11 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Were someone to do this, would they get all the backdated increases or only the specific percentage for that particular year?

It would be at the current rate and would increase further should you be there in April. Same if you went back to UK. But on returning to Thailand it reverts to your previously frozen rate.

10 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

According to you.

INCORRECT

❌ A UK pension is not a personal savings pot being returned

The UK system is a “pay-as-you-go” scheme

✅ A government-backed, intergenerational system you qualify into

So it’s not like a private pension or savings account that "pays out" to you upon retirement.

It's a pension not a bloody lottery

BONKERS 👍

Look at it however you want to. But my view is how most UK pensioners see it., right or wrong.

What's the comparison with a lottery got to do with it, where one buys a ticket, ie pays into it, and only a few win.

Do your reform and restore parties have a policy on this blatant injustice? I think you can forget labour winning the next election.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

You tell them ......... nothing more to it than that, they don't check.

All the people with restricted pensions volunteered the info they lived overseas.

Routinely, no, they don't check.

But, if any little thing alerts DWP / HMRC to the fact that you're telling lies, then they have the right, and ability to open an investigation.

I can promise you, that once such an investigation is opened, "tenacious" doesn't even begin to describe it.

2 minutes ago, VBF said:

Routinely, no, they don't check.

But, if any little thing alerts DWP / HMRC to the fact that you're telling lies, then they have the right, and ability to open an investigation.

I can promise you, that once such an investigation is opened, "tenacious" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Hard to lie, when they never ask!

I'd be more than happy to be the first pensioner in UK court over this matter.

What are the chances?

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Hard to lie, when they never ask!

I'd be more than happy to be the first pensioner in UK court over this matter.

What are the chances?

The rules do say that you MUST report any change in circumstances, living here or UK, it is mandatory.

But I would be with you in Court if it came down to it.

Just now, wil iam not said:

The rules do say that you MUST report any change in circumstances, living here or UK, it is mandatory.

But I would be with you in Court if it came down to it.

I wonder whether the DWP has 'spies' reading this Forum.

Don't think I ever read any rules ......... I'm not big on 'terms and conditions'.

As for spies, don't think they're looking (Transam might have dobbed in a few from malice) , generally easier to take from the fools that admit. And this is an anonymous forum, I don't use my real name anywhere outside the UK.

5 hours 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 they've paid tax all their life in the UK and also won't be a burden on the NHS?

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think I ever read any rules ......... I'm not big on 'terms and conditions'.

As for spies, don't think they're looking, easier to take from the fools that admit.

And this is an anonymous forum, I don't use my real name anywhere outside the UK.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think I ever read any rules ......... I'm not big on 'terms and conditions'.

As for spies, don't think they're looking, easier to take from the fools that admit.

And this is an anonymous forum, I don't use my real name anywhere outside the UK.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think I ever read any rules ......... I'm not big on 'terms and conditions'.

As for spies, don't think they're looking, easier to take from the fools that admit.

And this is an anonymous forum, I don't use my real name anywhere outside the UK.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think I ever read any rules ......... I'm not big on 'terms and conditions'.

As for spies, don't think they're looking, easier to take from the fools that admit.

And this is an anonymous forum, I don't use my real name anywhere outside the UK.

I wonder whether the DWP has 'spies' reading this Forum.....I'll bet they DO M8,I'd Bet My Life on it !!

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think I ever read any rules ......... I'm not big on 'terms and conditions'.

But isn't that why so many Travel Insurance claims are rejected?

Just now, wil iam not said:

But isn't that why so many Travel Insurance claims are rejected?

I don't buy insurance, unless mandated by law.

Never been a big fan of buying stuff, I can't control.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Hard to lie, when they never ask!

I'd be more than happy to be the first pensioner in UK court over this matter.

What are the chances?

I get your point, but from their POV, not giving them full information as to your exact address is lying! (Not saying I agree but it's a case of the truth, the whole truth etc.)

You stated earlier that you don't do any transactions on a UK bank when you're outside UK, so you are probably less likely to be investigated than some e.g. people who have their UK pension sent to Thailand.

Were you to go to court, you'd lose, because again, from their POV you're breaking the law, simple as that.

If you ignored a summons, they would probably stop your existing pension pending the outcome of the case, which clearly wouldn't go ahead. OR, you may be tried in absentia and the likely result would be your pension being blocked until you'd "paid back" what they say you owe.

