UK Pensioners in Thailand Face New Scrutiny Over Pension Fraud

[Rimmer]

An off topic and troll posts have been removed, also some replies

[webfact]

British expats uncovered in Thailand as UK probes pension fraud
by Bob Scott

 

Picture courtesy of William Russell

In a fresh twist for British expats soaking up the sun abroad, the cloak of UK banking secrecy is about to be lifted if there’s a whiff of state pension fraud.

 

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, currently being dissected in the House of Lords, is pegged to hit the legal books in early 2025. This new legislation will compel British banks and building societies to unveil the financial dealings of Brits, whether they’re at home or living it up overseas, wherever wrongdoing is suspected.

 

The spotlight is on the crafty few amongst British retirees who’ve been dodging the rules by hiding their residence in countries where the state pension doesn’t get those lovely inflation hikes.

 

The rules, it seems, are as clear as mud: while pension rises grace some nations (think the EU and the Philippines), others get left in the cold (alas, Thailand and Australia).

A staggering half a million British pensioners are out there in the world with frozen state pensions, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reckons they’re overpaying to the tune of £100 million (4.5 billion baht).

 

Sneaky suspects often maintain a UK address for their DWP correspondence, even though they’re globe-trotting. One cheeky chap in Thailand got caught out last year when his DWP letter sent to his London pad pinged back with a neighbour’s scribbled note: “Lucky sod lives in Pattaya.”

Bangkok or Baghdad

 

Another tale of deceit unravelled when a bloke’s missus discovered he was having a ball in Bangkok, rather than toiling away in Baghdad as he’d fibbed.

 

The upcoming legislation will likely help digital systems flag those pensioners getting yearly bumps but appearing suspiciously to be parked in foreign locales.

 

Yet, the Thailand-based campaign group advocating to thaw frozen UK pensions insists the real issue isn’t so much roguish retirees but rather DWP bungles and the ridiculous dance of which country gets what.

 

The current Labour administration, much like its Conservative predecessor, hasn’t shown a hint of interest in righting this pension injustice.

 

Adding to the expats’ woes is the unreliable international mail system. Every few years, UK officials demand proof of life to keep the pension payments coming. But these vital letters get tossed in the wind, sent as ordinary mail via a Dutch firm, and many go AWOL, halting payments when unanswered.

 

“It’s just bonkers!” exclaimed 68 year old Frank Weston, a resident in Pattaya. He argues it’s high time to ditch the paperwork for a digital solution.

 

For those Brits abroad, it seems the pension plot thickens!

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-15

 

 

[phitsanulokjohn]

British govt has maintained this bang out of order and backwards policy for decades now.

Everyone who has paid national insurance contributions,should receive the rise.Its my opinion that they do not,because the govt wants you to spend the money in the British economy and not abroad.They should target the real fraudsters,not the easy to bully pensioners.  

[smedly]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Common tactics include maintaining a UK address for official DWP communications while living abroad.

 

weii it is a lot worse than that, there are benefits being claimed using this same method, I don't agree with frozen pensions but  blatant  benefit fraud is another matter, they could easily catch these people by checking passport records, for now they don;t

[Russell17au]

24 minutes ago, happyaussie said:

Your lucky. Australian pensioners cannot reside outside Australia and collect the pension. We are already one of the highest taxed countries in the world. The government wants it's pensioners to stay put so they can continue collecting tax. 

 

The hypocracy is that Australias $220k+ pa politicians receive a full pension after 5 years, can continue working in other fields and reside anywhere. 

 

it sucks.

You are incorrect on this information. I am an Australian pensioner and I have lived in Thailand without returning to Australia for 12 years. My government pension is paid direct from the Reserve Bank of Australia into my Bangkok Bank account every 4 weeks plus I have removed my name from the Australian Electoral Roll so I do not have to vote in Australian elections. If you do not have the pension before you leave Australia then you must reside in Australia for a minimum of 2 years before you can apply for the pension

[lineofentry]

How do they define 'resident'? I like to do 6 months/ 6 months.

