Report Abandoned Abroad: British Pensioner in Thailand Slams 'Immoral' Frozen Pensions Policy

[Jonnapat]

I have been living with this problem for 15years. Absolutely no chance of recovering what I paid in for 40 years of work in the UK.

Also no chance of making the rich pay their fair share in taxes.

 

[Expat68]

14 hours ago, save the frogs said:

good point I hadn't thought of.

they are not using the hospital system. 

probably a net gain for the govt then. 

so it makes no sense then to freeze the pensions. 

For the last 20 years I have filed a UK self assessment tax return and paid UK taxes

[thecyclist]

On 4/28/2025 at 10:11 AM, impulse said:

While that well and truly sucks, I suspect he's doing better than a retiree that's getting the full adjusted pension back in the UK.  The saving grace back home is that a retiree can pick up some work.  Not legal in Thailand.

 

It should be a cautionary tale for anyone retiring with nothing but a state pension.  You really need a nestegg, or you're going to struggle.

 

Edit:  On an aside, why not move to the Philippines?

 

 

On 4/28/2025 at 10:11 AM, impulse said:

While that well and truly sucks, I suspect he's doing better than a retiree that's getting the full adjusted pension back in the UK.  The saving grace back home is that a retiree can pick up some work.  Not legal in Thailand.

 

It should be a cautionary tale for anyone retiring with nothing but a state pension.  You really need a nestegg, or you're going to struggle.

 

Edit:  On an aside, why not move to the Philippines?

 

Philippines is more expensive, unless this has changed in the last 5 years, the last time I was there. 12 years ago it was a lot more expensive, since then the peso has lost a lot in value, although it was still significantly more expensive 5 years ago. 

[StandardIssue]

2 hours ago, Upnotover said:

We don't know what his income is, only his state pension which he's only had for 5 years. He's been here 15, not surviving on fresh air (he has a private pension)

Well, if that's the case then what is all the concern? If it's a condition of living abroad then, well it's a condition of living abroad and the decision to do so would be weighed with the pension amounts in mind along with additional income, health care and the like. What other concerns would there be?

[sandyf]

18 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Yes. However, other income is not, and there are many UK non residents   with income from  foreign investments who do not pay UK tax on that income.

 

 

 

So he is contributing to the UK economy by spending his pension in Thailand? OK.

 

 

Yes, I did state that excess over the threshold of 12,570 was taxable.

 

 

He is not spending the  pension on goods and services in the UK. There is no economic benefit for the UK from him.

 

 

Exemptions from the law are obtained by a reciprocal social benefits agreement with another nation. Thailand did not agree. Is that the UK's fault?  Other UK nationals  have the agreement if they are  living in the Philippines, Turkey USA, Barbados etc.  A grant of what you demand would see hundreds of millions of  pounds be sucked out to  residents of Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, etc. That is why a reciprocity agreement is needed. Thailand won't enter into the treaty with the UK.

You are perfectly free to take any distorted view you wish, and disagree with the APPG. You are in good  company, the Labour Party gave it's support in 2018 to the APPG, and now renaged on that committment. 

From the Chairman,

"Successive governments of differing political persuasions have sheltered behind the assertion that “we can only uprate pensions for UK citizens living overseas in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement”. That is quite simply factually and morally wrong. There is no requirement upon the Government of the United Kingdom to enter into any “reciprocal agreement” with another country before honouring its obligation to pay the full and uprated State pension to any UK citizen who has paid the requisite National Insurance contributions upon which State pensions are based."

http://frozenbritishpensions.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Frozen-Pensions-APPG-1.pdf

[sambum]

4 hours ago, jwest10 said:

Yes, so many simply did not know and wow living to 88 that would be remarkable and yes been here 17 years and simply did not know until seeing various sites and my Late Uncle who retired before me and so many did not know. BARBARIC.

