I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

No she wont

21 minutes ago, vibration said:

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Done away with years ago

40 minutes ago, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

 

I have a question if you don't mind.

 

At what point during your stay in Thailand did the government freeze the amount they pay you from the pension?

42 minutes ago, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

In your dreams pal. you are lucky to get it yourself

52 minutes ago, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

No.

 

She would need contributions in her own name.

 

Worse, there is no longer a Bereavement Payment available to her (unless she is resident in the UK at the time of your death).

 

Her only hope is if you have an occupational pension where she could qualify for a widow's pension.

13 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I have a question if you don't mind.

 

At what point during your stay in Thailand did the government freeze the amount they pay you from the pension?

As soon as they discovered  his situation  or when he was daft enough to tell them

3 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

No.

 

She would need contributions in her own name.

 

Worse, there is no longer a Bereavement Payment available to her (unless she is resident in the UK at the time of your death).

 

Her only hope is if you have an occupational pension where she could qualify for a widow's pension.

Even private annuities are reluctant to pay money into foreign accounts these days   "money laundering concerns".....or so they say

7 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Even private annuities are reluctant to pay money into foreign accounts these days   "money laundering concerns".....or so they say

 

 

Money Laundering is not much of a concern for a remitting bank - loads of fraud warnings, of course, before setting up a payment. 

 

I have advised several people to set up WISE accounts for their partners - at least one UK based multinational company refused to pay a widow's pension to Thailand.  (I believe that they have since relented.

I got the big C so my days are numbered  I have a small pension from when I was a salaried  guy years ago ,I am currently  trying to sort this out via a financial advisor in the UK  it sure ain't easy   taking a lump sum seems to be the easiest option but without a letter saying I'm terminal from a uk quack I'll get  hammered for tax

25 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Even private annuities are reluctant to pay money into foreign accounts these days   "money laundering concerns".....or so they say

 

 

.....is the correct answer 😊

1 hour ago, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

 

If the husband reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, the old State Pension rules apply and the wife may inherit part of his Additional State Pension or basic State Pension, depending on his National Insurance (NI) record.

2 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

I got the big C so my days are numbered  I have a small pension from when I was a salaried  guy years ago ,I am currently  trying to sort this out via a financial advisor in the UK  it sure ain't easy   taking a lump sum seems to be the easiest option but without a letter saying I'm terminal from a uk quack I'll get  hammered for tax

 

Sorry to hear that. At least, you have some time to try to get the best outcome. I don't fear dying but would at least like to have time to finalise plans to help my loved ones have the best possible outcome on my demise. If a trip back to uk is possible, it would be worth the cost and effort. Chok dee!

 

 

Another reason to have saved in a private pension 

On 8/3/2025 at 1:05 PM, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

 

It most definitely isn't.  And it's nothing to do with being overseas or having a Thai wife.  She wouldn't get any share of your pension even if she were British and living in Wigan.

 

 

On 8/3/2025 at 8:12 PM, hotandsticky said:

I have advised several people to set up WISE accounts for their partners

 

A problem with doing this, though, is that, whilst Wise insist on account names being recorded in the Western script, most Thai nationals' names as stated on their local bank accounts are recorded in Thai script. Hence any transfer from Wise accounts held by our Thai partners to their local bank accounts must be doomed to failure, as I can vouch from personal experience with a recent unsuccessful attempt to make a token Wise transfer directly to my Thai wife's BKKB account. I have drawn Wise's attention to this anomaly, but when and if they do anything about it is anyone's guess.

 

This is not an issue for us Westerners wishing to avail ourselves of Wise's services, though, since our account names with Thai banks are (invariably?) recorded in the Western script.

 

7 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

A problem with doing this, though, is that, whilst Wise insist on account names being recorded in the Western script, most Thai nationals' names as stated on their local bank accounts are recorded in Thai script. Hence any transfer from Wise accounts held by our Thai partners to their local bank accounts must be doomed to failure, as I can vouch from personal experience with a recent unsuccessful attempt to make a token Wise transfer directly to my Thai wife's BKKB account. I have drawn Wise's attention to this anomaly, but when and if they do anything about it is anyone's guess.

 

This is not an issue for us Westerners wishing to avail ourselves of Wise's services, though, since our account names with Thai banks are (invariably?) recorded in the Western script.

 

 

 

There is always a challenge ....but I managed to open 5 or 6 WISE accounts for Thais.

 

Whether name matching has become stricter, I don't know. 

16 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Whether name matching has become stricter, I don't know. 

 

All part and parcel of the general tightening-up of banking procedures we've been seeing in recent times, I think.

