Frozen in time: British expats losing out on pensions in Thailand

[webfact]

Three British expats reveal their nightmare experiences of having their UK pension frozen, thanks to a government policy that leaves them with unadjusted savings, sparking widespread outrage.

 

David McConkey believed he was heading for paradise when he retired to Bangkok in May this year. After 40 gruelling years as an electronics buyer, the 72 year old Scot was ready to bask in the sun, sandy beaches, and exotic cuisine of his favourite city. But his dream retirement turned into a financial nightmare when he discovered his UK state pension had been frozen.

 

Despite decades of hard work and contributions, McConkey has been blindsided by a policy affecting 500,000 British expats. Unlike their counterparts in the UK, who enjoy annual increases through the triple lock system, expats like McConkey are left stranded with pensions stuck at their current rate.

 

“I fully paid my contributions to the last penny, but now I am being penalised. People who emigrate to countries like the US get the annual uplift, but Thailand isn’t included. Why?”

The triple lock guarantees UK pensioners an increase linked to inflation, wage growth, or 2.5%. Next April, this will mean an extra £460 (nearly 20,000 baht) a year for most. But expats like McConkey will miss out unless they live in a country with a reciprocal agreement with the UK.

It’s not just McConkey who is struggling. George Lewis, a 76 year old British citizen, moved to Thailand in 2004 but now lives hand to mouth.

 

“We don’t have heating bills but air conditioning is expensive, and fans just don’t cut it in 40-degree heat.”

 

Another retiree, 76 year old Guy Lindsay-Watson, echoes the sentiment.

 

“We are hardly coping.”

 

The End Frozen Pensions campaign warns that many pensioners, including ex-nurses, firefighters, and police officers, now live in poverty. Some are even forced to return to the UK, putting extra strain on the NHS and social care system, reported iNews UK.

 

“Government help is what we need, and we need it soon.”

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal 
Frozen in time: British expats losing out on pensions in Thailand. Photo courtesy of iNews UK
 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-10-02

 

 

[G_Money]

That is pretty f——- up. What difference does it make where they live if one is vetted and qualified.

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 11:56 PM by ElwoodP
usa comment deleted

[BMW Overlander]

Quote

the 72 year old Scot was ready to bask in the sun, sandy beaches, and exotic cuisine

 

😂

[Gknrd]

That is been going on for ever, why retire there if you loose?  Best to make it seem like you live in the UK I would think. Surely there are ways around it.

[Nemises]

They knew their pensions would freeze if they left the UK.

Next.

[milesinnz]

UK government petty mindedness... but then, how can they make up for the money it costs to house and feed the illegal immigrants.... ?

[cnx101]

6 minutes ago, BMW Overlander said:

 

😂

Forgot the ladyboys etc 

[theblether]

Give it a rest. This has been the rule since the majority of pensioners were born. 

 

There is zero chance the UK is going to update 490,000 pensions for people in this position. Especially after means testing winter allowances. 

 

Just give it a rest. 

 

ps - I note an article quoting people in their fifties moaning about the pensions freeze. They don't even qualify for the pension for over a decade and they have started greeting already. Dear me. 

Edited Tuesday at 10:08 PM by theblether

[spermwhale]

"After 40 gruelling years as an electronics buyer"... who writes this stuff? 

Also: This isn't true: But his dream retirement turned into a financial nightmare when he discovered his UK state pension had been frozen.

He didn't have his pension frozen. He just doesn't get cost-of-living increases. Big difference. he still gets his money, so I'm not sure how that is a "financial nightmare." 

Edited Tuesday at 10:11 PM by spermwhale

[theblether]

2 minutes ago, milesinnz said:

UK government petty mindedness... but then, how can they make up for the money it costs to house and feed the illegal immigrants.... ?

 

Better illegal immigrants that contribute  than sour faced pensioners that want to live abroad and slate the UK every day. 

 

Plenty of them. Just come home. 

[sumongkhwai]

10 minutes ago, BMW Overlander said:

 

😂

I read somewhere that Nana and nearby have some outstanding beeches in Thailand.

[theblether]

3 minutes ago, spermwhale said:

"After 40 gruelling years as an electronics buyer"... who writes this stuff? 

 

Did you see the one where the 54 year old said they wanted to live in Thailand to be closer to their Australian family. By the time they found out there was a pension freeze it was "too late to change their plans." 

 

Aye, thirteen years before your pension kicks in isn't enough notice 5555

 

Utterly absurd

Edited Tuesday at 10:07 PM by theblether

[spermwhale]

Also, if you can't afford to retire abroad then you shouldn't. There is another thing these guys don't mention: At their age they cannot get health insurance in Thailand and the coverage from the NHS doesn't extend to Thailand. . If they go to the hospital for a major event, which is likely to happen once retired, they'll either drain their savings or not be able to pay. This should be a major consideration for any codger whose looking to come to Thailand to retire and fornicate their way to heaven in Pattaya 

 

 

[Mike Teavee]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The End Frozen Pensions campaign warns that many pensioners, including ex-nurses, firefighters, and police officers, now live in poverty

Ex-nurses, firefighters & Police Officers all get “Final Salary” government pensions which are very generous & exempt from Tax in Thailand. 
 

It’s the average Joe with little/no additional pension that feels this the most. 

Should have moved to Philippines (where State Pension is not frozen). 

[G_Money]

7 minutes ago, theblether said:

Give it a rest. This has been the rule since the majority of pensioners were born. 

 

There is zero chance the UK is going to update 490,000 pensions for people in this position. Especially after means testing winter allowances. 

 

Just give it a rest. 

 

ps - I note an article quoting people in their fifties moaning about the pensions freeze. They don't even qualify for the pension gor over a decade and they have started greeting already. Dear me. 

From the Prime Minister himself.