[transam]

1 minute ago, lineofentry said:

How do they define 'resident'? I like to do 6 months/ 6 months.

Out of the country, plus you must tell them any change in circumstances, including address...

[stoutfella]

32 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Aussies can get the pension in Thailand but I think they have to go home for 2 years to qualify, maybe an Auss can explain, NZ its totally portable, hope it stays that way, Winston Peters just stopped the National govt from raising the age to 67, if they raise it much more many will die b4 they reach pension age ,but Politicians want that, narcissist's

"many will die b4 they reach pension age". I thought that was the idea.

[Gcart]

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

My passport has "temporary stay " stamped in it so I don't or ever will live here end of story Keir 🤔

 

 

If you stay in Thailand for 6 months or more you will become a resident in that tax year

[nickmondo]

So many people responding to this post that have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

[transam]

1 minute ago, nickmondo said:

So many people responding to this post that have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

Well, point things out to assist.............

[Gcart]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

If you do the crime, do the time.

My pension has been frozen for almost nine years. That is one reason why I still work.

Yes, life is a bitch and then we die.

It is how we die that is important.

When we die can matter more. Living past 75 can trigger taxes on any leftover pension, essentially creating a tax on living 'too long

[bradiston]

51 minutes ago, RayD said:

What's the nearest country that doesn't freeze the pension and how long do I have to stay there?

Philippines, but here's the full list:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pensions-annual-increases-if-you-live-abroad/countries-where-we-pay-an-annual-increase-in-the-state-pension

[smedly]

22 minutes ago, lineofentry said:

How do they define 'resident'? I like to do 6 months/ 6 months.

 

does't really matter, if you are not in the country (excluding short holidays) you are not entitled to benefits - pensions are slightly different were like benefits you are not entitled to increases if out of the country - look up - 🇬🇧 ORDINARILY resident, I know people here claiming for benefits they are only entitled to while living in Thailand - they risk a prison term if caught

 

I knew a guy geting paid his dead mothers pension for years

[transam]

Blimey, there's a lot of folk reading this thread, I wonder why.................................🤭

[crazykopite]

My UK pension was frozen years ago I pay UK taxes so I’ve got nothing to hide

[hardblogger]

I am 67 this month so had OAP for one year. I am also ex service 35 years and have military pension. Live in Thailand, and have done for 6 years. I have told DWP where I am, and I am not going back. So all pretty straight forward. 

Military pension paid monthly in Thai bank and is taxed in UK. Is indexed linked and can live anywhere and receive that. All good. 
72,000 baht a month or thereabouts with the exchange rate  Going up about 1.5% in April.  

OAP is paid monthly into Thai Bank and is NOT TAXED but since my first payment zero. 
35,000 baht a month. 
 

But the principle of both pensions being so different is daft, am that bothered, No, but that doesn't make it right does it. 
Could I retire here on OAP alone, No. But to those committing fraud beware, it is possible to inform DWP by a completely 100% anonymous form. Up to them if they follow up your information. They can never contact you, you don't give any of your own details. 100% I have done it. 
 

[Dave0206]

I'm sure we would still not agree with them but if they also decided to also take a hit to there mp pensions or benefits at least they could say it is affecting us all instead of accepting " gifts" not bribes and can not see the hypocrisy 

[Gcart]

1 hour ago, RayD said:

What's the nearest country that doesn't freeze the pension and how long do I have to stay there?

Philippines

[harryviking]

xxx

[transam]

1 minute ago, Gcart said:

Philippines

And your pension is adjusted straight away. If you go back to the UK for a holiday, you can get your pension upgraded for that period, goes back to what it was on return.

 

[hardblogger]

4 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

My UK pension was frozen years ago I pay UK taxes so I’ve got nothing to hide

 If you get your OAP paid direct into Thai bank, it is then TAX free, it is not paid from UK,, it is paid from outscorcing company actually in USA. But if it paid into UK bank, then yes it will be subject to tax over 12570. But may or may not suit you to check that out. Mine goes in to my Thai bank every 4th Friday at 9.01am its very good. 

