UK State Pension

[Duncan 100]

Hi Guys, I have a Thai wife and I'm from the UK. Could anyone tell me, if I die before her, does she get any part of my UK State pension, if so for how long. Is there any other benefits she is entitled to if I die first ?

 

Many thanks 

[billd766]

when you die, your state pension dies with you. If you have lived in the UK with your Thai wife, AFAIK your wife is not entitled to any of your pension, but if she has been working and paying National Insurance contributions she should be entitled to a state pension in her own name. 

 

However to get the full state pension she will have to pay NIC for 33 years, I think.

 

The next problem is that if she is now living in Thailand and she tells the pension people that she now lives in Thailand, her pension will be frozen (if she is entitled to a state pension). The DWP does not allow state pensions to be transferred to any other person, not even to children.

 

Again, AFAIK she like you, I and many other pensioners, cannot legally claim and UK benefits whilst living in Thailand.

 

Believe it or not, there are over 500,000 UK pensioners who have had their pensions frozen from the day they first got it.

 

There have been quite a few threads on AN about specifically Thailand and UK frozen pensions.

 

I am sorry to give you such a gloomy response.

 

I have a similar problem as you with frozen pensions and what happens when I die.

[3NUMBAS]

They’re quick too ,pension shuts down fast once they have a hint your dead

[lungbing]

OP,

Although not in your original question, your wife may be entitled to part of any private  pension you have, like a works pension.  Check if there's a handbook for such pension scheme.

 

My wife is entitled to half my company pension because we were married before I started to draw that pension.  But different pension schemes have different rules.

[hotandsticky]

20 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

They’re quick too ,pension shuts down fast once they have a hint your dead

 

 

That sounds fair enough.

[hotandsticky]

20 hours ago, billd766 said:

when you die, your state pension dies with you. If you have lived in the UK with your Thai wife, AFAIK your wife is not entitled to any of your pension, but if she has been working and paying National Insurance contributions she should be entitled to a state pension in her own name. 

 

However to get the full state pension she will have to pay NIC for 33 years, I think.

 

The next problem is that if she is now living in Thailand and she tells the pension people that she now lives in Thailand, her pension will be frozen (if she is entitled to a state pension). The DWP does not allow state pensions to be transferred to any other person, not even to children.

 

Again, AFAIK she like you, I and many other pensioners, cannot legally claim and UK benefits whilst living in Thailand.

 

Believe it or not, there are over 500,000 UK pensioners who have had their pensions frozen from the day they first got it.

 

There have been quite a few threads on AN about specifically Thailand and UK frozen pensions.

 

I am sorry to give you such a gloomy response.

 

I have a similar problem as you with frozen pensions and what happens when I die.

 

 

Confirmed  -  husband or wife have their own state pension based on their own NI contributions.

 

If she was resident in the UK at the time of her husband's death she could claim a Bereavement Support Payment.

 

Occupational pensions are a different matter and she could be entitled to up to 50%.

[Duncan 100]

Thanks Guys,

 

My wife has been living, working and paying NI in the UK for the last 18 years, she is still on a Temporary Leave to Remain Visa, as she can't pass the Life in the UK test. Do you think she is entitled to some sort of UK State Pension ?  

[RayC]

In theory yes, but she should contact The International Centre (+44 (0) 191 218 7777) to confirm her individual situation.

[Liverpool Lou]

22 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

They’re quick too ,pension shuts down fast once they have a hint your dead

Of course.   Why shouldn't it cease?

[Liverpool Lou]

17 minutes ago, RayC said:

In theory yes, but she should contact The International Centre (+44 (0) 191 218 7777) to confirm her individual situation.

If she's in the UK and been paying NICs for 18 years there is no need for her to contact the International Centre, she just has to request a pension estimate from the DWP.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Duncan 100 said:

My wife has been living, working and paying NI in the UK for the last 18 years, she is still on a Temporary Leave to Remain Visa, as she can't pass the Life in the UK test. Do you think she is entitled to some sort of UK State Pension ?

Call the DWP and ask them!

