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

[mommysboy]

On 10/4/2024 at 11:10 AM, lordgrinz said:

Life is full of choices, they chose poorly...

 

We all do sooner or later.  Life is like that. 

[Cult of the Sun]

On the upside, you qualify for extra 'vaccines'.

[Cult of the Sun]

On 10/4/2024 at 8:24 PM, bristolgeoff said:

That has being the same for many years live here pension frozen.phillipines not.Why I don,t know

Herding sheep.

[Straight8]

On 10/4/2024 at 7:37 PM, sandyf said:

That is not the issue.

Why should some get index linked pensions and others don't. The first recipricol agreement created 2 classes of overseas pensioners, those that can and those that can't. Every MP however will stand up and claim discriination is unacceptable.

Brexit brought the agreement with the EU to an end but the goverment changed the law to prevent the backlash from those in the EU. 

In 2019 the labour party gave there backing to the APPG recommendations and it was included in their 2019 manifesto, Page 76 for reference. As soon as they got a sniff of power there was a sudden U turn.

You're missing the point, please re-read that line.

 

People in general should be wise enough to save up for their retirement later on in life, not to depend on the gov't, regardless of what you may think is fair or not fair.

 

Then go live wherever you want without a care.

 

Obviously, its something these men in this article haven't done.

 

Just remember, governments in general are full of lies and broken promises, filth of the highest kind. NEVER rely on someone else for your RETIREMENT.

[itsari]

34 minutes ago, Straight8 said:

You're missing the point, please re-read that line.

 

People in general should be wise enough to save up for their retirement later on in life, not to depend on the gov't, regardless of what you may think is fair or not fair.

 

Then go live wherever you want without a care.

 

Obviously, its something these men in this article haven't done.

 

Just remember, governments in general are full of lies and broken promises, filth of the highest kind. NEVER rely on someone else for your RETIREMENT.

It would be helpful for these men in this article if you could explain how you will be able to NEVER rely on someone else for your RETIREMENT when you are old and can not do much for your self anymore?

If you are refering to the British Government as filth of the highest kind , then I believe you have missed the point entirly.

[sandyf]

10 hours ago, Straight8 said:

You're missing the point, please re-read that line.

 

People in general should be wise enough to save up for their retirement later on in life, not to depend on the gov't, regardless of what you may think is fair or not fair.

 

Then go live wherever you want without a care.

 

Obviously, its something these men in this article haven't done.

 

Just remember, governments in general are full of lies and broken promises, filth of the highest kind. NEVER rely on someone else for your RETIREMENT.

The only point in question is that you and others see discrimination as quite acceptable, until it affects you of course.

In a equal society all pensions where NI was a factor, which would include the majority of workplace and private pensions, should be frozen.

[Letseng]

On 10/3/2024 at 3:53 PM, jori123 said:

Only if you you get pension paid thru IPC,   diy (transferwise etc) keep a UK address, but then IPC would not 

How can you keep an address in UK when you live in Thailand other than staying for a holiday? Called cheating.

[Letseng]

On 10/5/2024 at 4:27 PM, sandyf said:

So in your opinion discrimination is not newsworthy. You only have to mention "trans" and the government is rushing to change the law, but they are quite prepared to deny military veterans a full state pension.

The sad part is people like you support them.

You don't get the point. It wasn't about discrimination. Subject is people not being aware of the rule. If you bother to read the blurb when you get your pension approved then you know about it. If you don't read it then you get caught out & consider it newsworthy.

 

[Neeranam]

17 minutes ago, Letseng said:

You don't get the point. It wasn't about discrimination. Subject is people not being aware of the rule. If you bother to read the blurb when you get your pension approved then you know about it. If you don't read it then you get caught out & consider it newsworthy.

 

I'd kinda expect the UK government pension office to be honest and give me what I am due. 