[transam]

1 minute ago, harryviking said:

Strange how little they care about how much they spend on illegal migrants roaming the streets of England! Then there seems to be no limits!! 

That is another thread, nothing to do with UK pensioners moving to a country that does not have a reciprocal agreement with the UK..😉

[harryviking]

8 minutes ago, transam said:

That is another thread, nothing to do with UK pensioners moving to a country that does not have a reciprocal agreement with the UK..😉

😫

[transam]

2 minutes ago, hardblogger said:

 If you get your OAP paid direct into Thai bank, it is then TAX free, it is not paid from UK,, it is paid from outscorcing company actually in USA. But if it paid into UK bank, then yes it will be subject to tax over 12570. But may or may not suit you to check that out. Mine goes in to my Thai bank every 4th Friday at 9.01am its very good. 

UK state pension is not paid directly to a Thai bank. It may have changed now,  but I recall it is paid to Citibank, Ireland, they send it to Citibank Bangkok, they send it to your local Thai bank...😋

[jesimps]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, all the Brits who moves to Thailand or lives here, knows the rules. Fair or unfair, has nothing to do with it. If they make a choice to move to Thailand, they will also make a choice to go by the rules. Break them, and sooner or later you will have to pay for it. Something that might be so hard that they can not stay in Thailand no more. 

 

Welcome to Thailand! Stop hiding and breaking the law. If you can´t afford it, Thailand is not for you. Then it´s better to chose a country where can get your full pension.

I bet you were the teachers pet at school. I'm all in favour of sticking to the rules, but only if they're non-discriminatory. I refuse to condemn anyone trying to dodge this particular one. By the way, before you go banging on, I informed the HMRC that I resided in Thailand in 2009, the year I qualified for state pension and it has been frozen since then.

[transam]

3 minutes ago, harryviking said:

It has to do with GB not having enough cash to regulate for a few pensioners living in Thailand while at the same time wasting billons on illegal migrants!! Get it?

Start your own thread then.....🙄

We do not get upgrades because Thailand does not have a reciprocal agreement with the UK. End of.

Many countries do, you can move to any of those to get upgraded...🥴

[Raindancer]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

British expats uncovered in Thailand as UK probes pension fraud
by Bob Scott

 

Picture courtesy of William Russell

In a fresh twist for British expats soaking up the sun abroad, the cloak of UK banking secrecy is about to be lifted if there’s a whiff of state pension fraud.

 

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, currently being dissected in the House of Lords, is pegged to hit the legal books in early 2025. This new legislation will compel British banks and building societies to unveil the financial dealings of Brits, whether they’re at home or living it up overseas, wherever wrongdoing is suspected.

 

The spotlight is on the crafty few amongst British retirees who’ve been dodging the rules by hiding their residence in countries where the state pension doesn’t get those lovely inflation hikes.

 

The rules, it seems, are as clear as mud: while pension rises grace some nations (think the EU and the Philippines), others get left in the cold (alas, Thailand and Australia).

A staggering half a million British pensioners are out there in the world with frozen state pensions, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reckons they’re overpaying to the tune of £100 million (4.5 billion baht).

 

Sneaky suspects often maintain a UK address for their DWP correspondence, even though they’re globe-trotting. One cheeky chap in Thailand got caught out last year when his DWP letter sent to his London pad pinged back with a neighbour’s scribbled note: “Lucky sod lives in Pattaya.”

Bangkok or Baghdad

 

Another tale of deceit unravelled when a bloke’s missus discovered he was having a ball in Bangkok, rather than toiling away in Baghdad as he’d fibbed.

 

The upcoming legislation will likely help digital systems flag those pensioners getting yearly bumps but appearing suspiciously to be parked in foreign locales.

 

Yet, the Thailand-based campaign group advocating to thaw frozen UK pensions insists the real issue isn’t so much roguish retirees but rather DWP bungles and the ridiculous dance of which country gets what.

 

The current Labour administration, much like its Conservative predecessor, hasn’t shown a hint of interest in righting this pension injustice.

