Many years ago I was an independent financial adviser in Nottingham. I recall these rules are weird. In Australia and New Zealand you got the increases, but in Canada you don't. It was many moons ago and this has probably not accurate. People think of the "State Pension" as an investment, but it's not. Your contributions were immediately paid to current Pensioners as you made your NI contributions - (in the past). Your contributions never have time to be invested or grow. Your pension actually comes from/will come from current/future NI contributions from your children or grandchildren. The UK Govt screwed everyone by deferring everyone's pension age to 67. This was the CHEAPEST OPTION to manage a broken and outdated system. The politicians didn't care, because Parliament's Pension Scheme is excellent. Thanks Les, you are a legend.
@@gmm5550 Les mentioned in the video that the government can check when you leave and enter countries by seeing how many times your passport was used to enter different countries (read swiped at the airport/land border). They can then get after you for overpayment they made. It's best to be truthful I think.
The Government Bean counters will be looking for this in the future, how many people would be stuffed with the stopping of your pension totally whilst they investigate they can and will do this for sure one day.
@@gmm5550 The UK has just introduced new legislation giving HMRC the right to check anyones bank account to check for benefit fraud. They have already said one of their targets is expat pensioners. If a bank sees large amounts of payments going overseas when you are supposedly resident in the UK they will have to inform HMRC who will then investigate. Big Brother is watching you. Incidentally, the State Pension is not a benefit payment but a right for which recipients have contributed to all their working lives. We have fulfilled our side of the contract, the UK government should honour theirs.
Good advice Les. Thanks for making the video. Loads of people have tried to get rid of this stupid rule but UK Gov ignores it as it would cost them money.
I'm the same age as you Les, still working and 2 yrs 8 months away from reaching retirement age; which is set to gradually increase to 67 from April 2026. It annoys the hell out of me, that I can't choose to spend my retirement years wherever I wish, without having to jump through hoops. To date I've been paying into the system for close on 48 years. Why shouldn't I be entitled to the full pension, wherever I'm living? While I'm abroad I'm not a drain on the UK health system, which leads me onto another point. My understanding is, if you live outside of the UK for a period longer than 185 days, in a financial or calendar year, you lose your automatic right to National Health entitlement, unlesss the time spent abroad is within a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the UK. This to me is scandelous. I'll have paid into the system for 50 years, why should I be denied treatment when I get to the time of life, when I'm most likely to require help, from that system?!
I recently got the same standard email from DWP Les as i had signed the petition too. It makes the blood boil. I won't go into all the arguments about how unfair and indeed immoral the UK government is because you know them aswell as i do. I know it's just a dream and it would never fly but sometimes i wonder if it would be possible to raise funding from expats who are affected to hire a legal team and take the government to court. Like i say, just a dream. Ironically i have a private pension too and they have no issue with uprating it annually. Just to rub salt in the wound my incomeis above my personal allowance and the government have no problem with making me pay UK income tax at 20%. They are nothing but a bunch of crooks and it applies to all parties as the policy has been in place for 70 years. Canada has been trying to sign a reciprocal agreement with the UK for a number of years but the British government simply refuses. They are scum.
Scum accurately describes them. And they spend millions each day on 4 star hotels to accommodate thousands who enter the country illegally as well as giving away billions to their mates for PPE not fit for purpose during the pandemic. Yet they penny pinch from pensioners who have paid into the system.
It is a 70 year old agreement and if they are going to pay out more money then the old agreement is fine by them. But if it affected them the rules would change for sure. Yep agree crooks in suits.
Ditto! Same situation - it's a shit system they have in place - my pensions are good enough to be taxed, but not good enough for any yearly increases 😢
great video , good information , there are so many thai pattaya channels on here but very few give accurate up to date useful information with sources shown , well done keep it up , there is no substitute for useful information its what guys need to plan accurately and make the necessary moves prior to retirement
My guess is that triple lock and indeed any increases in state pension will be axed for most pensioners and they will increase pension credit for those on low incomes instead. Why do I say this? Because it will save govt a boatload of money, they can claim the poorest are protected and it’s what they just did with winter fuel payments
Hello Les from the Philippines I have taken your advise and moved here in September 2024 to get my increase in my state pension I was living In Thailand for the last 7 years but it made perfect sense to to move here. The one bit of advise i would add to your information is to let the International pension Centre know in good time once you have made your arrangements so they will make sure your pension increase will take place after the first month in the Philippines. They have been very helpful to me in my process and i am up to date with my in creases an extra 45 pounds a week. So thank you very much for your Help and keep up the good work on your Channel . From a very Happy Subscriber Regards Alan
Wow thanks so much for contacting me and letting me know, I about to do another video on this and I have had other subscribers say they were told it's not true, many emails later they were told it was true. It is not on ant websites of helplines even the staff were not sure. Best wishes and have a beer or two for me with the extra. 🙏
Thanks Les. My situation is a little different. I'm 56 and building a house in Isaan. I lived and worked in Dallas for the last 13 years so I also qualify for a pension from the USA. Current projections at 67 are approximately $1800 per month and £368 per month from the UK. I wouldn't want to live in the Philippines for 186 days every year after building my home here. Plus, my UK pension is a smaller amount. I suppose that the biggest thing for me is how much will the "rules" change for each country over the next 10-12 years. It does make it difficult to plan ahead. Keep up the good work. I always enjoy your videos.
Hi this is not a once a year plan, this would not be financially viable with the normal 2 to 3% rise. This has come about by the last 2 years bumper inflation rises so from 2019 to 2024 your pension has risen by 24% so now it is worth looking at.
@@scotttracy9333 I've never heard of that. I worked and contributed National Insurance in the UK for 22 years and worked in the U.S. for the amount of work periods required to qualify.
Great info Les , well done. I too am only 2 years away from the state pension. I think the way i'll approach this will be to wait until the pension has risen by a similar percentage to the example in your video , whether that be 5 years on increases or more ( or less ), to make the move worth while . I should think i'll only do that twice by which time i'll be 80 ish, and thats quite an upheaval for a man of that age. Thanks again Les . Don ..... also living the dream in Pattaya.
Thanks for the comment, I agree normally it would take 8 years to get to this % rise so having it in 4 years it is worth doing. I am of the same mind, I also have 2 1/2 years to wait for my state pension. When the frozen rises reach 20% I will then consider doing what I say in the video and like you I will be 74 when it reaches the 24% increase. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for all your great info Les... Although my wife is from the Philippines we'll be looking to spend most of our time in Thailand in the future as we like it so much there. I've recently retired and collecting as much info I can muster to become well informed about living abroad. Again, thanks! your channel is one of those I look at for honest, straightforward information! Cheers
As I understand it ..when you tell the uk gov that you are living there they send your money to that country? And if that was so you would have to do two money exchanges! Does anyone know if this is correct?
Good advise Les. However, when I returned to the UK in 2022 for a one month holiday, I claimed for and received the full entitlement for that period being there. As the amount of pension I am entitled to receive here is at the its maximum, it is made up of my UK state pension and pension from New Zealand. The increase I received from being in the UK meant that the percentage of my UK contribution went up and the NZ portion decreased, as I didn't receive an overall increase on the total. All in all it was a long hard process in which I didn't gain any more money.
A number of people I have helped get the full increase they have not had for years. It does work. It is true you can earn the increase whilst you were in the UK but once gone it reverts back to the previous amounts.
Thanks for doing the legwork on this one Les.. My plan is to maybe spend 3 months in the Philippines and 3 months in the 3 months in the UK summer.. but not every year...maybe every other year depending on how things go with the triple lock which I imagine may change but with the number of pensioners increasing it will take a brave government to change things and lose all of those precious votes... All the best...
Nothing is going to change this year for sure as yes it would be a vote loser. If the increase was at the minimum of 2.5% it is not worth doing even after 5 years as the returns will take a few years to recover but at 24% this is a good time to do it. They forecast is about 4% next year and then if you have not done anything since 2019 then at 28% it is a good move. Many ways to do this 3 months UK and 3 in Turkey.
I currently live in the US but considering retirement overseas. The UK and US are very similar. Here in the US, I do believe it will become harder to retire overseas. Two reasons. One, single retired men moving overseas to find conmanship. There are number of women in the US complaining about this move and I am sure they have complained to the government. Two, when a single retired male moves overseas all his spending takes place in a different country which does not benefit the country he came from. It is wealth transfer. I am expecting it to become more difficult all the time. It is a shame because many single retired men can live much better overseas due to the cost of living. When you can lease a place to live at 1/3 the price, that is often nicer, that is game changer for a retiree. Thailand and other countries I believe have caught onto this source of economic benefit. I am thinking, they understand, that once one of these single retired guys gets off the plane in their country, he starts spending money. Get ready for more roadblocks.
The amount of money going south of the US border due to remittances (either to family or investments) may just outweigh all US retirees living in all foreign countries. Not a complaint.
from personal experience, I suspect that the forever single woman would vote for more daddy government to take care of them. perhaps harsh but have some female family members focused on the wrong priorities and ignoring their biological clock.
Hi, thank you for all the information so helpful. Our problem is we moved to Australia in 2018 & bought our home. I have been in touch with the International Pensions office, who said for us to be able to be out of the UK & live in a reciprocal country, we would have to show proof of the sale of our home in Australia, which we don't want to sell? Have you heard of this, or is it a new thing? Regards Jan Sharp
Hi and thanks for the comment, I am in touch with a guy who is doing this right now, living in the Philippines now for the 185 days. He lives full time in Thailand. I have not herd of the situation you describe, in my opinion why have a rule that says live 185 days and you can have the rise then add restrictions. The guy I talked with got the answer this is not the case, he contacted me again saying my info was wrong but when he talked with the guy in charge he found I was correct. This info is not on any website and is hidden, my video has created a storm in a teacup with the calls they have received over this but goes to show they are not all singing from the same hymn sheet. I would contact them again to confirm. Best of luck.🙏🙏
Les, By and large you are correct withh one exception since 2016 there is a two tier state pension scheme in place in the UK. Anyone that was contracted out of SERPs by their employers will not receive the new state pension of £221 pw in April. but will be paid under the old state pension scheme which is currently due to be £169.50 pw from April. You might get slightly more if you ever paid into a serps scheme. New = £11,502 Old = £8,814 Because they/you were contracted out they/you also receive a company pension. The difference is £2,688 per year. Your Firemans pension most probably means you were contracted out as was I working for London Underground. This difference will only increase every year with every % increment. regards Barry
Thanks for the comment, yes in my case I was contracted out so I get a lessor pension but the video is for those who get the full pension, but even though I was contracted out my pension also rose by 24% even on the lower rate it is worth doing. Thanks again for the info.
No worries Les Which ever pension you are on you will get the increments as long as you do as suggested by spending 185 days in a reciporacal country. There is a loophole for people with dual nationalities by holding 2 passports. I have relatives in this position and it is not illegal. regards Barry@@RetiredandLivingthedream
Went online through the Govt gateway to estimate my state when I retire, this showed I’d get the £221 per week amount, but pretty sure I’m contracted out, maybe it’s due to full NI being paid?
The argument on their side is that if you're not living in the UK, you're not contributing to the economy, ie. Buying goods in shops etc ... Forget the fact you've worked hard all your life and paid in hundreds of thousands in direct and indirect taxes!