As an aside I once took the DWP through 3 levels of a Tribunal attempting to get some unemployment benefits backdated. At the final appeal, the Chairman complimented me on my "cogent, well presented argument" He then refused my appeal, citing a legal Statute!

Again, not saying I agree with all this: I'm very much of the opinion that if one has earned one's pension and subsequent increases, one's location should be none of their damn business!

For Australians the rules are;

Yes, an Australian pensioner can receive the Age Pension while living permanently overseas, including in Thailand, though the application and payment rules change.

The specific rules you need to be aware of include:

1. The Application Process

You generally must be in Australia when you lodge your Age Pension claim. Because Australia does not have an active International Social Security Agreement with Thailand, you cannot simply apply for the pension from abroad. If you are already living in Thailand, you will need to return to Australia to apply.

2. Payment Rates While Overseas

• Assets and Income Test: Your pension remains subject to the same income and assets tests as if you were living in Australia.

• Residency Rules: While you can take your pension overseas, the amount you receive may be reduced if you leave. Payments are adjusted based on your Australian Working Life Residence (the number of years you lived in Australia as an adult between the ages of 16 and Age Pension age, up to a maximum of 35 years).

• Pension Supplement: If you leave Australia to live overseas permanently, your Pension Supplement will drop to the basic rate rather than the higher rate paid to residents in Australia. [1]

• Payment Schedule: Instead of being paid fortnightly, your pension will be paid directly into your bank account every 4 weeks.

  3. Reporting and Travel

  You must continue to meet all the qualification rules while outside Australia. You are also required to keep Services Australia informed of your living arrangements, income from employment (if any), and any travel outside of Thailand.

  ---

2 hours ago, CFCol said:

Only for fifteen years after you leave can you vote in uk general elections.

The Elections Act of 2022 did away with that restriction. The right to vote is now "lifelong".

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

Were someone to do this, would they get all the backdated increases or only the specific percentage for that particular year?

No back pay and a poster has said that if you leave the Phillipines for Thailand it goes back to the rate prevailing at the time you left UK.

If that's right a trip to the UK might be required.

The other concern is that you may need to evince an intention to abandon your Thai residency which means selling your Thai real estate, car furniture etc and closing Thai bank accounts

It's been 28 months and still waiting to pay class 3 contributions. I can't believe any government agency takes over 2 years just two answer a form.

2 minutes ago, arick said:

It's been 28 months and still waiting to pay class 3 contributions. I can't believe any government agency takes over 2 years just two answer a form.

Ya gotta phone them.

First you have to phone 'Future Pensions" advice line for their advice.

https://www.gov.uk/future-pension-centre

Then you phone, to make the contributions

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

5 hours ago, sjbrownderby said:

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.

Yes, and it is financially short sighted. An expat pensioner doesn't use the NHS, doesn't get pension credit. doesn't get housing benefit etc. Overseas expats save the taxpayer a lot!

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Ya gotta phone them.

But first you have to phone 'Future Pensions" advice line.

https://www.gov.uk/future-pension-centre

I have letters back and forth. It's just a waiting game. Every time you send another letter and it takes another 6 months.

Just now, arick said:

I have letters back and forth. It's just a waiting game. Every time you send another letter and it takes another 6 months.

Did all that phone the future pension line you have to call before you go any further and I did that already 24 months ago the backlog is incredibly long.

1 minute ago, arick said:

I have letters back and forth. It's just a waiting game. Every time you send another letter and it takes another 6 months.

Took about an hour for both using the phone.

52 minutes ago, VBF said:

I get your point, but from their POV, not giving them full information as to your exact address is lying! (Not saying I agree but it's a case of the truth, the whole truth etc.)

You stated earlier that you don't do any transactions on a UK bank when you're outside UK, so you are probably less likely to be investigated than some e.g. people who have their UK pension sent to Thailand.

Were you to go to court, you'd lose, because again, from their POV you're breaking the law, simple as that.

If you ignored a summons, they would probably stop your existing pension pending the outcome of the case, which clearly wouldn't go ahead. OR, you may be tried in absentia and the likely result would be your pension being blocked until you'd "paid back" what they say you owe.

As an aside I once took the DWP through 3 levels of a Tribunal attempting to get some unemployment benefits backdated. At the final appeal, the Chairman complimented me on my "cogent, well presented argument" He then refused my appeal, citing a legal Statute!

