British expats uncovered in Thailand as UK probes pension fraud
In a fresh twist for British expats soaking up the sun abroad, the cloak of UK banking secrecy is about to be lifted if there’s a whiff of state pension fraud.
The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, currently being dissected in the House of Lords, is pegged to hit the legal books in early 2025. This new legislation will compel British banks and building societies to unveil the financial dealings of Brits, whether they’re at home or living it up overseas, wherever wrongdoing is suspected.
The spotlight is on the crafty few amongst British retirees who’ve been dodging the rules by hiding their residence in countries where the state pension doesn’t get those lovely inflation hikes.
The rules, it seems, are as clear as mud: while pension rises grace some nations (think the EU and the Philippines), others get left in the cold (alas, Thailand and Australia).
A staggering half a million British pensioners are out there in the world with frozen state pensions, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reckons they’re overpaying to the tune of £100 million (4.5 billion baht).
Sneaky suspects often maintain a UK address for their DWP correspondence, even though they’re globe-trotting. One cheeky chap in Thailand got caught out last year when his DWP letter sent to his London pad pinged back with a neighbour’s scribbled note: “Lucky sod lives in Pattaya.”
Bangkok or Baghdad
Another tale of deceit unravelled when a bloke’s missus discovered he was having a ball in Bangkok, rather than toiling away in Baghdad as he’d fibbed.
The upcoming legislation will likely help digital systems flag those pensioners getting yearly bumps but appearing suspiciously to be parked in foreign locales.
Yet, the Thailand-based campaign group advocating to thaw frozen UK pensions insists the real issue isn’t so much roguish retirees but rather DWP bungles and the ridiculous dance of which country gets what.
The current Labour administration, much like its Conservative predecessor, hasn’t shown a hint of interest in righting this pension injustice, reported Pattaya Mail.
Adding to the expats’ woes is the unreliable international mail system. Every few years, UK officials demand proof of life to keep the pension payments coming. But these vital letters get tossed in the wind, sent as ordinary mail via a Dutch firm, and many go AWOL, halting payments when unanswered.
“It’s just bonkers!” exclaimed 68 year old Frank Weston, a resident in Pattaya. He argues it’s high time to ditch the paperwork for a digital solution.
For those Brits abroad, it seems the pension plot thickens!