Hi Les I have a friend who did just that. He lives in Thailand with his Filipino girlfriend and a couple of years ago they spent 6 months in the Philippines to get his pension increase. Worked out fine for him but the UK pensions department did demand he provided a copy of 6 month property lease in the Philippines. I was suprised at this but he's adamant that's what he had to do. Just to clarify is it your understanding that when you reach retirement age that you get the current rate regardless of where you have been living previously? For instance if you get your first pension payment in 2025 but you've been living in Thailand since 2015 then you'd get the 2025 rate rather than the 2015 rate and then it would be frozen? Cheers
Hi and thanks for this comment, happy to hear your friend got the rise. It is true the time you claim your pension is the rate you get it at. I have not lived in the UK for 14 years now so I am in the same boat. I get my pension in 2 1/2 years time at what ever the rate is then. Thanks for watching.
Sounds a good solution, but the last 4 to 5 years of pensions increase are not the norm. All depends on whether any incoming government keeps the triple lock and what the increase is. A few years of 2.5% would take a while to claw back, especially if you pay tax. Got 6 years before need to weigh up the pros and cons 😅
I agree at the norm of 2.5% even after 5 years the payback time is not worth it but for those who can now get 24% it is worth looking at, next year it is predicted to be 4% so a possible 28% if you hold off until next year.
The biggest issue with this is that in some countries you automatically get the increase and others you do not, that is just plain wrong. Either have no increase in any foreign country or allow the increase across the board for everyone.
Thanks for video Les a good insight and workaround to achieve getting the state pension increases rather than suffer from inflation erosion.The other interesting point is the personal allowance is frozen till 2027/2028 The personal allowance at present £12570 the full State pension£11502.So we are only £1068 away from having to pay tax on our state pension if they don't change the frozen personal allowance increases.
Great video! I knew that you could get the increase by moving back to the UK. I didn’t realise it would work in a different reciprocal country though. Why don’t the Thais just make a reciprocal arrangement with the UK? It would be better for everyone. Another option for someone like you that hasn’t started claiming yet might be to defer. For every nine weeks you delay claiming you pension you get 1% more for life (on top of other annual increases) when you do claim it. That’s something like 5.8% per year increase. If you have other sources of income that you can use for a few more years before needing to claim then that might be worth doing. It would be a particularly good strategy if inflation is very high at the time you are due to claim. You could delay claiming until it eased off.
Hi thanks for that info, yes I looed into this deferring but ill take it now, you never know what is round the corner. The government are not going to change the rules if it means paying more out. Greedy.
You need to start investing in digital money... The likes of btc and eth...Become your own invester in your future... Don't be a slave to a corrupt selfish system.... Great vlog Les and regards from Koh Samui 😎
@@RetiredandLivingthedream I've sent you an email Les.. I know you'll do your research... Now btc has become an ETF... The investment companies are scrambling to be part of it...
Great video Les, well done. I made the move to Mexico some 37 years ago, (don't ask me why!!) I now receive a reduced UK pension due to not making enough contributions. I think it's about 70% of full pension. Started in 2015 so it would be a good bit of increase if I followed your plan. Would I still be entitled to the increase on my reduced pension? I would think so, but with these feather pluckers you never know. If I return to UK (could stay with my son in UK. If he'll have me!) for 185 days+ would I have to change the bank payment details to the UK for the time I'm there or could I continue to receive payments in Mexico. Appreciate any advice on this. Cheers, well done.
Theoretically you are correct ,, in practice I very much doubt more than 2% of people watching this will ever go through with it. If I were living in Thailand there is no way on this planet I would leave my misses for 6 months to go live in another country I would never expect her to be away from her family so long . Point 2 will your health insurance cover you in the PP along with health insurance for your wife as she will no longer have the thai health access during that period . Point 3 ( and I might well be wrong on this one , as you will know the answer ) does it affect your thai retirement visa that’s been granted to retire in Thailand by shipping out for 6 months out of the 12 granted ? Point 4 I have an associate who retired to Thailand on £408 a month with the intention of doing exactly that what your suggesting , and he was allways going to do it next year etc , never has done it and now is just existing from day to day after selling everything he had and hasn’t a pot to piss in and pays some agency to fiddle his annual renewal visa amount in his bank because of how inflation has stripped the value away. Having said that I wish you well and looking forward to seeing your videos from the pp ,, I have a mate who retired there and wished he had retired in Thailand he hates the place 😂
@@david-reason I’m not on about me , I’m on about the bloke I know who hasn’t got a pot to piss in , with return tickets to the Uk running at £900 ish economy plus 6 months rent / accommodation in the Uk on top do you seriously think that’s an option to get an uplift on your pension , I’m afraid I live in the real world not an imaginary one ,, if it was such a good option then there wouldn’t be thousands of retirees living with frozen pensions
Hi thanks for your comment, it is an option, were all given many options in life some we take others we don't but if you did not know this option then it is one less to consider but the offer is there use the info if needed and don't use it if it is not useful to yourself.
This looks like a doable solution - plus by doing it this way rather than returning to the UK for 6 months, you're not compromising any tax benefits by becoming a UK resident.
Hi Les I live in Thailand and when I contacted the pension office I was told that if I move back to the uk my pension would be increased from the day I arrived in the uk, can you please comment on this?
@@michaeldean4169 Yes this is true the same goes moving to the Reciprocal country your pension would increase. If you informed them your in the appropriate country. But if you moved away from the U.K. within the 185 days within the financial year you would revert back to your old amount. To be 100% call the pension service they can tell you what you need to do.
Sorry Les, when you contact the pensions after you leave the Philippines, for example, and return to Thailand, they reduce the pension back down to what you originally got. I read the documents from the pensions department a year or so ago and it clearly states this. If i am wrong i will apologise and use this system. 😁
This is the question I asked. Example if yoy returned to the U.K. you get the rise but leave before the 185 days it goes back down. The same in any Reciprocal country otherwise why have the 185 day rule. This is my understanding. At no point did she say leaving after the 185 days it went down. This then would be a non existent rule. But I supplied the phone number so you can ask what questions you want. Hope this helps let me know if you get different advice. Cheers Les.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream then why not unfreeze all pensions, by the same thought process. As people in Canada could nip into the USA and not have frozen pensions. I think they would be doing this if the pension didn't return to its previous level. Anyway I have two more years to do due diligence 😁.
I asked the same question and was told you would get the New rate after living in a Reciprocal country for 185 days otherwise why have the 185 day rule as from the 1st day you arrive in a Reciprocal country you can get the rise.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream reciprocal agreement actually is about taxes not benefits (a bloody cheek calling pensions a benefit but that is the UK govts of all colours). The Philippines has a social security reciprocal agreement. Nit picking I know but a major difference.
Hi Les, I do have a query so that I am 100% certain. Firstly thank you so much for your brilliant videos, they are very informative. I am also a UK citizen, paid my N.I. tax for over 40 years and have been living in Thailand the last 6 years, currently in Hua Hin. I am 70 years old but I haven’t started my state pension yet. I am glad that I chose to defer it considering the recent relatively large increases but I do plan to start it later this year. So my query does not effect me yet but may in the future. So using your figures lets assume I started my state pension in year 2019 and came to live in Thailand my pension would be frozen at £8,767 per year. In May this year 2024 I go to the Philippines, my state pension after informing them would rise to £11,502. In November 2024 I return to live in Thailand. I understand that my state pension would remain at £11,502 for this tax year until April 2025 but does it go back down to £8,767 per year after April 2025? So assuming I stay in Thailand after November 2024 and do not do another 185 days in the Philippines what would my UK state pension be in 2030? Thanks again Les Keith
Hi Keith thanks for the question, as you have not claimed your pension yet this does not affect you it is only when you start to claim your pension it will be Frozen at that rate of the financial year you claim, so claim after April 6 th this year and you will get the full amount and I also believe as you have deferred your pension you will get an increased pension also so well done my friend enjoy Retirement.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream Hi Les, I was thinking ahead, can you please read my message again. I was not 100% sure if staying in the Philippines for over 185 days means that you receive the increased pension for that particular financial year only, then the next year it goes back down if you remain in Thailand?
As far as I understand once you have the increase it remains at that level of payment it does not go back down to the previous level. but again to be 100% sure call the International Pension department on +44 01912187777 they can give you the 100% answer you need. Let me know also so it confirms what they said to me is true. Best wishes Les.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream Thanks Les for the information. Although I do like to try to understand I haven't even started my state pension and so will enquire about this in a few years time. I hope not but my gut feeling and I think I have also read it (but not sure) is that the state pension would revert to the lower fozen level after the end of the financial year that you spent 185 days in a country that qualifies for increases. I know of an 80 year old UK guy that has lived in Thailand for over 20 years and receives a low frozen state pension. He recently spent 2 months in the UK visiting his 2 daughters + other family. If it is like you believe then I am sure he would have spent another 4 months in the UK if it meant a permanent increase to his state pension and of course if he knew that to be so. I hope you are right Les in which case if word gets out then I think there will be a stamped of elderly UK expats leaving Thailand for 186 days.
One of the reasons I took your advice 2 years ago I now have a Philippine girlfriend And when I sell my house in England I will move there for good I was there last Xmas and got 29 days extension and cost 3,30 pesos But it's very easy to do Hopefully this helps good luck Les
Sorry to hear about the terrible situation with pensions from the UK. With the cost of living similar to Thailand, why not just live in the Philippines? Skipping from one country to another and sorting out VISA requirements and costs doesn't make sense.
Thanks for the comment, I have never been to the Philippines so I can't comment about the Country, like Thailand some people like it others do not. I have a Thai wife and a house in Thailand so Thailand will always be my home. I agree with your comments Live in a country that has least resistance and for Pension purposes Philippines win as we get the Annual rise every year living there.
Hello Les, great video and could be a life saver for me. Just one question you may know the answer. My UK pension is paid straight into my Thai bank account. Would I have to change this if I spent 185 days in Philippines? Thanks again for doing this ground work
My brother is the same in Australia. It only applies in countries where there is no reciprocal agreement between the two countries. I am getting a full new state pension on 28th January 2025 because I have stood by my own country.
So you will have to live in PH for 185 consecutive days once only? I believe on the Australian pension we lose 1/3 of our pension if we don’t live in Australia primarily. Not 100% certain about this yet. I don’t know if Australia has reciprocal countries which pay full pension
Can you do the 185 days in segments in different reciprocal countries? After the 185 days, if I come back to live in Thailand permanently does my pension stay at the new rate or does it revert back to the value when it was first frozen in 2018?
Yes you can do this as long as the 185 days are within the financial year eg April 6th to April 5th. You also need proof of your stay eg passport stamps accommodation proof and you need to phone them once in the country, you then get the increase for life once you do the 185 days. Hope this helps.
If say Les you go to the Philippines for either two stays of 3 months each or 185 days straight in the UK tax year, the increase covers you for that tax year or does it date back to when you started receiving your pension that was frozen at the time? Also what happens in the next tax year if you are back living in Thailand, do you receive the increase for that year?
