Prakhonchai Nick
You chose a custom title
If she's happy with that, then great. Better than buying now on credit, as so many wives expect their husbands/partners to do.
Yorky
Fullritis Member
The last time I bought on credit* was in 1985. £35,000.00 to buy our second house. The house is not mine now and is probably worth in the region of £500,000.00.
* excluding credit card purchases.
[I have never exceeded amounts that I have not been able to pay off the following month]
Last edited:
gotlost
Kap Chong R Us Member
My pension is to increase by 11%.
Yorky
Fullritis Member
You have far better conditions than mine. One pension will not increase at all irrespective of any cost of living increases; the other will increase by the published cost of living increase or 2.5% p.a. whichever is the lesser.
Coffee
You chose a custom title
VIAGRA-connected pensions enjoy enhanced increases.
Now seriously Yorky, is anything deducted from your government pension that does not increase due to your residency in Thailand...(ie: NHS contribution) ?
Yorky
Fullritis Member
VIAGRA-connected pensions enjoy enhanced increases.
Now seriously Yorky, is anything deducted from your government pension that does not increase due to your residency in Thailand...(ie: NHS contribution) ?
The only deduction from my two pensions is income tax from the private pension (as was). Reason being that my contributions to said pension were made prior to taxation.
Coffee
You chose a custom title
US Social Security pensions have Medicare (hospitalization, healthcare ,etc) deducted from ones monthly benefit.
Those healthcare costs are on the rise limiting the COLA benefit.
Additionally the monthly benefit is subject to taxation...again lessening ones actual benefits.
nomad97
Resident Geek
The UK State Pension is taxable, although in reality it is never taxed. This is for one simple reason, the state pension payable is less than the personal tax-free allowance provided by the government. However, if you have other income, the state pension will count towards the total income.
As to what other benefits an ex-pat living in Thailand receive from the British Government, the answer is simple? None. There is no medicare, free treatment on the NHS, or any other healthcare provided. If I return to the UK for healthcare/hospitalization I would have to pay the full wack, and then some.
CO-CO
Rather wrinkly & occasionally cantankerous member
If you return the UK you would not pay for healthcare.
Prakhonchai Nick
You chose a custom title
I believe that depends on circumstances. Like most things though, nothing is ever entirely clear.
It is my understanding, and clearly Nomad's too, that if an expat goes to the UK for the purpose of receiving healthcare treatment, then he has to pay. However, if his return is also to relocate to the UK "permanently", and receive healthcare, then it is available under the NHS free. Nothing of course, once having been treated, to change your mind about returning to the UK permanently, and coming back to Thailand. That would likely only work once!
Some expats never cut ties with their GP's, and some also make periodic visits to the UK, and make it appear to the authorities that they are still resident in the UK. Under such circumstances they have no problem receiving NHS treatment (as long as they join the queue behind all the illegals and refugees)
Those that rarely -if ever return to the UK, (and are known to be resident in Thailand (by HMRC, DWP and many others) will likely as not be refused free NHS treatment.
nomad97
Resident Geek
If I returned to the UK, I would no longer be an ex-pat!
Coffee
You chose a custom title
@Prakhonchai Nick @nomad97 @CO-CO
Thank you. An interesting perspective in comparison to medical alternatives faced by US-expats who are retired and aren't covered under military-veterans hospital healthcare.
Thank you. An interesting perspective in comparison to medical alternatives faced by US-expats who are retired and aren't covered under military-veterans hospital healthcare.
CO-CO
Rather wrinkly & occasionally cantankerous member
Exactly.
CO-CO
Rather wrinkly & occasionally cantankerous member
You are wrong. There are dozens of reports of 'expats' returning for medical care. The smart ones have retained an address and/or registration with a doctor.
Buriram Pieman registered immediately with the NHS - No questions asked.
I returned for a hernia op - no questions asked.
Prakhonchai Nick
You chose a custom title
What should happen, and what actually does is often contradictory.
I would not want to go to the UK for emergency medical treatment without a cast iron guarantee it would be available on the NHS for free.
See the following and specifically paragraph 5....www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs25_returning_from_abroad_fcs.pdf
Buriram Pieman is now living and resident in the UK. You CO-CO have kept up your address and registration with a doctor, and in fairness have made many more UK visits in recent years than the majority of members here.
CO-CO
Rather wrinkly & occasionally cantankerous member
Anyone with half a brain will have no issues.
As Nomad said, if he returned to the UK for medical treatment he would no longer be an expat.
Last edited:
nomad97
Resident Geek
Unfortunately, declaring myself no longer an ex-pat to claim free treatment on the NHS would have major ramifications for my tax status and other matters too. I have no UK address, and even more pertinent, I ceased to have a GP when I signed up for the RAF as an 18-year-old. On leaving the Service at 38, I became an ex-pat employee working in Saudi Arabia for the best part of 18 years. Thereafter, I retired to Thailand. During all this time, I have religiously paid my UK taxes and National Insurance stamps, some 44 years worth I think. It was a bit of a bummer to be advised that the rules had changed and only 35 years are now required - no refund given. And yet, despite being a model UK citizen, I am eligible for no free benefits, no free health care, and not even a cost of living increase to my UK state pension. Bah humbug!
Yorky
Fullritis Member
I was lucky. I had 34 years of contributions and at the time it was only then necessary to have accumulated 30 years (a drop, I think, from 40 years). I think it was a year or two later that it was increased to 35 years.
Yorky
Fullritis Member
Surely you were exempt from UK income tax whilst employed in Saudi?
I haven't paid income tax on earned income since 1995.
CO-CO
Rather wrinkly & occasionally cantankerous member
I don't understand what the tax ramifications are.....I don't want to delve into finances - which are obviously personal - but all income from the UK is already taxable. The 18 years of expat working could possibly impact on tax status I suppose.
The moment you set foot back in the UK, and declare an intent to return permanently, you are eligible for free health care. You can also claim the increase in your state pension.
Not having a GP does not matter......it is obviously convenient if you do have one.