2 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

There is a pension fund of 1,000 billion euros in the Netherlands, which is a lot of money and actually comes from private individuals and companies, but the Dutch government has started to interfere with it, making that pension fund uncertain.

The new system doesn't really make it unsure.

 

What imo shouldn't happened though was the pension money used to lower the national debt, but that was about 25 or so years ago.

18 hours ago, BayArea said:

Exactly! I don't think the average Thai even know what a pension is!

Yes because the vast majority of thais don’t pay tax to get one. Ask a bar girl how much tax she pays they look at you as if you come from a different planet. 

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

They have that oil fund worth  $340k for every citizen.

$1.9 trillion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Pension_Fund_of_Norway

What has Norway to do with the Netherlands?

Was last year at house MIL, there was a concrete tub out side.

I asked why?

Government gave it to her to grow fish, so mom could do own fish growing and eat.

Mom is 88 and can barely walk or whatever.

Good thinking

Well maybe all the Dutch pensioners have to return to their country.

Some dopehead suggested you ONLY can have  government pension if you are ONLY living in Netherlands.

If not, they stop your government pension.

For now just mentioned, but ....

Then allmost all  Dutch people have to go back to ... Holland !

Btw we have no houses for anybody, not even for sons or daughters.

It even is, status holders, permit living in Holland, go first !!

No idea why the Dutch people arent  protesting that much over it and let it be, it is incredible.

We should smash Holland, I know strong but otherwise we get more in problems, also thanks to F*** EU. 

However that problem seems to be everywhere. Saw docu about Ireland, same. Uk same.

 

In Japan you could have free houses, so called akiya houses. Now the market changed and you have to pay.

Though it is difficult to get into Japan. Many demands.

But see the same in Thailand, Philippines and so on. Loads of sites, selling houses at top prices.

All for investors. Which dis balance the house markets globally. 

7 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

An assessment that does not take into account the economic characteristics of Thailand.

- Thailand  has capped fuel, water and electricity rates for non commercial users. In effect the rates are subsidized.

- Thailand has plentiful and low cost food options. The urban elderly live with extended families, and the rural elderly will typically have access to their own or community  fruit trees like banana or papaya. No it is not ideal, but most do not starve.

- The elderly have access to state  sponsored medical care and medications.

- Thai Old Age Allowance is age 60, however, many Thais are already receiving Social Security Assistance at age 55

- Almost all Thais qualify for the OAA, and there is no requirement to pay a contribution. OAA is funded from general tax revenues, and most Thais pay little tax other than VAT.

- In February it was announced that OAA was to increase to a flat 1000 baht/month from the age based 600-800 baht a month.

 

True, the amount is not enough to live comfortably, but  it is expected that thai families will care for their elderly members. If the OAA is to increase, then people would have to contribute and/or more taxes would be needed to pay for it. Perhaps an additional tourist tax or beer tax can be introduced to soothe your conscience.

 

What about more even distribution of wealth😉

22 hours ago, trevoromgh said:

For pensions to work you first need people to realise they have to PAY into it in the first place and I don't think Thais have grasped that concept yet.

100%.  If you don’t work and contribute during your working years, then no pension; or work in a low-pay job all your life and get a small pension.  The 30 and 40-year-olds come to Thai and make peanuts, and it will do nothing for a gov pension.

13 hours ago, ezzra said:

A Thai lady tax paying friend in Pattaya need to do an CT scan on her shoulder, waiting time, 2 months minimum, 

or do it privately for 8,500 baht, so much for the 30-baht national health program.

 

That's because Thailand's nascent "NHS" system is clogged up with unentitled, uninsured or otherwise cheap Charlie farang coffin dodgers blagging on the system.

5 hours ago, NedR69 said:

On 10/18/2025 at 12:06 AM, trevoromgh said:

For pensions to work you first need people to realise they have to PAY into it in the first place and I don't think Thais have grasped that concept yet.

100%.  If you don’t work and contribute during your working years, then no pension; or work in a low-pay job all your life and get a small pension.  The 30 and 40-year-olds come to Thai and make peanuts, and it will do nothing for a gov pension.

 

Agree, but it doesn't only apply to the locals or the misguided foreigner who thinks "working in paradise" is a good trade-off against lower median pay and a good career move.

 

Too many underfinanced foreigners who either didn't make sufficient contributions back home, or never did due diligence including drafting a practical budget and sticking to it, have pitched their tents here and are gaming the system.

13 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Particularly difficult to organize long-term contributions to an ever-growing pension fund in a country where some ⅓ of all government revenue disappears in corruption & theft by politicians, government officials and contractors.

 

Yes, it's pretty grim back in the UK, isn't it?

17 hours ago, redwood1 said:

The Thais get 500 baht a month for old age pension....What more could they want? This should cover a few sandwiches from 7-11 nicely every month...

 

I say Thailand be #1 for the worst pension in the world....

 

Mehh.... Think Botswana or Afghanistan.

19 hours ago, ezzra said:

A 1,000 baht a month, that's what the Thai pension is, and if you're old and sick and have no one to care for you

You're in big trouble, some go to temples and die there, others just live on scrapes, what an ending

for the poor in this country.  

government people have a lot more.

