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

[Blueman1]

1 hour ago, jori123 said:

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

If YOU Don't beleive My FACT, I'll give you my EX-Mates Phone number so YOU Can ask him Yourself.....YOU Clown....

[Negita43]

On 4/28/2025 at 9:17 AM, connda said:

Does anyone want to write a sob-story news article about me?  "No?" Didn't think so.  Well, I'm not a retired banker.  Maybe that's it.

My guess you knowingly or un-knowingly signed up for that to keep the contributions down. It's a common practice but ignores the impact of inflation - so no tears for you I am afraid 😢

[jori123]

30 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

If YOU Don't beleive My FACT, I'll give you my EX-Mates Phone number so YOU Can ask him Yourself.....YOU Clown....

There are set rules in dwp regulations,none are anything akin to what you profess,none.  So you suggest you are right against all the rules set forth in dwp regulations,only one clown here sunshine, your mate?  Is he not inside at this very minute

[Chris Daley]

All these foreigners coming over to Thailand.  And I have to pay my taxes to support them and supply them with healthcare.

 

Stop the planes.

[simon43]

11 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Will it not be pegged at what you were getting when you ''left'' UK' if you leave after retirement?

Yes indeed! (I assumed you were already living in Thailand prior to reaching your retirement date)

[simon43]

10 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

 

Strictly speaking this man would not be allowed a long term visa in Thailand. His income is well below the yearly minimum. While his income is enough to survive month to month, what happens if some serious medical care is needed? Fly back to Ol'e Blighty? What about emergency care? Heart attack? Stroke etc? Die and get cremated in the local wat? IMHO someone with this small pension at 70 years is really taking a big chance living in country long term.

We don't know whether he has medical insurance, he could have a $1M cover for all we know 🙂

[simon43]

10 hours ago, jwest10 said:

Should not have mentioned the teaching? wp?

That's a grey area (according to many previous news reports).  I only teach non-Thais living outside of Thailand. 

[simon43]

5 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

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

That's maybe your opinion (not sure if you're joking here!!)

 

I don't smoke, very rarely drink, wouldn't waste my time romantically or financially with any woman nowadays.  I'm as happy as a pig in sh*t!

[billd766]

1 hour ago, Chris Daley said:

All these foreigners coming over to Thailand.  And I have to pay my taxes to support them and supply them with healthcare.

 

Stop the planes.

BS.

 

I have lived in Thailand for 24 years and I have ALWAYS paid UK income tax since 1958 when I left school and started work until I retired in 2009 on my 65th birthday, and  NO, YOU do NOT supply me with ANY healthcare in Thailand.

 

How do I know that?

 

Easy, as I went to the state hospital in Kamphaeng Phet, (where I am legally registered) this morning to get some more meds and my bill for a diabetes test and the meds came to 2,507 thb. Neither YOU or the UK government paid a single baht towards the bill.

 

So STOP telling lies.

 

If you cannot tell the truth. then why do you post BS.

[kiwikeith]

20 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 The UK money is being spent to degrade the Russian military and to  contain the expansionist Russians. Ukrainians are dying so that  British citizens do not have to.

WOW

[Patong2021]

How many of the people collecting pensions have actually contributed an amount that covers their full  payout?

It looks to me like only the top fifth of  contributors actually cover  a large part of their benefits.

 

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/15195/production/_129112468_optimised-tax_burden-nc.png.webp

 

[billd766]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

How many of the people collecting pensions have actually contributed an amount that covers their full  payout?

It looks to me like only the top fifth of  contributors actually cover  a large part of their benefits.

 

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/15195/production/_129112468_optimised-tax_burden-nc.png.webp

 

Well I have paid NIC from 1959 until 2009 and I am STILL paying income tax on my pensions even now in 2025, and I am not anywhere near the top fifth of the UK taxpayers.

 

Perhaps it should be pointed out that if all state pensions were unfrozen that there would be more taxes paid and more income to the Treasury.

[Letseng]

On 4/28/2025 at 3:10 PM, Reddavy said:

He knew the rules when he moved here. Yes it is unfair it’s about time it was challenged in the courts because there is no way any UK government is going to change the rules. Easy way round it is to keep a Uk address like a lot of expats in Thailand do like a family member or a friends address. 🤷🏼

It is called cheating. 

