Pensions: My wife needs a National Insurance No. to claim. Can she get one?

[Jip99]

I have a UK private pension, but unlike you I know that I don't have lone to go. Arrangements already made to leave any pension monies and UK savings to my children in the UK and going there shortly to see out the rest of my time. The Thai wife will have the house that I bought in her name. Job done.

That is quite interesting. I wish you a peaceful time in the UK.

Taking your facts at face value you don't appear to be bequeathing anything to your wife, As you say, she already owns the house.

Will she not need income ?

Are you aware of your responsibilities under the The Inheritance and Provision for Family and Dependants Act 1975 ?

[smotherb]

Why take any of this second-hand information--it is likely old, out of context, misinterpreted, or just plain wrong. Get in touch with your pension providers and ask.

For a private or occupational pension, then yes ask them what you want to know

Re bereavement benefits, be aware that most expats/widows who have enquired dorect to the Pension Service are incorrectly advised. The Pension Service invariably advise that a Thai widow who has never been to the UK is entitled to nothing.

Howerver smotherb, you ask who you wish. Good luck!

And, just why should anyone take your word for it?

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[prakhonchai nick]

Why take any of this second-hand information--it is likely old, out of context, misinterpreted, or just plain wrong. Get in touch with your pension providers and ask.

For a private or occupational pension, then yes ask them what you want to know

Re bereavement benefits, be aware that most expats/widows who have enquired dorect to the Pension Service are incorrectly advised. The Pension Service invariably advise that a Thai widow who has never been to the UK is entitled to nothing.

Howerver smotherb, you ask who you wish. Good luck!

And, just why should anyone take your word for it?

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Indeed, why should they? Why would they participate in this thread (which currently has 62 posts) if those interested in the subject are going to ignore all and any comments made.?

I have offered my experiences, which have been based on claiming bereavement benefits on behalf of 10 Thai widows over the past 2 years. Such experience has shown me that the Pension Service (whether dealing with bereavement benefits-or the now ceased dependents allowance once available as an extension of the state pension) do all they can to wrongly advise potential claimants that there is no money available for Thai women who have never set foot in the UK.

I have offered factual information on this thread,(primarily as a warning to anyone who deals direct with the Pension Service) and it is for anyone interested in the subject to believe or disbelieve as they wish.

[Jip99]

Why take any of this second-hand information--it is likely old, out of context, misinterpreted, or just plain wrong. Get in touch with your pension providers and ask.

For a private or occupational pension, then yes ask them what you want to know

Re bereavement benefits, be aware that most expats/widows who have enquired dorect to the Pension Service are incorrectly advised. The Pension Service invariably advise that a Thai widow who has never been to the UK is entitled to nothing.

Howerver smotherb, you ask who you wish. Good luck!

And, just why should anyone take your word for it?

\

I do so like the doubting Thomases of Thai Visa.

You will fit into Thailand very well - somebody in a uniform, or who has a name badge, tells you something and you accept it unquestioningly. Somebody who has proven experience on this forum says something and you raise doubts.

[Jip99]

my English friend died recently he was getting the state pension...his thai wife is much younger than him and they have a 6 year old son born in Thailand. she has just received the bereavement pay out of £ 2000 pounds...she not entitled to a widows pension as she is under 45 years of age...she is still waiting to here if she will get anything from the state pension for their 6 year old son......and she got a lump sum from a private pension scheme which my friend didn't even know he had...the paper work etc was done by one of his English grown up children in the UK.....does anybody know if the 6 year old child will receive any benefits from his dads contributions....

It doesn't actually have to be against his dad's contributions - any child of the mother qualifies for the WPA. If there is a child under 18, irrespective of the father, then the husband's NICs will qualify the widow for WPA benefits.

[Jip99]

I hate it when Thais take my hard earned tax money. They put nothing in. just take and take. This should be stopped. It is not right !

Are you referring to ALL Thais - or just the ones that we are legally married to ?

Any reason why you would want to deny a Thai wife the same rights that an English wife would have ?

That sounds racist to me........

[wym]

An old Brit friend of mine - and I do mean old - was shopping for a care-giver wife this part of the world trying to use the fact that she'd get his pension benefit for the rest of her life once he'd carked it.

Guess this puts the kabosh on that scheme. . .

[Pormax]

At least this topic has given some useful information and it is good to know there are people out there willing to assist Thai ladies when their hisbands die.

I thank those with constructive input. There will of course always be those who don't.

I paid a hell of a lot of tax and NI contributions as a self employed person for over 20 years, and served 15 years in the Armed Services.I am still

paying tax on my pensions now so if my wife is either English or any other nationality and is entitled to claim, then she should.

I hope this topic has made many others aware of the difficulties your Thai wife well may face, especially with the neccessary forms required to fill in to submit a claim, For example the form B11,'Beareavement Benefits' has more than 30 pages. Believe me when I say it is not easy even if their reading and writing skills in English is reasonable. I doubt claims for Armed Service or Private Pensions will be less than 4 pieces of paper to fill in.

Ok not nice to think about dying but it will happen to all of us.

If you care about your wife and maybe children then think about it and take some action now to alleviate some of the problems later and no doubt reduce expenses when the time comes in getting the help and information required. The more complex your estate the more difficult it will be to sort out.

[smotherb]

Why take any of this second-hand information--it is likely old, out of context, misinterpreted, or just plain wrong. Get in touch with your pension providers and ask.

For a private or occupational pension, then yes ask them what you want to know

Re bereavement benefits, be aware that most expats/widows who have enquired dorect to the Pension Service are incorrectly advised. The Pension Service invariably advise that a Thai widow who has never been to the UK is entitled to nothing.

Howerver smotherb, you ask who you wish. Good luck!

And, just why should anyone take your word for it?

\

I do so like the doubting Thomases of Thai Visa.

You will fit into Thailand very well - somebody in a uniform, or who has a name badge, tells you something and you accept it unquestioningly. Somebody who has proven experience on this forum says something and you raise doubts.

Uniform and a name tag? Why ask the security guard? You seem so out of contact with reality. I don't believe I was asked for any credentials when I joined TV, and I doubt you were either. So, just what is it that makes any TV poster who comments an expert? I'll wager few doubting Thomases can tell you their tales of woe regarding the Thai gf who ripped them off of house, car, and cash.

[Jonmarleesco]

Can your wife get an NI number? Not unless she has lived and worked in the UK. There is a spousal continuation draw-down option and I am unaware of any restriction on foreign spouses, nor the relevance of the NI number, though the rules are fluid so possible. A lump sum payment is liable to tax of 55%.

Your wife's state benefits, as a UK national, would be dictated by her age at the time of your demise; as a foreign national, I'm not entirely sure of the rules and intend to check on a few aspects when I am back in the UK, including those that affect a foreign spouse, or partner. Happy to let you know the outcome.

A word of caution re the state pension: the contribution term needed to qualify for full pension reduced a few years ago from 40 to 30 years. As of 2016, with the introduction of the new uprated amount, the qualifying term increases to 35 years, though I understand only for those reaching state retirement age after that time. UK nationals who live in a country which, as the UK government puts it, doesn't have a reciprocal agreement with the UK will, once they start drawing their state pension - there is no obligation to draw it at 65 - no longer qualify for annual increases. That might change, but that is the position as of now.