Should I return to the UK - difficult decision!

[KannikaP]

22 hours ago, simon43 said:

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

Eh?

[newbee2022]

On 6/26/2025 at 4:17 PM, 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?

That's a personal decision.

Make a list and write down the PROs and the CONs and then decide. Don't forget....your lung issues might increase in UK/weather.

[Upnotover]

11 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Eh?

Sound great, where do I sign up for that?

[Artificerman]

Just an update for anyone interested, (I paid full NI contributions for 49yrs), my water bills have just increased by 19% (Anglian) and some other areas are much higher. prices are rising quickly and taxation is getting heavier. Currently the UK is not a very happy place for old school residents for well published reasons, Personally I am selling up and moving to Korat area as soon as the house is sold, on the market now. Opened my bank account and put in required ฿400,000 as required (marriage Visa to be applied for all paperwork already completed on last visit 2 months ago).

Lived through current regime twice, enough.

 

The basic State Pension: How much you get - GOV.UK

 

Good luck, NB. UK is getting much milder weather wise over last couple of years.

 

 

[simon43]

3 hours ago, zyphodb said:

 

So, if you're a Luttrell, how come you were raised in a S*%#8hole like Leicester then? I thought the family home is at East Quantoxhead?

I'm from Watchet BTW...

Lol, read my previous comment!  At some stage early this century there were death duties to be paid and which my ancestors couldn't afford.  Therefore the castle was given to the taxman in lieu of death duties and then handed over to the National Trust.

 

If you ever visit the castle, have a look at some of the paintings of my ancestors - they look just like me 🙂  (well maybe not so blue!!)

 

Although I was born and bred in Leicester, when an adult I lived at Lower Marsh, just by the Dunster Steam Railway station.

 

[proton]

6 hours ago, simon43 said:

I lived in Stoneygate!  Maybe we went to school together 🙂

 

No I'm a few years older, lived on St John's Rd and Elmfield Ave and Central Ave in the 70's/90's, lovely back then

[Celsius]

On 6/26/2025 at 10:10 AM, simon43 said:

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.

 

I find the same in Canada. Things are relatively cheap compared to Thailand as long as you own your home and blind uneducated haters will downvote this fact. 

 

Me and wife currently live solely on interest income of 1600 CAD a month and it is enough for my condo fees, property taxes, 2 brand new financed Samsung phones with huge data allowance and food. I live downtown and can walk anywhere. The huge Loblaws grocery store is literally 200m away.

 

Healthcare is fast and free. Soon the poors on paper like myself will even get free dental after I do my income tax next year. THE AIR IS CLEAN.

 

 

 

 

[jori123]

Your old OP,recognise it ,needless saying it but a hell of a risk staying in TH until something happens and it surely will

  Every 2 years or so used to go to Calcutta for cancer scans,TH too expensive,in a million years I never thought I come down with it,stage 2,,priced options there,none,so back to UK for treatment> must have cost NHS a fortune.  I'm OK now,GP reckons its gone,but have check ups now and again.  You are awaiting things to happen there.

 

 Anyway coming back next week for couple of months,hell air fares are up,but got return for 558 return,not bad

[simon43]

6 hours ago, jori123 said:

Your old OP,recognise it ,needless saying it but a hell of a risk staying in TH until something happens and it surely will

  Every 2 years or so used to go to Calcutta for cancer scans,TH too expensive,in a million years I never thought I come down with it,stage 2,,priced options there,none,so back to UK for treatment> must have cost NHS a fortune.  I'm OK now,GP reckons its gone,but have check ups now and again.  You are awaiting things to happen there.

 

 Anyway coming back next week for couple of months,hell air fares are up,but got return for 558 return,not bad

Yes I'm old and I do recognise it!  That's why I started this thread 🙂

[Blueman1]

18 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Eh?

Your Numbers are WRONG M8 !!

[Blueman1]

9 hours ago, jori123 said:

Your old OP,recognise it ,needless saying it but a hell of a risk staying in TH until something happens and it surely will

  Every 2 years or so used to go to Calcutta for cancer scans,TH too expensive,in a million years I never thought I come down with it,stage 2,,priced options there,none,so back to UK for treatment> must have cost NHS a fortune.  I'm OK now,GP reckons its gone,but have check ups now and again.  You are awaiting things to happen there.