14 hours ago, ezzra said:

A Thai lady tax paying friend in Pattaya need to do an CT scan on her shoulder, waiting time, 2 months minimum, 

or do it privately for 8,500 baht, so much for the 30-baht national health program.

How much in the USA?

12 hours ago, Felt 35 said:

 

What about more even distribution of wealth😉

 

That would be helpful, for some people. However, it would require the fair assessment and  honest collection of taxes and fees.

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

Mehh.... Think Botswana or Afghanistan.

You have 38k of posts and one would think that by now, you'd learn not to talk rubbish, but NO, here you're, red thumbing down your own alcohol fumes laden post, do yourself a favor, and stop embarrassing yourself.

5 minutes ago, ezzra said:

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

Mehh.... Think Botswana or Afghanistan.

You have 38k of posts and one would think that by now, you'd learn not to talk rubbish, but NO, here you're, red thumbing down your own alcohol fumes laden post, do yourself a favor, and stop embarrassing yourself.

 

Try and stay ON TOPIC and suggest which country has a worse social security system than Thailand ?

 

Can't? Jog on then.

 

I'm teetotal BTW so what's your excuse for being a w⚓ ?

9 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Try and stay ON TOPIC and suggest which country has a worse social security system than Thailand ?

 

Can't? Jog on then.

 

I'm teetotal BTW so what's your excuse for being a w⚓ ?

Please change your NanLaew to PaiLaew, (gone already, just in case you need translation)

will suite you more,

On 10/18/2025 at 7:11 AM, BritManToo said:

They have that oil fund worth  $340k for every citizen.

 

 

The land where you need a second job just to buy a beer,

 

 

 

 

On 10/17/2025 at 10:40 AM, dinsdale said:

for the average Thai the "pension" is discraceful.

 

Indeed, 600 baht/ month.

32 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Indeed, 600 baht/ month.

It goes up with age but still very little.

Not all elderly Thais have family to care for them when they themselves no longer can ! Not all have a spot of land up north. Not all have been blessed with good health, how can  anyone live on 800 or 1000 baht a month ? 
One lady I knew and helped , sat outside the Patong market in the mornings .This lady had worked there all her life.

The other stall holders knew her and helped her along daily. She looked quite aged and couldn’t walk properly. Her husband had died years ago, she had no children. I don’t know if she had somewhere to call home, didn’t look like it. So sad.

lately, in north Pattaya, there’s a big parking block or similar next to Terminal 21. Some homeless live there, including one lady I’ve met who has a grown son , severely handicapped in a wheelchair. Said she can’t manage on what money she gets. For food she counts on handouts. Unimaginable, the pain a lot of poor go through. 
A few years back , in Jomtien, I could hear some door noises at night. Went to look, there were a Burmese couple with a little baby, who were obviously sleeping on the inside of the fire escape at night. Working on the building site next door. Of course we helped, my neighbour a Thai lady did a lot for them and they also used her bathroom. We bought good baby food and clothes etc. It’s a heartbreaking situation. 

 

On 10/17/2025 at 11:06 PM, trevoromgh said:

For pensions to work you first need people to realise they have to PAY into it in the first place and I don't think Thais have grasped that concept yet.

How many Thais do you think are rich enough to pay into a pension.  Most money is sucked into the corruption system,  so there will never be enough unless that is sorted.

On 10/18/2025 at 1:01 PM, ujayujay said:

In Thailand, civil servants get everything: pensions, early retirement, particularly favorable real estate loans, and additional discounts on car purchases. The rest of the population is treated second-class.......................

My Thai sister in law got a gov't job a few years ago.They had nothing before, only a beat up shack.They immediately bought a brand new car.I knew about the free medical etc but not the other benefits..cheap loans etc. She supports the family while hubby fixes cars once in a while.hmm

On 10/19/2025 at 12:16 PM, In Full Agreement said:

 

 

The land where you need a second job just to buy a beer,

 

 

 

 

555 correct...visited briefly while on a ship in late 60,s. A glass of beer was a couple dollars then.Back in Canada a glass of beer was 15-20 cents. Forget about spirits.Probably similar to Denmark and other Scandinavian countries where they get huge pensions but the cost of living is very painful.  

On 10/21/2025 at 1:03 PM, jaideedave said:

555 correct...visited briefly while on a ship in late 60,s. A glass of beer was a couple dollars then.Back in Canada a glass of beer was 15-20 cents. Forget about spirits.Probably similar to Denmark and other Scandinavian countries where they get huge pensions but the cost of living is very painful.  

 

 

 

Indeed.

 

 

On 10/18/2025 at 6:41 AM, BritManToo said:

They have that oil fund worth  $340k for every citizen.

$1.9 trillion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Pension_Fund_of_Norway

 

Last time I checked, the Netherlands, technically, were not part of Norway... 😆 

On 10/17/2025 at 4:14 PM, BayArea said:

Exactly! I don't think the average Thai even know what a pension is!

 

Thats becase the  country is run by the hi-sos and others who don't pay tax