UK pensions

[bert bloggs]

Flustered said that as we live abroad and dont spend our money and pay tax in the UK we are not entitled to rises ,well when i lived in the UK i paid taxes and vat etc ,but claimed nothing for that time ,as i now live in another country and contributed then ,can i have it all back now ? as i never claimed it then ,but thought i was contributing for my future

[sandyf]

On 6/2/2017 at 7:11 AM, ignis said:

Yes everyone is entitled to there viewpoint............  For me NOT living in the UK I am saving the Government a lot of money..  late 2003 when I left my Medication was a little over £ 70 per month, my disability benefit over £ 500 per month.. Free Hospital, Dr's,  Winter fuel, bus pass etc etc.........  I get non of this in Thailand.

 

As for pensions the rate of exchange when I moved was 76 Baht to the £, the rate these days are around 43 !!!  

now multiply that by the 1,000's of pensioners retired overseas = saving the UK government many million of £ per years... Just think if every Pensioner returned to the UK at the same time..  !  we/most people paid all there working life for there state pension, so we have a right to it.

Only the mentally challenged would believe that you should pay contributions all your working life and then have the returns subjected to a geographical restriction.

I pay income tax every month and in the last financial year 12.8% of the tax I paid contributed towards my own frozen state pension. Of course there are those that believe that frozen pensioners make no contribution to the UK economy.

 

If the state pension scheme was a private concern the directors would be enjoying Her Majesty's hospitality.

 

PS. To be fair, the rate of the exchange does not save the government anything, they still pay out the same amount. But you are right significant numbers returning would make the DWP squeal.

Edited June 3, 2017 by sandyf

[theoldgit]

But you are right significant numbers returning would make the DWP squeal.

Spot on, I read a story earlier in the week based on an article written by, l think, the Nuffield Trust highlighting the concern that Brexit could cost the NHS millions of Pounds a year if expats returned to the UK for their healthcare needs. Whilst this was really about expats living in the rest of the EU when the UK finally leaves, it could be replicated if expats living in other countries around the globe felt the need to return to take advantage of the NHS.
What the story failed to acknowledge is that whilst expats returning would undoubtably have an effect on the relevant coffers, most of us are already paying into the general pot, so we're already paying for our cover.
I apologise for straying off topic.

[sandyf]

31 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

Spot on, I read a story earlier in the week based on an article written by, l think, the Nuffield Trust highlighting the concern that Brexit could cost the NHS millions of Pounds a year if expats returned to the UK for their healthcare needs. Whilst this was really about expats living in the rest of the EU when the UK finally leaves, it could be replicated if expats living in other countries around the globe felt the need to return to take advantage of the NHS.
What the story failed to acknowledge is that whilst expats returning would undoubtably have an effect on the relevant coffers, most of us are already paying into the general pot, so we're already paying for our cover.
I apologise for straying off topic.

The way things are at the moment it is very difficult to put a definition on any particular issue. Pensioners are exactly that and as it it age related healthcare is an obvious association.

The article you mentioned was reported in the Independent and there was a particularly relevant comment from one of the readers. In his view the article had only touched the tip of the iceberg, he lived in Spain and was aware of many that were already looking to come back because of the pound and the political climate. The big problem was that these people were struggling to sell their homes as the market was now saturated. The most likely outcome would be that they would end up selling very low, making if very unlikely they could buy again in the UK.

Generally speaking pensions are well below the benefit levels, although initially capital from the sale would probably exclude benefits it would only be a matter of time in rented accommodation for that to reverse and create a knock on effect throughout the system.

The current policy of paying low pensions and telling pensioners to claim benefits could well become a major headache for the government in the years to come.

[rockingrobin]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

The way things are at the moment it is very difficult to put a definition on any particular issue. Pensioners are exactly that and as it it age related healthcare is an obvious association.

The article you mentioned was reported in the Independent and there was a particularly relevant comment from one of the readers. In his view the article had only touched the tip of the iceberg, he lived in Spain and was aware of many that were already looking to come back because of the pound and the political climate. The big problem was that these people were struggling to sell their homes as the market was now saturated. The most likely outcome would be that they would end up selling very low, making if very unlikely they could buy again in the UK.

