We’re just back from a long summer in Thailand with empty pockets, lots of shopping, a pile of smuggled dried squid that got Madame busted at Customs and one benefits query. It goes like this:
Our friend John, now aged 63, went to stay on a retirement visa 3 years ago. He lives the life of a simple Isaan peasant, content to do nothing but watch the corn grow, in a behind the mountain, off the map village where even the chickens look bored. Goodness knows how he does it. I’m climbing the walls after a day. But it sure is cheap.
2 years ago he married his 35 year old Thai girlfriend in a village ceremony. Both will remain in Thailand indefinitely. He is thinking of legitimising the marriage.
He currently lives on savings alone and only pension at age 65 would be state retirement pension. I don’t know how complete his NI contributions record is up to age 60 when he left UK.
His question is – If he marries legally at the Amphur, do they qualify for State pension at married couple rate?
I can think of all sorts of reasons why not. For sure it won’t go up every year. If so, what are the logistics of claiming from abroad?
Any advice form a Forum benefits boffin would be greatly appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by tudor & pim:
a pile of smuggled dried squid that got Madame busted at Customs .

Totally off topic, been there, done that.
But I'd be very interested in the answers to your query. As soon as I can claim the OAP (and all my other pensions), we're off to live in LOS. I have a full contributions record, my wife very little. I take it I can claim the married couple's rate? And when I snuff it, how much does the missis get? (Very basic questions, I know, but I've been too lazy to look them up so far, as the move isn't imminent)

There may be some bad news on the state pension front, pensions are probably frozen at the time you leave the uk unless the is some reciprocal arrangements and the uk goverment are not their bit ??????????
Look on the web for the plight of uk pensioners who have gone to live in aus. You need to consider your health care costs as you should not get nhs treatment if your dom somewhere else. Its all beyond me but what you take for granted may not exist if you retire in los , take care. Of course some people are not entirely honest with the uk authorities about where they live, but that is totally illegal so nobody does it ????

sorry tudor i think i missed the point ,,,,,talk to the CAB about benefits for women.

Are they frozen when you leqave the UK or when you start claiming them?

BigRed

my mate geo has retired and lives in pattaya, and has done for the last 3 years, his state pension and council pension are around 700 a month and paided to him ok, if any one wants to pm me, ill send you his email so you can ask geo to confirm excatly what he gets and what he had to do

My question too long. I try again.
If he marries will pension be paid at married couple rate?

quote:

Originally posted by tudor & pim:
My question too long. I try again.
If he marries will pension be paid at married couple rate?

Hi Tudor and Pim

As far as I could interpret the rules
You need to be legally married to qualify for the married rate of pension but if your spouse has not been resident in the Uk then I am sure you couild not claim for her.

If your friend has the correct number of stamps He would be able to claim from any other country for his pension.

If he falls short of the correct number of stamps he would be able to get a percentage of the pension.

If he was resident in the Uk and he did not have enough stamps to get the full pesion then the DHS would make up the difference of the pension.

If he is resident in another country then He wouild only be entitled to the pro rata pension or full pension and not any other payment.
Also the pesion paid in Los would not attract any future increase

Hope this helps

Regards Harvey and Wan

quote:

If he marries will pension be paid at married couple rate?

The answer is yes a friend of mine who lives in Pattaya is claiming for his wife backdated to last year, when he first applied for it, it takes about one year for all the forms to be completed.

quote:

about one year for all the forms to be completed.

David,
Sounds like the rest of the UK systems then
colin 244

The law has changed, before needed 44 years contributions for full pension now only 30. Something to do with equal rights for somebody women I think so they had to do it for men also, will cost them a fortune I would imagine as self employed paying own stamp will stop after 30 years is reached. I have 37 so won't be buying any more.