Gransnet forums

News & politics

Hope for Ex pat pensioners!

(72 Posts)
Lona Thu 05-Sept-13 08:24:10

www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/10285484/Lifeline-for-expat-pensioners-as-MPs-try-to-change-law.html

I know some of you have mentioned how unfair the pension system is, maybe things will change.

Greatnan Sun 08-Sept-13 12:35:01

That makes me feel better , anno! As long as the UK rate of inflation doesn't soar before I qualify for a pension in NZ! Fortunately, my Teacher's and Civil Service pensions will still be uprated, unless they continue to be frozen.

annodomini Sun 08-Sept-13 12:31:24

My sister, who is a retired GP in New Zealand has a small state pension for the time she worked in UK before leaving the country, as well as a New Zealand pension. However, the value of her British pension is knocked off her NZ pension, so she says she would be no better off if her pension became incremental.

Greatnan Sun 08-Sept-13 12:27:19

If I live long enough to qualify for a NZ retirement pension (I think it is ten years of residency) my UK retirement pension would also be deducted from the NZ pension. Not unreasonable, I think.

Jendurham Sun 08-Sept-13 12:25:57

No, can't now. I rely too much on the NHS, or what's left of it.
Anyway, having had an aortic dissection in March, I would not dare fly, and I'm not allowed to carry an empty suitcase let alone a full one.
Even have to get someone else to take my bins out!
No, just curious, that's all.
We did sign up all the forms for emigrating to Australia when the kids were little. But my husband was type 1 diabetic, so could not just take the first job when we got off the boat. We got stuck on the "Let me know your sailing date and we'll let you know if we'll give you an interview" roundabout.
He had an interview for a job in the Seychelles, but was told no chance when they found out he was diabetic.
Anyway, all my family are here, despite the fact that one son has a Spanish wife and the other has a Danish partner.

Greatnan Sun 08-Sept-13 12:25:37

Here are the tax rates for various incomes in France, depending on your

age and how many 'parts' you have - I have 1.5.

www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/calculation-tax-liability/rates/

Greatnan Sun 08-Sept-13 12:08:42

Our pensions do get uprated if we live anywhere in the EU. The tax system for British expats in New Zealand is rather complicated, as there seems to be a special concession made and UK government service pensions can be taxed in NZ.
Are you thinking of emigrating, Jendurham?

Jendurham Sun 08-Sept-13 11:56:14

I have looked, and what I have worked out is that, if I am correct, I would not pay any income tax if I lived in France, but here I pay over £100 a month. So you could say you are better off in that way, even if your pensions do not get uprated.

harrigran Sun 08-Sept-13 11:50:32

My sister has lived in Germany for 46 years, she paid British contributions right up to retirement age and receives a pension. When it comes to assessing her German pension they deduct the value of the English pension so she is not one iota better off.

Greatnan Sun 08-Sept-13 11:15:57

My state retirement pension is below the tax threshold in France. I get an extra allowance because I was a single mother for five years after my divorce - even though the 'child' is now a grandmother! My UK personal allowance is set against my two UK government pensions.
However, although I pay no income tax in France, my global income is taken into account when deciding whether I am liable for the two property taxes. This is quite reasonable, as French people with a similar income to mine have to pay these taxes, and I do benefit from the local services.
Do you have a particular interest in the French taxation system, Jendurham? If so, you could google the official French government website.

Jendurham Sun 08-Sept-13 11:03:54

Sorry, Greatnan, the last one I saw was Ceesnan's when I switched on.
My computer had not refreshed. If it had, obviously I would not have asked.
You say state retirement pensions are taxed in the country of residence.
So what rate do you pay? Do you pay more or less than you would if you lived here?

Greatnan Sun 08-Sept-13 10:56:06

Perhaps it is not necessary to point out that as we are not resident we do not benefit from any services in the UK - just in case that is worrying anybody!

Greatnan Sun 08-Sept-13 10:54:57

Jendurham - I answered that question on the post before yours! Yes, our UK government service pensions are taxed at source. State retirement pensions are taxed in the country of residence.

Jendurham Sun 08-Sept-13 10:51:41

As a matter of interest, do those of you ex-pats who get UK pensions pay UK tax?

Greatnan Sat 07-Sept-13 20:11:40

I do indeed, absent, on both my Teacher's and Civil Service Pensions.

absent Sat 07-Sept-13 19:54:42

Greatnan It's a spurious and deeply unfair argument when applied to those of us who were already receiving a state pension before leaving the UK. I particularly resent this rule as, like many others including, I think, yourself, I still pay income tax in the UK.

Greatnan Sat 07-Sept-13 17:21:47

Ana - I certainly don't approve only of those EU regulations that affect me personally. I am very interested in labour laws, for example even though I am retired.
The reason given for freezing expat pensions is that there is no knock-for-knock agreement with the excluded countries, but I doubt if there are enough immigrants from Canada or New Zealand to seriously damage the UK economy.

ElliMary Sat 07-Sept-13 15:14:26

What on earth did MargX say to start all this? She was just making a point and actually being an expat herself - living in the Eu she was just stating a point. This is a post about ex-pats' pensions and they are better off in the EU than in New Zealand for example.

Ceesnan Sat 07-Sept-13 11:30:33

Could someone please point out to me where, on this thread, are examples of patronism, sarcasm and flippancy? I didn't think that I was oblivious to this sort of thing, but I obviously am, as I couldn't see any of them.

absent Sat 07-Sept-13 07:29:59

Or flippancy.

Eloethan Sat 07-Sept-13 00:38:16

I think it's very unfair that those who emigrate to certain countries have their pensions frozen. Some people's pensions may be frozen for many years even though they may have worked in the UK all or most of their working lives and paid national insurance.

It's not just about the EU - British ex pats emigrating to certain countries outside of the EU also get index-linked pensions.

This is a serious matter for some people and I don't think sarcasm adds very much to the discussion.

Nonu Fri 06-Sept-13 22:01:25

None taken , ANA

Ana Fri 06-Sept-13 22:00:15

Some posters just seem to rub each other up the wrong way, Ceesnan. I don't think Nonu was being patronising either, but then I've got used to her funny ways...(no offence, Nonu!) smile

Ceesnan Fri 06-Sept-13 21:42:50

I must be missing something here, as I didn't think that Nonu's post was patronising at all. Just saying....confused

Nonu Fri 06-Sept-13 21:42:28

I am a very logical person also , galen I don"t think you are losing the plot at all .

Galen Fri 06-Sept-13 21:41:46

Precisely