroad is available on its website."

 

...as of 24 years ago???? Yeah right! Plus, ALLLLLL retiree age folk were all over the fledgling internet back then.🤦🏻‍♂️

 

Just pathetic Governmental twattery...If they stopped the undeserved handouts there would be plenty to sort this, fix the NHS and give money where it's truly needed/deserved e.g. ex-armed forces, genuinely needy British Citizens etc.

 

 

[Asquith Production]

The U. K. Government operate a discrimination policy based on your address 

[roo860]

16 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Isn't the new pension increase £898?...Have YOU been Smoking Something Again ??

That is a month, £221 a week, for 35yrs contributions, and I don't smoke anything. 

[Liverpool Lou]

29 minutes ago, bubblegum said:

What visa is she holding?

What's the 'kin relevance of that?

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, freeworld said:

Sorry sounds harsh but while one sympathises and that they could return to the UK where the govt should take care of them at that age the conditions they are in are solely of their choice.

 

The govt is one thing but one has a personal responsibility to also make private financial arrangements for health and retirement and has a choice to not have ventured to Thailand to reside without considering longetivity and future health and financial requirements.

Well it didn't take long in my scrolling down to find a comment basically saying it's your own fault. The UK frozen pension system is fkd. Surely people have a right to their pensions where ever they are and at the current rate. On the one hand you have globalism and on the other you have no way we will not give our citizens living overseas the pension increase.