[Neeranam]

On 10/5/2024 at 8:24 AM, bristolgeoff said:

That has being the same for many years live here pension frozen.phillipines not.Why I don,t know

Why mention the Philippines? Thailand has no affiliation with them. 

 

Is the pension frozen in Laos, Vietnam, China, Japan?

 

I see there is no freeze in Laos. Maybe I'll buy a little house there 🙂 

[Expat68]

48 minutes ago, Letseng said:

How can you keep an address in UK when you live in Thailand other than staying for a holiday? Called cheating.

Not if you still own a house back there

[Letseng]

29 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I'd kinda expect the UK government pension office to be honest and give me what I am due. 

You are due what their rule book says. They don't hide the rule.

[Letseng]

6 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

Not if you still own a house back there

It is not about owning a house but how long you physically stay in this house per year.

I did go through the process with DWP.

[Expat68]

43 minutes ago, Letseng said:

It is not about owning a house but how long you physically stay in this house per year.

I did go through the process with DWP.

I fill in a self assessment tax return every year and have done so for the last 20 years and seeing that I am a qualified bookkeeper back in the UK I have nothing to hide

[sandyf]

6 hours ago, Letseng said:

You don't get the point. It wasn't about discrimination. Subject is people not being aware of the rule. If you bother to read the blurb when you get your pension approved then you know about it. If you don't read it then you get caught out & consider it newsworthy.

 

Of course it is a discriminatory policy, one of several that has been applied to the state pension over the years.

The thread title title is about frozen pensions, not your interpretation.

[jori123]

8 hours ago, Letseng said:

How can you keep an address in UK when you live in Thailand other than staying for a holiday? Called cheating.

Think not. Read the rules, exceptions. 

  However I conclude you are a long frozen individual with a beef. Nothing I can do ,however if I am missing something

 On my latest quest on the unlawful aspect of being unfrozen there in TH (or any where else) I did beg an answer and was rewarded by the statement"

"I couldn't find any specific cases of older adults (OAPs) being sanctioned or punished for receiving an unfrozen state pension"

 

This policy can have a devastating impact on affected individuals, leading to lost income and, in some cases, retirement in poverty.

 

However to ease your troubled mindset I do prescribe a session with listening to Mrs Mills at the Piano ,or a session of The Archers February 1951,soothing to the ears (and mind)

.

 

[jori123]

8 hours ago, Expat68 said:

Not if you still own a house back there

Do not need a house, just an address, paid for or not

[Letseng]

You could have saved yourself all the typing if you had followed the subject from the beginning. Or was it about showing how clever you are?

[jori123]

3 hours ago, Letseng said:

You could have saved yourself all the typing if you had followed the subject from the beginning. Or was it about showing how clever you are?

Nah! how ignorant you are.

[PPGuy]

On 10/9/2024 at 10:15 AM, Neeranam said:

Why mention the Philippines? Thailand has no affiliation with them. 

 

Is the pension frozen in Laos, Vietnam, China, Japan?

 

I see there is no freeze in Laos. Maybe I'll buy a little house there 🙂 

 

Laos is not on the list of countries where an increase to the UK State Pension is applicable.

[sambum]

On 10/4/2024 at 4:37 PM, sandyf said:

That is not the issue.

Why should some get index linked pensions and others don't. The first recipricol agreement created 2 classes of overseas pensioners, those that can and those that can't. Every MP however will stand up and claim discriination is unacceptable.

Brexit brought the agreement with the EU to an end but the goverment changed the law to prevent the backlash from those in the EU. 

In 2019 the labour party gave there backing to the APPG recommendations and it was included in their 2019 manifesto, Page 76 for reference. As soon as they got a sniff of power there was a sudden U turn.

 

I have Googled the Labour Party 2019 Manifesto and it only appears to go up to Page 40!!!

[sambum]

On 10/7/2024 at 5:01 AM, Straight8 said:

You're missing the point, please re-read that line.