Generally speaking pensions are well below the benefit levels, although initially capital from the sale would probably exclude benefits it would only be a matter of time in rented accommodation for that to reverse and create a knock on effect throughout the system.

The current policy of paying low pensions and telling pensioners to claim benefits could well become a major headache for the government in the years to come.

Maye the plan is for these returning expat pensioners to take up the jobs that will be created when the immigration level is in the tens of thousands

[nong38]

It is true that if we all returned to the UK the DWP would squeal indeed they would want to get out of the country so fast so that they would not have to account for the failure, I think it is my duty to inform anyone thinking about bailing out that they should choose their destination with great care, I cannot bring myself to tell them they should have done their research and homework or contact any flustered Yorkshireman eating noodles and supping John Smiths whilst looking rather smug.

[evadgib]

The International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP)

9 June at 23:10 · 

BRITISH ELECTION RESULT

The result of the UK General Election offers frozen British pensioners a far greater opportunity our campaign than the expected a big Tory majority would have.

However, as the Conservatives are now likely to be dependent on the DUP who are supporters of unfreezing,to get this firmly on the parliamentary agenda. The Prime Minister will also have to pay more attention to the issues her backbenchers care about, so our Conservative supporters may have more sway.

From a parliamentary lobbying perspective, given the Labour Manifesto commitment to address frozen pensions, and strong historic support from the SNP, DUP, Plaid Cmyru and Greens, we now have 311 MPs that could be whipped by their parties to support reform. In such a situation, we would only need a dozen Tories and Lib Dems to give us a majority, so there is a real opportunity to pursue this route too, building on the significant progress of the last year.

It is good to see that our most vocal parliamentary champions have been returned. APPG officers Roger Gale, Ian Blackford, Peter Bottomley and Yasmin Qureshi are all back, so I am very hopeful that this group will be reformed. We have however lost Greg Mulholland, who has been our main Lib Dem MP supporter in recent years.

[nontabury]

1 hour ago, evadgib said:

The International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP)

9 June at 23:10 · 

BRITISH ELECTION RESULT

The result of the UK General Election offers frozen British pensioners a far greater opportunity our campaign than the expected a big Tory majority would have.

However, as the Conservatives are now likely to be dependent on the DUP who are supporters of unfreezing,to get this firmly on the parliamentary agenda. The Prime Minister will also have to pay more attention to the issues her backbenchers care about, so our Conservative supporters may have more sway.

From a parliamentary lobbying perspective, given the Labour Manifesto commitment to address frozen pensions, and strong historic support from the SNP, DUP, Plaid Cmyru and Greens, we now have 311 MPs that could be whipped by their parties to support reform. In such a situation, we would only need a dozen Tories and Lib Dems to give us a majority, so there is a real opportunity to pursue this route too, building on the significant progress of the last year.

It is good to see that our most vocal parliamentary champions have been returned. APPG officers Roger Gale, Ian Blackford, Peter Bottomley and Yasmin Qureshi are all back, so I am very hopeful that this group will be reformed. We have however lost Greg Mulholland, who has been our main Lib Dem MP supporter in recent years.

311 mp's including Labour. What makes you so sure that they'll support our cause.

I've had correspondence with two of those Labour M.P's They Could't give a dam about our predicament. As far as there concerned we're irrelevant.

[billd766]

3 minutes ago, nontabury said:

311 mp's including Labour. What makes you so sure that they'll support our cause.

I've had correspondence with two of those Labour M.P's They Could't give a dam about our predicament. As far as there concerned we're irrelevant.

 

When I wrote to my MP a couple of years ago her staff replied saying that she was following the Tory party whip. Then she was a newly elected MP. Now she is on her second session and I doubt that she has changed.

[evadgib]

49 minutes ago, nontabury said:

311 mp's including Labour. What makes you so sure that they'll support our cause.

I've had correspondence with two of those Labour M.P's They Could't give a dam about our predicament. As far as there concerned we're irrelevant.