Hi thanks for the question, once you start lets say in the Philippines for the 185 days you get all the increases you have missed because it was Frozen paid from day one, once you do the 185 days the new rate continues for life, but it is frozen at that rate once you return to Thailand. Hope this helps but it is worth it. Best wishes.
To put it simply if you had your Pension frozen for example, 5 years ago because you retired in Thailand and then you went to the Philippines for 185 days, your pension will increase to what the pension is on that financial year. In the next financial year, it will remain the new pension. It will not reduce back down. Basically it will bring you up-to-date and in line with what other people get and then once you return to Thailand, it will remain at that until you decide to do another 185 days in a country like the Philippines. Hope that clears it for everybody..
i asked about the 185 day rule and got this reply :( Dear Mr Forder, Thank you for your email dated 02 September 2024. Your pension would be uprated for the time you spent in the United Kingdom. It would not stay at the higher rate when you retuned to a frozen rate country. It would go back to what it was when you left the country.
Mate the Australian government are even worse.. you have to live in the country for a certain amount of time to claim the pension.. IMHO we need to save for ourselves going forward.. the state pension will be abolished down the road..
Thanks for watching, they will force everyone to provide their own pension so I agree the State pension will not be there for everyone. I understand the Australian pension is means tested also?
I am receiving a public service pension in Australia. I am 54 and plan to retire in Thailand in the next few years. If I declare myself as a non Citizen of Australia, I will be taxed at a flat rate of 30 cents in the dollar. If I remain in Australia, the once I turn 60 I pay 0 tax on my pension.
Hi Les another great video,I will have 3yrs living in Thailand from 64 to my pension age of 67, again I have done the research about international pension centre I can contact 4 months before but the form ipc-br1 is about a 25 page form to claim as well as sending back birth certificates and other paperwork I know you haven't reached age yet,but any experience or knowledge about this process. Many thanks in advance Andy.
I've been in Thailand since end of 2018, I've been told that if I leave for 185 days I'll get my pension increase, but when I return my pension will revert back to the original pension
DWP and HMRC have wide powers and can check banking details and passport details if they so wish. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can check your bank account through a legal process during investigations, especially if they suspect fraudulent activity. What is this? They have the authority to request your financial information, including bank statements and transaction details, from your bank. How far back can DWP ask for bank statements? The DWP can ask the executor to provide detailed financial information. This will include bank statements and savings accounts. They can request information as far back as 12 years. Once they have made their initial assessment they also has the right to request further information if they need clarification I hope this helps.
@RetiredandLivingthedream Thanks for your prompt reply . I read that the onus is now on banks to alert UK authorities about prolific money transfers to foreign bank accounts . Just interested if this is the current or future policy !!!
I don't know why they don't put thiland in the list because over 2 million bits go to thiland rather than Europe that a lot of money for airports and all things to do with g on holidays it should be fair
Les maybe I'm wrong but the sums are a bit skew wiff. You forgot to mention the cost of renewing the the extension in the Philippines (as example). I believe it's about £45 per month (3100 php) x 6 = £270. The £2735 is £547 per year over 5 years. I'm not suggesting you move to PH every year 'cause I don't think it would be worth the hassle but maybe every few years to get the increase. Maybe I misunderstood you. Sorry
Hi thanks for the comment, in my quick research I was informed the monthly visa was GBP 21 per month 1,500 PHP, so this is what I stated for the example, The 2,735 is the yearly increase you would get when you applied for the new rate, so if no rise from 2019 until 2024 because it has been Frozen, this is the amount you would get. Doing this method for the average 2 to 3% rise every year does not make financial sense every year but at a 24% rise it now makes sense. Look at it another way if you do this method only once and it is now and you live another 10 years you have received another 27,500 pounds the Government would have stolen from you. What could you do with this extra 27,500 pounds. Hope you can see where I am coming from with this. Cheers Les.
I’m sorry, but you are wrong at 6:54, you mention that you would be £2735 per yr better off or £275 per month. The £2735 is the amount over 5yrs from 2019-20, not per year. £547 per year increase will not pay for flights or rent in Philippines for 185 days, when u may already have a property in Thailand rent free. Over a longer period, yes this may become a more viable option to consider.
The rate remains at the New rate once you complete the 185 days then once you move back to Thailand Frozen at the new rate, this is why they have the 185 day rule.
Yes I'm in New Zealand I'm going to retire in Thailand payed taxes in New Zealand and Australia, no pension for me ,just a total scan, it doesn't pay to be honest
You can move to Thailand and keep your nz pension but first you have to be living in New Zealand when you turn 65 to apply. To get the full amount they count total years spent in the country from age 20 and deduct from there. So if you spent the full 45 years in New Zealand you get the full amount any less and you lose as a percentage. As long as the country you move to doesn’t have a welfare system these rules apply, you can check which countries qualify on the government website.
Les, I've lived in Indonesia since before my 65th birthday and my pension was capped at £119.20 per week as soon as I became eligible for it. 11 years later my pension is still £119.20 per week. My employer and i both paid into my pension, the government paid nothing towardsy pension, yet they are dictating the terms of payment. Is this fair? Thanks Les love your videos.
It is not but they say if you chose to live abroad then they don't care unless you live in certain country's then they are legally bound to pay you the rise. The Government will not alter this policy. But even for you this is possible. Thanks for watching.
Mmmmm same as the U.K. the letter of the Law leave your Reciprocal country or the U.K. for more than 185 days you lose the increase. You have to reapply. Many don’t but this is what it says, also you lose your Free NHS treatment after 185 days. Worth thinking about for sure.
I have spoken to the New Zealand Pension Department here that deal with receiving the UK pension about joining the campaign or making an application to unfreeze the pension to UK expats living here. They didn't want to know, as if they don't have any obligation to see it changed. You come here and this is what the rules are so put up with it. As an interesting point, I receive the UK pension and is topped up to the amount I'm allowed to receive here with the NZ pension. If I leave NZ for good, my UK pension goes with me, but the NZ portion stops being paid to me on the day I leave.
@davidjackson6339 I think the issue with Australia is thevpension here can be used to make up. The problem isvits means tested where in the UK it isn't. We also have rax breaks for compulsory superannuation. Not sure about NZ.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream I was following up from Canada's approach to the UK government about unfreezing expat pensions. I thought they (the NZ Pension, who receive money every 4 weeks from the UK) could add a bit of weight on this subject, but it's no skin off their nose, so are not interested. I know know whether Australia have jumped on the bandwagon or not.
Hi there My take on the situation is when we retire and the Uk government gives you a sum of money , they hope you will continue to spend that money in the Uk , so continue to add to the Uk economy, but when they give you the money and you help some other countries economy with that money it probably has an effect on rises , only my opinion , I still have 5.5 years to go until my pension kicks in from the Uk , so I hope the good increases seen in the last two years continue for the next 5.5 years , Regards Davy 🏴🇹🇭
Thanks for your comment and I agree with what you say but on the other side of the coin your not using any of the NHS facilities whilst living overseas. My view on this go where the money gives you a better quality of life. The Government pay to certain parts of the world already to those who chose to live in these country's including America but not Canada. It is a 70 year old agreement which they will not change.
If you live in Thailand then you probably own or have long term lease in which case you would be paying for 2 accommodations - wiping out any benefit. Totally impractical.
Look at the bigger picture ten years in the future an extra 27,350 I think this far exceeds the money up front. It depends how you look at things it will work for some but not others.
Hi thanks for your comment. This situation is unlikely to happen again. The normal rise of 2 to 3% would take 8 years to get to this amount. Now it is only 4 years to get to this amount given the pension was Frozen in 2019 it is worth doing. But normal 2 to 3% it is not financially viable.Your pension living in Thailand is Frozen at the rate you claim your pension if you live in Thailand. To get the increased rate you need to stay in the Reciprocal country for 185 days to claim the new rate. Then move back to Thailand and it is Frozen at the new rate.
Is there any more news on the thais taxing income ,savings pensions. I think alot of people will be leaving the land of smiles if that does happen. The property market will drop , no money is going into thailand to be taxed in the uk then thailand . Glad i went 33 years ago You could not spend your money . Looking at other options. Progress has court up with thailand. Considering you carnt earn a living, its becoming unaffordable
hi les, i asked about the 185 day rule and they replied with this email :( Dear Mr Forder, Thank you for your email dated 02 September 2024. Your pension would be uprated for the time you spent in the United Kingdom. It would not stay at the higher rate when you retuned to a frozen rate country. It would go back to what it was when you left the country.......... .....has anyone here actually got the rise and kept it on return to their frozen pension country?
I spoke at length with the top person in this department. It depends how you asked the question. It has to be 185 days within the financial year, if not then it does revert back to the old amount, so why have this rule if they do the opposite, nothing was said about reverting back to the old payment if you lived in the Reciprocal country for the 185 days within the financial year, then you got the rise. A few people have also confirmed this is the case also. Have you got the contact details and I will call them. Email me at lesliepearson58@yahoo.com
This once in a lifetime event probably will not happen again for some time. Normally at 2 to 3% a year taking 3% to get to 24% would take 8 years but it has happened in only 4 years so this would not be financially viable every couple of years or so with the 2 or 3% rise. Would I live in the Philippines for 6 months, yes if I was faced with the same option then yes I would, lets just say if I was in that position of 2,735 per year increase and lets say I lived another 10 years then that is 27,350 that I would never have had. Look at the Big Picture. Thanks for taking time to comment.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream what is annoying is the two countries i want to split ny retirement in 20 years has no reciprocal agreement - Thailand and Georgia
Yes your pension can be sent anywhere, I still have a UK Bank account so it will be sent to this account, I have a postal address in the UK also but I will inform them I live in Thailand. But I hope the information provided is helpful to others, this is why I provided the phone numbers to talk direct to these people to get the 100% answer you need. This took a lot of time chasing my own tail and eventually got there passed from one department to another. They may be inundated with calls next week lol.
I Just had my pension for Feb and it was £136 short, i sent the pension dept an e.mail got a response saying i had a overpayment of housing benefit? I thought i don't get housing benefit just my pension, so i spent about 20mins on the phone to the International pension dept, I asked them when i got through why i was £136 short in my pension they said it was a overpayment of housing benefit, i said i don't get housing benefit! and she said my pension would be back to normal next month, i said ok but you still have not answered my question i don't get housing benefit and i was just fobbed off with my pension would be back to normal next month, had to leave it there i ran out of credit on my phone seems to me like a government scam AND JUST BEEN RIPPED OFF!
Hi thanks for the comment, that's a strange one, to avoid costly calls use Skype then the calls are soooo cheap I have spent hours on the phone for so little. Thanks for watching I hope everything goes back to normal soon. Best wishes Les.
Hi and thanks for the comment. Is it worth the risk of getting your pension stopped and the money recovered at what ever the rate they decide and of course it is Fraud giving you a Criminal Record. I know people who have done this for years and even get the winter fuel payment. Big brother is watching.
They will give in one hand and take with the other, I bet they will not pay the yearly increase pensioners lose by living in Countrys that have no reciprocal agreements. They will screw every one also. Thanks for the info.
@@darwinjina You would need two properties, one in Thailand and one in the Philippines so so your annual increases would be taken up as you would be paying for 2 properties. If you are marries would your Thai wife want to be moving every 6 months more so if she had a job and you had kids.
