UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
Mar 17th 2010, 5:07 am
#16
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Mt Martha, Melbourne
Posts: 1,199
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
I think also there maybe some tit for tat going on with the UK and Aus as well - I was reading this morning there are around 250k UK ex-pat pensioners in Aus and 50k ex-pat Aussie in the UK....so it's going to cost the UK Govt more to increase the Brits side of things so they leave Australia to provide (provided the expat has been here long enough etc etc) for the UK ex-pat if necessary - it's cheaper!
It doesn't seem fair that you can go to the States and get everything but not countries who are actually closer to the UK in ties. On top of that all the pensioners in Spain also receive the winter fuel allowance!
It should be one rule for all as it's not fair!
It doesn't seem fair that you can go to the States and get everything but not countries who are actually closer to the UK in ties. On top of that all the pensioners in Spain also receive the winter fuel allowance!
It should be one rule for all as it's not fair!
Mar 17th 2010, 5:15 am
#17
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,816
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
In addition, to quote Centrelink "There are some cases where you can receive your pension while living overseas but these are limited, as a rule, you can only receive a pension when resident in Australia. "
Mar 17th 2010, 5:55 am
#18
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
To quote from the BBC report:
But if pensioners have emigrated to countries without any such agreement - such as Australia, Canada and South Africa - their pensions have been frozen at the level of when they moved overseas.
This is not correct is it?
I believe it is frozen at the level when you first claim the pension and not when you moved overseas.
Also if you deferred payment to accumulate a lump sum then the freeze does not apply until you take the lump sum - or take a higher pension using it to supplement the standard level.
But if pensioners have emigrated to countries without any such agreement - such as Australia, Canada and South Africa - their pensions have been frozen at the level of when they moved overseas.
This is not correct is it?
I believe it is frozen at the level when you first claim the pension and not when you moved overseas.
Also if you deferred payment to accumulate a lump sum then the freeze does not apply until you take the lump sum - or take a higher pension using it to supplement the standard level.
Mar 17th 2010, 6:06 am
#19
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
Judges at the European Court of Human Rights were the latest to declare that National Insurance contributions did not have an "exclusive link" to retirement pensions.
"As non-residents, the applicants did not contribute to the UK economy, in particular, they paid no UK tax to offset the cost of any increase in the pension," a statement from the court said.
This is also ballshite.
The pension scheme is run as a separate entity to taxation.
In response to the petition in Jan 2008 the UK government confirmed pensions were not related to general taxation.....
As the petition correctly points out, State Pensions are paid out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) rather than general taxation.
So actually the GBP 15 billion surplas in the fund is because they refuse to pay what is rightfully due to some pensioners now resident abroad.
That being the case the minimum they should do is return our base contributions.
"As non-residents, the applicants did not contribute to the UK economy, in particular, they paid no UK tax to offset the cost of any increase in the pension," a statement from the court said.
This is also ballshite.
The pension scheme is run as a separate entity to taxation.
In response to the petition in Jan 2008 the UK government confirmed pensions were not related to general taxation.....
As the petition correctly points out, State Pensions are paid out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) rather than general taxation.
So actually the GBP 15 billion surplas in the fund is because they refuse to pay what is rightfully due to some pensioners now resident abroad.
That being the case the minimum they should do is return our base contributions.
Mar 17th 2010, 6:38 am
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 708
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
In most cases you can still receive Age Pension if you leave Australia.
Link to relevant Centrelink web page.......
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne...ge_leaving.htm
Mar 17th 2010, 7:16 am
#21
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
To quote from the BBC report:
But if pensioners have emigrated to countries without any such agreement - such as Australia, Canada and South Africa - their pensions have been frozen at the level of when they moved overseas.
This is not correct is it?
I believe it is frozen at the level when you first claim the pension and not when you moved overseas.
Also if you deferred payment to accumulate a lump sum then the freeze does not apply until you take the lump sum - or take a higher pension using it to supplement the standard level.
But if pensioners have emigrated to countries without any such agreement - such as Australia, Canada and South Africa - their pensions have been frozen at the level of when they moved overseas.
This is not correct is it?
I believe it is frozen at the level when you first claim the pension and not when you moved overseas.
Also if you deferred payment to accumulate a lump sum then the freeze does not apply until you take the lump sum - or take a higher pension using it to supplement the standard level.
Mar 17th 2010, 7:19 am
#22
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
Judges at the European Court of Human Rights were the latest to declare that National Insurance contributions did not have an "exclusive link" to retirement pensions.
"As non-residents, the applicants did not contribute to the UK economy, in particular, they paid no UK tax to offset the cost of any increase in the pension," a statement from the court said.
This is also ballshite.
The pension scheme is run as a separate entity to taxation.
In response to the petition in Jan 2008 the UK government confirmed pensions were not related to general taxation.....
As the petition correctly points out, State Pensions are paid out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) rather than general taxation.
So actually the GBP 15 billion surplas in the fund is because they refuse to pay what is rightfully due to some pensioners now resident abroad.
That being the case the minimum they should do is return our base contributions.
"As non-residents, the applicants did not contribute to the UK economy, in particular, they paid no UK tax to offset the cost of any increase in the pension," a statement from the court said.
This is also ballshite.
The pension scheme is run as a separate entity to taxation.
In response to the petition in Jan 2008 the UK government confirmed pensions were not related to general taxation.....
As the petition correctly points out, State Pensions are paid out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) rather than general taxation.
So actually the GBP 15 billion surplas in the fund is because they refuse to pay what is rightfully due to some pensioners now resident abroad.
That being the case the minimum they should do is return our base contributions.
Mar 17th 2010, 7:21 am
#23
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
I was awaiting your confirmation. 
Mar 17th 2010, 8:21 am
#24
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
It's just a continuation of socialist Europe's efforts to penalise hard-working folks 
Mar 17th 2010, 8:51 am
#26
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 839
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
Joking aside , I can sympathise with folk who are losing out but I remember thinking that was unfair prior to migrating.
I think it's unfair but understandable and quite ironic that some of the hate the UK brigade are seeing themselves as victims(us poor UK pensioners)
With the pound low it would make sense to return to the UK with your Aus dollars when convenient.
I think it's unfair but understandable and quite ironic that some of the hate the UK brigade are seeing themselves as victims(us poor UK pensioners)
With the pound low it would make sense to return to the UK with your Aus dollars when convenient.
Mar 17th 2010, 9:00 am
#27
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
Yikes we have a tag team in the ring. 
Mar 17th 2010, 10:41 am
#28
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
Jimclevs:
>>Any, and all, other types of pensions are not affected by this judgement.<<
Incorrect.
Anyone whose pension was wholly or partly opted out of SERPS will have *part* of their pension, when paid, non-index-linked.
I was obviously aware of the freezing of the state pension before emigrating, but was ignorant of this "feature" (as in the Micro$oft definition).
>>Any, and all, other types of pensions are not affected by this judgement.<<
Incorrect.
Anyone whose pension was wholly or partly opted out of SERPS will have *part* of their pension, when paid, non-index-linked.
I was obviously aware of the freezing of the state pension before emigrating, but was ignorant of this "feature" (as in the Micro$oft definition).
Mar 17th 2010, 11:05 am
#30
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 839
Re: UK expats lose pension freeze appeal
I don't think it's fair,but out of sight ,out of mind.
You'll get your Aussie pension