[theblether]

1 minute ago, spermwhale said:

Also, if you can't afford to retire abroad then you shouldn't. There is another thing these guys don't mention: At their age they cannot get health insurance in Thailand and the coverage from the NHS doesn't extend to Thailand. . If they go to the hospital for a major event, which is likely to happen once retired, they'll either drain their savings or not be able to pay. This should be a major consideration for any codger whose looking to come to Thailand to retire and fornicate their way to heaven in Pattaya 

 

 

 

Don't forget the "gofundme" brigade. 

 

 

[chiang mai]

2 minutes ago, spermwhale said:

Also, if you can't afford to retire abroad then you shouldn't. There is another thing these guys don't mention: At their age they cannot get health insurance in Thailand and the coverage from the NHS doesn't extend to Thailand. . If they go to the hospital for a major event, which is likely to happen once retired, they'll either drain their savings or not be able to pay. This should be a major consideration for any codger whose looking to come to Thailand to retire and fornicate their way to heaven in Pattaya 

 

 

I don't know that I can afford to retire in the UK, my pensions give me a good standard of living here but in the UK things would be very tight. And whilst we can't get health insurance here, at least we can get treated and not put on some 3 year waiting list.

[theblether]

Just now, Mike Teavee said:

Ex-nurses, firefighters & Police Officers all get “Final Salary” government pensions which are very generous & exempt from Tax in Thailand. 
 

It’s the average Joe with little/no additional pension that feels this the most. 

Should have moved to Philippines (where State Pension is not frozen). 

 

A firefighter retiring this year with 30 years service will have well in excess of 100,000 baht income combined. 

 

Their service pension is index linked. The article is a joke, trolling stupidity. 

[G_Money]

6 minutes ago, theblether said:

 

Better illegal immigrants that contribute  than sour faced pensioners that want to live abroad and slate the UK every day. 

 

Plenty of them. Just come home. 

 
No wonder.

 

The UK equivalent of Biden/Harris lover.

[spermwhale]

12 minutes ago, milesinnz said:

UK government petty mindedness... but then, how can they make up for the money it costs to house and feed the illegal immigrants.... ?

This has been a policy for decade s. Immigrants have nothing to do with it,  but emigrants do. 

[Captain Monday]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

After 40 grueling years as an electronics buyer, the 72 year old Scot was ready to bask in the sun, sandy beaches, and *exotic (snatch) , cuisine and cuisine of his favourite city.  

 

 

 

[Straight8]

40 years & didn't save for retirement, buddy, that's on you.

 

That's always the issue, people spending at will in their 20's, 30's, 40's 50's, and then complaining about the Pension not being enough.

 

 

[theblether]

5 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

I don't know that I can afford to retire in the UK, my pensions give me a good standard of living here but in the UK things would be very tight. And whilst we can't get health insurance here, at least we can get treated and not put on some 3 year waiting list.

 

My dad is just out of hospital today. Picked up by ambulance within twenty minutes and a seven day stay. 

 

The NHS is not the basketcase people are making out. 

Edited Tuesday at 10:17 PM by theblether

[MCos]

I sympathize with these people, but at least they get something 

For Kiwis one must be resident in NZ to get anything 

[theblether]

1 minute ago, G_Money said:

 
No wonder.

 

The UK equivalent of Biden/Harris lover.

 

Me? 🤪

 

thats a cracker. 

[spermwhale]

1 minute ago, chiang mai said:

I don't know that I can afford to retire in the UK, my pensions give me a good standard of living here but in the UK things would be very tight. And whilst we can't get health insurance here, at least we can get treated and not put on some 3 year waiting list.

They won't treat an expat who can't pay. That's been shown time and time again. And as people age their need for expensive medical care increases dramatically. If one of these blokes has a stroke or another major condition, they are toast. NHS doesn't make anyone wait for 3 years if they've suffered a stroke. They are admitted to emergency immediately. 

[theblether]

2 minutes ago, MCos said:

I sympathize with these people, but at least they get something 

For Kiwis one must be resident in NZ to get anything 

 

I've always thought the Australian rule that you need to live their for the final two years before pension age was brutal. 

 

But don't tell my Brit OAP's. They live feeling hard done by, don't burst their bubble. 

Edited Tuesday at 10:17 PM by theblether

[chiang mai]

1 minute ago, theblether said:

 

My dad is just out of hospital today. Picked up my ambulance within twenty minutes and a seven day stay. 

 

The NHS is not the basketcase people are making out. 

It may depend where you live I suppose. A friend in Lancaster had a ten month wait to have his heart effectively rebuilt and then two years later, a one year wait to fix an aorta aneurysm, hardly trivial problems.....this was at Blackpool regional hospital. 

[Robert Tyrrell]

Good morning,

 

Frozen pensions , No annual cost of living increases while living in Thailand. The U.K. Goverment should be ABSOLUTELY ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES !!! I'm glad my Country protects our retirement monies !!And Annual cost of living invreases , What does the U.K. Goverment think cost of living doesn't follow them when the decide to retire elswhere as example Thailand and you screw your pensioner's  !!! APPAULING !! SHAME ON YOIU AGAIN !!!

[theblether]

6 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

It may depend where you live I suppose. A friend in Lancaster had a ten month wait to have his heart effectively rebuilt and then two years later, a one year wait to fix an aorta aneurysm, hardly trivial problems.....this was at Blackpool regional hospital. 

 

My sister is a senior NHS HR manager. Here's the problem. Overseas private hospitals are offering funny money. I know a 35 yo cardiac surgeon who has taken a job at USD650,000 basic in California. 

 

One well known former member of this forum has just been hired to an overseas contract paying 450% more than the NHS rate - 

 

How do we stop these specialists from being headhunted? 

Edited Tuesday at 10:25 PM by theblether