[BenCrew]

3 minutes ago, Letseng said:

It is called cheating. 

Or more seriously, fraud.

[Letseng]

14 hours ago, simon43 said:

Yawn, please point out where I posted BS and total lies.  I stated that my pension will be about 40k baht per month.  I stated my outgoings and that the total of these were far less than my pension amount.  The fact that I also earn 87k baht each month AND use none of this to live on is irrelevant to my original statement. 

 

I have a good life in Thailand, with 2 rented properties, a decent car and decent medical insurance, with no need to use any other income.

 

Your problem is that you are.. stupid!  Sorry, but that's the truth.  I'll accept excuses that you can't understand English.  But if you can read English, then the only reason for your failure to understand that my expenses are less than my pension amount is... that you are stupid 🙂  And I'm not going to waste my time arguing the toss with an idiot!

My husband paid for 35 yrs max. possible voluntary contributions as he worked outside UK for most of the time. He gets nowhere near  40.000./mts. 

[Blueman1]

14 hours ago, simon43 said:

That's maybe your opinion (not sure if you're joking here!!)

 

I don't smoke, very rarely drink, wouldn't waste my time romantically or financially with any woman nowadays.  I'm as happy as a pig in sh*t!

No,I'm NOT Joking !!

 

I don't smoke, very rarely drink, wouldn't waste my time romantically or financially with any woman nowadays.  I'm BORED as Fook !!! & My Right Hand is Hurting......There FIXED it For You.....

[newnative]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

How many of the people collecting pensions have actually contributed an amount that covers their full  payout?

It looks to me like only the top fifth of  contributors actually cover  a large part of their benefits.

 

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/15195/production/_129112468_optimised-tax_burden-nc.png.webp

 

      The answer is very few--which is why traditional pensions--at least in the US--have been largely eliminated, as companies realized these pensions were costing way too much money, with people living much longer than they used to.  I am one of the lucky ones who has a traditional pension, from the state  of Virginia.  I'm sure, at age 73, that I have already collected far more than what I contributed, since I retired at age 54 with 30 years of service.

      I remember, years ago, my Dad showing me his retirement benefits.  He was a US federal employee with really a gold-plated traditional pension that even included medical care.  He showed me his retirement statement that showed what he had contributed to his pension in the years he worked.  At that time, he had only been retired for 5 or 6 years when he had exhausted his contributions.  He went on to live into his 95th year and was actually retired for more years than he worked.  When he died, my Mom still received 50% of his benefits as he had selected that option when he first retired.  She lived until 101.  

     I think earlier in this thread someone suggested that pensions be eliminated and we all fund our retirements privately with 401s and the like.  I thank my lucky stars that I am not privately funding my retirement, as I likely would have run out of any retirement money I socked away long ago.  

     

[JB300]

On 4/28/2025 at 3:12 PM, BritManToo said:

I don't know about other pensioners, but I'm paying around 2,000 pounds a year to HMRC.

I’m retired but yet to get any pension Income  (private pension next year, State pension in 2033) & I pay nothing to HMRC on (Gross) >£36,000 income. 
 

I’ll worry about the frozen state pension when I get there but at the moment it’s a no-brainer for me to be Non-UK Resident (even if it meant I lost my UK driving licence)

[BritManToo]

18 minutes ago, JB300 said:

I’m retired but yet to get any pension Income  (private pension next year, State pension in 2033) & I pay nothing to HMRC on (Gross) >£36,000 income. 
 

I’ll worry about the frozen state pension when I get there but at the moment it’s a no-brainer for me to be Non-UK Resident (even if it meant I lost my UK driving licence)

Oddly enough you're not entitled to hold a British DL, if you have a DL issued in another country.

Not strictly enforced as they have no way of checking, same as DWP and where you are living.

If you don't tell them, they won't know!

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, BenCrew said:

Or more seriously, fraud.

According to the DWP, benefits fraud only happens .......

1. When the claimant admits it to DWP staff.

2. When convicted in a court of law.

[JB300]

30 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Oddly enough you're not entitled to hold a British DL, if you have a DL issued in another country.

Not strictly enforced as they have no way of checking, same as DWP and where you are living.

If you don't tell them, they won't know!