@@jamie1944 I was thinking of people in retirement age so likely no young children to bring. If the spouse had already lived/worked in UK, then would be just as mobile.
@@darwinjina My point is you would be running 2 homes, ok own one in Thailand every 6 months find a rental property in the Phillipses then drag all your belongings to for 6 months back and forward. Ok for a single retired person but as you become older you would soon get fed up of the commuting as you get older just for the sake of a few extra pounds and the rigmarole of visas etc.
@@jamie1944 true, doing it for long term would be a pain. eventually, you would probably stay one location. for us, we are not even sure where we will end up. It may still yet a different country
Les,, is is possible to find a nice house renta, for 10,to 13,thousand baht in Ranong? I enjoy the peace and quiet.. P. S. Did you ever check out,,, wr. Life insurance? I'm 67, paying £790 a year for 2.85..million baht!! No medical requirements.. Can be payed every 3 months, or 6 months,, l
Hi thanks for the comment. Yes we have some nice houses for that price between 10 and 15,000 Baht. But this is in Rayong not Ranong. Life insurance is important for your loved ones, I already have this from a long time ago and also my wife gets my Fire Service pension once I turn my toes up so she is financially going to be ok. Thanks for watching.
Hi financially it is not worth it for the normal 2 to 3% rise but at the moment this is probably a once in a lifetime situation that within a 4 year period your pension has risen by 24% normally this would take about 8 years.
noticed you hi lighted Canada as one of the countries, curios as to why, don't bother to reply, you can tell me in person in two weeks. In Baan Nan right now, heading to Whisper Mist, Nan tomorrow, will take lots of video, then on to Bangkok and then Rayong. its going great.
No I don't as I do not get a state pension for another 2 1/2 years. I just show options to others. It is up to others to chose their methods of getting their pension updated.
Almost at 10k subscribers, keep it up Les, reckon you'll get there by August! I have one concern Les. Your comnent that you only have to go to the Philippines once, and you get the pension increases for life no matter where you live after that. I suspect this is duff info she gave you. Otherwise you could just pop back to the UK for Spring/summer and never return again to the UK, which would be no different to you leaving UK in the first place! I would suspect that you have to do it every year, not just a one off.
*You would get that increase for life* , then once you left the qualifying country your pension would be Frozen at your new rate. Otherwise why have the 185 day rule. So if you spent less than 185 days in the UK you would also lose the increase. Thanks for your comment. Hope this helps.
Ok , so you only get the increase up until that point, you wouldn't then get any further increases in the future. I think that no eeds to be made clear. The way you word it, makes it sound like you get yearly increases forever, but you don't. You only Keeo that one back dated increase, then it freezes again. Still worth doing if you're retired abroad already.
I think i would stay in the Philippines full stop as I have visited both places many times and whilst the Philippines infrastructure is not as good as Thailand. But English is widely spoken in the Philippines and in general the people are more friendly and genuine..I also found Filipinas are easier to date and don't expect to be paid for each date. I have recently become an OAP in the UK and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else on a permanent basis. But excellent informative video.
Hi Les, is 185 days every year to get a rise? You don’t use the NHS anymore so you’re saving them money there, but that’s not good enough, let’s screw them a bit more. It’s disgraceful really.
Hi yes you could do this every year but financially it would not be worth it but at the moment using the figures I quoted at 24% it is worth it. Leaving the UK for more than 185 days to get back onto the NHS Care system this could take up to 2 years, unless you arrive on a rubber boat.
It's one way round it for some people Lez , but it's a bit of a balls aching thing to do every year, and In my opinion it's not such a nice country to go and have to spend 6 month when your heart is really in Thailand . I dont think the Gov will ever change the frozen pension rule , not a cat in hells chance , they're discussing ways on how to save to provide for the future as it is .
Thanks for watching and taking time to comment, no need to do it every year as the cost out ways the return, wait a few years to build op the % then it is worth it.
You don’t go through Passport Control either at Newcastle or Teesside Airports when leaving therefore Border Control have no idea of you comings and goings from the U.K.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream The officer can view the passport's issue and expiry dates, the country that issued the passport, and the authority that issued it. Biometric data: Some passports contain a microchip that stores biometric data, such as a digital image of your face, which can be used for facial recognition purposes. They don’t input the country you have been to.
Governments are not trying to save money. Look at how much they give out to those that deserve nothing. I did laugh at the end of the video, you ask people to suscribirse, is that German ? 😅😅
we are the bottom of the barrel when it comes to getting anything ,this due to no voting rights ,though this has just changed I think What has reciprocation got to do with one's pension ,and in most of those countries listed, you can bet your bottom dollar there will have practically no retirement aged expats in the UK Canada ,NZ and USA ,that's it ,those other countries in the reciprocal band will not have any expats in UK I'm lucky as I don't rely on my paltry pension and if you're not stupid LOS can be pretty cheap to retire I've been here 22 years
Thanks for taking time to comment, They look after those who look after them and pander to these Elite, the working class are a pain to take care of, always moaning and complaining, The Elite never complain.
I’m in Canada and retired at 63 , I’ve got no pension yet as need to be 65 😂 but have a few million lol so I’m living the dream, don’t care about anything really 😂
Most russians i've seen are living as poor beggars sitting outside eleven and drinking cheep beer..the chinese is another story..they have real money and use it like crazy buying condos and renting land with generous 99 year contracts
Hi and thanks for the comment, it's not my Firefighters pension that is Frozen it is the State pension which is Frozen this affects over 500,000 pensioners around the World. Sad but true.
Just keep a uk residential address before you go.(family member or friend ). I personally know someone who has done this for years and he has a retirement visa for Thailand. The country is run by muppets so take advantage.
I know a few people just doing this, but you run the risk of being found out and the money getting refunded to them at what ever payment thy decide and this is classed as Fraud and this would give you a Criminal record which could cause problems later in life. Even a Muppet gets it right sometimes. Thanks for your comment.
I love you Les! I really do, you motive me and others. But please dont resort to the weird click bait photo...the photo looks like a chap been held at a glory hole check point!
i checked when i get my pension i become pension age in November but according to the .gov site i will not receive it till April and i get no extra even though i am paying a extra 6 month's m mm m m m m m
If you don't get your pension yet then this does not affect you in any way apart from if you live in Thailand your Pension is Frozen. Thanks for watching.
I fully understand the current Philippines visa law's on the 36 month extension, which is practrical and doable, but I'm curious to know how one can make that similar tourist visa "practical & doable" in Thailand, with the 30 day free at entry, 1900 baht for an additional 39 day's given you a 60 day stay, then having to exit!!! Don't list educational visa, like say Thai language school, as I looked into that, it's not very practical, with restrictions. The over 50 retirement visa,.is not practical with it's BS if opening back account, depositing funds that get zero interest, plus restrictions on exiting and re-entering, only throwing more money at the BS process, so not very attractive. Border runs are not cheap, getting there costs money, then entering the other country costs money, plus photos plus BS paperwork, plus standing in line, as it's an all day thing, from leaving the Thai side in the morning and by the time you return in the evening, just to get an entry stamp hopefully for 30 days, as sone only get 15 days, then pay another 1900 baht for another extension, surely there's gotta be some more user friendly, practical and cost effective way of making this work Let me know E
Ok the answer is not to come to Thailand, yes many people complain about the paperwork but it is what it is like it or lump it. I have lived here for 12 years now and the paperwork is not that bad we jump through the various hoops they put in our way but it is Thailand. Perhaps if the UK did something the same they would not have the problems they have now.
Many years ago I was an independent financial adviser in Nottingham. I recall these rules are weird. In Australia and New Zealand you got the increases, but in Canada you don't. It was many moons ago and this has probably not accurate. People think of the "State Pension" as an investment, but it's not. Your contributions were immediately paid to current Pensioners as you made your NI contributions - (in the past). Your contributions never have time to be invested or grow. Your pension actually comes from/will come from current/future NI contributions from your children or grandchildren. The UK Govt screwed everyone by deferring everyone's pension age to 67. This was the CHEAPEST OPTION to manage a broken and outdated system. The politicians didn't care, because Parliament's Pension Scheme is excellent. Thanks Les, you are a legend.
can't u bypass all the trouble as we Swedes do..have a address in your home country "where u live on the paper" and get ur post/mail to?
@@gmm5550
Les mentioned in the video that the government can check when you leave and enter countries by seeing how many times your passport was used to enter different countries (read swiped at the airport/land border). They can then get after you for overpayment they made.
It's best to be truthful I think.
The Government Bean counters will be looking for this in the future, how many people would be stuffed with the stopping of your pension totally whilst they investigate they can and will do this for sure one day.
If your out of the Country for more than 185 days you lose this entitlement of pension rise.
@@gmm5550 The UK has just introduced new legislation giving HMRC the right to check anyones bank account to check for benefit fraud. They have already said one of their targets is expat pensioners. If a bank sees large amounts of payments going overseas when you are supposedly resident in the UK they will have to inform HMRC who will then investigate. Big Brother is watching you.
Incidentally, the State Pension is not a benefit payment but a right for which recipients have contributed to all their working lives. We have fulfilled our side of the contract, the UK government should honour theirs.
Good advice Les. Thanks for making the video. Loads of people have tried to get rid of this stupid rule but UK Gov ignores it as it would cost them money.
As they have put into the email to me, no way. a 70 year rule.
I'm the same age as you Les, still working and 2 yrs 8 months away from reaching retirement age; which is set to gradually increase to 67 from April 2026. It annoys the hell out of me, that I can't choose to spend my retirement years wherever I wish, without having to jump through hoops. To date I've been paying into the system for close on 48 years. Why shouldn't I be entitled to the full pension, wherever I'm living? While I'm abroad I'm not a drain on the UK health system, which leads me onto another point.
My understanding is, if you live outside of the UK for a period longer than 185 days, in a financial or calendar year, you lose your automatic right to National Health entitlement, unlesss the time spent abroad is within a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
This to me is scandelous. I'll have paid into the system for 50 years, why should I be denied treatment when I get to the time of life, when I'm most likely to require help, from that system?!
Nailed it. You’re 100% correct. Leave for 185 days then ( you’re supposed to reapply to get back onto NHS the system ) which could take 2 years.
Thanks for the info Les👌
Thanks so much for the donation very much appreciated. Thanks for watching I hope it was of some benefit to you. Best Wishes Les.😀🙏
I recently got the same standard email from DWP Les as i had signed the petition too. It makes the blood boil. I won't go into all the arguments about how unfair and indeed immoral the UK government is because you know them aswell as i do. I know it's just a dream and it would never fly but sometimes i wonder if it would be possible to raise funding from expats who are affected to hire a legal team and take the government to court. Like i say, just a dream.
Ironically i have a private pension too and they have no issue with uprating it annually. Just to rub salt in the wound my incomeis above my personal allowance and the government have no problem with making me pay UK income tax at 20%. They are nothing but a bunch of crooks and it applies to all parties as the policy has been in place for 70 years. Canada has been trying to sign a reciprocal agreement with the UK for a number of years but the British government simply refuses. They are scum.