 

Thankfully this won't be an issue for my Thai wife when I pop my clogs since she will be able to get the payments she receives based on my occupational pension paid directly into her Thai bank account, without the need for a Wise account. And, unlike Wise, my occupational pension provider accepts account names stated in Thai script in its application form! 

9 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

All part and parcel of the general tightening-up of banking procedures we've been seeing in recent times, I think.

 

Thankfully this won't be an issue for my Thai wife when I pop my clogs since she will be able to get the payments she receives based on my occupational pension paid directly into her Thai bank account, without the need for a Wise account. And, unlike Wise, my occupational pension provider accepts account names stated in Thai script in its application form! 

 

I have had a nomination for my missus accepted by my occupational pension provider, although no bank details get communicated until after my demise and the claim is submitted for the widow's pension.. 

 

For name back up there is the ID card and passport with names in English.

On 8/3/2025 at 8:34 PM, Will B Good said:

 

 

 

If the husband reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, the old State Pension rules apply and the wife may inherit part of his Additional State Pension or basic State Pension, depending on his National Insurance (NI) record.

Link please Will

14 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Link please Will

Found some, investigating.

On 8/3/2025 at 7:05 PM, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Very unlikely but if you meet the conditiond below it might be possibe

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/inheriting-or-increasing-state-pension-from-a-spouse-or-civil-partner

On 8/3/2025 at 7:05 PM, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

So what would happen if everyone remained tight lipped and the UK are not informed of the husbands death? Just let it keep mounting up in the Wise box ready for transfer to the Thai lady's bank. I wouldn't imagine much interest from the British Embassy for some reason..

1 minute ago, Formaleins said:

So what would happen if everyone remained tight lipped and the UK are not informed of the husbands death? Just let it keep mounting up in the Wise box ready for transfer to the Thai lady's bank. I wouldn't imagine much interest from the British Embassy for some reason..

 

 

It must happen....you just need a willing partner (or partners) in crime to keep filling the forms in.

On 8/3/2025 at 7:05 PM, vibration said:

I am a British Citizen retired and living in Thailand for many years with my Thai wife.

 

I receive UK State Pension paid every 4 weeks to my Wise Account and this is then transferred into my Thai Bank account when needed.

 

My question is if I die before my wife will my Thai wife be eligible for all or part of my UK State Pension.

 

I did try and research this online however this was inconclusive.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

If you wife worked in the UK a has national insurance number she will get a  one off bereavement payment, can't remember the amount 2,000 pound?

14 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

All part and parcel of the general tightening-up of banking procedures we've been seeing in recent times, I think.

 

Thankfully this won't be an issue for my Thai wife when I pop my clogs since she will be able to get the payments she receives based on my occupational pension paid directly into her Thai bank account, without the need for a Wise account. And, unlike Wise, my occupational pension provider accepts account names stated in Thai script in its application form! 

That''s the sort of thing I'm looking at setting up , whats the name of the annuity company   PM me if you wish.   I would be grateful

30 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

So what would happen if everyone remained tight lipped and the UK are not informed of the husbands death? Just let it keep mounting up in the Wise box ready for transfer to the Thai lady's bank. I wouldn't imagine much interest from the British Embassy for some reason..

I don't know for sure but I imagine the embassy would, contrary to their normal disinterest in us, become involved and inform somebody back in the UK   I think the embassy  are informed when we kick the bucket by the authorities here. before they are allowed to cremate the body    They are good for nothing else

4 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

That''s the sort of thing I'm looking at setting up , whats the name of the annuity company   PM me if you wish.   I would be grateful

 

Standard Life / Scottish Widows or most other big name UK Company will set up a retirement plan for your other half. Which can then be converted to an annuity.

 

If you already have an occupational pension, speak to them direct, most occupational pensions have survivor benefits

 

As an idea

 

My Government pension, pays 50% 

 

My Private pension pays 75%

 

Best wishes

2 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Standard Life / Scottish Widows or most other big name UK Company will set up a retirement plan for your other half. Which can then be converted to an annuity.

 

If you already have an occupational pension, speak to them direct, most occupational pensions have survivor benefits

 

As an idea

 

My Government pension, pays 50% 

 

My Private pension pays 75%

 

Best wishes

 

Genuine question.....why isn't your private pension 100%?

 

If it is 75%.....why not convert it to a SIPP and leave 100%

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Genuine question.....why isn't your private pension 100%?

 

Genuine answer, I don't know.

 

Probably the same as my Government pension is only 50%, limitations within the pension scheme, or something.

 

5 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

If it is 75%.....why not convert it to a SIPP and leave 100%

 

I was warned off SIPP's about 20 years ago. I'm more than happy with what I have, and see no reason to change it.