[Phulublub]

2 hours ago, Duncan 100 said:

Thanks Guys,

 

My wife has been living, working and paying NI in the UK for the last 18 years, she is still on a Temporary Leave to Remain Visa, as she can't pass the Life in the UK test. Do you think she is entitled to some sort of UK State Pension ?  

She must, therefore have a UK NI Number - she should register on the HMRC website where she will be able to see her entitlement

 

PH

[mancub]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Of course.   Why shouldn't it cease?

It should. of course, but in the probate case which I am pursuing (on behalf of the Thai widow), 9 months after his passing. his Gov pension was still being paid. His private pensions had been cancelled though !

I have since informed HMRC, but it makes me wonder if the pension would have been paid until they didn't receive the bi-annual "certificate of Life".

Also. wonder how they would go about clawing back the overpayment if the account wasn't subject to probate ?

[Andycoops]

Not related directly to the OP but the DWP international pension centre have confirmed to me that Life certificate forms are being despatched to Thai expats this month.

 

I had my pension stopped previously and I now contact them every year to determine when they are being issued.

 

You have 16 weeks to return the forms before your pension is stopped.

 

If you call them like I have today they will send the forms to your email address for you to print and complete and then return by post.

 

 

[Mutt Daeng]

13 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Not related directly to the OP but the DWP international pension centre have confirmed to me that Life certificate forms are being despatched to Thai expats this month.

 

I had my pension stopped previously and I now contact them every year to determine when they are being issued.

 

You have 16 weeks to return the forms before your pension is stopped.

 

If you call them like I have today they will send the forms to your email address for you to print and complete and then return by post.

 

 

Thanks for the heads up @Andycoops

[OJAS]

On 1/6/2025 at 4:28 PM, Andycoops said:

If you call them like I have today they will send the forms to your email address for you to print and complete and then return by post.

 

Alternatively you can now download them via the following link:

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67160776e94bb9726918ee90/Life_Certificate.pdf

 

[transam]

A Thai widow friend's English husband died, his state pension was still being paid, not sure how long for, but she got a letter from DWP to refund the overpayment, think it was over 2000+ quid. 

 

Long story short, ignored the demand, I think one more letter, then nothing, that was about 3 years back....🤗

 

My English aunt was married to an American, he worked for an American Co. in the UK and paid NI in the UK, think for over 10 years. When they moved back to the USA, he was surprised to get a percentage of a UK pension until he passed away.....🤗

[treetops]

37 minutes ago, transam said:

A Thai widow friend's English husband died, his state pension was still being paid, not sure how long for, but she got a letter from DWP to refund the overpayment, think it was over 2000+ quid. 

 

Long story short, ignored the demand, I think one more letter, then nothing, that was about 3 years back

 

There is no legal right to claim it back.

 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/01/dwp-has--no-legal-power--to-force-you-to-repay-pension-or-benefi/

 

[transam]

Just now, treetops said:

 

There is no legal right to claim it back.

 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/01/dwp-has--no-legal-power--to-force-you-to-repay-pension-or-benefi/

 

Probably, in her case, which is what I advised the lady to do, ignore it.......😊

She used the money for the funeral......

[Will B Good]

On 12/22/2024 at 10:09 PM, Phulublub said:

She must, therefore have a UK NI Number - she should register on the HMRC website where she will be able to see her entitlement

 

PH

 

I've tried that for my wife (Thai, 13/14 years UK NI contributions).....and ran into problems.....can't remember why though.....must try again.

[transam]

Just now, Will B Good said:

 

I've tried that for my wife (Thai, 13/14 years UK NI contributions).....and ran into problems.....can't remember why though.....must try again.

Pension payment age, perhaps, she will get nothing until her retirement age stated for a UK female...

[Will B Good]

Just now, transam said:

Pension payment age, perhaps, she will get nothing until her retirement age stated for a UK female...

 

Don't think so, as they confirm your record of payments at least, if not a current estimate.

 

There was one step in the online stuff that I get to and can't get past it.......I'll have to look tomorrow, it's bugging me now.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Don't think so, as they confirm your record of payments at least, if not a current estimate.

