Should I return to the UK - difficult decision!

[simon43]

I've lived the last 23 or so years full-time in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (mostly in Myanmar).  I'm single, (having divorced 3 times over the years!).  My ex-wife and kids in the UK disowned me yonks ago.  My 2 Thai ex-wives keep in touch, but of course their lives have moved on. I have an elder brother in the UK who does keep in touch.

 

I'm currently just retired at 66 years old, relaxing by the sunny beach in south Thailand, and enjoying a low cost-of-living lifestyle.  Why on Earth would I want to return to the UK?

 

The problem is my health.  As I have mentioned in posts in the health forum, I have an incurable (but manageable) lung condition.  Most days are great, some days are <deleted>e....

 

I know that as I grow older, my illness will certainly not improve.  It may stay the same or it may deteriorate.  I am very concerned about my welfare if I stay in Thailand.

 

I do have private medical insurance.  But that really is intended to cover hospital treatment for serious accidents or diseases such as cancer etc.  It's not intended to pay for long-term medical care.  Will it even pay out if I claim?  Who knows!

 

If I return to the UK, then I will receive my index-linked state pension.  I will also be eligible for state assistance to pay my rent, council tax etc, such that so long as the accommodation monthly rent is not more than 600 or 700 pounds, then I'm doing fine with money for food, heating etc.

 

Some might say that the NHS is in a mess, and that I will get no help from them, but I disagree.  I used the NHS and GP (doctor) services and was treated quickly and politely.  I think it was a novelty for them to treat a professional white male lol!

 

I previously lived in rural areas of the UK and would hope to do the same.  Minehead (Somerset) is somewhere that would be practical for me (by the sea air, local shops, walking etc).  I used to live in nearby Dunster (home to the famous castle which is also known as 'Luttrell Castle').  My ancestors owned it until death duties stuffed that in the 1950's...  Nowadays, a modest studio flat in Minehead would be OK, and a realistic solution.

 

I still have my online teaching income, and I can continue that in the UK (teaching my Chinese students in their timezone is fine).  But at some stage I will no doubt have to end that work and rely on my state pension, but with the housing benefit also (the online calculator informs me that my basic state pension will be about doubled by the benefits that I can legally claim).

 

What to do, and what to consider?

[angryguy]

Thailand is great for saving money but not when it comes to health in my opinion. Not somewhere id want to be if i were sick

[Negita43]

4 minutes ago, simon43 said:

 

What to do, and what to consider?

Have you already discussed your options in Thailand with a Thai doctor/hospital (private and government)/clinic where you live?

[Keeps]

Be interesting to know how much you paid in to the 'system' over the years. Seems like you left UK aged around 43?

 

Working from the age of 16 and paying tax/NI? Been topping up NI contributions whilst away? Higher education/University so actually paid very little into the system taking into account the age you left the UK? 

 

I only ask because I believe there is a huge difference between what you are legally entitled to claim and what you are 'morally' entitled to claim (ie benefits ponce). The latter is probably immaterial in 99% of people's eyes. 

 

From your previous posts I know that you are a good man that has done an incredible amount of good for underprivileged children. However , I am talking about your average Joe.

 

The way the benefits system is in the UK regarding illegal immigrants then the vast majority of people will say "fill your boots, grab what you can". I totally agree but that is a separate issue.

 

That aside, I do have issues with people who haven't really contributed much to the system but want the maximum out of it when it suits them.

 

No finger pointing here, just interested in your historical contribution.

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

I've lived the last 23 or so years full-time in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (mostly in Myanmar).  I'm single, (having divorced 3 times over the years!).  My ex-wife and kids in the UK disowned me yonks ago.  My 2 Thai ex-wives keep in touch, but of course their lives have moved on. I have an elder brother in the UK who does keep in touch.

 

I'm currently just retired at 66 years old, relaxing by the sunny beach in south Thailand, and enjoying a low cost-of-living lifestyle.  Why on Earth would I want to return to the UK?

 

The problem is my health.  As I have mentioned in posts in the health forum, I have an incurable (but manageable) lung condition.  Most days are great, some days are <deleted>e....

 

I know that as I grow older, my illness will certainly not improve.  It may stay the same or it may deteriorate.  I am very concerned about my welfare if I stay in Thailand.

 

I do have private medical insurance.  But that really is intended to cover hospital treatment for serious accidents or diseases such as cancer etc.  It's not intended to pay for long-term medical care.  Will it even pay out if I claim?  Who knows!

 

If I return to the UK, then I will receive my index-linked state pension.  I will also be eligible for state assistance to pay my rent, council tax etc, such that so long as the accommodation monthly rent is not more than 600 or 700 pounds, then I'm doing fine with money for food, heating etc.

 

Some might say that the NHS is in a mess, and that I will get no help from them, but I disagree.  I used the NHS and GP (doctor) services and was treated quickly and politely.  I think it was a novelty for them to treat a professional white male lol!

