UK State Pension

[hotandsticky]

8 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

 

 

 

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

 

 

I would be surprised if anyone has received a Life Certificate by email. I have returned LC's by email which in itself was pointless as DWP reinstated payments in these 2 cases on the strength of a phone call - that, like a digital response, is more than adequate to confirm that you are still alive.

[transam]

1 minute ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I would be surprised if anyone has received a Life Certificate by email. I have returned LC's by email which in itself was pointless as DWP reinstated payments in these 2 cases on the strength of a phone call - that, like a digital response, is more than adequate to confirm that you are still alive.

I asked the DWP a question, they sent me one to print off to 'post' back, not via email..

[Moonlover]

18 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

27 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

 

 

 

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

 

18 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I would be surprised if anyone has received a Life Certificate by email. I have returned LC's by email which in itself was pointless as DWP reinstated payments in these 2 cases on the strength of a phone call - that, like a digital response, is more than adequate to confirm that you are still alive.

So would I. That's why I was querying that comment by Andycoops.

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

The DWP are in the dark ages

 

And they're far from alone in His Majesty's Government in that regard! Even the snail mail service is deemed far too hi-tec by their pals in HMPO for submitting our passport renewal applications to VFS in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, or for VFS to send on our replacement passports to us in due course - meaning that we're forced to make a couple of physical trips in person for these purposes (which are all the more awkward the further away from Bangkok or Chiang Mai we live), unless, of course, we're prepared to fork out an extra 5,000 THB for the "pleasure" of having an agent undertake these trips on our behalf.

 

That said, in fairness to DWP in this particular instance, it is, in fact, possible to initiate contact with them online via their enquiry form, as I have done on a number of occasions:

 

https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/contact-the-international-pension-centre/contact-form

 

[OJAS]

7 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

 

In common with @Andycoops, I'm not holding my breath for any meaningful progress on this front any time soon.

 

That said, it should not, I would have thought, be too much beyond DWP's capabilities (in theory at least) to devise an online facility through the Government Gateway for periodically verifying that we remain in the land of the living for State Pension purposes. Quite a few of us are, I believe, already subscribed to the Government Gateway for checking personal State Pension entitlements/payments.

 

[3NUMBAS]

They’ve had probs in the past with guys stilll

 claiming and they died 20 years ago ,Thais never let on they died ages ago

[chickenslegs]

My private pension providers use email. Any documents/sensitive information is protected by password.

 

Meanwhile, DWP and HMRC refuse to communicate by email for reasons of "security" but have no problem sending and receiving the same information using easily identifiable envelopes by snail mail, which pass through the hands of numerous postal workers (and can take 2-3 weeks to arrive).

 

 

 

 

[Moonlover]

31 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

In common with @Andycoops, I'm not holding my breath for any meaningful progress on this front any time soon.

 

That said, it should not, I would have thought, be too much beyond DWP's capabilities (in theory at least) to devise an online facility through the Government Gateway for periodically verifying that we remain in the land of the living for State Pension purposes. Quite a few of us are, I believe, already subscribed to the Government Gateway for checking personal State Pension entitlements/payments.

 

It is certainly possible. My private pension from BAE SYSTEMS has already done so as have a number of local council pensions I believe. I just have to send a short video of me winking blinking at my phone camera and I'm good to go again for another year.

 

[norfolkandchance]

8 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

It is certainly possible. My private pension from BAE SYSTEMS has already done so as have a number of local council pensions I believe. I just have to send a short video of me winking blinking at my phone camera and I'm good to go again for another year.

 

I draw a Bae pension from 2003. Never had a Life Certificate. Mind you, State and Military sends them out periodically.

[Moonlover]

1 minute ago, norfolkandchance said:

I draw a Bae pension from 2003. Never had a Life Certificate.

Is your registered address here in Thailand or in the UK? They only send them out to pensioners living overseas.

[norfolkandchance]

7 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Is your registered address here in Thailand or in the UK? They only send them out to pensioners living overseas.