Scum accurately describes them. And they spend millions each day on 4 star hotels to accommodate thousands who enter the country illegally as well as giving away billions to their mates for PPE not fit for purpose during the pandemic. Yet they penny pinch from pensioners who have paid into the system.
It is a 70 year old agreement and if they are going to pay out more money then the old agreement is fine by them. But if it affected them the rules would change for sure. Yep agree crooks in suits.
Ditto! Same situation - it's a shit system they have in place - my pensions are good enough to be taxed, but not good enough for any yearly increases 😢
Get Martin Lewis on the case, he has a lot of power
if youre not domiciled in the uk you can claim all your pension tax back
great video , good information , there are so many thai pattaya channels on here but very few give accurate up to date useful information with sources shown , well done keep it up , there is no substitute for useful information its what guys need to plan accurately and make the necessary moves prior to retirement
So nice of you to say it is very much appreciated thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
Pure Gold information.
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching.
My guess is that triple lock and indeed any increases in state pension will be axed for most pensioners and they will increase pension credit for those on low incomes instead. Why do I say this? Because it will save govt a boatload of money, they can claim the poorest are protected and it’s what they just did with winter fuel payments
They will do what they want but the poorest end up paying.
Lesgend! This is an awesome/informative video. ❤
Glad it was helpful! hope people can get what they deserve pension wise. Thanks for watching.
Great advise Les thanks for helping people with this dilemma love your videos im about to retire thanks again
Thanks for watching, best wishes for your retirement.
Hello Les from the Philippines I have taken your advise and moved here in September 2024 to get my increase in my state pension I was living In Thailand for the last 7 years but it made perfect sense to to move here. The one bit of advise i would add to your information is to let the International pension Centre know in good time once you have made your arrangements so they will make sure your pension increase will take place after the first month in the Philippines. They have been very helpful to me in my process and i am up to date with my in creases an extra 45 pounds a week. So thank you very much for your Help and keep up the good work on your Channel . From a very Happy Subscriber Regards Alan
Wow thanks so much for contacting me and letting me know, I about to do another video on this and I have had other subscribers say they were told it's not true, many emails later they were told it was true. It is not on ant websites of helplines even the staff were not sure. Best wishes and have a beer or two for me with the extra. 🙏
Hello, do you have to open a phillipine bank account?
@ it would help doing so. Use wise to deposit money into your account. The Alternative is use the ATM or withdraw from the bank.
@robertdodd8312 I have not opened a Philippines bank account I use Wise it's so easy and the rates are very competitive regards Alan
Thanks Les. My situation is a little different. I'm 56 and building a house in Isaan. I lived and worked in Dallas for the last 13 years so I also qualify for a pension from the USA. Current projections at 67 are approximately $1800 per month and £368 per month from the UK. I wouldn't want to live in the Philippines for 186 days every year after building my home here. Plus, my UK pension is a smaller amount. I suppose that the biggest thing for me is how much will the "rules" change for each country over the next 10-12 years. It does make it difficult to plan ahead.
Keep up the good work. I always enjoy your videos.
fwiw, I'm concerned on what changes will need to occur to the US social security due to the upcoming (a few years away) SS shortfall.
You may want to see if there's no agreement between the UK and US to restrict pension monies if these two governments are paying the same person.
Hi this is not a once a year plan, this would not be financially viable with the normal 2 to 3% rise. This has come about by the last 2 years bumper inflation rises so from 2019 to 2024 your pension has risen by 24% so now it is worth looking at.
@@scotttracy9333 I've never heard of that. I worked and contributed National Insurance in the UK for 22 years and worked in the U.S. for the amount of work periods required to qualify.
Why don't you guys from UK use a UK address (physical or electronic address) then wouldn't that solve this unnecessary BS headaches
Great info Les , well done. I too am only 2 years away from the state pension. I think the way i'll approach this will be to wait until the pension has risen by a similar percentage to the example in your video , whether that be 5 years on increases or more ( or less ), to make the move worth while . I should think i'll only do that twice by which time i'll be 80 ish, and thats quite an upheaval for a man of that age. Thanks again Les .
Don ..... also living the dream in Pattaya.
Thanks for the comment, I agree normally it would take 8 years to get to this % rise so having it in 4 years it is worth doing. I am of the same mind, I also have 2 1/2 years to wait for my state pension. When the frozen rises reach 20% I will then consider doing what I say in the video and like you I will be 74 when it reaches the 24% increase. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for all your great info Les... Although my wife is from the Philippines we'll be looking to spend most of our time in Thailand in the future as we like it so much there. I've recently retired and collecting as much info I can muster to become well informed about living abroad. Again, thanks! your channel is one of those I look at for honest, straightforward information! Cheers
Thanks for watching and taking time to comment. Best wishes Les.😀🙏
As I understand it ..when you tell the uk gov that you are living there they send your money to that country? And if that was so you would have to do two money exchanges! Does anyone know if this is correct?
Good advise Les. However, when I returned to the UK in 2022 for a one month holiday, I claimed for and received the full entitlement for that period being there. As the amount of pension I am entitled to receive here is at the its maximum, it is made up of my UK state pension and pension from New Zealand. The increase I received from being in the UK meant that the percentage of my UK contribution went up and the NZ portion decreased, as I didn't receive an overall increase on the total. All in all it was a long hard process in which I didn't gain any more money.
A number of people I have helped get the full increase they have not had for years. It does work. It is true you can earn the increase whilst you were in the UK but once gone it reverts back to the previous amounts.
Thanks for doing the legwork on this one Les..
My plan is to maybe spend 3 months in the Philippines and 3 months in the 3 months in the UK summer..
but not every year...maybe every other year depending on how things go with the triple lock which I imagine may change but with the number of pensioners increasing it will take a brave government to change things and lose all of those precious votes...
All the best...
Nothing is going to change this year for sure as yes it would be a vote loser. If the increase was at the minimum of 2.5% it is not worth doing even after 5 years as the returns will take a few years to recover but at 24% this is a good time to do it. They forecast is about 4% next year and then if you have not done anything since 2019 then at 28% it is a good move. Many ways to do this 3 months UK and 3 in Turkey.
I currently live in the US but considering retirement overseas. The UK and US are very similar. Here in the US, I do believe it will become harder to retire overseas. Two reasons. One, single retired men moving overseas to find conmanship. There are number of women in the US complaining about this move and I am sure they have complained to the government. Two, when a single retired male moves overseas all his spending takes place in a different country which does not benefit the country he came from. It is wealth transfer. I am expecting it to become more difficult all the time. It is a shame because many single retired men can live much better overseas due to the cost of living. When you can lease a place to live at 1/3 the price, that is often nicer, that is game changer for a retiree. Thailand and other countries I believe have caught onto this source of economic benefit. I am thinking, they understand, that once one of these single retired guys gets off the plane in their country, he starts spending money. Get ready for more roadblocks.
The amount of money going south of the US border due to remittances (either to family or investments) may just outweigh all US retirees living in all foreign countries. Not a complaint.
from personal experience, I suspect that the forever single woman would vote for more daddy government to take care of them. perhaps harsh but have some female family members focused on the wrong priorities and ignoring their biological clock.
Thanks for taking time to comment. 😀🙏
Hi, thank you for all the information so helpful. Our problem is we moved to Australia in 2018 & bought our home. I have been in touch with the International Pensions office, who said for us to be able to be out of the UK & live in a reciprocal country, we would have to show proof of the sale of our home in Australia, which we don't want to sell? Have you heard of this, or is it a new thing? Regards Jan Sharp
Hi and thanks for the comment, I am in touch with a guy who is doing this right now, living in the Philippines now for the 185 days. He lives full time in Thailand. I have not herd of the situation you describe, in my opinion why have a rule that says live 185 days and you can have the rise then add restrictions. The guy I talked with got the answer this is not the case, he contacted me again saying my info was wrong but when he talked with the guy in charge he found I was correct. This info is not on any website and is hidden, my video has created a storm in a teacup with the calls they have received over this but goes to show they are not all singing from the same hymn sheet. I would contact them again to confirm. Best of luck.🙏🙏
Good advice Les , thankyou 👍
Thanks for watching.
At least you get your pension. New Zealanders have to be in New Zealand to get their state pension.
Wow sorry to hear, best wishes and thanks for taking time to comment.
Les,
By and large you are correct withh one exception since 2016 there is a two tier state pension scheme in place in the UK.
Anyone that was contracted out of SERPs by their employers will not receive the new state pension of £221 pw in April.
but will be paid under the old state pension scheme which is currently due to be £169.50 pw from April.
You might get slightly more if you ever paid into a serps scheme.
New = £11,502
Old = £8,814
Because they/you were contracted out they/you also receive a company pension.
The difference is £2,688 per year.
Your Firemans pension most probably means you were contracted out as was I working for London Underground.
This difference will only increase every year with every % increment.
regards
Barry
Thanks for the comment, yes in my case I was contracted out so I get a lessor pension but the video is for those who get the full pension, but even though I was contracted out my pension also rose by 24% even on the lower rate it is worth doing. Thanks again for the info.
No worries Les
Which ever pension you are on you will get the increments as long as you do as suggested by spending 185 days in a reciporacal country.
There is a loophole for people with dual nationalities by holding 2 passports.
I have relatives in this position and it is not illegal.
regards
Barry@@RetiredandLivingthedream
NI3 ? For missing yrs
Elucidate and explain are you talking about class 3 Nic's as a self employed peraon?@@stevebomonster
Went online through the Govt gateway to estimate my state when I retire, this showed I’d get the £221 per week amount, but pretty sure I’m contracted out, maybe it’s due to full NI being paid?
Whos idea and whats the justification for freezing it in the first place bloody goverment😢
So they don't have to pay out.
They make the rules, it is a 70 year old agreement which they will not change.
The argument on their side is that if you're not living in the UK, you're not contributing to the economy, ie. Buying goods in shops etc ... Forget the fact you've worked hard all your life and paid in hundreds of thousands in direct and indirect taxes!
Hi Les
I have a friend who did just that. He lives in Thailand with his Filipino girlfriend and a couple of years ago they spent 6 months in the Philippines to get his pension increase. Worked out fine for him but the UK pensions department did demand he provided a copy of 6 month property lease in the Philippines. I was suprised at this but he's adamant that's what he had to do.
Just to clarify is it your understanding that when you reach retirement age that you get the current rate regardless of where you have been living previously? For instance if you get your first pension payment in 2025 but you've been living in Thailand since 2015 then you'd get the 2025 rate rather than the 2015 rate and then it would be frozen?
Cheers
Hi and thanks for this comment, happy to hear your friend got the rise. It is true the time you claim your pension is the rate you get it at. I have not lived in the UK for 14 years now so I am in the same boat. I get my pension in 2 1/2 years time at what ever the rate is then. Thanks for watching.
Sounds a good solution, but the last 4 to 5 years of pensions increase are not the norm. All depends on whether any incoming government keeps the triple lock and what the increase is. A few years of 2.5% would take a while to claw back, especially if you pay tax. Got 6 years before need to weigh up the pros and cons 😅
I agree at the norm of 2.5% even after 5 years the payback time is not worth it but for those who can now get 24% it is worth looking at, next year it is predicted to be 4% so a possible 28% if you hold off until next year.