 

I previously lived in rural areas of the UK and would hope to do the same.  Minehead (Somerset) is somewhere that would be practical for me (by the sea air, local shops, walking etc).  I used to live in nearby Dunster (home to the famous castle which is also known as 'Luttrell Castle').  My ancestors owned it until death duties stuffed that in the 1950's...  Nowadays, a modest studio flat in Minehead would be OK, and a realistic solution.

 

I still have my online teaching income, and I can continue that in the UK (teaching my Chinese students in their timezone is fine).  But at some stage I will no doubt have to end that work and rely on my state pension, but with the housing benefit also (the online calculator informs me that my basic state pension will be about doubled by the benefits that I can legally claim).

 

What to do, and what to consider?

My 10 penneth for what it's worth: –

Would your lung condition improve if you were by the seaside, either here or in the UK?

 

And how long is it since you've been back to the UK? I ask that because I went back in 2019 to catch up with an old footballing friend who was about to depart this mortal coil, and to visit places I had grown up with, not to mention catch up with a couple of other friends – – but the town in which I was born had changed markedly as had the places I had visited and played in as a kid, so once I'd seen what I wanted to see and caught up with a couple of friends, I knew it was time to come back here (Thailand).

 

Do you have friends back there who you could catch up with and who may be able to help you out if you fell ill? And as someone else has mentioned in another thread, it is so cheap to eat out here, or even buy your own food and cook it, and I believe you could well struggle on that front in the UK.

 

As you say, you are very concerned about your welfare if you stay in Thailand, so perhaps that is the overarching consideration for you. Whatever you decide, I hope it turns out well for you Simon.

[jori123]

43 minutes ago, Keeps said:

Be interesting to know how much you paid in to the 'system' over the years. Seems like you left UK aged around 43?

 

Working from the age of 16 and paying tax/NI? Been topping up NI contributions whilst away? Higher education/University so actually paid very little into the system taking into account the age you left the UK? 

 

I only ask because I believe there is a huge difference between what you are legally entitled to claim and what you are 'morally' entitled to claim (ie benefits ponce). The latter is probably immaterial in 99% of people's eyes. 

 

From your previous posts I know that you are a good man that has done an incredible amount of good for underprivileged children. However , I am talking about your average Joe.

 

The way the benefits system is in the UK regarding illegal immigrants then the vast majority of people will say "fill your boots, grab what you can". I totally agree but that is a separate issue.

 

That aside, I do have issues with people who haven't really contributed much to the system but want the maximum out of it when it suits them.

 

No finger pointing here, just interested in your historical contribution.

He needs to come back,healthwise dictates all  NHS is brilliant

  In same boat,bit difficult at first,knowing or getting to grips comes easy after time. Everything and anything is far cheaper in UK,rent ok is more expensive,but help at hand,benefits thrown at you,get down to up market charity shop,unbelievable what is on offer,furniture,clothes

. I'm lucky I guess,public sector pension,oap,get aa too,450 a month tax free plus another 400 taxable,free train /bus locally,hearing aids free,it goes on and on,opticians and dentists chargeable but cheap if not free,far better

  Coming back to Thailand soon,but I'll do 4 months about,just about right

[richard_smith237]

I know of two families who are returning to the UK this year solely for health purposes of their children.

 

They both suffer lung difficulties aggravated by the Air Quality in Thailand.

 

 

[faraday]

Do you think that the long, cold & rainy winters will help your lung condition?

 

The NHS is good, when you can get treatment, due to the long waiting lists. 

 

Older people, pensioners such as ourselves aren't a priority.

 

 

[Furioso]

Go to where you'll be the happiest. None of us are guaranteed even one more day. 

[CharlieH]

Keep it as a "Backburner" option, stay in the Sun as long as you are happy and comfortable. Go back when needs arise and you feel "nows the time" but be warned, its not the country you left and you may have quite a culture shock ahead of you.

 

Country I knew and loved is consigned to history.

[simon43]

Thanks for all these useful comments.  To reply to some:

 

@Negita43, I can only afford private hospitals if my private medical insurance pays out, and they do not cover ongoing, long-term (lifelong) treatment.  I live in a rural area of Thailand - the hospital is very basic.

 

@Keeps/Xylophone, since leaving the UK, I have paid into the NI system for most years (I missed a few around 2003).  I have 29 years of contributions which is about 880 pounds a week.  If I didn't want a state pension, then I would not have made voluntary NI contributions when I was overseas.  I realise that the UK has changed, but a 3-month visit to the UK a few months ago to Blackpool did not really shock me.  Food prices were fine for healthy fresh food, but expensive for processed krap. I used to live in Somerset, (within 2km of Dunster 'Luttrell' Castle that my ancestors once owned!).  Minehead town nearby has beach, supermarkets, Butlins and lard-buckets to stare at, so I should be fine.

 

I was in Blackpool during the winter, and I found that so long as I had a thick scarve wrapped around my mouth, then my lungs were not irritated by the cold weather.    My lung condition will never improve, but I can slow any deterioration by protecting them from air pollution, cold winds etc.  When I was in Blackpool, I visited the charity clothes shop and picked up some a brand new thick winter coat for a few quid!