 

Adding to the expats’ woes is the unreliable international mail system. Every few years, UK officials demand proof of life to keep the pension payments coming. But these vital letters get tossed in the wind, sent as ordinary mail via a Dutch firm, and many go AWOL, halting payments when unanswered.

 

“It’s just bonkers!” exclaimed 68 year old Frank Weston, a resident in Pattaya. He argues it’s high time to ditch the paperwork for a digital solution.

 

For those Brits abroad, it seems the pension plot thickens!

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-15

 

 

Total rubbish.   The Taiger as usual taking everything out of context,  in order to fill their pages.

 

They would do better at reading the actual statement by the Chancellor.    As opposed to this hyperbole and this deliberately misleading article.

[proton]

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

British expats uncovered in Thailand as UK probes pension fraud
by Bob Scott

 

Picture courtesy of William Russell

In a fresh twist for British expats soaking up the sun abroad, the cloak of UK banking secrecy is about to be lifted if there’s a whiff of state pension fraud.

 

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, currently being dissected in the House of Lords, is pegged to hit the legal books in early 2025. This new legislation will compel British banks and building societies to unveil the financial dealings of Brits, whether they’re at home or living it up overseas, wherever wrongdoing is suspected.

 

The spotlight is on the crafty few amongst British retirees who’ve been dodging the rules by hiding their residence in countries where the state pension doesn’t get those lovely inflation hikes.

 

The rules, it seems, are as clear as mud: while pension rises grace some nations (think the EU and the Philippines), others get left in the cold (alas, Thailand and Australia).

A staggering half a million British pensioners are out there in the world with frozen state pensions, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reckons they’re overpaying to the tune of £100 million (4.5 billion baht).

 

Sneaky suspects often maintain a UK address for their DWP correspondence, even though they’re globe-trotting. One cheeky chap in Thailand got caught out last year when his DWP letter sent to his London pad pinged back with a neighbour’s scribbled note: “Lucky sod lives in Pattaya.”

Bangkok or Baghdad

 

Another tale of deceit unravelled when a bloke’s missus discovered he was having a ball in Bangkok, rather than toiling away in Baghdad as he’d fibbed.

 

The upcoming legislation will likely help digital systems flag those pensioners getting yearly bumps but appearing suspiciously to be parked in foreign locales.

 

Yet, the Thailand-based campaign group advocating to thaw frozen UK pensions insists the real issue isn’t so much roguish retirees but rather DWP bungles and the ridiculous dance of which country gets what.

 

The current Labour administration, much like its Conservative predecessor, hasn’t shown a hint of interest in righting this pension injustice.

 

Adding to the expats’ woes is the unreliable international mail system. Every few years, UK officials demand proof of life to keep the pension payments coming. But these vital letters get tossed in the wind, sent as ordinary mail via a Dutch firm, and many go AWOL, halting payments when unanswered.

 

“It’s just bonkers!” exclaimed 68 year old Frank Weston, a resident in Pattaya. He argues it’s high time to ditch the paperwork for a digital solution.

 

For those Brits abroad, it seems the pension plot thickens!

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-15

 

 

 

Who wrote this scaremongering rubbish from the Thaiger? There is no way they can tell if you are in the UK or abroad by looking at your bank account. Also, it has been stated they will only do so if you are claiming means tested benefits, at the moment the state pension is not means tested, so if thats all you are claiming they will not be looking at your accounts. Claiming pension credit etc they will/could be, although given that they are so overworked not a certainty.

[hardblogger]

1 hour ago, RayD said:

What's the nearest country that doesn't freeze the pension and how long do I have to stay there?

As others have said it is the Phillipines. You could get your full pension backdated to the day you arrived in the Phillipines. This wouldn't be a quick process though. The form to register  for overseas pension, is on the DWP website, but it is 22 pages long.
So you would have to send that back to UK, and wait. Eventually they should contact you with you new amount. I think it would
take about 4 months. But you would get it backdated  Alright if someone is intended on moving there full time, but if travelling around just not worth it.