The UK Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has updated MPs on the impact of the frozen state pension policy on British retirees living overseas, including thousands based in Thailand. The policy affects nearly half a million UK pensioners who live in countries where annual state pension increases under the triple lock do not apply.

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For those in Thailand and other affected nations, including Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, pension payments remain fixed at the rate first received after leaving the UK. Some individuals are reported to be receiving as little as £20 a week, compared with the current full new state pension of £241.30 a week.

The update was given on 2 June 2026 in response to a parliamentary question about the impact of frozen pensions on UK pensioners living abroad. The minister confirmed that the UK State Pension is payable worldwide regardless of nationality, but annual uprating only applies where there is a legal requirement, typically under reciprocal agreements.

Thailand remains one of the countries where such an agreement does not exist, meaning British retirees there do not benefit from yearly increases. The policy has been in place for decades and has been maintained by successive governments.

Campaigners from the End Frozen Pensions group have long argued that the policy disproportionately affects retirees who moved to Thailand after working in the UK. They claim many affected individuals, including veterans and former civil servants, were not informed that their pensions would be frozen before leaving the country.

The group estimates that 86% of those impacted were not made aware of the rule change in advance. They also describe the policy as a political decision that could be reversed through domestic legislation.

In his response to MPs, Torsten Bell reiterated that the existing approach remains government policy and indicated there are no plans for change in the near future. He said priority continues to be given to pensioners residing in the UK when allocating additional pensioner benefits.

For British retirees in Thailand, this means state pension payments will continue at fixed rates without inflation-linked increases unless future policy changes are introduced.

The Mirror reported that the frozen pensions system is expected to remain in place for UK retirees living in Thailand and other non-uprating countries unless new bilateral agreements or domestic legislative changes are made. Campaigners continue to lobby for reform, but the government has signalled stability in the current policy framework.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 6 June 2026

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Government's ability to pander to the wealthy and punish the poor is breathtaking and predictable.Their.then ability to blame all the problems on the shiftless ,lazy lower class is patently immoral.

When you look around the world,it indeed appears to have been patented.

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

Actually the frozen pension rule has been in place since 1945. It has been ratified by government on several occasions since then. The problem is that many did not read the rules before leaving the UK. The only answer to the problem it to petition the Thai government to bring in similar pension rules to align with those of the UK. Not being familiar with the pension system here I don't know if this is possible

I'm not from the UK but imho every UK expat living in Thailand has the right to be upset. They contributed to the pension plan during their working life under the same rules as UK residents and must be treated the same. If person "A" contributes 30,000 pounds over a lifetime same as perdon "B" then they must receive the same regardless where they live. The fact that a retiree living in the Philippines gets more than a retiree in Thailand is both unfair and discriminatory.

Edited June 6Jun 6 by riverhigh

1 minute ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

And likely do not vote!

Different attitude the govt had when collecting all the payments though!

We have petitioned the UK government on the issue of frozen pensions for years. I was once part of a delegation to the House of Commons stating our case and asking for, at least, a review of current policy. We have achieved nothing I'm sorry to say. It appears no UK government will move an inch in this issue which particularly affects UK pensioners of limited means. All we can do is to keep trying in the hope that, one day, the current situation will change.

Looking at it from outside (Oz), it's not clear what the logic of the UK government's position is. What has reciprocity with the other (in this case Thai) government got to do with it?

The number of Thai retirees living on Thai pensions in the UK is probably minuscule compared to the Brits living here ...

The UK government will never willingly amend this rule. It saves huge amounts of money and there is virtually no consequence at the ballot box.

It is here to stay.

1 minute ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

Because we paid into the scheme for at least 30 years, and choosing to live overseas also means we will be less of a burden on state services. No NHS treatment, no cold weather payments or free public transport.

And many of us still pay UK tax.

I don't believe paying for things in the UK was ever a condition for receiving a UK pension? We also visit the UK, and with airport taxes and the obscene price of a coffee and a cold sandwich in Heathrow, probably spend more in the UK than most UK resident pensioners.

It's just penny pinching by UK Gov, and people who agree with this obviously unjust policy are driven by the jealousy created by living in a cold, damp country rather than having the guts to move abroad.

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

And likely do not vote!

Different attitude the govt had when collecting all the payments though!

I suspect many do not realise that expatriates still have the vote to write in Westminster elections and referendums. I understand that you can ask tyo remain on the electoral register in the Constituency in which you last lived. It is relatively easily managed by email, and proxy voting. A significant number of registered to vote expatriates making this an issue may concentrate minds?

I guess the gov thinks its more important to use the funds to support illegal migrants ...mobile phones, hotels, free food, free medical, free transport....

4 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

You mean, to be able to pay and house those who have produced nothing for the British economy? There were no conditions regarding where you could spend your pension. It was money you had paid in, expecting to receive it later in old age. What will Reform's policy be if they become the next Government?