The biggest issue with this is that in some countries you automatically get the increase and others you do not, that is just plain wrong. Either have no increase in any foreign country or allow the increase across the board for everyone.
100% Agree but the government will not as it means giving you more of the money you should have. They keep your money.
Great information and solution Les.
Thanks 👍so much, I have had a few emails confirming I'm correct in the information I give.
Ringing the HMRC? Tried that once😢 Life is too short frankly.
Thanks for video Les a good insight and workaround to achieve getting the state pension increases rather than suffer from inflation erosion.The other interesting point is the personal allowance is frozen till 2027/2028 The personal allowance at present £12570 the full State pension£11502.So we are only £1068 away from having to pay tax on our state pension if they don't change the frozen personal allowance increases.
The Government want their cake and eat it. What they give you they take from the other hand. Highest taxation since the 2nd World War.
Great video! I knew that you could get the increase by moving back to the UK. I didn’t realise it would work in a different reciprocal country though. Why don’t the Thais just make a reciprocal arrangement with the UK? It would be better for everyone.
Another option for someone like you that hasn’t started claiming yet might be to defer. For every nine weeks you delay claiming you pension you get 1% more for life (on top of other annual increases) when you do claim it. That’s something like 5.8% per year increase. If you have other sources of income that you can use for a few more years before needing to claim then that might be worth doing. It would be a particularly good strategy if inflation is very high at the time you are due to claim. You could delay claiming until it eased off.
Hi thanks for that info, yes I looed into this deferring but ill take it now, you never know what is round the corner. The government are not going to change the rules if it means paying more out. Greedy.
You need to start investing in digital money... The likes of btc and eth...Become your own invester in your future... Don't be a slave to a corrupt selfish system.... Great vlog Les and regards from Koh Samui 😎
Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream I've sent you an email Les.. I know you'll do your research... Now btc has become an ETF... The investment companies are scrambling to be part of it...
Great video Les, well done. I made the move to Mexico some 37 years ago, (don't ask me why!!) I now receive a reduced UK pension due to not making enough contributions. I think it's about 70% of full pension. Started in 2015 so it would be a good bit of increase if I followed your plan. Would I still be entitled to the increase on my reduced pension? I would think so, but with these feather pluckers you never know. If I return to UK (could stay with my son in UK. If he'll have me!) for 185 days+ would I have to change the bank payment details to the UK for the time I'm there or could I continue to receive payments in Mexico. Appreciate any advice on this. Cheers, well done.
Yep you will still get the % increase on your reduced pension.
Theoretically you are correct ,, in practice I very much doubt more than 2% of people watching this will ever go through with it.
If I were living in Thailand there is no way on this planet I would leave my misses for 6 months to go live in another country I would never expect her to be away from her family so long .
Point 2 will your health insurance cover you in the PP along with health insurance for your wife as she will no longer have the thai health access during that period .
Point 3 ( and I might well be wrong on this one , as you will know the answer ) does it affect your thai retirement visa that’s been granted to retire in Thailand by shipping out for 6 months out of the 12 granted ?
Point 4 I have an associate who retired to Thailand on £408 a month with the intention of doing exactly that what your suggesting , and he was allways going to do it next year etc , never has done it and now is just existing from day to day after selling everything he had and hasn’t a pot to piss in and pays some agency to fiddle his annual renewal visa amount in his bank because of how inflation has stripped the value away.
Having said that I wish you well and looking forward to seeing your videos from the pp ,, I have a mate who retired there and wished he had retired in Thailand he hates the place 😂
@retiredpainter259 - Never say never, mate. It's an option.
You could return to the UK from April 6th to Oct 17th if you insist! Don't be so negative.
@@david-reason I’m not on about me , I’m on about the bloke I know who hasn’t got a pot to piss in , with return tickets to the Uk running at £900 ish economy plus 6 months rent / accommodation in the Uk on top do you seriously think that’s an option to get an uplift on your pension , I’m afraid I live in the real world not an imaginary one ,, if it was such a good option then there wouldn’t be thousands of retirees living with frozen pensions
your point 3... 90 day report.... so I guess if you are not in Thailand???
Hi thanks for your comment, it is an option, were all given many options in life some we take others we don't but if you did not know this option then it is one less to consider but the offer is there use the info if needed and don't use it if it is not useful to yourself.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream so you leave Philippines and inform DWP... oops pension reduced, why you not picking on this?
This looks like a doable solution - plus by doing it this way rather than returning to the UK for 6 months, you're not compromising any tax benefits by becoming a UK resident.
Thinking outside the Box. Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
Hi Les I live in Thailand and when I contacted the pension office I was told that if I move back to the uk my pension would be increased from the day I arrived in the uk, can you please comment on this?
@@michaeldean4169 Yes this is true the same goes moving to the Reciprocal country your pension would increase. If you informed them your in the appropriate country. But if you moved away from the U.K. within the 185 days within the financial year you would revert back to your old amount. To be 100% call the pension service they can tell you what you need to do.
Sorry Les, when you contact the pensions after you leave the Philippines, for example, and return to Thailand, they reduce the pension back down to what you originally got. I read the documents from the pensions department a year or so ago and it clearly states this. If i am wrong i will apologise and use this system. 😁
This is the question I asked. Example if yoy returned to the U.K. you get the rise but leave before the 185 days it goes back down. The same in any Reciprocal country otherwise why have the 185 day rule. This is my understanding. At no point did she say leaving after the 185 days it went down. This then would be a non existent rule. But I supplied the phone number so you can ask what questions you want. Hope this helps let me know if you get different advice. Cheers Les.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream then why not unfreeze all pensions, by the same thought process. As people in Canada could nip into the USA and not have frozen pensions. I think they would be doing this if the pension didn't return to its previous level. Anyway I have two more years to do due diligence 😁.
The answer is *Living in a Reciprocal* country for 185 days entitles you to the increase.
I asked the same question and was told you would get the New rate after living in a Reciprocal country for 185 days otherwise why have the 185 day rule as from the 1st day you arrive in a Reciprocal country you can get the rise.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream reciprocal agreement actually is about taxes not benefits (a bloody cheek calling pensions a benefit but that is the UK govts of all colours). The Philippines has a social security reciprocal agreement. Nit picking I know but a major difference.
Hi Les, I do have a query so that I am 100% certain.
Firstly thank you so much for your brilliant videos, they are very informative.
I am also a UK citizen, paid my N.I. tax for over 40 years and have been living in Thailand the last 6 years, currently in Hua Hin.
I am 70 years old but I haven’t started my state pension yet. I am glad that I chose to defer it considering the recent relatively large increases but I do plan to start it later this year.
So my query does not effect me yet but may in the future.
So using your figures lets assume I started my state pension in year 2019 and came to live in Thailand my pension would be frozen at £8,767 per year.
In May this year 2024 I go to the Philippines, my state pension after informing them would rise to £11,502.
In November 2024 I return to live in Thailand.
I understand that my state pension would remain at £11,502 for this tax year until April 2025 but does it go back down to £8,767 per year after April 2025?
So assuming I stay in Thailand after November 2024 and do not do another 185 days in the Philippines what would my UK state pension be in 2030?
Thanks again Les
Keith
Hi Keith thanks for the question, as you have not claimed your pension yet this does not affect you it is only when you start to claim your pension it will be Frozen at that rate of the financial year you claim, so claim after April 6 th this year and you will get the full amount and I also believe as you have deferred your pension you will get an increased pension also so well done my friend enjoy Retirement.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream Hi Les, I was thinking ahead, can you please read my message again. I was not 100% sure if staying in the Philippines for over 185 days means that you receive the increased pension for that particular financial year only, then the next year it goes back down if you remain in Thailand?
As far as I understand once you have the increase it remains at that level of payment it does not go back down to the previous level. but again to be 100% sure call the International Pension department on +44 01912187777 they can give you the 100% answer you need. Let me know also so it confirms what they said to me is true. Best wishes Les.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream Thanks Les for the information. Although I do like to try to understand I haven't even started my state pension and so will enquire about this in a few years time. I hope not but my gut feeling and I think I have also read it (but not sure) is that the state pension would revert to the lower fozen level after the end of the financial year that you spent 185 days in a country that qualifies for increases. I know of an 80 year old UK guy that has lived in Thailand for over 20 years and receives a low frozen state pension. He recently spent 2 months in the UK visiting his 2 daughters + other family. If it is like you believe then I am sure he would have spent another 4 months in the UK if it meant a permanent increase to his state pension and of course if he knew that to be so. I hope you are right Les in which case if word gets out then I think there will be a stamped of elderly UK expats leaving Thailand for 186 days.
One of the reasons I took your advice 2 years ago I now have a Philippine girlfriend And when I sell my house in England I will move there for good I was there last Xmas and got 29 days extension and cost 3,30 pesos But it's very easy to do Hopefully this helps good luck Les
Best of luck! and thanks for sharing. Best wishes Les.
Sorry to hear about the terrible situation with pensions from the UK. With the cost of living similar to Thailand, why not just live in the Philippines? Skipping from one country to another and sorting out VISA requirements and costs doesn't make sense.
Thanks for the comment, I have never been to the Philippines so I can't comment about the Country, like Thailand some people like it others do not. I have a Thai wife and a house in Thailand so Thailand will always be my home. I agree with your comments Live in a country that has least resistance and for Pension purposes Philippines win as we get the Annual rise every year living there.
Hello Les, great video and could be a life saver for me.
Just one question you may know the answer. My UK pension is paid straight into my Thai bank account. Would I have to change this if I spent 185 days in Philippines?
Thanks again for doing this ground work
Hi and thanks for the comment. Your pension can still be paid into your Thai account no problem,
My brother is the same in Australia. It only applies in countries where there is no reciprocal agreement between the two countries. I am getting a full new state pension on 28th January 2025 because I have stood by my own country.
Where are you filming from? Can you post the GPS? The walk looks lovely.
It is the Lakes near my home, it is very nice. Chakpong.
OMG thats perfect. I''m moving near there in April 👍
So you will have to live in PH for 185 consecutive days once only? I believe on the Australian pension we lose 1/3 of our pension if we don’t live in Australia primarily. Not 100% certain about this yet. I don’t know if Australia has reciprocal countries which pay full pension
Pensions are complicated things we never check on them until it is time to claim, then the brown stuff can hit the fan.
Can you do the 185 days in segments in different reciprocal countries? After the 185 days, if I come back to live in Thailand permanently does my pension stay at the new rate or does it revert back to the value when it was first frozen in 2018?
Yes you can do this as long as the 185 days are within the financial year eg April 6th to April 5th. You also need proof of your stay eg passport stamps accommodation proof and you need to phone them once in the country, you then get the increase for life once you do the 185 days. Hope this helps.
If say Les you go to the Philippines for either two stays of 3 months each or 185 days straight in the UK tax year, the increase covers you for that tax year or does it date back to when you started receiving your pension that was frozen at the time? Also what happens in the next tax year if you are back living in Thailand, do you receive the increase for that year?
Hi thanks for the question, once you start lets say in the Philippines for the 185 days you get all the increases you have missed because it was Frozen paid from day one, once you do the 185 days the new rate continues for life, but it is frozen at that rate once you return to Thailand. Hope this helps but it is worth it. Best wishes.
