Pension from UK while in the Philippines

A word of warning for anyone claiming a new U.K. state pension either in the U.K. or abroad.
This highlights what is happening.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money...dship-people-turning-66.html?login#newcomment

“People reaching state pension age are strugging to get payments started

Elderly people are facing nightmare battles with the Department for Work and Pensions to get state pension payments started after they turn 66, This is Money can reveal.

A string of readers have contacted us to report unexplained delays, frustrating waits and being cut off on the phone, and staff repeatedly asking for the same information.”

especially when the people thrown at this cant even speak or understand english..as its not their native language. oh--on second thoughts--ideal candidates.

Every person I have spoken to fronting DWP sounds English to the core. (One was Scottish). I have spoken to quite a few now.

It is. And it’s going on under the radar. Hopefully those applying for spouse and fiancé visas aren’t being impacted in a similar way.

I have established contact with my MP on it. And also trying to get the shadow MP for the Dep Work and Pensions involved.

This is a first for me, contacting my MP.

Also going to contact Theresa Coffee at DWP and send her a copy of that publication.

Yesterday I wrote an email to the Shadow Secretary of State for DWP.

Here is his reply…

Hello Mr Ash,

Thank you very much for your email regarding delayed payment of your State Pension.

I have been very grateful for people bringing this issue to my attention. Everyone should have the security that when they retire, they will ahve the immediate support of the State Pension. I raised the problem of delayed payments directly with the Government when I was first made aware a number of weeks ago.

As you may have seen, the Government have now finally admitted that there has been a backlog caused by the pandemic and staff shortages. It is disappointing that the Government were not more proactive in getting this resolved. They must urgently process all outstanding claims and I can assure you that I will continue to chase this.

I am unable to raise individual cases with the Government from people who live outside of my constituency so I would strongly recommend contacting your local MP if you haven't already so that can make a representation to Government and chase the amount you are owed.

Thank you again for bringing this to my attention. While I am pleased we have managed to get the Government to acknowledge the problem, we will continue to monitor this until everyone has access to the State Pension they deserve. Please do get back in touch if this hasn't been resolved soon.

Best wishes
Jonathan

Jonathan Reynolds MP
Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

shadow secretary ! well--"he would say that--wouldnt he "

Well yes. But he is a least a route in to getting things sorted. I am also in contact with my own MP who is a Tory. Head of DWP next, Therese Coffey. So, all sides of the house including the SNP are involved. A lot of Scottish people are not being processed and the MP up there is onto it.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/polit...ernment-prepares-to-scrap-triple-lock-3370904

And in the Tory Graph today….


“Pensioners have been left in financial distress after widespread delays with state pension payments during the pandemic has led to growing backlogs.

People turning 66, the minimum state pension age, have waited months for their pension to start paying out, despite making numerous calls to the Department for Work and Pensions to rectify the issue. The DWP has admitted to problem delays.

Guy Opperman, the pensions minister, told Parliament there were backlogs in initial state pension payments due to “staffing issues” during the pandemic. Normal service would not be resumed until the end of October, he said, though hundreds of additional staff have been brought onboard to tackle the issue.

Sue Lockett, 68, said her sister was reduced to tears after a DWP official told her she “wouldn’t starve” and “there were plenty of food banks around” while she waited for £1,590 in overdue payments.


Mrs Lockett, who acted on behalf of her sister Jean Walton, said no money had arrived in her account since her 66th birthday on June 30. That is despite helping her apply for her state pension three months in advance to ensure there would be no issues. Mrs Walton failed to meet her rent payments following the delay.

“I told the DWP she had never been behind with her rent for the past 30 years and would be in arrears for the first time through no fault of her own.,” Mrs Lockett said. “I told them she was struggling to pay her bills and food from her savings, which have now gone. One DWP assistant told me that she ‘won’t starve as there are plenty of food banks nearby’. I was disgusted for them to even suggest that.””

I am very fortunate in having other sources of income. Others aren’t so fortunate.

Would this have happened under a Labour government? If my MP doesn’t nip this in the bud I ain’t voting for him again at the next election.

This has now been reported by the BBC. Hopefully it will all be sorted by the end of October and won’t impact this forum’s members other than myself. I just wonder if visa applicants might be impacted in the same way right now. I have seen a lot of talk of civil servants etc working (or rather not working when they should be) from home just now, sickness, and holidays having an impact so I guess it might be rife throughout and not just with state pensions.

Received this today from my MP. I also received confirmation of monies.

A first for me writing to my MP. It seems to work.

All’s well that ends well. They coughed up today. 6 weeks worth. It was exactly the amount they quoted online via the future pensions forecast. No deductions, not even for tax.

I asked them about tax and they said they don’t deduct for tax. HMRC makes an adjustment to ones PAYE through the employer.

I owe HMRC a few hundred right now but they aren’t in a hurry to take it from me. Probably having the same issues as the DWP.

Incidentally, the “ extra” that am getting in my state pension payment is down as “Protected Payment” accrued before 2016.

Yes. The private pensions are typically deducted at source.

I've been getting my state pension in The Philippines since I moved here in 2014. No visits to the UK required.
.
I've had to prove life only twice in that time, and each time I've visited a local attorney/notary public who has certified the form for about £6! Then I returned the forms by registered post.
I shall be 77 next month, and it seems logical that I would have to prove life every year. I have English friends here, younger than I, who have had to prove life every year for several years! Who knows how it works?

'No visits to the UK required'.

Correct. I hadn't been back to the UK for 5 years, leading up to my holiday there last May.

A couple of 'proof of life' forms sent back during those years, but no other requirement.