Job Discussion Forums

jm2505 · Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 35

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.

slapntickle · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 270

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I too fell foul if the HRT but in my case they merely disbarred me for a month. After that I got full benefits.

Wilsonthefarmer · Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:49 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Who wants to know ? Gentlemen do not discuss finances, football or sexual preferences.

sprightly · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England

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!

JRJohn · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 175

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?

sprightly · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England

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.