 

People in general should be wise enough to save up for their retirement later on in life, not to depend on the gov't, regardless of what you may think is fair or not fair.

 

Then go live wherever you want without a care.

 

Obviously, its something these men in this article haven't done.

 

Just remember, governments in general are full of lies and broken promises, filth of the highest kind. NEVER rely on someone else for your RETIREMENT.

"People in general should be wise enough to save up for their retirement later on in life, not to depend on the gov't, regardless of what you may think is fair or not fair."

 

Sometimes, people in general do not have the spare cash to save up for their retirement - they live from day to day, and I think that will apply even more during this years "Bleak Winter" due to the absurd cost of Utility Bills (£1700 p.a. average)

 

I was in a position where I was having to pay a mortgage on a single salary, pay child maintenance based on a previous higher salary, and although the Government Rules and Regs  states that "Full time education ceases at 16", and any education beyond that point ("A" levels, University etc is classed as  "Further Education", by order of the local Magistrates Court to make maintenance payments until my daughter finished University i.e. 21!)

 

OK, that was a few years ago, and I sold the house at a substantial profit and moved abroad, but my point is that not everybody is in a position to save for their retirement, due to circumstances that may be beyond their control. 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

On 10/3/2024 at 4:19 PM, 3NUMBAS said:

blame starmer and reeves ,the usual labour crowd of dumbos who cant think  straight

Blame those two for what?

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, PPGuy said:

 

Laos is not on the list of countries where an increase to the UK State Pension is applicable.

Ah, OK. The list I saw did, I've now checked UK Government site 

[Mike Teavee]

3 hours ago, sambum said:

 

I have Googled the Labour Party 2019 Manifesto and it only appears to go up to Page 40!!!

https://ucrel.lancs.ac.uk/wmatrix/ukmanifestos2019/localpdf/Labour.pdf 

 

From Page 76 (Of 104). 

We will ensure that the pensions of UK citizens living overseas rise in line with pensions in Britain.

 

 

[sambum]

12 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

https://ucrel.lancs.ac.uk/wmatrix/ukmanifestos2019/localpdf/Labour.pdf 

 

From Page 76 (Of 104). 

We will ensure that the pensions of UK citizens living overseas rise in line with pensions in Britain.

 

 

Thank you Mike! Also - on the same page:-

"We will maintain the ‘triple lock’ and guarantee the Winter Fuel Payment, free TV licences and free bus passes  as universal benefits."

 

[sandyf]

21 hours ago, sambum said:

 

I have Googled the Labour Party 2019 Manifesto and it only appears to go up to Page 40!!!

The full copy of the manifesto has 107 pages.

https://ucrel.lancs.ac.uk/wmatrix/ukmanifestos2019/localpdf/Labour.pdf

 

This is what it says on page 76.

Also noteable is that on page 75 they said the pension age would be kept at 66.

[sambum]

14 minutes ago, sandyf said:

The full copy of the manifesto has 107 pages.

https://ucrel.lancs.ac.uk/wmatrix/ukmanifestos2019/localpdf/Labour.pdf

 

This is what it says on page 76.

Also noteable is that on page 75 they said the pension age would be kept at 66.

 

Thank you Sandy! New boss same as the old boss - won't get fooled again?

[Bobthegimp]

British pensions are frozen in Canada, as well, and they've whinged about it for as long as I've been alive. There were protests and marches during my childhood which always ended in property damage and full paddywagons.

 

There is a rumour that the British government is about to eliminate the freeze for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people as freezing their pensions is clearly discriminatory. 

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Bobthegimp said:

British pensions are frozen in Canada, as well, and they've whinged about it for as long as I've been alive. There were protests and marches during my childhood which always ended in property damage and full paddywagons.

The Canada Pension Plan(CPP) is a contributory earnings based social program.

The UK state pension is a contributory earnings based pension scheme.

However

Because the CPP is a "member-contributed plan", it will always be yours, regardless of where you live in the world.