Ah. That's it. UK address. Cheers. Same address for State and Military.

[3NUMBAS]

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/motoring/motoring-news/dwp-could-scrap-basic-state-30758330.amp
 

abolition of U.K. pension plans

[Liverpool Lou]

17 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I have returned LC's by email which in itself was pointless as DWP reinstated payments in these 2 cases on the strength of a phone call - that, like a digital response, is more than adequate to confirm that you are still alive.

I had to call the IPC last week to query an unusual delay in my receipt of my pension, I asked if the delay could be because a LC hadn't been received and was told that wasn't the issue as, coincidentally, a LC had just been sent to me in the post.  Even though they were talking to me and had fully identified me they would not accept that as proof of life, I have to wait for the form and return it in the post.  

[Liverpool Lou]

17 hours ago, OJAS said:

That said, in fairness to DWP in this particular instance, it is, in fact, possible to initiate contact with them online via their enquiry form, as I have done on a number of occasions

They can also be contacted on the phone.  Cost me B40 from a Dtac number at 8:02am their time.

[Liverpool Lou]

14 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/motoring/motoring-news/dwp-could-scrap-basic-state-30758330.amp
 

abolition of U.K. pension plans

"abolition of U.K. pension plans".

 

Fearmongering nonsense.   That does not refer to an "abolishment of UK pension plans", it refers to a possible change from a basic state pension to the new state pension giving most people more money!

[hotandsticky]

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

They can also be contacted on the phone.  Cost me B40 from a Dtac number at 8:02am their time.

 

 

6 - 8 Baht with MY TELLO  

[Liverpool Lou]

11 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

They can also be contacted on the phone.  Cost me B40 from a Dtac number at 8:02am their time.

 

 

6 - 8 Baht with MY TELLO  

Good idea but most people aren't registered for that while all of us have a mobile phone number.  They also claim that the IPC's UK phone number is invalid, so not much use.

[hotandsticky]

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I had to call the IPC last week to query an unusual delay in my receipt of my pension, I asked if the delay could be because a LC hadn't been received and was told that wasn't the issue as, coincidentally, a LC had just been sent to me in the post.  Even though they were talking to me and had fully identified me they would not accept that as proof of life, I have to wait for the form and return it in the post.  

 

Your situation was very slightly different because stopping the pension was not related to a LC.

 

With my 2 friends 1 was directly related to a LC....BUT, the LC had not been received in Thailand. DWP accepted phone identity/proof of life but asked that a LC was emailed back to them. The other friend's case related to unanswered post that was sent to his son's old address in the UK (nobody thought to advise the change of address). I believe that probably related to his enhanced pension following his late wife's death. He also took the opportunity to advise full time residence in Thailand. They immediately reinstated his payments.

[hotandsticky]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Good idea but most people aren't registered for that while all of us have a mobile phone number.  

 

 

I think that I just downloaded the App and put a few hundred Baht on it. I think it was straight forward (anything too technical would have been beyond me 🙂).

[Liverpool Lou]

6 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I think that I just downloaded the App and put a few hundred Baht on it. I think it was straight forward (anything too technical would have been beyond me 🙂).

Just tried to register but they claim that the IPC's UK phone number is not valid!   Didn't bother going further than that.

[Andycoops]

22 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

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?

Yes. 

Because I call them every year to enquire if they are sending me 1.

The first time I was sent 1 was when I found out that my pension payment wasn't made because I never received the form in the post.

 

The most helpful lady said she could email me a life certificate and restore my payment which took 2 weeks.

 

Last week I called them again and they said LCs were being sent out to Thai expats.

 

I explained what happened before and they immediately said they could email me the form again. Which they did and I have printed it out ready to fill in and return by EMS or DHL.

[Andycoops]

16 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Just tried to register but they claim that the IPC's UK phone number is not valid!   Didn't bother going further than that.

As for believing in what politicians say, just take a look at the <deleted> the current government have come up with, is there anything they are doing that was in the manifesto, if there is you'll need to read alot to find it.