Edited June 6Jun 6 by Gandtee

While I don't have a pension, I feel sympathy with those that do. Saving money for retirement is hard enough but expecting the government to raise the amount now and then is heartbreaking when you don't live in the home country. I hope people still vote, or write to their MPs about this to gain some support.

2 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Looking at it from outside (Oz), it's not clear what the logic of the UK government's position is. What has reciprocity with the other (in this case Thai) government got to do with it?

The number of Thai retirees living on Thai pensions in the UK is probably minuscule compared to the Brits living here ...

Thai retirees in the UK will likely be able to claim a pension, if not, then benefits.

The one benefit the UK gets from paying these pensions is that these retirees are not a burden on the NHS, yet will likely need funds for medical services or insurance where they reside.

12 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

Wrong in my opinion as an American retiree receiving a US govt pension which I contributed to for 40 years and I feel that if they froze my pension because I live in Thailand or anywhere other than the US I would be joining the group suing the government for sure. We gave money to them IAW an announced plan from the beginning saying you contribute x% of your salary and then upon retirement, you will get a COLA yearly as well as the beginning annuity. I agree that the British situation seems unfair.

17 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

..and they are also not a drain on ANY public services... especially the NHS. In other words any expat is not in any way a liability to their homeland. Where they spend their government pension is fk all to do with any government.

It's a false economy, regarding Thailand at least. If I go back to the UK, it's going to cost them a hell of a lot more than I cost at the moment.

8 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Because we paid into the scheme for at least 30 years, and choosing to live overseas also means we will be less of a burden on state services. No NHS treatment, no cold weather payments or free public transport.

I totally agree. This short-sighted policy will only force many poorer pensioners to move back to the UK where they will be more of a burden on the system than if they were living in Thailand.

16 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

That’s probably it in a nutshell. They just couldn’t care less since you’re out of the way and can’t do anything about it, so why not screw that irrelevant group. While I get the ‘not spending it domestically’ thing, on the other hand, expats are not costing the government a penny… no drain on NHS, council welfare, winter fuel subsidy, public transport, etc etc. It is such a miserly trick on (usually) Britons that have (usually) paid into the system all their working lives. Where are the monies going that were saved?!

I feel for you Brits in this case. Pension, your retirement funds and plans, shouldn't be something for others to play with. Everyone deserves every penny they get after a long working life, and inflation is a part of life.

This is, and has been, a cheap shot from your government. Can't imagine how upset I would be if this was my pension, in Norway. You have my sympathy.

23 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

Then why should you pay tax on your pension even if you live abroad???

5 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

..and they are also not a drain on ANY public services... especially the NHS. In other words any expat is not in any way a liability to their homeland. Where they spend their government pension is fk all to do with any government.

I wouldn't say that...how many old retireess go back as soon as they are sick...then on the first flight to Thailand when better

Another two-tier system. If all living abroad were treated the same I might go along with this silly rule. But why my mate in the Philippines gets the increase and I don't is beyond me!

Former MP Keith Vaz was campaigning on this issue and his arguments were gaining traction.

Look what happened to him.

28 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

The UK Govt is not 'supporting' pensioners, they are paying back what the person has paid into their pot over their working years. So it should not matter what they spend it on or where they live.

Should the pension be suspended whenever the pensioner goes on holiday to one of these 'banned' countries.

Edited June 6Jun 6 by wil iam not

It's too late now, but if Britain had done what Norway have done with our oil and gas income from the start, you would have, like us, a pension fund for future retirees. And this "law" wouldn't be necessary.

We chose to build our fund, which today is at twentyone thousand billion (milliarder) Norwegian kroners, instead of what you did, using that income along the way, and outsourcing most of it on private hands.

And of course, your newly decision of ending your oil and gas adventure, doesn't help your case here. That alone is mind boggling in today's world.

Edited June 6Jun 6 by thaibreaker

How would the government react if the all the retirees returned to the UK, in need of hospital care, government assistance, housing ect? I wonder how loud the govt would scream about the cost and tell everyone to move to Thailand?

When this subject was last raised a few years back many people discussed the option of relocating to the Phillipines for a year and "refreshing" the pension.

With inflation running at around 5% in recent years the relative differences must be starting to impact many.

A strange system.

As I understand it Australia does increase the pension for people overseas but you do not qualify for the various one off allowances which supplement the pension.

Historically Australia was big on family reunion visas which allowed Australians to bring their parents from overseas. After a few years the parents qualified for the old aged pension and could then return home to live a comfortable life. I think it's a bit harder these days.

36 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Makes sense. Since you don't spend the pension money in the UK, why should the gov't support your overseas lifestyle?

Doesn't make sense when ex-pats living in places like the The Philippines and the USA receive the yearly increases. What also doesn't make sense is your ill-informed comment.