 

Everybody I have spoken to from other countries find it unbeleivable that the UK Gov't treats its citizens so badly - plus the Old Age Pension is one of the lowest in Europe.  https://www.pensiontimes.co.uk/pensions-retirement/state-pension/uk-state-pension-compare-countries

Come on Starmer, give us a another surprise, and unfreeze Old Age Pensions, and I'll promise to vote for you next time - honestly! 

[Reddavy]

23 hours ago, simon43 said:

See my comment to the other person (like you) of limited IQ....

Limited IQ. Your the balloon who chose to post BS And total lies what does that say about your IQ 🤷🏼

[sandyf]

4 hours ago, jwest10 said:

Yes, so many simply did not know and wow living to 88 that would be remarkable and yes been here 17 years and simply did not know until seeing various sites and my Late Uncle who retired before me and so many did not know. BARBARIC.

There is a great deal of ignorance among the UK population over the state pension. I have to hold my hand up, i never paid a great deal of attention until I became self employed.

The government tries to use that ignorance to their advantage.

Between 1961 and the pension reforms in 2016 many were contributing to 2 different pension arrangements, a retirement pension and an earnings related pension. many are quite unaware of the second state pension.

Whenever this topic is ever raised, the government only ever comment on the singular.  The arguments they put forward are tenuous to say the least in respect of the retirement pension and become outright lies in respect of the earnings related pension. In Feb last year Paul  Maynard stood in the HOC and claimed there was no exclusive link between NI and the state pension. An earnings related pension can only be calculated from NI contributions, but his comment went unchallenged by both the House and the media.

It is a sad fact of life that equality issues are perceived in numbers, once the numbers get to a point they may cost votes, then the government may start to pay attention. Mention "trans" and the law will  be rewritten before you blink.

This matter will only ever be resolved in the courts which is not an easy option. Despite what the government may claim the issue has not been before the courts under current equality legislation.
 

[Blueman1]

16 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

Everybody I have spoken to from other countries find it unbeleivable that the UK Gov't treats its citizens so badly - plus the Old Age Pension is one of the lowest in Europe.  https://www.pensiontimes.co.uk/pensions-retirement/state-pension/uk-state-pension-compare-countries

Come on Starmer, give us a another surprise, and unfreeze Old Age Pensions, and I'll promise to vote for you next time - honestly! 

Come on Starmer, give us a another surprise, and unfreeze Old Age Pensions,You Must be Joking@Sambum, HE Will NOT Do That M8 !!

[NoshowJones]

On 4/28/2025 at 3:14 PM, Reddavy said:

If you can do all that on 40,000 bht per month you must be living in a dump and live on a bowl of rice a day or never go out. 

If he does not drink or smoke or entertains women, then yes easy on 40,000 Bt per month.

[Reddavy]

Just now, NoshowJones said:

If he does not drink or smoke or entertains women, then yes easy on 40,000 Bt per month.

BS. Is he a monk. NO

[Blueman1]

2 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

If he does not drink or smoke or entertains women, then yes easy on 40,000 Bt per month.

But That's NOT Living,It's called Surviving Miserably !!

[sandyf]

2 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Come on Starmer, give us a another surprise, and unfreeze Old Age Pensions,You Must be Joking, HE Will NOT Do That M8 !!

What I cannot understand is why the media have not challenged Starmer on this paragraph from Page 76 of the 2019 labour Party Manifesto.

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

 

Obviously I was mistaken in thinking that if something was seen to need changing in 2019, unless already addressed, it would still need changing in 2025.

[Baht Simpson]

On 4/28/2025 at 3:47 PM, Powder said:

did i read  this well??

a "former" banker?

hmmm.

 

Likely a former bank clerk or official. Media like to call them bankers. It's a misnomer that anyone working in banking is rolling in money. 

[Blueman1]

20 minutes ago, sandyf said:

What I cannot understand is why the media have not challenged Starmer on this paragraph from Page 76 of the 2019 labour Party Manifesto.

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

 

Obviously I was mistaken in thinking that if something was seen to need changing in 2019, unless already addressed, it would still need changing in 2025.

