i only have a state pension and still get letters from the tax office saying i owe them something. i never reply or pay it as surely the maximum single mans pension should be below the level you start to pay tax.

Which way would you prefer them to do it. Whichever way they do it the tax you pay is a calculation of gross income less tax allowance. Personally I'd rather have the tax deduction in the hands of the pension provider. Less chance of an HMRC cockup which could and would take an age to correct.

The HMRC inform your Pension provider with your tax allowance and they deduct accordingly, your private Pension provider has no idea how much State Pension you receive.
When we were being sold private pensions the benefit was getting tax relief on your contributions which should have been classed as tax deferred as you pay it or some of it back in later life when you cash in your pension.
After paying tax since I was 16 years till I retired why should I still have to pay tax on my retirement funds, I have paid my dues.

Your PP provider has no idea what state pension you receive because nobody tells them but there is nothing stopping you telling them.
I agree pensions shouldn't be taxed, especially the state pension. Private pensions taxed maybe but that is another debate. Now that we have the minimum wage, which we didn't in the past, I maintain that should be the state pension entry level.

Yes I have seen those figures before regards pensions and our pensioners are really hard done by. I will be there in 5 years. I’m just turned 62 and moved to Samui for the sun, a woman, and retirement which I can’t quite afford in
the UK. In Thailand you have to retire at 60 and the government only pay them about £12 a month so the old people have to live with their kids. It’s also really strange here as youth is revered. You hardly ever see anyone outside over 45 and all the adverts and tv have kids on them aged about 20. I’m renting my place out in Harrogate and have a small civil service pension and modest savings. The point I am making is I could be dead waiting till I’m 67. I’m still playing 5aside and tennis against guys 30 years my junior. I will probably drop dead playing sport but wouldn't have it any other way. My only concern is private health insurance which I haven’t taken out yet. I got shingles about 8 weeks ago and had to pay a private doctor about £125. So I’m living in paradise but it’s a risk. I might sell my house in Harrogate soon and buy a small place in Hartlepool if I have to return. Not easy for youngest thoe I think state pension might be gone in 10 years and with a lot of them taking out 35 year mortgages they might not have as much disposable income as us baby boomers .

Samui is expensive including flights, most expensive domestic flights in Thailand, you need to try some where like sin city Pattaya, the most diverse place in the world, I am travelling back on Saturday after spending 3 weeks in Hartlepool and managed 2 very enjoyable games of footy. I have been living there on and off for nearly 10 years. If you want to get away from Pattaya just jump on the ferry to Koh Larn or one of the nearby islands. I am 72 years old and healthcare is an issue, health insurance is a problem as there are so many exclusions. Check out some of the videos on YouTube re Care Homes in Thailand whilst you are still young there some great places, 1 month is less than 1 week in the U.K. in luxury surroundings.
Be careful what you wish for in Thailand family come first you are secondary I assume you have heard about all about the foreigners being scammed by Thai women, they have no conscience, some people have lost everything ‘falling in love’ only to be taken to the cleaners and left penniless

The Spain pension has me wondering how this is paid for. It works out about £27500 a year clear. To pick that up here you would need a job probably paying £30 to £35000 a year before tax and Nat. Insurance.

Simple, if the Spanish Government want to prioritise pensions over say defence it’s not really a problem. It’s basically how they share out the kitty.

yes, some think there is a never ending pot of gold or a money tree. a lot depends on your age and outlook when money is spent. many want pensions to rise much more than they are. others would give the NHS a blank cheque and any defence cuts for some is akin to losing their arms. add on all the rest of government spending each individuals want to see and you have a problem. increase income tax by a couple of pence in the pound or national insurance and the party that did it would have no chance of being re elected.

You can prioritise certain things but just think a man and woman on full pensions would be picking up nearly £5000 a month under Spanish rules.

main problem with pensions is the postcode lottery of where you live. your pension will go much further living in hartlepool than it will in the south east or any big tourist area or overated pricy places like the cotswolds.

We need to know the full story, eg do both partners living together actually get the full pension. Do they get free prescriptions, bus travel etc.

I think because we get a poor pension in comparison to the rest of Europe, we have trouble wondering how other European countries can pay more generous pensions, it’s because ours are so poor, we are after all 16 th in Europe yet have one of the biggest economies…..even the Irish Republic is above us and pays it’s pensioners about £160 a month more than the UK.

Has anyone done any research on

A) How much you have paid in Tax during your working life

linked to

B) What age will you need to be after receiving your pension that you will be in "credit"?

Please don't tell me 92 as I don't think I'll make it.