Unfortunately mine came up for renewal at the same time I’d just got out of a 3.5 year “Discussion” with HMRC about me being Non-UK Tax resident (pay 12% tax in Singapore or 45% + NI in UK)… Don’t need to drive in Asia so I let it expire. 
 

As an aside it’s illegal to have a driving licence registered to any address other than your home address, no problem for me, long story short I still have my “Green” UK license registered to my “Home” (UK Parents) address in the UK & all the bills (including council tax) are in my name…

 

But I haven’t driven for > 16 years & don’t plan on ever driving again 😊

[ElwoodP]

Flames removed.

[KhaoHom]

On 4/28/2025 at 9:29 AM, webfact said:

, the former banker

 

The former bank TELLER

 

FIFY

 

Solution: GBH

 

It's absolutely fantastic that we are able to draw pensions overseas.

 

It sucks that there is no cost of living adjustment for British pensioners. Nevertheless, them's the rules. Even I is an American expat know this.

 

Maybe he should have given a little bit more thought to his retirement considering his former career in high finance 🙄

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/28/2025 at 10:49 AM, smedly said:

this guy has not been drawing a uk state pension for 10 years although I do agree with the point made

Apparently, he has been getting his state pension, hence the OP.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/28/2025 at 11:10 AM, tmd5855 said:

What gets me is the amount of money we paid into National Insurance that increased as your years and salary increased.  Yet, you live in the wrong country your entitlement (You paid in) is frozen.

What gets me is that those people voluntarily chose to move to a frozen pension country despite all the warning information available and then whinge about it!   Said as a frozen pension victim who made the choice.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/28/2025 at 11:10 AM, tmd5855 said:

If he were a banker??  How many years??  Should have a good private pension.

Retail banking does not have a reputation for being particularly well-paid and hence no expectation of a particularly high pension.

[JB300]

18 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

 

The former bank TELLER

 

FIFY

 

Solution: GBH

 

It's absolutely fantastic that we are able to draw pensions overseas.

 

It sucks that there is no cost of living adjustment for British pensioners. Nevertheless, them's the rules. Even I is an American expat know this.

 

Maybe he should have given a little bit more thought to his retirement considering his former career in high finance 🙄

Shoulda woulda coulda are the last words of a fool. 
 

I consider myself as financial astute & am also ex-“Banker” (IT, Director level, but know nothing about banking) moved to Asia in 2007 and I had no idea that my state pension would be frozen .

 

I was 41 at the time so  didn’t really care, don’t really care now except I’m going to have to mess around  with claiming the non increase from my real pension  in 8 years 😳

 

Oh & I once was a bank teller in Nairobi… Not kidding, lots of problems with the IT system so I had to sit at the teller desk…Great way to meet really hot chicks 😊

[Liverpool Lou]

On 4/28/2025 at 1:59 PM, biggles45 said:

While I have sympathy for him, anytime in the last 15 years he could have bailed to the Philippines for 3 months or so and had his pension permanently updated. It can even be done on line apparently..

DWP requires proof that you are living in PI.  Pension would not be "permanently updated" in any way from the Thailand level except that annual increases would then apply, but not backdated.  If conning the DWP by those that DWP knows were living in Thailand and suddenly claim to be living in PI was that easy everyone would be doing it.

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

DWP requires proof that you are living in PI.  Pension would not be "permanently updated" in any way from the Thailand level except that annual increases would then apply, but not backdated.  If conning the DWP by those that DWP knows were living in Thailand and suddenly claim to be living in PI was that easy everyone would be doing it.

But oddly, require no proof you are living in the UK.

When I completed my pension application online (using invite code + VPN) they never even mentioned/questioned where was I living, just wanted me to confirm my bank was still the same.

[simon43]

4 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

No,I'm NOT Joking !!

 

I don't smoke, very rarely drink, wouldn't waste my time romantically or financially with any woman nowadays.  I'm BORED as Fook !!! & My Right Hand is Hurting......There FIXED it For You.....

Lol, perhaps you would be bored as fook, but I'm not.  I enjoy my technical hobbies, usually spend time doing voluntary teaching, have a nice 5-10km walk every day, swim in the sea etc etc. I savour being alive (after a previous cancer scare), and I haven't got time to get bored.  Boredom is created by your own failings and self-pity.

 

In any case, I'm left-handed 🙂