That's Because He Either WON'T Admit to saying that OR He's an Out & Out LIAR......Or He even has AMNESIA !!

[Blueman1]

8 minutes ago, sandyf said:

What I cannot understand is why the media have not challenged Starmer on this paragraph from Page 76 of the 2019 labour Party Manifesto.

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

 

Obviously I was mistaken in thinking that if something was seen to need changing in 2019, unless already addressed, it would still need changing in 2025.

They're ALL The Same M8, They'll Say Anything to get your Vote......& Once Their Voted in they all suffer AMNESIA !!

[sambum]

27 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Come on Starmer, give us a another surprise, and unfreeze Old Age Pensions,You Must be Joking@Sambum, HE Will NOT Do That M8 !!

 

I could not find a tongue in cheek emoticon! 

13 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

That's Because He Either WON'T Admit to saying that OR He's an Out & Out LIAR......

Probably both! At the risk of being boring:- "All pensioners - ALL PENSIONERS will be better off under Labour!" (Starmer's final comment at the Summer 2024 Labour Party Conference - out and out liar! )

[Blueman1]

4 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

I could not find a tongue in cheek emoticon! 

Probably both! At the risk of being boring:- "All pensioners - ALL PENSIONERS will be better off under Labour!" (Starmer's final comment at the Summer 2024 Labour Party Conference - out and out liar! )

Somebody in The Media World MUST Have that Comment on Film or Tape at least ?? Wouldn't That be worth taking legal Action through the Courts ??

[vinny41]

15 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Somebody in The Media World MUST Have that Comment on Film or Tape at least ?? Wouldn't That be worth taking legal Action through the Courts ??

41:29

this country every pensioner will be better off with Labour

 

[sambum]

8 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

41:29

this country every pensioner will be better off with Labour

 

Thank you Vinny - my apologies - I thought it was the final comment in his speech - whoever was broadcasting it must have cut it off immediately after he made it! Maybe couldn't quite believe that he said it! 🙂 

[jori123]

6 hours ago, zzvv said:

I wasn't aware of the freeze until about 16 months in Thailand, been here 3 years,  when DWP asked for the return of £3000 . It is there on the Internet, took me a while to find it ....

Its very unfair. Luckily I have small savings which I am just starting use. Im 70 and I have calculated, with inflation that I have to return to the UK when I am 88 .....

 

Theres no doubt it comes as a bit of a shock that there is no yearly rise .

Ys pls   find it if u can   3000 quid

 

5 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

And did you agree to pay them back, you can say no, they can't take!....But....They CAN & WILL Take it out of any future Pension Payments they make to Him.......

 

7 hours ago, sambum said:

Exactly my point - it doesn't, yet UK residents in these countries do not have their pensions frozen.

 

Yes, 2 of my married friends had to go to a tribunal, but  "charges" were dropped when the "chairperson" found out that the husband had "served his country" in the RAF!!!

,he was on pension credit,prob other means tested too,impossible on sp   its in the rules,look up benefit fraud   sp is non sanctionable. Chairperson/tribunal  lol charges dropped,another porkie pig,load of rubbish. There are no tribunals

 

4 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

No they can't, pension payments can't be reduced or stopped to recover past overpayments.....

But  Yes They CAN, It actually happened to an EX Friend of Mine who got Overpaid,But Did get it ALL Taken back off him FACT !!

No it did not,on pension credit...again just rubbish pouring out,not sp

[sambum]

2 minutes ago, jori123 said:

Ys pls   find it if u can   3000 quid

 

 

,he was on pension credit,prob other means tested too,impossible on sp   its in the rules,look up benefit fraud   sp is non sanctionable. Chairperson/tribunal  lol charges dropped,another porkie pig,load of rubbish. There are no tribunals

 

No it did not,on pension credit...again just rubbish pouring out,not sp

 

"another porkie pig,load of rubbish. There are no tribunals"

 

Wrong! My married couple friends actually had to go back to the UK to expain why they should not repay the overpayments, and they said it was a "tribunal"  - maybe Magistrates Court, but not's let be pedantic - they had to return to the UK for that sole purpose.