 

 Anyway coming back next week for couple of months,hell air fares are up,but got return for 558 return,not bad

,hell air fares are up,but got return for 558 return,not bad....That's Rather Cheap M8, Didn't know that Ryanair flew the route....

[KannikaP]

6 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Your Numbers are WRONG M8 !!

I didn't put any numbers. I was quoting the guy who put them up here.

[CHdiver]

34 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

,hell air fares are up,but got return for 558 return,not bad....That's Rather Cheap M8, Didn't know that Ryanair flew the route....

You can get that price atm with Qatar, at least from Switzerland for around 550 Swiss Francs. It's low season, it's a low season price. High season it can be double that. 

[treetops]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

I didn't put any numbers. I was quoting the guy who put them up here.

 

He posted a revised figure in a somewhat confusing post just a short while later.

 

Quote

I will receive about 874 pounds/month.

 

[Celsius]

On 6/27/2025 at 5:23 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Sorry Brit-man...  thats total misinformation...  its so clearly you lack any balance in your observations and only see the optics of extreme bias.

 

 

- Me...  Breathing difficulties - Immediate Blood test and CT Scan. Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosed (life threatening)

 

- Father... Stool Occult test (via post)..  Called in for Colonoscopy. Early stages of Colon Cancer found... Removed - Life Saving.

 

- Father...  Chest Pains...   First responder there in 4mins with heart medication. Life Saved (heart attack).

 

- Father... Snapped Achilles tendon...  (not life threatening)...  treated quickly though.

 

- Father... Breathing difficulties...  fluid on Lungs... Ambulance. Heart valve relapse.. On meds. Life Saved.

 

- Mother...  Mammogram... Lump found... Cut out, radiotherapy. Life saved.

 

 

Those are just personal examples many more from friends in the UK - your comment about emergency care is utter tosh... 

 

The UK NHS may be on its knees and struggling - but your comments do it a huge disservice - at least post honestly.

 

 

 

 

 

He can't post honestly. He was quite impressed by a portable x ray machine they brought for him in the government hospital.

[scubascuba3]

There is another option, live in Thailand or wherever hot for as long as you can, when your health deteriorates to the point your life is too difficult, pull the plug, it's ok, better than dragging your life out in a miserable location. Maybe choose an end date, maybe age 80

[BritManToo]

9 hours ago, Celsius said:

He can't post honestly. He was quite impressed by a portable x ray machine they brought for him in the government hospital.

Hardly my fault if an ignorant poster doesn't know the difference between hospice and hospital.

[JimHuaHin]

This is a hard one!

 

Horses for courses, as they say.

 

I am in a somewhat similar situation.  I am almost 70 years young, with slowly declining physical and mental health, but still healthy enough to drive 20-30 kms when needed and I can still look after myself at home.  For how long, who knows, a few years maybe?

 

Nearly all known relatives in Australia are deceased - I have occasional communications with one distant older cousin in Australia; my only offspring - a daughter - died 39 years ago; I have no contact with my ex wife.  Almost all my good friends in Australia are deceased - one dear close friend aged 86 is about soon to enter an aged care facility as she and her family cannot look after her anymore at home.

 

I have a "handful" of friends in Thailand, most are older than me, and my good Thai friends have their own families and work responsibilities.

 

For me, and this is selfish, life is about quality or quantity.  I have no desire to be totally dependent upon others nor to spend "years" living as an elderly "disabled" person in bed most of the day.  When the time comes to "go", I shall go.

 

Thus, my "plan" is to stay here until that time comes; I have enough savings and pension income to live a reasonably "comfortable" life here, and I shall do so until I die.

 

For yourself, collect any relevant information, think carefully about your best options(s), and follow your gut feelings.

 

Good luck and best wishes.

[richard_smith237]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

14 hours ago, Celsius said:

He can't post honestly. He was quite impressed by a portable x ray machine they brought for him in the government hospital.

Hardly my fault if an ignorant poster doesn't know the difference between hospice and hospital.

 

I do stand corrected - I did write hospice instead of hospital...  As such Brits response to my mistake was technically correct.