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How does the UK state pension work for Brits living in Thailand?
UK State PensionPension Payments AbroadThailand Expat LifeNational Insurance ContributionsUK Visa RegulationsVPN Usage for Pension Claims
Aug 27, 2022
4 years ago
Stephen ********
ORIGINAL POSTERPlease could another Brit who claims state pension, explain how the system works, when long in Thailand.
TLDR : Answer Summary
Brits residing in Thailand face specific challenges with their UK state pension. Key points raised by community members include the lack of annual increases for pensions paid outside certain countries, the importance of using the correct overseas claiming methods, and the risks of having pensions frozen if residency issues arise. Using a VPN may help access UK pension websites, but transparency with residency is essential to avoid prosecution. Some commenters mentioned successfully receiving pensions after navigating these rules, emphasizing the potential for topping up National Insurance contributions to secure full benefits.
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Chris ********
For anyone that wants to know how many years stamp (i.e National Insurance contributions) they have paid goto
***********
There is a section called 'check state pension '. Enter your N.I number. This will give you your current yearly estimate and also show you if you have years that you have not contributed enough, and any years you can top up to increase the pension when you decide to take itJohnny ******
I only worked in the UK for 4 years but will still get a full pension, its a great return on investment. I only found out a few years ago that I could pay back 10 years for 65,000 baht.
John *****
This is correct. I did the same. You have tp pay voluntary national insurance contribulations but there's a limit on how far back you can pay for missing years depending upon your individual circumstances
Gareth ********
@Johnny *****
how does that work if you don’t mind me asking?Johnny ******
@Gareth *******
I paid back 10 years of class 2 volantary contributions. Now I pay 6,000 baht a year. I also have 7 years from when I was at school and university, and unemployed.Gareth ********
@Johnny *****
ah ok, cheers. I’ll look into that.Reply to
Gareth ********
Reply
Gordon *******
Why can't the person get his state pension paid into his UK bank account, even though he resides in Thailand, but has a UK address etc
John *****
@Gordon ******
But you can. It's your choice.Reply to
John *****
Reply
Jack *********
They are connected to the Border Control System so will see your dates of leaving the UK. Once you have been in Thailand a length of time they will Freeze your Pension.
Those who try to get around the system are liable to prosecution and Pension payments being stopped until the case is resolved.
Better to be honest as you will get caught in the end 🙏🏻
Those who try to get around the system are liable to prosecution and Pension payments being stopped until the case is resolved.
Better to be honest as you will get caught in the end 🙏🏻
Andrew ********
I did all my application from Thailand.
No problems at all. Took about 6 months to go through now I get regular payments every quarter.
Only downside is it's static in as much as it won't increase with inflation as things stand at the moment.
No problems at all. Took about 6 months to go through now I get regular payments every quarter.
Only downside is it's static in as much as it won't increase with inflation as things stand at the moment.
Vinny **************
If you paid your ins stamp .you are entitled to
Vinny **************
If you get a uk poxy pension .if you claim outside europe .you wont get a yearly inrease
Wyn **********
Just transfer the damn thing via Wise into a Thai bank account.
Jeffrey *******
Along with a VPN server giving you an IP address for UK (or where ever you choose), also in the USA there are posta/mail companies that you can subscribe to and the address can be your legal address here in the USA......maybe UK or other countries have similar services. You can see your mail from anywhere online. The mail service will scan your incoming paper postal/mail to a PDF and then upload for you to view. The paper mail is stored by the company unless you want it shredded, or shipped to you. Another way to show your residence is in the UK.....if available.
Stephen ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThats correct, you will get the uplift if you live in certain countries unfortunately Thailand is not one of them.
Julie ***********
I think you may find that living outside of the UK more than 3 months you won't get the state pension, the rules changed when we had brevity I'm afraid...
Russell *******
@Julie **********
it doesn't matter where you live,as long as you have paid in more than 10 years you are due a pension. If for example you only have 10 year if you lived in the UK you would most likely be entitled to pension credit which would top up person to a government minimum. If you don't live in UK you only get the amount payable of 10 years contributions . I believe this is also true of the all annual increases .Eddy ********
@Julie **********
nothing to do with Brexit what’s so ever. If they know your resident in Thailand they will not pay you the yearly increase. It becomes a frozen pension.Julie ***********
@Eddy *******
actually the rules did change for overseas expats when we came out of the eu..But yes I understand now having read on the government site that you can still maybe get your pension just not the annual increment.
Russell *******
@Julie **********
Maybe ? What do you mean ? It's your contributions and you are legally entitled to a pension . People can't organise there retirement with a maybe 😎🙏Eddy ********
@Julie **********
Nothing changed regarding ex-pats residing in Thailand. Strangely I believe that those ex-pats in the E.u. Are still eligible for the yearly increase. The system is simple unfair.Reply to
Eddy ********
Reply
Henry *********
@Julie **********
You get the pension, just not the annual uplifts.Reply to
Henry *********
Reply
Allan *********
If you're already in Thailand and not started to claim yet you probably won't be able to connect to the UK Pension website to start the claim. It may work using a VPN but I don't know enough about them. That means you will have to use their "claim from overeas" portal and as the first response stated, that means you will not get any annual increases.
Jeffrey *******
Ok, but web sites can recognize your IP address from Thailand when you log in. If that is a problem, then a VPN can be set to any country with servers for your VPN service. I use NORD VPN but there are many others to use.
Tony *********
@Allan ********
you don't need a VPN to connect to the UK pension site.Jeffrey *******
@Allan ********
If a VPN is used to log in to a site, set the VPN location to whatever country you need to use before logging in.Reply to
Jeffrey *******
Reply
Steve ********
If you get the dosh paid to you in Thailand you won't get any CPI increases.
Dean **************
@Steve *******
stamps is an old term for paying NI.Steve ********
@Dean *************
Sometimes we just have to think about moving forward. Let go of the past and think "forward"!Reply to
Steve ********
Reply
Steve ********
Robert Curtis Stamps? I paid NI for 16 years, never got a stamp!
Steve ********
Robert Curtis No you're wrong. You still qualify, but don't get the CPI increases.
Steve ********
Robert Curtis Sorry, I don't know what that means
Reply to
Steve ********
Reply
Henry *********
Robert Curtis Yes. Not worth the risk.
Steve ********
@Henry ********
What risk? 🤣Reply to
Steve ********
Reply
Steve ********
@Stephen *******
I think so. Keep a UK address and a UK bank account. Give the impression you are a resident of the UK. Never draw attention to yourself.Stephen ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
so best to have it paid into uk account, and transfer to Thai account?John **********
@Stephen *******
makes no difference. You will only get the uplift if you can show you live in a country where you are entitled to the upliftReply to
John **********
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