Unfortunately the life expectedly of the good people of the North is less then those of the home counties.
Due to the type of work performed, a generalised analysis yes but true.

Also the weather up here is colder so heating is on more earlier...if you can afford it,.

A lot of people that have Northern roots, are cashing in their ridiculously priced properties, and have a fair amount of money to be getting on by.

A three bedroom semi detached house...about 445K in outer london.

Register on the Government Gateway site and it will tell you from when you started work how many contributions you have paid and you’re upto date tax information, very simple and easy to do.
https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services

Don’t worry Jamie I know the game here. My gf ambition is to build nice house on one of her lands. She is widowed and inherited 12 bungalows she rents out to foreigners. She also some other Thai style housing she rents to Thais. She also has land in Issan which her family grow rubber. So she is middle class thai. I pay her rent and we live in one of her bungalows. I looked at buying property and of course she would love me to build one on her land. However, looking in to it I realised it was very risky. You can’t own land so theoretically could be kicked out of your property at any time. Of course lots of farangs do it and if you get a good one it’s ok. We have only been living together for 9 months not long enough for me to take such a risky decision. Better to rent and not get married and I will find out in the future wether she views me as a keeper!

As regards Pattaya I have an English mate who lives there 6 months year. I visited it briefly last year whilst sorting my visa out. It seemed a bit run down but I know there are nice areas. I will look in to those care homes. Is that something you are looking at?

I agree, I have always rented, I could buy a house not a condo in my Thai girls name and lease it back from her. So many stories of foreigners being scammed with property by their Thai partner selling the property behind their back.
I am still fine health wise and I have a partner who takes care of me but the Care Homes are always an option if required. Look at Living the Dream on YouTube, the fella does one on Care Homes.
Pattaya is fine by me, only a small percentage is sleazy unfortunately that’s where most of the tourists go, Pattaya one of the most diverse places on the planet.

Been to Pattaya 3 times in me younger days.

Would recommend staying in Bangkok first 2 nites takeing in the full day trip The Bridge Over the River Quai at Kanchanaburim 80 miles west of Bangkok.

Then travel down to Pattaya which caters for everything you want from a holiday.
Paragliding
Jet skis
Rifle shooting
Golf course
100s of Bars Pubs.
Excellent food n Restaurants.
Is the Pig n Whistle still open?

A few nearby Islands.
Ko Samet me favourite.

Enjoy yourselves lads.
A great place to Holiday but living there is a totally different ballgame id imagine.
Always love to come back to Hartlepool no matter were ive been.
UTP.

27 k state pensions and subsidised holidays?...someone must be having us on.

https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/06/26/p ... rso-trips/

Funny how you go to some places and think this is the life, I could live here…but the penny drops when you think of the multitude of things involved in moving especially overseas……but in reality, you’re on holiday so of course it’s good but loving there all year round is another matter.
Stranger still, you go somewhere you think’s ok but the locals have a different opinion altogether.

been there, done it. the only memories i have are either bad ones or refereeing ones and daft things the dogs did. many others never lasted anywhere near as long as i did and those who moved into our house just about lasted 12 months when they realised it wasn,t the idilic retirement area after all. the sea was nothing new to me and even those who lived inland can get quickly bored with the tide coming in and out.

people tend to forget about the free benefits we get on top of the money received. there must be very few pensioners not on any medication. i have 3 different pills, 3 different eye drops to pick up every 2 month. if i,m right thats 30 quid a month i save with free prescriptions. i have a bus pass i do not use. i can go on free day trips and cheap holidays i do not partake in. there is a rail card i could have. i go into football cheaper than i did. all this adds up. we all want more, but i have not met an inpoverished pensioner myself and my parents were good for a sub when they were alive and i was short when working.

The current prescription charge is £9.65 per item although payment plans are available and some items are free.

Pig and Whistle went a long time ago, changed the name to Big and Whistle after some Indians bought it, closed again never lasted 5 minutes, not sure it’s under refurbishment.
Pattaya is a great place to live providing you don’t try and live a tourist life as you will soon run out of money, you can live there very cheaply, £60 a month electric bill, £10 for bottle of gas lasts 3 months, stick to Thai produce and it’s very cheap. I am the opposite I can’t wait to get back to Thailand after being in Hartlepool fora a few weeks. I caught the last 2 Pools games, I was impressed let’s hope they keep it up, in the airport now waiting for flight.

Thanks Jamie,

Will spend some time tomorrow looking at my records.

Cheers

Fair does to you both on finding that idyllic lifestyle ..or as poolie of kent might say "Liivin'la Vida Loca".

I'd love to see POK make an appearance Sarf. He was a one off and his innocent naivety was a joy to behold.