Again, not saying I agree with all this: I'm very much of the opinion that if one has earned one's pension and subsequent increases, one's location should be none of their damn business!

They are starting to check, as more systems are integrated and improved eg when you leave and enter UK. Halifax found out I was living overseas and closed all my accounts!

7 minutes ago, arick said:

It's been 28 months and still waiting to pay class 3 contributions. I can't believe any government agency takes over 2 years just two answer a form.

Hopefully the next letter I get from them will being saying that I can pay the back years and it's all set up. Including all the years where I went back to work just for 3 months that's supposed to be counted as a year also because you're living abroad.

6 hours 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?

Nonsense.

You have no idea how much of my income I spend in the UK...that mounts up over the 20 years I have lived in Thailand. I also pay £20k a year in tax so please don't make ignorant posts about the government supporting my lifestyle. Someone would have to be a complete tw4t to believe such rubbish.

Add on the fact that I draw nothing out of the health service or any other benefit.

That said, I have no time for people who whinge about frozen pensions; it is not something that is new and, as iniquitous as it is, suck it up, plan for it or go and live in the Philipinnes. ..or illegally don't declare your presence in Thailand.

1 minute ago, Nemo. said:

They are starting to check, as more systems are integrated and improved eg when you leave and enter UK. Halifax found out I was living overseas and closed all my accounts!

Doubt if Halifax did anything but look at your frequent overseas debit and credit card payments.

1 hour ago, VBF said:

Routinely, no, they don't check.

But, if any little thing alerts DWP / HMRC to the fact that you're telling lies, then they have the right, and ability to open an investigation.

I can promise you, that once such an investigation is opened, "tenacious" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Erm !!! Where does this come from ? Stiff words from a limp policy lol. Actual wording is OAP " if an issue is found ,your other benefits MAYBE adjusted"..wot would they be?

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Hard to lie, when they never ask!

I'd be more than happy to be the first pensioner in UK court over this matter.

What are the chances?

Yeah,I bet your whiter than white on the unfrozen pension

55 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

I wonder whether the DWP has 'spies' reading this Forum.....I'll bet they DO M8,I'd Bet My Life on it !!

Im sure they do Transam knocked on IPCs door virtually every day with my posts,did nothing ,fact is one member of staff there told me not to involve myself with them..or else..frozen

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Hard to lie, when they never ask!

I'd be more than happy to be the first pensioner in UK court over this matter.

What are the chances?

Getting higher as they are now checking passport data, voter registration and council tax data.

2 minutes ago, bruce123123 said:

1 hour ago, VBF said:

Routinely, no, they don't check.

But, if any little thing alerts DWP / HMRC to the fact that you're telling lies, then they have the right, and ability to open an investigation.

I can promise you, that once such an investigation is opened, "tenacious" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Erm !!! Where does this come from ? Stiff words from a limp policy lol. Actual wording is OAP " if an issue is found ,your other benefits MAYBE adjusted"..wot would they be?

Whether the policy is limp or not is moot. DWP / HMRC have enormous powers to investigate anyone they think is abusing the government rules that they enforce (rightly or wrongly!)

Just to illustrate, see attached image "HMRC powers", an AI overview of such powers.

4 hours ago, emptypockets said:

That is true, but the money you spend will circulate in the local economy, not supporting a foreign country's economy.

Garbage. Expats not using the NHS is worth more to the UK economy than uprating the pension.

Not to mention the UK tax collected from frozen pensioners.

It is all about morality, sadly lacking in some.

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

11 minutes ago, Nemo. said:

They are starting to check, as more systems are integrated and improved eg when you leave and enter UK. Halifax found out I was living overseas and closed all my accounts!

Doubt this,used to send money over with Halifax £9.50 a go, Halifax going out of existence soon anyhow

11 minutes ago, Nemo. said:

4 minutes ago, VBF said:

Whether the policy is limp or not is moot. DWP / HMRC have enormous powers to investigate anyone they think is abusing the government rules that they enforce (rightly or wrongly!)

Just to illustrate, see attached image "HMRC powers", an AI overview of such powers.

Its policy,written down wotever DWP style on any policies concerning OAP ,please do not confuse,you are making mountains out of molehills or are you jealous with frozen pension