As a disenfranchised voter I'm not expecting anything, but anyone still on the list with votes in marginal constituencies might have more luck with the likelihood of another GE on the horizon. 

 

I'd like to see PR and overseas representation in Parliament in due course too. I don't know what the current figures of Brits abroad are but the last time I looked it was around 5 million-Far too many to ignore.

Edited June 11, 2017 by evadgib

[Rajab Al Zarahni]

I don't think the prospects have improved much by the inclusion of the DUP in any new government. Northern Ireland politicians of all persuasions are distinguished only by their capacity to be disagreeable about everything. There are now so many issues of burning importance to address that frozen pensions will be off the agenda for quite some time. In any event an agreement with the DUP is not yet a done deal.

[evadgib]

...the best we can hope is that there's an Ian Blackford in their ranks although I recon TM will be gone by Oct & another election could follow in spring. In the meantime I will raise my previous points via the appropriate channels; "Squeezing wheel" an' all that ?

Edited June 12, 2017 by evadgib

[nontabury]

10 hours ago, Rajab Al Zarahni said:

I don't think the prospects have improved much by the inclusion of the DUP in any new government. Northern Ireland politicians of all persuasions are distinguished only by their capacity to be disagreeable about everything. There are now so many issues of burning importance to address that frozen pensions will be off the agenda for quite some time. In any event an agreement with the DUP is not yet a done deal.

According to leaks, it seems the DUP are insisting that those changes to pensions, as proposed in that disasterouse Conservative suicide manifesto, must be scraped. So it would seem that the DUP are protecting the existing rights of pensioners. Although for some strange reason the "UNBIASED" British press are ignoring this news, preferring to high light offer aspects of the DUP.

[bert bloggs]

There are two hopes for getting our pensiones upgraded ,and we all know the name of both of them , 

[evadgib]

1 hour ago, bert bloggs said:

There are two hopes for getting our pensiones upgraded ,and we all know the name of both of them , 

All holding such view will utter  "I'm Brian and so is my wife"  quick enough when HMG inevitably relents.

[nong38]

It was a result that no one would have forecast even 3 weeks ago.

I dont see our plight to be advanced one bit, we have a had decades of opposition parties taking up th cause then discarding it once in power, when you are not in power you can promise the earth sure in the knowledge that it is most unlikely you will ever have to deliver or put it off until people forget about it.

We have ben told that it would cost in the region of 500m gbps to up-rate the frozen pensions, we are often told that pensioners should be living in dignity, but then words are cheap, so now think about that 500m for a moment, then tyhink about the 20billion short fall in the defence budget, the 10billion promise to be put into the NHS by 2020 and then Corbyn puling out a rabbit of free tution fees which would cost 10 billion, seems like a lot of young people went for the bribe. It does not come free someone has to pay if the policies ever come to fruition and if you can somehow make 10b available would it not be a bigger benefit to the country to put at least some of it into the NHS straight away?

 

I expect that Mrs May will stay until the Brexit issue is done and dusted, 2 years, another election would be to the advantage of the Labour so the Torys are not going to call one and an internal leadership contest would be counter productive now or in the near future and we must also remember that what we all really want now is a period of stability and business confidence which would allow the pound to rise where we will all benefit.

[evadgib]

11 hours ago, evadgib said:

...the best we can hope is that there's an Ian Blackford in their ranks although I recon TM will be gone by Oct & another election could follow in spring. In the meantime I will raise my previous points via the appropriate channels; "Squeaking wheel" an' all that ?

Quote

"Thank you for contacting the Electoral Commission. 

We will respond to your enquiry as soon as we can".

 

[bert bloggs]

21 hours ago, evadgib said:

All holding such view will utter  "I'm Brian and so is my wife"  quick enough when HMG inevitably relents.