[rough diamond]

37 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Somebody in The Media World MUST Have that Comment on Film or Tape at least ?? Wouldn't That be worth taking legal Action through the Courts ??

ALL PENSIONERS will be better off under Labour - Search Videos

[sambum]

5 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

ALL PENSIONERS will be better off under Labour - Search Videos

 

See 3 posts above this one!!!

[jori123]

Frozen pension is a policy decision,the policy is carried thru by ipc,keep contact details to uk eu or anywhere else receive sp unfrozen there is no legislation no law requiring sanctioning,says so dwp regulations.the nutters keep on hammering  my friends/i know someone brigade are just that,they have no details other than im finking,off their trolleys.  Nothins has been done nothing ever will be done,jealousy rules here avid jealousy.           Dwp tried 12 years ago or so ,took 2 unfrozen pensioners to civil court,barrow in furness a,d bristol to force frozen on them    dwp never turned up in court in case they lost,just fear tactic  its there search for it  better still ask dwp,sure they will answer    those on unfrozen keep to it   nothing will be done to change it unless you inform ,but no need,nothing will be changed     says so dwp rules /regulations,   read it up

[jori123]

13 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

"another porkie pig,load of rubbish. There are no tribunals"

 

Wrong! My married couple friends actually had to go back to the UK to expain why they should not repay the overpayments, and they said it was a "tribunal"  - maybe Magistrates Court, but not's let be pedantic - they had to return to the UK for that sole purpose.

Married friends ,yeah right   he or they on means tested benefits,happens often yes had to back,pity tho  on non means tested as on sp no ploblem.    Full of i know someone brigade

[sambum]

6 minutes ago, jori123 said:

Married friends ,yeah right   he or they on means tested benefits,happens often yes had to back,pity tho  on non means tested as on sp no ploblem.    Full of i know someone brigade

Your posts are gobbledegook - I can hardly understand them!

But they were not on any other benefits, or means tested - they were happily retired here in Thailand, and I do beleive them, whereas I can not agee or disagree  with you because I don't know what you are talking about!

[jori123]

2 minutes ago, sambum said:

Your posts are gobbledegook - I can hardly understand them!

But they were not on any other benefits, or means tested - they were happily retired here in Thailand, and I do beleive them, whereas I can not agee or disagree  with you because I don't know what you are talking about!

Thats ok then, a read of dwp regulations would put your finking mind at rest,sure it will.  They were on a means tested benefit ,do not care happy/unhappy  i dont believe u or them,just read dwp regulalations ,read them especially under benefit fraud.............also sp is a disqualifying benefit   cannot be touched     read them instead of off the top of yer 'ead

[jori123]

6 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

No they can't, pension payments can't be reduced or stopped to recover past overpayments.....

But  Yes They CAN, It actually happened to an EX Friend of Mine who got Overpaid,But Did get it ALL Taken back off him FACT !!

Fact is it....for someone who lays claim to his knowledge by way of pattaya times on this very subject id would not only say very improbable  id say bloody impossible

[Gandtee]

On 4/28/2025 at 9:52 AM, Bannoi said:

If they can take the winter fuel allowance away from UK pensioners then there is no way they are going to give an increase to a pensioner living in Thailand.

 

There is a way around it though move back to UK get the increase then move back to Thailand or if you move to Philippines you would get the increase every year.

 

I agree it's not fair but its not going to change, a pensioner living in Thailand is very low down on the list of priorities. (They don't vote}

Not quite true. If you return to the UK, you can claim a full pension even for a few weeks. On your return to Thailand, it goes back to the original. I've written letters to MPs. Nick Clegg replied, "I have raised this in the House and it is not on the agenda." That was way before the influx of illegal immigrants who have contributed nothing and the money spent on them.