 

There was one step in the online stuff that I get to and can't get past it.......I'll have to look tomorrow, it's bugging me now.

Females state pension payment age is now 66, and it will go up....

If she is now 66 she will be paid a percentage of the state pension, or maybe pack paid if the pension was not claimed earlier......🤑

[Moonlover]

On 12/21/2024 at 10:42 PM, 3NUMBAS said:

They’re quick too ,pension shuts down fast once they have a hint your dead

And how do they get to know?

[billd766]

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

And how do they get to know?

IIRC when a farang (or in this case a Brit dies), the death should be reported to the police. The widow has to return the UK passport to the UK Embassy. From this I think that the UK Embassy reports it to the FCO in the UK who most probably in turn inform the DWP, who should in turn cancel the pension payments.

 

The UK Embassy should know more and if you contact them, please could you post their answer, presuming that they bother to respond to your request.

[Moonlover]

On 12/21/2024 at 10:42 PM, 3NUMBAS said:

They’re quick too ,pension shuts down fast once they have a hint your dead

 

13 hours ago, Moonlover said:

And how do they get to know?

 

12 hours ago, billd766 said:

IIRC when a farang (or in this case a Brit dies), the death should be reported to the police. The widow has to return the UK passport to the UK Embassy. From this I think that the UK Embassy reports it to the FCO in the UK who most probably in turn inform the DWP, who should in turn cancel the pension payments.

 

The UK Embassy should know more and if you contact them, please could you post their answer, presuming that they bother to respond to your request.

 

Well, I've read that 'theory' before on this forum. However if you read @transam's post from yesterday, it seems that the DWP do not get informed of a death in Thailand. At least not by the FCO. And it's not the first time I've heard of this happening either.

 

15 hours ago, transam said:

A Thai widow friend's English husband died, his state pension was still being paid, not sure how long for, but she got a letter from DWP to refund the overpayment, think it was over 2000+ quid. 

 

Long story short, ignored the demand, I think one more letter, then nothing, that was about 3 years back....🤗

 

Which is why I @3NUMBAS asked the question. I thought that maybe he knew something that we don't.

 

[Andycoops]

14 hours ago, Moonlover said:

And how do they get to know?

Issuing random DWP life certificate requests, I've just been sent one here in Thailand, no reply received by them and your pension is stopped until you prove your alive and kicking.

[Moonlover]

20 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Issuing random DWP life certificate requests, I've just been sent one here in Thailand, no reply received by them and your pension is stopped until you prove your alive and kicking.

I received an interesting article from a contact of mine in France saying that DWP are contemplating going on line for 'proof of life' certification.

 

https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/proof-of-life-certificates-may-go-online-for-uk-pensioners-in-france/104888

[Andycoops]

4 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I received an interesting article from a contact of mine in France saying that DWP are contemplating going on line for 'proof of life' certification.

 

https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/proof-of-life-certificates-may-go-online-for-uk-pensioners-in-france/104888

Dream on.

 

The DWP are in the dark ages which is why they can send you proof of life certificate documents by email  but it's a donotreply address.

 

You can only communicate with them by phone or snail mail, post.

 

As your information comes from a foreign country, it beggars belief what TFTK about any potential online UK system involving the DWP.

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

Dream on.

 

The DWP are in the dark ages which is why they can send you proof of life certificate documents by email  but it's a donotreply address.

 

You can only communicate with them by phone or snail mail, post.

 

As your information comes from a foreign country, it beggars belief what TFTK about any potential online UK system involving the DWP.

 

Well we'll just have to wait and see whether Laura Trott, who was at the time Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions knew what she was talking about. Because that's who the article was referring to.

 

'UK pensions minister Laura Trott referred to the digital plan, which would replace the current process of the Department for Work and Pensions sending letters abroad, in a letter to Conservative MP Roger Gale that he shared with The Connexion'.
 

What exactly did you mean by your first paragraph?  'they can send you proof of life certificate documents by email'.

 

Have you actually received a request for a life certificate by email?