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jm2505
Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 35
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 3:07 pm Post subject: Retiring in the UK? A Cautionary Tale |
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This is a cautionary tale for those of you who think you will never return to the UK/don’t pay your NI etc/think you are immune to old age…
A few weeks ago, at the age of 54, I returned from Malaysia. My intention was to stay in the UK, do my MA, then return – I was even looking at living/teaching long term in Malaysia. Now, I am stuck in the UK as I can no longer fly.
It took 15 minutes for my life to take a drastic turn. As I was getting off the plane in the UK I had a stroke.
Firstly, why am I happy to be back in the UK? Well the NHS in fact saved my life & pretty much got me back to normal – very quickly. I’ve lived in enough countries to know I would not have got the support needed elsewhere! (& that includes much needed family support).
Secondly, the downside. I had to apply for benefits, due to not working, yet despite keeping my NI payments up to date, I faced the nightmare of completing a Habitual Residence Test (because I have worked away a lot in the last 8 years the DWP decided I was no longer a UK resident - even though I have always maintained a flat here in the UK). Only after the intervention of my MP did the DWP agree to pay up.
In conclusion, from what I have seen since being home is..., I am convinced that successive governments are going to come down harder and harder on any British person who works abroad & especially those who do not keep up their NI payments if they return. So, be warned, if you expect to work abroad for a while, and then retire in the UK, don’t expect it will be plain sailing. |
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slapntickle
Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 270
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Retiring in the UK? A Cautionary Tale |
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jm2505 wrote: |
In conclusion, from what I have seen since being home is..., I am convinced that successive governments are going to come down harder and harder on any British person who works abroad & especially those who do not keep up their NI payments if they return. So, be warned, if you expect to work abroad for a while, and then retire in the UK, don’t expect it will be plain sailing. |
Great post and a very relevant one for many teflers who are hitting the big 50. Like you, I've been overseas for many years and ignoring to pay my NI contributions. I've been back in the UK for a few years but I'm planning to take off again soon for good. When I get back overseas I'll be sure to continue paying my NI contributions until I reach the ripe old age of 66. The state pension is £110.15 per week at the moment. Because I've been away for so long, I don't think I'd get the full pension. I know that the government will bump up your pension if you fall short, but who knows how long that will last? And with prices rising around us all the time it makes one wonder how people will actually be able to survive in the UK.
Here's a link to more info on pensions:
https://www.gov.uk/state-pension/overview |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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I too fell foul if the HRT but in my case they merely disbarred me for a month. After that I got full benefits. |
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Wilsonthefarmer
Joined: 13 Nov 2012 Posts: 152 Location: Riding my black horse
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Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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scot47 wrote: |
I too fell foul if the HRT but in my case they merely disbarred me for a month. After that I got full benefits. |
scotty, do you get housing benefit? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:44 am Post subject: |
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Who wants to know ? Gentlemen do not discuss finances, football or sexual preferences. |
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sprightly
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England
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Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for this.
i was out for 9 months this year, so sent off my form for NI, and in a mere 18 months, should hear something!
it's all rather annoying, determining residency. the tax people use one definition, the UKBA another--and it's the ukba people i need to impress in the next few months! |
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JRJohn
Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 175
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 3:28 pm Post subject: Can You Advise Me? |
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I'm 45, and waking up to the reality of N.I. contributions now. Over the last 12 years, I've spent periods abroad, teaching English in various countries. What was the initial reason? Well, I spent a year looking for work after graduation in 2000, and it was nearly impossible to get a job. I suspect, that had I left Scotland, and gone to London, I would have found work there. However, I could not afford that. So I went to Spain to teach English. Since then, it's been complicated. I have been in and out of the U.K. a lot, I've worked in the U.K. paid contributions for part of the time, I've taught abroad, and I've been on the dole.
I decided to start keeping my contributions up to date, and there's the problem. What if the govt. won't let me pay? |
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sprightly
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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well, i'm still waiting to hear back from the ni people--but then there is still 7 months left on their timeline. which is annoying, because i'll need to do the same this for this calender year as well. and also i worked part time and didn't realise that my employer wasn't making all hte deductions, so i have to go back and sort those out, a year late.
part of me thinks i should relax, as i do have savings in two different countries for my pension. and i'll likely work into my 70s--we're lucky in our profession that this is possible.
but i'm still scoping out countries where an oldie can live happily in a cardboard box. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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I offer free advice to those who wish to retire to genteel poverty on a Scottish island. No consultancy fee payable. |
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sprightly
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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i've been on a scottish island.
they are not cardboard box friendly. |
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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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The requirement for full pension rights in the UK is currently 30 years of contributions.
As for rights to other things, God only knows but perhaps asking an immigrant on benefits may prove useful. |
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sprightly
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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it is very difficult for non-EU immigrants to get benefits, it's written in our our visas. refugees/asylum seekers are a different group, and good luck surviving on their benefits.
(also, all benefits paid annually in the uk have lesser value than the amount of unpaid corporate tax)
requirement for basic pension is 10 yrs contribution. i'm so close! |
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PC Parrot
Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 459 Location: Moral Police Station
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 2:14 am Post subject: |
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You yourself probably know this, but others may not ...
The 10 year requirement you mention is to entitle you to claim something. It doesn't entitle you to a full basic pension. It entitles you to 10/30 of a basic pension.
This is soon to become 10/35 of a pension as the number of contributing years is due to rise.
Last edited by PC Parrot on Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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sprightly
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:09 am Post subject: |
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i'll take what i can get.
i have a couple of private pensions, but will need a little more.
by the time i retire i may well have a passport, which should entitle me to take my fuel tax credit and move to spain. |
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adaruby
Joined: 21 Apr 2014 Posts: 171 Location: has served on a hiring committee
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:22 am Post subject: |
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sprightly wrote: |
requirement for basic pension is 10 yrs contribution. i'm so close! |
Just realised that I paid 10 and a half years continuously when I was younger, which should entitle me to the price of a twix and a packet of monster munch!
I have no plans to retire in the UK though, so I guess there's no real point in me adding to this.
How does your time away affect treatment on the NHS though? |
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