To put it simply if you had your Pension frozen for example, 5 years ago because you retired in Thailand and then you went to the Philippines for 185 days, your pension will increase to what the pension is on that financial year. In the next financial year, it will remain the new pension. It will not reduce back down. Basically it will bring you up-to-date and in line with what other people get and then once you return to Thailand, it will remain at that until you decide to do another 185 days in a country like the Philippines. Hope that clears it for everybody..
Yep you’re correct. Thanks.
i asked about the 185 day rule and got this reply :(
Dear Mr Forder,
Thank you for your email dated 02 September 2024.
Your pension would be uprated for the time you spent in the United Kingdom.
It would not stay at the higher rate when you retuned to a frozen rate country.
It would go back to what it was when you left the country.
Mate the Australian government are even worse.. you have to live in the country for a certain amount of time to claim the pension.. IMHO we need to save for ourselves going forward.. the state pension will be abolished down the road..
Thanks for watching, they will force everyone to provide their own pension so I agree the State pension will not be there for everyone. I understand the Australian pension is means tested also?
I am receiving a public service pension in Australia. I am 54 and plan to retire in Thailand in the next few years. If I declare myself as a non Citizen of Australia, I will be taxed at a flat rate of 30 cents in the dollar. If I remain in Australia, the once I turn 60 I pay 0 tax on my pension.
Only the Rich can cheat the system.
Your A Legend , Thanks For The Info 👍🙏🍺
No problem 👍Thanks for watching.😀🙏
Hi Les another great video,I will have 3yrs living in Thailand from 64 to my pension age of 67, again I have done the research about international pension centre I can contact 4 months before but the form ipc-br1 is about a 25 page form to claim as well as sending back birth certificates and other paperwork I know you haven't reached age yet,but any experience or knowledge about this process. Many thanks in advance Andy.
I've been in Thailand since end of 2018, I've been told that if I leave for 185 days I'll get my pension increase, but when I return my pension will revert back to the original pension
It you stay in the qualifying country for 185 days it the same financial year and you leave the country your new pension rate will apply.
Out of curiosity, how does DWP/HMRC intend to keep track of a pensioners whereabouts .
Through passport checks or banking transactions ?
DWP and HMRC have wide powers and can check banking details and passport details if they so wish. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can check your bank account through a legal process during investigations, especially if they suspect fraudulent activity. What is this? They have the authority to request your financial information, including bank statements and transaction details, from your bank.
How far back can DWP ask for bank statements?
The DWP can ask the executor to provide detailed financial information. This will include bank statements and savings accounts. They can request information as far back as 12 years. Once they have made their initial assessment they also has the right to request further information if they need clarification
I hope this helps.
@RetiredandLivingthedream
Thanks for your prompt reply .
I read that the onus is now on banks to alert UK authorities about prolific money transfers to foreign bank accounts .
Just interested if this is the current or future policy !!!
The Philippines, do they tax income from abroad like Thailand are talking about .
The doors are closing .
I don't think so, as yet Thailand have not made a decision.
I don't know why they don't put thiland in the list because over 2 million bits go to thiland rather than Europe that a lot of money for airports and all things to do with g on holidays it should be fair
They don't want to give you the money as simple as that.
How do they no your living abroad if you don't tell them,
The Stamp in your passport is all they need. Big Brother is watching.
Les maybe I'm wrong but the sums are a bit skew wiff. You forgot to mention the cost of renewing the the extension in the Philippines (as example). I believe it's about £45 per month (3100 php) x 6 = £270. The £2735 is £547 per year over 5 years. I'm not suggesting you move to PH every year 'cause I don't think it would be worth the hassle but maybe every few years to get the increase. Maybe I misunderstood you. Sorry
Hi thanks for the comment, in my quick research I was informed the monthly visa was GBP 21 per month 1,500 PHP, so this is what I stated for the example, The 2,735 is the yearly increase you would get when you applied for the new rate, so if no rise from 2019 until 2024 because it has been Frozen, this is the amount you would get. Doing this method for the average 2 to 3% rise every year does not make financial sense every year but at a 24% rise it now makes sense. Look at it another way if you do this method only once and it is now and you live another 10 years you have received another 27,500 pounds the Government would have stolen from you. What could you do with this extra 27,500 pounds. Hope you can see where I am coming from with this. Cheers Les.
I’m sorry, but you are wrong at 6:54, you mention that you would be £2735 per yr better off or £275 per month. The £2735 is the amount over 5yrs from 2019-20, not per year. £547 per year increase will not pay for flights or rent in Philippines for 185 days, when u may already have a property in Thailand rent free. Over a longer period, yes this may become a more viable option to consider.
Great info Les, Does the Pension stay at the higher amount when you return to Thailand for the foreseeable years.
The rate remains at the New rate once you complete the 185 days then once you move back to Thailand Frozen at the new rate, this is why they have the 185 day rule.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream OK 👍
Yes I'm in New Zealand I'm going to retire in Thailand payed taxes in New Zealand and Australia, no pension for me ,just a total scan, it doesn't pay to be honest
You can move to Thailand and keep your nz pension but first you have to be living in New Zealand when you turn 65 to apply. To get the full amount they count total years spent in the country from age 20 and deduct from there. So if you spent the full 45 years in New Zealand you get the full amount any less and you lose as a percentage. As long as the country you move to doesn’t have a welfare system these rules apply, you can check which countries qualify on the government website.
Thanks for your research.
My pleasure thanks for watching.
Les, I've lived in Indonesia since before my 65th birthday and my pension was capped at £119.20 per week as soon as I became eligible for it.
11 years later my pension is still £119.20 per week.
My employer and i both paid into my pension, the government paid nothing towardsy pension, yet they are dictating the terms of payment.
Is this fair?
Thanks Les love your videos.
It is not but they say if you chose to live abroad then they don't care unless you live in certain country's then they are legally bound to pay you the rise. The Government will not alter this policy. But even for you this is possible. Thanks for watching.
So if you resident in phillipines and then you go holiday to Thailand for 6 months do you have to keep your residence adress in the phillipines
Mmmmm same as the U.K. the letter of the Law leave your Reciprocal country or the U.K. for more than 185 days you lose the increase. You have to reapply. Many don’t but this is what it says, also you lose your Free NHS treatment after 185 days.
Worth thinking about for sure.
I have spoken to the New Zealand Pension Department here that deal with receiving the UK pension about joining the campaign or making an application to unfreeze the pension to UK expats living here. They didn't want to know, as if they don't have any obligation to see it changed. You come here and this is what the rules are so put up with it. As an interesting point, I receive the UK pension and is topped up to the amount I'm allowed to receive here with the NZ pension. If I leave NZ for good, my UK pension goes with me, but the NZ portion stops being paid to me on the day I leave.
@davidjackson6339 I think the issue with Australia is thevpension here can be used to make up. The problem isvits means tested where in the UK it isn't. We also have rax breaks for compulsory superannuation. Not sure about NZ.
Call the UK Pensions as if you have the pension from the UK they deal with it not the NZ Pension department.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream I was following up from Canada's approach to the UK government about unfreezing expat pensions. I thought they (the NZ Pension, who receive money every 4 weeks from the UK) could add a bit of weight on this subject, but it's no skin off their nose, so are not interested. I know know whether Australia have jumped on the bandwagon or not.
Hi there
My take on the situation is when we retire and the Uk government gives you a sum of money , they hope you will continue to spend that money in the Uk , so continue to add to the Uk economy, but when they give you the money and you help some other countries economy with that money it probably has an effect on rises , only my opinion , I still have 5.5 years to go until my pension kicks in from the Uk , so I hope the good increases seen in the last two years continue for the next 5.5 years ,
Regards Davy 🏴🇹🇭
Thanks for your comment and I agree with what you say but on the other side of the coin your not using any of the NHS facilities whilst living overseas. My view on this go where the money gives you a better quality of life. The Government pay to certain parts of the world already to those who chose to live in these country's including America but not Canada. It is a 70 year old agreement which they will not change.
If you live in Thailand then you probably own or have long term lease in which case you would be paying for 2 accommodations - wiping out any benefit. Totally impractical.
Look at the bigger picture ten years in the future an extra 27,350 I think this far exceeds the money up front. It depends how you look at things it will work for some but not others.
Hi Les. Great video. Just to confirm would you need to do this every year i.e. spend 6 months in Thailand, 6 months in the Philippines?
Hi thanks for your comment. This situation is unlikely to happen again. The normal rise of 2 to 3% would take 8 years to get to this amount. Now it is only 4 years to get to this amount given the pension was Frozen in 2019 it is worth doing. But normal 2 to 3% it is not financially viable.Your pension living in Thailand is Frozen at the rate you claim your pension if you live in Thailand. To get the increased rate you need to stay in the Reciprocal country for 185 days to claim the new rate. Then move back to Thailand and it is Frozen at the new rate.
Is it right if your in the uk you can claim on line or by phone,if your abroad you have to apply by post?
You can claim online where ever you are in the World.
Is there any more news on the thais taxing income ,savings pensions.
I think alot of people will be leaving the land of smiles if that does happen.
The property market will drop , no money is going into thailand to be taxed in the uk then thailand .
Glad i went 33 years ago
You could not spend your money .
Looking at other options.
Progress has court up with thailand.
Considering you carnt earn a living, its becoming unaffordable
Nothing new on the Tax front, like every country the good old days have gone. Welcome progress.
hi les,
i asked about the 185 day rule and they replied with this email
:( Dear Mr Forder,
Thank you for your email dated 02 September 2024.
Your pension would be uprated for the time you spent in the United Kingdom.
It would not stay at the higher rate when you retuned to a frozen rate country.
It would go back to what it was when you left the country..........
.....has anyone here actually got the rise and kept it on return to their frozen pension country?
I spoke at length with the top person in this department. It depends how you asked the question. It has to be 185 days within the financial year, if not then it does revert back to the old amount, so why have this rule if they do the opposite, nothing was said about reverting back to the old payment if you lived in the Reciprocal country for the 185 days within the financial year, then you got the rise. A few people have also confirmed this is the case also. Have you got the contact details and I will call them.
Email me at lesliepearson58@yahoo.com
So the question is Les. Would you do six months in phillipines and six months in Thailand?
This once in a lifetime event probably will not happen again for some time. Normally at 2 to 3% a year taking 3% to get to 24% would take 8 years but it has happened in only 4 years so this would not be financially viable every couple of years or so with the 2 or 3% rise. Would I live in the Philippines for 6 months, yes if I was faced with the same option then yes I would, lets just say if I was in that position of 2,735 per year increase and lets say I lived another 10 years then that is 27,350 that I would never have had. Look at the Big Picture. Thanks for taking time to comment.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream what is annoying is the two countries i want to split ny retirement in 20 years has no reciprocal agreement - Thailand and Georgia
You have to decide where you want to be resident and that’s where state pension will be sent
Yes your pension can be sent anywhere, I still have a UK Bank account so it will be sent to this account, I have a postal address in the UK also but I will inform them I live in Thailand. But I hope the information provided is helpful to others, this is why I provided the phone numbers to talk direct to these people to get the 100% answer you need. This took a lot of time chasing my own tail and eventually got there passed from one department to another. They may be inundated with calls next week lol.
