Pension Tax

daabren

Martins Money saving expert

I retired 3 years ago and qualify for full Government state Pension. The last time I looked 5 weeks ago I was getting £987  a month now its gone down to £870

I have no friends or family and was living alone for some 15 years prior to my Retirement and my mental state was fine while I was working but I did have loneliness issues. I decided to go to Thailand and for as long as it takes to find a wife and hopefully return to UK, with the wife.

I have my state pension, with all the increases, however I spoke to them on the phone 4 weeks ago and they explained that they have to reduce my pension because I am living in Thailand, (I am only here to find a wife for as long as it takes) . Guy on the phone said it will be reduced maybe £5-10 .....to £30-40 .....I have just logged on today and can see a reduction of about £115 .

I have also just received a letter from the tax people explaining all the details plus a Right to Reassessment thing ……which will take a few weeks to reply etc.

Can anyone give me a definitive figure as to how much I should have. It would be nice to fill in the return form with some real figures ……

Hope someone can help me 

Cheers 

dave

Ayr_Rage

I believe the pension is frozen at the time you become resident in Thailand, a country where the annual increases do not apply.

If they have just found out your new status then the only reason I can see for a reduction is that you did not tell them you had moved overseas and they had applied an increase to which you were not entitled to.

Therefore, along with a reduction to the level when you left the UK they may be recovering overpayments.

@daabren what and when did you tell them about your move to Thailand?

Silvertabby

Did you inform DWP of your change of address in good time?  If not, then they may have applied (at least) last year's 10% increase in error, hence the correction.

Your State pension won't receive cost of living increases while you remain in Thailand.  

daabren

Ayr_Rage said:

I believe the pension is frozen at the time you become resident in Thailand, a country where the annual increases do not apply.

If they have just found out your new status then the only reason I can see for a reduction is that you did not tell them you had moved overseas and they had applied an increase to which you were not entitled to.

Therefore, along with a reduction to the level when you left the UK they may be recovering overpayments.

@daabren what and when did you tell them about your move to Thailand?

I actually told them about 3 months ago (I had already been here 1 year) but I did stress I am not living here permanently.
....' just found out your new status then the only reason I can see for a reduction is that you did not tell them you had moved overseas and they had applied an increase to which you were not entitled to'......this makes sense I hadn't thought of this . 
From what you know , what I have already said do you have any figures I could work with ?
Anyway thanks for the help. Things are becoming much clearer , I will hovever still write for a reassessment .
Thank you so much for the help .
 dave

xylophone

If you moved to Thailand during the tax year  January 2023, then the pension you were receiving then (and note the pension is paid every four weeks not every month) is what you should still be on now?

You were not entitled to the April 2023 increase or the increase in April 2024?

JoeCrystal

It might be worth double-checking your tax liability in Thailand if you are now resident in Thailand, especially with the tax applying to foreign income kicking in if I remember right.

daabren

xylophone said:

If you moved to Thailand during the tax year  January 2023, then the pension you were receiving then (and note the pension is paid every four weeks not every month) is what you should still be on now?

You were not entitled to the April 2023 increase or the increase in April 2024?

Which begs the question when will my pension go up ?!
Thanks xylophone
dave

Ayr_Rage

daabren said:

xylophone said:

If you moved to Thailand during the tax year  January 2023, then the pension you were receiving then (and note the pension is paid every four weeks not every month) is what you should still be on now?

You were not entitled to the April 2023 increase or the increase in April 2024?

Which begs the question when will my pension go up ?!
Thanks xylophone
dave

If you have advised DWP that you are now living in Thailand you will NEVER get an increase.

amanda1024

daabren said:

Which begs the question when will my pension go up ?!
Thanks xylophone
dave

If/when you return to the UK, I think

daabren

daabren said:

xylophone said:

If you moved to Thailand during the tax year  January 2023, then the pension you were receiving then (and note the pension is paid every four weeks not every month) is what you should still be on now?

You were not entitled to the April 2023 increase or the increase in April 2024?

Which begs the question when will my pension go up ?!
Thanks xylophone
Dave

Ok  just to be clear and from my initial post I have no friends or family and I have loneliness issues I have ONLY come to Thailand to find a wife and will return home when I am sure I have found the right lady. I am not in Thailand permanently ....so how does that figure in the Pension saga ?
And thank you everyone for the help 
dave

Ayr_Rage

It ALL depends on what YOU have told DWP regarding your current address.