state pension rise

[niemeyjt]

I make no claim to be a financial whizz kid nor do I believe I'm more aware than the next man, far from it, however I have to say that over the years, and from no more than the UK press and TV, I found little problem in keeping abreast of the various changes in things like qualifying years and increases in pension age etc. etc. so, meaning no disrespect, I have to wonder if some of those who only came to the knowledge late in life must have been at least partially guilty of hiding their heads in the sand.

Perhaps the sports pages in the newspapers were not the best place to start reading them

Maybe a tad unfair. Pensions has been a bit of a moving target to get to grips with - old vs new, later retirement ages (and partial years in my case), and ever-changing deadlines to make top-ups - and I do keep a good eye on it and was surprised when I learned of reduced contributions for those of us working abroad.

[Quiksilver]

I make no claim to be a financial whizz kid nor do I believe I'm more aware than the next man, far from it, however I have to say that over the years, and from no more than the UK press and TV, I found little problem in keeping abreast of the various changes in things like qualifying years and increases in pension age etc. etc. so, meaning no disrespect, I have to wonder if some of those who only came to the knowledge late in life must have been at least partially guilty of hiding their heads in the sand.
Perhaps the sports pages in the newspapers were not the best place to start reading them

Perhaps those of us who emigrated before the pension changes became law, far from having our heads stuck in the sports pages of the UK Press, didn't feel it necessary or desirable to watch UK TV or read English newspapers, or even frequent other Brits who did.

[Hotrodder]

Whatever changes you guys are moaning about, nothing can be done about it, just like the exchange rate, and the cost of living anywhere. Your source of information hardly matters.

[niemeyjt]

Whatever changes you guys are moaning about, nothing can be done about it, just like the exchange rate, and the cost of living anywhere. Your source of information hardly matters.

Wrong! For those of us who have not yet retired there IS something you can do - if you act before next April - and it seems to be a humdinger of a deal.

[Quiksilver]

Whatever changes you guys are moaning about, nothing can be done about it, just like the exchange rate, and the cost of living anywhere. Your source of information hardly matters.

To a certain extent, HR, but the WASPI campaign has already achieved a lot for the 50's women cheated of 6 years' worth of pension. The Parliamentary Ombudsman came out categorically in their favour for compensation. WASPI are now busy keeping his recommendation in the public eye and putting pressure on the Government. If they lose, we won't be any worse off than we were anyway, but if they succeed it will be a victory for principle, democracy and just a little bit of 'power to the people'. It might also inspire other sectors of the public to fight for their rights and/or curb the arrogance of those who govern.

[hughnique]

Uproar I see at the prospect of thousands being paid out to ex pats etc. living in the EU, how does that work then surely if it is scrapped in the UK it goes everywhere else as well.

[MAD87]

@hughnique perhaps (as in my case) being underpaid for years?

[niemeyjt]

Uproar I see at the prospect of thousands being paid out to ex pats etc. living in the EU, how does that work then surely if it is scrapped in the UK it goes everywhere else as well.

Because under the Brexit exit rules, different rules apply - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/20 ... allowance/

It is ironic that here is outside the EU but I would get it were I older - yet thanks to the Dom-Toms, those of you in France don't.

British pensioners living in Europe are set to keep the winter fuel allowance this year while millions of the elderly at home are stripped of the payment.

Retirees on the Continent are still in line to get the £300 handout despite the severe cutbacks announced by Rachel Reeves.

Expats living in the European Union plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are guaranteed the allowance by the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

The disclosure will add to the controversy over the Chancellor’s decision to scrap the payment for all UK residents who are not in receipt of benefits.

Age UK has warned the move will leave as many as two million pensioners in “serious trouble” and struggling to heat their homes this winter.

Sir Keir Starmer insisted on Tuesday that he had not wanted to remove the payment but that it was “necessary to repair the public finances”.

Ministers tabled emergency legislation last week which will come into force in mid-September and strip 10 million pensioners of the £300 payment. It will save the Government around £1.4 billion this year.

It means that for this winter only 1.5 million elderly people who are in receipt of Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will get the money.

However, retirees in 23 countries across Europe will be able to carry on claiming the allowance up until April next year. To do so they will have to match the new criteria by being in receipt of an equivalent benefit to pension credit in their country of residence.

They will include pensioners living in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. Some nations, including France and Spain, are not covered by the deal.

Retirees abroad are still eligible for the allowance because their access to social security payments was written into the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

It is EU rules on the exporting of benefits, which are still in force, rather than domestic policy that entitle British pensioners on the continent to the handout. Government sources said a review into what is classified as a benefit, to be carried out from next April, will look at whether the winter fuel allowance should still be covered in future.

To qualify they must prove a “genuine and sufficient link” to the UK such as having lived or worked in Britain or having family back at home.

Only those pensioners who moved to the continent before Jan 1, 2021 – the date when the withdrawal deal became active – are eligible.

Challenged over the move to cut the allowance on Tuesday Sir Keir told a press conference held in the No 10 rose garden: “I didn’t want to means-test the winter fuel payment.

“But it was a choice that we had to make, a choice to protect the most vulnerable pensioners while doing what is necessary to repair the public finances.”

He added: “I would say it’s not a particularly well-designed scheme, frankly – I think everybody would concede that.

“I do think it’s important that we make sure the support is there for those pensioners who need it most, which is why we’re pushing for the Pension Credit to be taken up and looking at other allowances.”

He made the remarks amid reports of a Cabinet split over the decision as well as a growing backlash from Labour MPs and grandees.

Lord Sikka, a Labour peer, said the Prime Minister should have looked at introducing a taper for the allowance so that only the richest lost the entire amount.

Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, also urged Sir Keir and the Chancellor to rethink their plans.

“It is vital that the Winter Fuel Payment regulations are withdrawn and amended as older people need to be kept warm and well this winter,” she said.

“Labour must bring forward a package of support that will protect the most vulnerable.”

Lord Foulkes, a former minister under Sir Tony Blair, said the decision was a “terrible blunder” and there was “widespread support” within the party for a rethink.

[Quiksilver]

More sh!t stirring by the UK media We're easy targets aren't we? After all, we're all stinking rich, rosé-guzzling, château-dwelling traitors who could afford to leave UK so why should we be eligible for 'benefits' or even a pension for that matter? God knows, it won't take much for any government to feel justified in 'saving' a few £££bns by freezing pensions paid overseas, especially when the Press and media do half the dirty work for them by stirring up resentment and petty-minded jealousy.

[ajm]

More sh!t stirring by the UK media We're easy targets aren't we? After all, we're all stinking rich, rosé-guzzling, château-dwelling traitors who could afford to leave UK so why should we be eligible for 'benefits' or even a pension for that matter? God knows, it won't take much for any government to feel justified in 'saving' a few £££bns by freezing pensions paid overseas, especially when the Press and media do half the dirty work for them by stirring up resentment and petty-minded jealousy.

Don't give them ideas