 

Having been involved in IT I can tell you that the governments understanding of digital is not the industries understand of the meaning of digital and what it means on a fundamental basis, period.

[hotandsticky]

15 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Just tried to register but they claim that the IPC's UK phone number is not valid!   Didn't bother going further than that.

 

Mine is OK with +44 and dropping the 0.

 

If you have the time it is worth persevering with 

[OJAS]

On 1/13/2025 at 12:00 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

They can also be contacted on the phone.  Cost me B40 from a Dtac number at 8:02am their time.

 

I have better things to do with my time other than having to twiddle my thumbs and unable to do SFA else for a good hour or so while being "serenaded" with irritating muzak to boot until a real live IPC human being can be bothered to answer my call, thank you very much!

[Briggsy]

On 1/13/2025 at 12:00 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

They can also be contacted on the phone.  Cost me B40 from a Dtac number at 8:02am their time.

Subscribe to Skype's "Skype to UK landine service", less than £3* per month. Works perfectly. Unlimited call time.

 

*Price fluctuates slightly each month as the underlying charge is calculated in $US.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

On 1/13/2025 at 12:00 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

They can also be contacted on the phone.  Cost me B40 from a Dtac number at 8:02am their time.

Subscribe to Skype's "Skype to UK landine service", less than £3* per month. Works perfectly. Unlimited call time.

Not everyone needs unlimited call time, my Dtac call worked perfectly also for less than a quid (95p), no need to give Skype three times that every month!

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, OJAS said:

On 1/13/2025 at 12:00 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

They can also be contacted on the phone.  Cost me B40 from a Dtac number at 8:02am their time.

 

I have better things to do with my time other than having to twiddle my thumbs and unable to do SFA else for a good hour or so while being "serenaded" with irritating muzak to boot until a real live IPC human being can be bothered to answer my call, thank you very much!

"I have better things to do with my time...

Me too, my entire call cost B40 so there was no "being serenaded with irritating muzak for a good hour or so until a real live IPC human being can be bothered to answer my call".   At 8am the call was answered almost immediately.

[soi3eddie]

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

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

 

Never tell them you are dead! 555

 

 

[soi3eddie]

It won't be long before UK state pensions are cancelled for all those British living overseas (how dare we?). Just saying. I never expect to receive a UK state pension (despite 35 year qualifying already) and due to collect in 2034. The needs of immigrants and lazy Brits in the UK come above us.

How will that affect many on here?

[simon43]

^^^

Frozen state pension, winter fuel allowance cut, triple lock under threat, means-testing pension, where will it end?

 

I'm getting a little concerned about my UK state pension, which I'll start to receive in about 5 months from now.

 

For various reasons (which don't include p*ssing my income up the wall), I will need to rely on my UK state pension as my main income source after I retire.  I still have a decent income from inline teaching, but I don't expect to be teaching in this manner into my 70s etc, and I would be foolish to assume that I would be teaching.

 

We all know that the UK state pension is 'frozen' for those pensioners living in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia etc, and this will never change, regardless of how many people moan about it.

 

The winter fuel allowance is being cut, but this doesn't affect overseas pensioners.

 

Now I hear about 'threats' to the triple lock.  Again, that doesn't affect UK pensioners in the Thailand, thanks to the frozen pension state.

 

But means-testing pensions is a possible threat to pensioners' income in future years! (It won't affect me, because I don't have a pot to p*ss in!).

 

However, where will this all end? I fear that this UK government may try to save more money by restricting state pension payments for expats, regardless of which country they are living in. Perhaps they will only pay out for pensioners who are living in the UK?  (Of course, not paying expats will force many of them to return to the UK, thus costing the government more money in claimable allowances/benefits etc, but I don't think any government has enough brain cells to think this all through...)

 

What are your thoughts about this?  And is there anything that you can do to mitigate these possible scenarios?  Plan your retirement to minimise unnecessary expenses, or even plan a return to the UK?

 

Difficult decisions....