Govt sets up working group to tackle expat pensions

About Time

Finally they are looking at the issue, it has only taken them more than sixty years. Now they should do the right thing quickly before more expat pensioners die in poverty. Shame on Great Britain and the Government.

Posted by: Scroungehound

AT LAST

I sincerely hope that this brings about a positive change in attitude towards pensioners overseas. It is so unfair to freeze these pensions. There are many pensioners here in SA who are seriously thinking of returning to the UK as they cannot manage any longer on their frozen pensions.

Posted by: Brenda

Frozen Pensions

This has been a thorn in the side for too many years and there should really be no need to ask any questions as the answer is that it is painfully obvious that all pensioners having paid their N.I. payments should receive the same treatment and be paid the going rate especially as we are dealing with such a small number even the Pensions Minister tried to make changes through EDM 957 and now has the perfect opportunity to achieve it. The cost is immaterial as the NI fund is there for this purpose and is very healthy. Any other issues like the National debt must be addressed without reference to the fund even though borrowing from it occurs through the DMO. Everyone knows that this freezing policy is bad and wonder how the government have got away with it for so long. Commonsense and morals are all that is needed. Hopefully those elected to represent us have both.

Posted by: Morgeo

Deceptive last paragraph

The comments attributed to the DWP in the last paragraph are deceptive and self-serving. Backdating of the pension increase is not being asked for, so why would the DWP even mention a £5.5 billion cost? Also, the cost of uprating the frozen pensions should be put in perspective -£620 million is just 0.8% of the £86 billion in pension payments from the N.I. fund for 2011/2012. The issue of cost is always raised as a reason for not doing the right thing for the 4.5% of pensioners affected by this discriminatory policy, even when the economy is doing well. Frozen pensioners in Canada made the same mandatory payments as those in the USA, where pensions are fully indexed. Frozen pensioners in Australia and Thailand made the same mandatory payments as those in the Philippines and Turkey, where pensions are also fully indexed. So what is the justification for freezing pensions in some countries but not in the others? There is none. A frozen pensions policy that has its origins in decisions made in 1946, when few people, let alone emigrants, had made contributions to the new National Insurance scheme, has no place in a modern economy. The 90 year old who retired to Australia in 1986 after a lifetime of work in the UK has earned the same indexed pension that his mate going to the USA, yet he currently receives 60% less pension! How can that be fair?

Posted by: PeterW

Discrimination

This is a no brainer. There is no need to waste more taxes on a working group. To discriminate against just 4% of pensioners is immoral and reprehensible, this is theft. All have paid into the NI fund and to treat the few in this way has no logic or justification. The NI fund is forecast to have a surplus of £114 billion next year. I belong to a small action group and we are busy letting our MP's here in Canada know about this shameful treatment of seniors at the hands of past and present UK governments. Many did not know about this grubby little secret that the UK government keeps hidden. The game is up, just do the right thing Cameron do not waste any more time, it is already too late for some seniors who instead of enjoying a well earned retirement have passed away living in poverty. Shame on you all.

Posted by: Jane Davies

Frozen Pensions

Why on earth do they need a working party to resolve this issue? It is a known fact that there is no moral, legal, financial or administrative justification for this discrimination. There is no arguement against treating all pensioners fairly, justly and equally no matter where in the world they now live. NI contributions to the Fund were made under the same terms and conditions as everyone else when working;there is no valid reason for denying pensioners the right to withdraw from the same NI Fund (which is in surplus to the tune of £40 odd billion)under the same terms and conditions as everyone else. Nothing to talk about - just get on and unfreeze pensions NOW!

Posted by: Andy Robertson-Fox

Tactics

Is this yet another way the UK government ducks the issue?? At first glance it may sound promising - but then when all the facts are already well documented, why is there a need to talk about them yet again?? Stall, stall, stall, buy time, deny, whatever - and in the meantime pensioners die in poverty. Dying after they've paid as much as anyone else!! But it's not discrimination - Oh no - the ECHR said so - so there!!! Balderdash, codswallop, and utter tripe. Nothing more or less. We're "frozen" and we've paid our dues to be in the "Indexed Club" but we're not members!! Why the hell not???

Posted by: Chippy

Some morality and common sense being demonstrated perhaps at last

Are we making some progress at last? To quote Lord Carswell,one of the HoL legal Lords included on the HoL committee to consider the Annette Carson Case in 2005, "Once it is accepted that pensions should be paid to contributing pensioners resident abroad then no justification remains for paying some less than others and less than UK residents". Hear Hear to that. Jim Tilley Hon Chairman British Pensions in Australia Inc, Founder member of ICBP.

Posted by: Jim Tilley

baht v pound

I have retired to Thailand 2 years ago my pound bought 72 baht.Today it is only 47 thanks to the policies of our governments .Every year I have to show a large sum coming into Thailand to qualify for a new retirement visa. With the value of the pound today I am almost at the limit. Should the pound devalue further or the Thai government raise the limit I will have to leave Thailand .

Posted by: P.Greenslade

Wilson

Not only do those British OAPs retiring to an EU member state qualify for annual pension upgrades, they also get a winter-fuel allowance. This year it is £200 for married couples. Why they should qualify for this allowance is beyond me? Let us hope that the British Government working group can at least do something to rectify this awful discrimination towards those living in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica etc. The £5.5 bn backpayment is a red herring and won't be forthcoming. It will be an achievement if an upgrading were to ensue from the deliberations of this working party.

Posted by: Eric Brown

Look before we leap

Most of our problems are caused by our failure to really understand the implications of moving abroad and that the effects of economical and political events elsewhere can destroy our care- fully made plans. I decided to move to Indonesia in 2007 when the pound sterling was the world's strongest currency - the Rupiah was at 20,000 to the pound but is now at c. 13,500. Savings on deposit were worth at least 4.7% but now at 0.5%. I, and many of my friends, knew that there was no reciprocal health agreement with the UK but, as we are always in good health when making such life-changing decisions we chose to ignore the 'what ifs, etc'. Also the capricious decisions made to ex-pats' interests when continuing their applications to stay another year and the expensive onerous conditions applied to their applications can make life unbearable and return to blighty almost impossible if one has sold up to emigrate. The frozen pension is a serious matter for someone who has been away for ten years or more - the cost of sudden emergency health care can almost bankrupt you. Because one moves to a third-world country it does not mean everything is cheaper than in the UK. If you want to enjoy just a simple standard of living it can cost even more taking into account no benefits or NHS care. Also my electricity bill is equal to that which I paid yearly before. I have rambled on but I would seriously ask folks to consider carefully any move abroad and not allow oneself to fall in love with the idea but to research all aspects not just the frozen pension. A very good point made by P. Greenslade (thankyou) highlights the tenuous position we are in if our finances are reduced in any way.

Posted by: Robin Beeson