Do you need a residential address for state pension to be sent to you
I Just had my pension for Feb and it was £136 short, i sent the pension dept an e.mail got a response saying i had a overpayment of housing benefit? I thought i don't get housing benefit just my pension, so i spent about 20mins on the phone to the International pension dept, I asked them when i got through why i was £136 short in my pension they said it was a overpayment of housing benefit, i said i don't get housing benefit! and she said my pension would be back to normal next month, i said ok but you still have not answered my question i don't get housing benefit and i was just fobbed off with my pension would be back to normal next month, had to leave it there i ran out of credit on my phone seems to me like a government scam AND JUST BEEN RIPPED OFF!
Hi thanks for the comment, that's a strange one, to avoid costly calls use Skype then the calls are soooo cheap I have spent hours on the phone for so little. Thanks for watching I hope everything goes back to normal soon. Best wishes Les.
Great info
Thank you
Thanks for watching.
Les if u don't tell them, and unless they did a passport checks as u said they probably would never know
Hi and thanks for the comment. Is it worth the risk of getting your pension stopped and the money recovered at what ever the rate they decide and of course it is Fraud giving you a Criminal Record. I know people who have done this for years and even get the winter fuel payment. Big brother is watching.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream fair comments les not arguing with this.. Just saying tell them nothing in my estimation
@@allangreenley9901 Hi did not take offence, of course your correct sometimes it pays to say nothing. Thanks for your comment.
Labour have just committed to at least another 5 years of triple lock Les.
They will give in one hand and take with the other, I bet they will not pay the yearly increase pensioners lose by living in Countrys that have no reciprocal agreements. They will screw every one also. Thanks for the info.
That list of unfrozen countries is wrong.
Japan is on your list but the pension is frozen if you live there.
Ok if you are single and no commitments or school age children in Thailand. At 72 years old I don’t want to be relocating every few months Les.
wouldn't it also work for married couples?
@@darwinjina You would need two properties, one in Thailand and one in the Philippines so so your annual increases would be taken up as you would be paying for 2 properties. If you are marries would your Thai wife want to be moving every 6 months more so if she had a job and you had kids.
@@jamie1944 I was thinking of people in retirement age so likely no young children to bring. If the spouse had already lived/worked in UK, then would be just as mobile.
@@darwinjina My point is you would be running 2 homes, ok own one in Thailand every 6 months find a rental property in the Phillipses then drag all your belongings to for 6 months back and forward.
Ok for a single retired person but as you become older you would soon get fed up of the commuting as you get older just for the sake of a few extra pounds and the rigmarole of visas etc.
@@jamie1944 true, doing it for long term would be a pain. eventually, you would probably stay one location. for us, we are not even sure where we will end up. It may still yet a different country
Les,, is is possible to find a nice house renta, for 10,to 13,thousand baht in Ranong? I enjoy the peace and quiet.. P. S. Did you ever check out,,, wr. Life insurance? I'm 67, paying £790 a year for 2.85..million baht!! No medical requirements.. Can be payed every 3 months, or 6 months,, l
Hi thanks for the comment. Yes we have some nice houses for that price between 10 and 15,000 Baht. But this is in Rayong not Ranong. Life insurance is important for your loved ones, I already have this from a long time ago and also my wife gets my Fire Service pension once I turn my toes up so she is financially going to be ok. Thanks for watching.
Also it sounds like your saying I would have to spend 185 days in the Philippines every year ?
Hi financially it is not worth it for the normal 2 to 3% rise but at the moment this is probably a once in a lifetime situation that within a 4 year period your pension has risen by 24% normally this would take about 8 years.
noticed you hi lighted Canada as one of the countries, curios as to why, don't bother to reply, you can tell me in person in two weeks. In Baan Nan right now, heading to Whisper Mist, Nan tomorrow, will take lots of video, then on to Bangkok and then Rayong. its going great.
Hi Dave thanks for watching, look forward to the meet up. Enjoy my Friend.
But you don’t go to the a Philippines for 6 months do you Les?
No I don't as I do not get a state pension for another 2 1/2 years. I just show options to others. It is up to others to chose their methods of getting their pension updated.
Retiring abroad: where the only thing freezing is your drink, not your toes.
That's one way to put it. Thanks for watching.
Almost at 10k subscribers, keep it up Les, reckon you'll get there by August! I have one concern Les. Your comnent that you only have to go to the Philippines once, and you get the pension increases for life no matter where you live after that. I suspect this is duff info she gave you. Otherwise you could just pop back to the UK for Spring/summer and never return again to the UK, which would be no different to you leaving UK in the first place! I would suspect that you have to do it every year, not just a one off.
*You would get that increase for life* , then once you left the qualifying country your pension would be Frozen at your new rate. Otherwise why have the 185 day rule. So if you spent less than 185 days in the UK you would also lose the increase. Thanks for your comment. Hope this helps.
Ok , so you only get the increase up until that point, you wouldn't then get any further increases in the future. I think that no eeds to be made clear. The way you word it, makes it sound like you get yearly increases forever, but you don't. You only Keeo that one back dated increase, then it freezes again. Still worth doing if you're retired abroad already.
Outrageous that your pension is frozen.
Thanks for watching, I did not know this until a couple of years ago. They also stopped the widows pension because my wife is Thai.
I think i would stay in the Philippines full stop as I have visited both places many times and whilst the Philippines infrastructure is not as good as Thailand. But English is widely spoken in the Philippines and in general the people are more friendly and genuine..I also found Filipinas are easier to date and don't expect to be paid for each date. I have recently become an OAP in the UK and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else on a permanent basis. But excellent informative video.
Hi Les, is 185 days every year to get a rise? You don’t use the NHS anymore so you’re saving them money there, but that’s not good enough, let’s screw them a bit more. It’s disgraceful really.
Hi yes you could do this every year but financially it would not be worth it but at the moment using the figures I quoted at 24% it is worth it. Leaving the UK for more than 185 days to get back onto the NHS Care system this could take up to 2 years, unless you arrive on a rubber boat.
It's one way round it for some people Lez , but it's a bit of a balls aching thing to do every year, and In my opinion it's not such a nice country to go and have to spend 6 month when your heart is really in Thailand .
I dont think the Gov will ever change the frozen pension rule , not a cat in hells chance , they're discussing ways on how to save to provide for the future as it is .
Thanks for watching and taking time to comment, no need to do it every year as the cost out ways the return, wait a few years to build op the % then it is worth it.
Good info
Thanks
You don’t go through Passport Control either at Newcastle or Teesside Airports when leaving therefore Border Control have no idea of you comings and goings from the U.K.
Your passport is stamped in Thailand and scanned they know where you are at all times.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream The officer can view the passport's issue and expiry dates, the country that issued the passport, and the authority that issued it. Biometric data: Some passports contain a microchip that stores biometric data, such as a digital image of your face, which can be used for facial recognition purposes.
They don’t input the country you have been to.
Governments are not trying to save money. Look at how much they give out to those that deserve nothing.
I did laugh at the end of the video, you ask people to suscribirse, is that German ? 😅😅
Lol,😀 tired looks like I clicked the filmora subscribe without reading it , ok well spotted thanks for watching till the end.
we are the bottom of the barrel when it comes to getting anything ,this due to no voting rights ,though this has just changed I think
What has reciprocation got to do with one's pension ,and in most of those countries listed, you can bet your bottom dollar there will have practically no retirement aged expats in the UK
Canada ,NZ and USA ,that's it ,those other countries in the reciprocal band will not have any expats in UK
I'm lucky as I don't rely on my paltry pension and if you're not stupid LOS can be pretty cheap to retire
I've been here 22 years
Thanks for taking time to comment, They look after those who look after them and pander to these Elite, the working class are a pain to take care of, always moaning and complaining, The Elite never complain.
I’m in Canada and retired at 63 , I’ve got no pension yet as need to be 65 😂 but have a few million lol so I’m living the dream, don’t care about anything really 😂
Continue living your dream. Thanks for watching.
If I can help in any way about Philippines please send me a question and I will try to help If not I will ask my girlfriend All the best Chaz
Thanks for that send me your email address please and I will pass your details onto those who are looking for information. lesliepearson58@yahoo.com
Thailand becoming little Russia
where? what? Not likely to displace the little china. ;)
Most russians i've seen are living as poor beggars sitting outside eleven and drinking cheep beer..the chinese is another story..they have real money and use it like crazy buying condos and renting land with generous 99 year contracts
Having emigrated from the UK to Australia. At least the UK is giving me a pension whereas Australia as it stands now won’t give me a cent or a penny 😂
The government will come up with a modern plan eventually and it will be hard to go through any loopholes
They will do what they need to do to keep the poor poor.
Hard to believe u put ur life on line been a firefighter &the government is doing this to people like u I can c it if they r giving out money for heat
Hi and thanks for the comment, it's not my Firefighters pension that is Frozen it is the State pension which is Frozen this affects over 500,000 pensioners around the World. Sad but true.
Just keep a uk residential address before you go.(family member or friend ).
I personally know someone who has done this for years and he has a retirement visa for Thailand.
The country is run by muppets so take advantage.
I know a few people just doing this, but you run the risk of being found out and the money getting refunded to them at what ever payment thy decide and this is classed as Fraud and this would give you a Criminal record which could cause problems later in life. Even a Muppet gets it right sometimes. Thanks for your comment.
I love you Les! I really do, you motive me and others. But please dont resort to the weird click bait photo...the photo looks like a chap been held at a glory hole check point!
Lol changed thanks for watching.
i checked when i get my pension i become pension age in November but according to the .gov site i will not receive it till April and i get no extra even though i am paying a extra 6 month's m mm m m m m m
If you don't get your pension yet then this does not affect you in any way apart from if you live in Thailand your Pension is Frozen. Thanks for watching.
it means i cannot move to Thailand till April 6 month's later than planed @@RetiredandLivingthedream
I fully understand the current Philippines visa law's on the 36 month extension, which is practrical and doable, but I'm curious to know how one can make that similar tourist visa "practical & doable" in Thailand, with the 30 day free at entry, 1900 baht for an additional 39 day's given you a 60 day stay, then having to exit!!!
Don't list educational visa, like say Thai language school, as I looked into that, it's not very practical, with restrictions.
The over 50 retirement visa,.is not practical with it's BS if opening back account, depositing funds that get zero interest, plus restrictions on exiting and re-entering, only throwing more money at the BS process, so not very attractive.
Border runs are not cheap, getting there costs money, then entering the other country costs money, plus photos plus BS paperwork, plus standing in line, as it's an all day thing, from leaving the Thai side in the morning and by the time you return in the evening, just to get an entry stamp hopefully for 30 days, as sone only get 15 days, then pay another 1900 baht for another extension, surely there's gotta be some more user friendly, practical and cost effective way of making this work
Let me know
E
Ok the answer is not to come to Thailand, yes many people complain about the paperwork but it is what it is like it or lump it. I have lived here for 12 years now and the paperwork is not that bad we jump through the various hoops they put in our way but it is Thailand. Perhaps if the UK did something the same they would not have the problems they have now.
What a ridiculous ripoff. Can't you just use a UK address?