UK Pensioners - Thai wives pension rights!

I have been in prolonged discussions with the UK Pensions offices, and have learnt some information, that I find quite surprising:

1, A Thai wife married to a British pensioner, is entitled to:

a. Her own British State pension, even if she has never been to the UK, this is based on her husbands N.I. contributions.

b. She is also entitled to on the death of her husband, the bereavement grant of 2000 pounds, plus a widows pension, this once again is based on her husbands N.I. contributions, with no UK residency requirements.

c. The husband is able to claim for a Dependant spouse benefit, providing that she does not have earnings of more than 60.50 pounds per week!

I hope that the above, is of benefit to some of you, I am sure that there is a lot of people, who are not aware of these benefits.

If you want clarification on any of the above, do not hesitate to contact me, I am in possession of the pertinent phone numbers etc.

All the best

Ralph

Velly interesting Ralph.

Thanks for doing all the research.

Thanks for that infomation Ralph that is very usfull speak to you soon

Regards Len

It is very useful. Thanks

Thanks for the info Ralph. As you know I also have been fighting this one for the five years I have been married to Phorn and though your posting is basically correct there are a few provisos applicable that might affect a persons entitlement, which should be made clear.
The first and most important. You cannot claim for a dependent Thai wife unless you are recorded as living together permanently, either in the UK or here in Thailand. Whilst this is not a problem if she is with you in England, if you are here with her, it means. You must have informed the Pensions of your intention to permenantly reside here. ie: Ceased to reside in UK. This in turn means relinquishing the right to any future increases in benefit payable on your pension. No more winter fuel payments, currently 250 pound. You are de-registered from the National Health Service, which doesn't mean you are not entitled to free treatment, but you will no longer be on any GP's list, and will have to take pot luck should you go back and need medical care.
I myself, didn't record my permanent immigration here until two years ago, and though I have now won my case re'' Dependent relative allowance" they have resolutely refused to pay it until I proved we were living permanently together and have only back dated it ,until then.This only after legal action and help from my , then local, MP.So it could be I was a bit of a "pathfinder" on this.
The actual allowance for a dependent relative(Wife) is calculated at 60% of your own pension, subject to a maximum of 54.35p a week, payable every 28 days in arrears.
Step children. No increase is allowed for any children your wife has unless they are legally adopted or you are the recorded father. However those who are being taxed on their pension, may like to know. I have successfully claimed an allowance for them against my income tax.
Having sorted all this out I now have to explain that all though it is a pension for my wife it doesn't mean its her money. HELP

I was under the impression Thai living abroad' one was not taxed on their pension.I sent off the forms,stateing I was living abroad.eventually I got a reply informing me"As you now live abroad more than 6 months, you pension is reduced by 25 pound!"
Also If I return to UK I will have to pay my own health treatment! I have payed NI contributions all my life.This is a disgrace! FREE? I payed for it! all my life!
I try to get away from this pennypinching UK government,But They even rip me off here!

[quote]Ceased to reside in UK. This in turn means relinquishing the right to any future increases in benefit payable on your pension. No more winter fuel payments, currently 250 pound. You are de-registered from the National Health Service, which doesn't mean you are not entitled to free treatment, but you will no longer be on any GP's list, and will have to take pot luck should you go back and need medical care.

trubrit wrote: You must have informed the Pensions of your intention to permenantly reside here. ie: Ceased to reside in UK. This in turn means relinquishing the right to any future increases in benefit payable on your pension. No more winter fuel payments, currently 250 pound. You are de-registered from the National Health Service, which doesn't mean you are not entitled to free treatment, but you will no longer be on any GP's list, and will have to take pot luck should you go back and need medical care.

I read storys before about this when expats have returned home for healthcare/op or something and was given a check-bin for the cost..!!!, did try to search them out but couldn't find.

Spot on, Truebrit.

The matter of health care, I am led to believe that if you return to the UK, and notify the Pensions service,that you are back in the UK, AND register as a temporary patientwith a GP, you are entitled to full health care, and you will also receive the full current Rate of pension for the period that you are in the UK.

as G Ps are paid annually by government for patients registered with them, and not consutations or treatments, i can see why they want you de registered if you are out of the country.

Thanks for all the info, I did think, that as a UK taxpayer, the govt takes income tax at source, so I have to pay it, you are entitled to all benifits regardless of where you are, being fully retired no NI payments are made, , being a fully paid up member so to speak.
After two years dr's will normally sned your papers to newcastle to be archived until you turn up somewhere for treatment, it is the hospitals that require a GP so that the bill can be allocated to someone.
Wives pension no knowledge but thanks for the info, being a few years off claiming my own, then all info helpful.

If you have paid UK income tax and live abroad, you can apply every April to have the tax refunded and are still entitled to the same tax allowance as a UK based person - The first 4800 (or abouts) of 'income' is tax free so providing the amount of tax you have paid (and want returning) on your 'income' (Interest etc) does not exceed the standard limit per year, you can claim it back.
You would have to have substantial savings to notch up 4800GBP in interest 'income' every year.

As for health care - if you can convince those concerned that you are back in the UK for good - then you will get back into the loop. Irrespective of how long you actually stay for ( 2 years 20 years or 20 days)

I think there may be a little confusion between pension income and investment income.
Talking pensions. If your pension is UK based it is liable to UK tax. So if you have a private scheme with a UK company, the amount received is added to the amount you receive from the govt pension and the combined amount is liable to tax, less , of course, the normal personal allowance, plus any dependent relatives you may have. I understand that certain disability benefits are excluded from this.
It should also be noted that living abroad doesn't exclude you from the need to complete a tax assessment form every year if you have any sort of UK based income , no matter how small. Failure to do so can incur heavy financial penalty, which additionally carries the liability for substantial interest charges, whether tax is due or not. This obligation doesn't expire with retirement whatever your age.Since last year all pension providers have been told to deduct tax before making payment to you based on the emergency tax code 69L if you haven't completed a tax return.
This is all fact, not supposition and I have the tax demands to prove it.
Ignore this rule at your peril.It could be costly.

BobHelm wrote:trubrit, where do you go (web wise) to complete a tax return??
I have not done this for years (even when living in the UK). I was never asked and it didn't matter as I was PAYE & had no allowances except the normal personal allowance. I believe that the tax office send out formal requests to a limited number of people every year - I would think they would be to people making large allowance claims rather than those making none However I have been here for 2 years now, so I think a return might make sense - although it will still be a "wash" my pensions are company pensions & they remove tax at source. Any interest I receive from my bank is also taxed at source. Sadly this isn't enough (cash wise) to warrant declaring myself as a non resident for tax purposes and reclaiming it.

Web wise I really don't know Bob. They had been sending the forms to my daughters UK address, my last known point of contact and foolishly, as I thought I wasn't liable to any further tax on income, I had been ignoring them. Now I have been given a demand for three years @ 2,000 pound per year, their assessment, plus an interest charge of 4,000 pounds.Apparently this is a penalty charge and is not subject to an appeal.
Hence my warning.