I would happily fall to my knees and beg everyones pardon ,however i fear i will never have to

[evadgib]

Of interest to the disenfranchised voters on this board 

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3787982/just-401-votes-could-have-given-theresa-may-a-majority-in-the-house-of-commons-due-to-so-many-close-election-results/

[evadgib]

Reminder re one of the 'frozen' overseas territories featured a few months ago on this board:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-minister-statement-on-the-35th-anniversary-of-end-of-the-falkland-islands-conflict

[nong38]

The triple lock will continue, the DUP will claim a gain everybody wins! With inflation now running at 2.9% the Tories will happily let it ride for the time being, what will it be when the September inflation figure comes out for this is the one that the increase will be based on and with the BOE reluctant to put interest rates there is room for further moves north, not as if it helps us much.

If the Labour party were to gain control of the country then inflation would rise and the pound would fall we must all hope for "strength and stability" over the next couple of years.

[Rajab Al Zarahni]

5 hours ago, nong38 said:

The triple lock will continue, the DUP will claim a gain everybody wins! With inflation now running at 2.9% the Tories will happily let it ride for the time being, what will it be when the September inflation figure comes out for this is the one that the increase will be based on and with the BOE reluctant to put interest rates there is room for further moves north, not as if it helps us much.

If the Labour party were to gain control of the country then inflation would rise and the pound would fall we must all hope for "strength and stability" over the next couple of years.

Theresa May's change of policy from triple lock to double lock was an own goal. Firstly it wasn't going to happen to 2020 and secondly the 2.5% trigger would be irrelevant if price or wage inflation was greater. On current forecasts  the government would be paying out the same increases on double lock as they would have done on the triple lock .  She would have been wiser just to leave it be.

[evadgib]

Ministerial hokey cokey @ DWP:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/department-for-work-and-pensions-welcomes-new-ministerial-team

Edited June 16, 2017 by evadgib

[billd766]

4 hours ago, evadgib said:

Ministerial hokey cokey @ DWP:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/department-for-work-and-pensions-welcomes-new-ministerial-team

 

More government meaningless gobbley gook.

[nong38]

7 hours ago, billd766 said:

 

More government meaningless gobbley gook.

These are very important people who no one has ever heard of through no fault of their own, although I think one of them once a had atrial with Tranmere Rovers!

[evadgib]

On 6/12/2017 at 8:44 AM, evadgib said:

...the best we can hope is that there's an Ian Blackford in their ranks although I recon TM will be gone by Oct & another election could follow in spring. In the meantime I will raise my previous points via the appropriate channels; "Squeaking wheel" an' all that ?

Somehow I knew I was wasting my time, given I no longer have an MP (15 years!) & the ones in my current or former UK constituencies are ministers who refuse point blank to go off piste. 

 

Quote

Thank you for your email to the Electoral Commission

 

The Electoral Commission does not make electoral law – that is the role of Parliament.  You would need therefore to let your MP know your thoughts.

 

Meanwhile, I have logged your contact to the Commission in the event that we are consulted by Government on potential changes to the law on campaigning.

 

I hope that this information guides you.

 

Kind regards,

 

<Redacted>
Public Info Officer

The Electoral Commission
www.electoralcommission.org.uk

 

Edited June 17, 2017 by evadgib

[evadgib]

Veterans’ Gateway

 

(Happy for this to be moved if there's a better place for it)

Edited June 19, 2017 by evadgib

[Rajab Al Zarahni]

 

The Queen's speech did not contain the key election pledges to introduce a so-called “dementia tax”, to bring in means-testing of winter fuel payments and to scrap the state pension triple lock .

 

 

 

 

[Rajab Al Zarahni]

8 minutes ago, dexjnr555 said:

Do Arabs get UK pension too?

Sent from my Pixel using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

8 minutes ago, dexjnr555 said:

Do Arabs get UK pension too?

Sent from my Pixel using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Only if they have paid the requisite number of National Insurance contributions.

[Flustered]

13 minutes ago, dexjnr555 said:

Do Arabs get UK pension too?

Sent from my Pixel using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Much as I disagree with 99.99% of what  Rajab Al Zarahni posts, I would not stoop to a racist remark like this.

 

Although his name is of Saudi origin, there is no reason why he could not be a 100% British citizen and fully entitled to post his views on this subject.