 

I have checked benefits that I can claim if I rent a private accommodation, and (to me), it seems very generous, doubling my monthly income!  Having lived in Burma, Laos etc for many years, I am somewhat 'streetwise' when it comes to minimising bills 🙂

 

The NHS is excellent, despite many problems. This lung illness will no doubt finally kill me off at some time (from pneumonia etc), but I would rather die in a UK hospital with some form of medicine/oxygen mask etc, rather than all alone in my Thai house or with the crazy neighbour trying to shove a Vicks Sinex up my hooter 🙂

 

The other sensible option that I can consider is to move back to north Phuket (Nai Yang), where both my Thai ex-wives live - they have their small airport hotels.  I would not intend to live with them - cutting my wrists with a rusty bread knife is much more favourable!  But if I were ill/needing help, then they would both rush to help, if only to call the ambulance.  Modern 1 bed apartments in the village start from about 10k baht/month, and that's certainly ok for me.

[Magictoad]

It's damp and cold most of the time in the UK. Are you sure you will get treated on the NHS? 180 days is how long you will have to wait.

As for housing; you have a lot of competition from thousands of people who know how to work the system.  I would stay here. The UK is currently a sh!/ hole. It's joyless and dangerous.

[sammieuk1]

11 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Thanks for all these useful comments.  To reply to some:

 

@Negita43, I can only afford private hospitals if my private medical insurance pays out, and they do not cover ongoing, long-term (lifelong) treatment.  I live in a rural area of Thailand - the hospital is very basic.

 

@Keeps/Xylophone, since leaving the UK, I have paid into the NI system for most years (I missed a few around 2003).  I have 29 years of contributions which is about 880 pounds a week.  If I didn't want a state pension, then I would not have made voluntary NI contributions when I was overseas.  I realise that the UK has changed, but a 3-month visit to the UK a few months ago to Blackpool did not really shock me.  Food prices were fine for healthy fresh food, but expensive for processed krap. I used to live in Somerset, (within 2km of Dunster 'Luttrell' Castle that my ancestors once owned!).  Minehead town nearby has beach, supermarkets, Butlins and lard-buckets to stare at, so I should be fine.

 

I was in Blackpool during the winter, and I found that so long as I had a thick scarve wrapped around my mouth, then my lungs were not irritated by the cold weather.    My lung condition will never improve, but I can slow any deterioration by protecting them from air pollution, cold winds etc.  When I was in Blackpool, I visited the charity clothes shop and picked up some a brand new thick winter coat for a few quid!

 

I have checked benefits that I can claim if I rent a private accommodation, and (to me), it seems very generous, doubling my monthly income!  Having lived in Burma, Laos etc for many years, I am somewhat 'streetwise' when it comes to minimising bills 🙂

 

The NHS is excellent, despite many problems. This lung illness will no doubt finally kill me off at some time (from pneumonia etc), but I would rather die in a UK hospital with some form of medicine/oxygen mask etc, rather than all alone in my Thai house or with the crazy neighbour trying to shove a Vicks Sinex up my hooter 🙂

 

The other sensible option that I can consider is to move back to north Phuket (Nai Yang), where both my Thai ex-wives live - they have their small airport hotels.  I would not intend to live with them - cutting my wrists with a rusty bread knife is much more favourable!  But if I were ill/needing help, then they would both rush to help, if only to call the ambulance.  Modern 1 bed apartments in the village start from about 10k baht/month, and that's certainly ok for me.

I paid in for 35 years and some of my years around 2003 were also missing and I only get £780 pm

 

I very recently had 3 weeks there and prices and bills are staggering after 4 years away 🤔

[simon43]

20 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

It's damp and cold most of the time in the UK. Are you sure you will get treated on the NHS? 180 days is how long you will have to wait.

As for housing; you have a lot of competition from thousands of people who know how to work the system.  I would stay here. The UK is currently a sh!/ hole. It's joyless and dangerous.

To correct you, I can get NHS treatment immediately I set foot on UK soil, as I did 2 years ago when I returned to the UK with suspected prostate cancer (happily not found).  I returned on day 1, registered with local GP on day 3 , got hospital appointment by day 5, attended hospital on day 8 🙂

[lamyai3]

34 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I have 29 years of contributions which is about 880 pounds a week.

 

Typo? Should be about £180 pw for 29 years. 

[simon43]

16 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

I paid in for 35 years and some of my years around 2003 were also missing and I only get £780 pm

 

I very recently had 3 weeks there and prices and bills are staggering after 4 years away 🤔

I found food prices, gym, mobile internet very reasonable when I visited 2 years ago.  Accommodation was expensive, but 1-bed apartments can be had for around 450 quid, depending where you live.  In any case, I have already checked that I will qualify for housing benefit.  HB is not an option for the local authority to pay or not pay - I am eligible to receive about 192 quid a week on top of my state pension because I have no savings to speak of.

[simon43]

2 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

 

Typo? Should be about £180 pw for 29 years. 

Lol, wish it wasn't a typo!  I will receive about 874 pounds/month.