UK Frozen Pensions Case Returns To The European Court Of Human Rights (ECHR) on September 2

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The International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICPB) had decided earlier that they would appeal a negative decision on the Frozen UK Pensions case and move to the 17-judge ECHR Grand Chamber. This appeal will now take place on September 2.

An article in the UK Telegraph outlines the case well. It is titled How saving the pound led to 54 years of injustice.

The real question is whether the appropriate resolution for these Frozen UK Pensions , should be deternined by legality, equity or morality. If it were based on equity or morality, then most observers agree on the outcome. Instead the UK Government has chosen to treat it only as a legal question and so far the answer has been no. Perhaps the ECHR on September 2 will come to a Yes view as the chairman of the earlier ECHR hearing did in his dissenting opinion. Some 500,000 UK pensioners around the world are watching with bated breath.

Other References

Sphere: Related Content

July 20, 2009 -- British Expats Financial Checklist (0)
April 13, 2009 -- Frozen UK Pensions Good News – The Case Moves To The 17-judge ECHR Grand Chamber (0)

Tags: European Convention on Human Rights, frozen pensions, UK government

UK pensions | Barry Welford, 21 Aug 09

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By desmond gillet, August 27, 2009 @ 3:05 am

I am a “True Brit”, born & bred in England, working there nearly all my life & paying NI stamps, in full, until my retirement.

I’ve been living in Thailand for the past few months & now the Pension People have frozen my pension, so I won’t be getting the annual increase (which I have paid for while working for 45 years in the UK). In maybe 10 years, the buying power of my “frozen” pension, will have approximately halved!

The British Government has no right to STEAL this indexation from me, where I choose to spend my retirement is up to me, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT! I read in one of their booklets that it is because there is no “RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT” with Thailand (but Thailand’s near neighbour, The Philippines, has got one! WHY!!!!). No-one, in any sort of power, has yet been able to answer that question!

If I want to retire to Thailand, that is my business. In fact, the Government should be thanking me because I’m paying for my own health care out here, they don’t have to give me “free bus passes”, “free rail passes”, “cold weather payments” & many other benefits OAP’s in England receive. Also, I’m no burden to the British health care system, if I’m sick out here, I pay the hospital for treatment. I’ve got a health care policy in Thailand but it carries a 700 UK pound excess.

I’m 67 now & I try to keep fit with hill walking & going to the gym etc., but my insurance company tells me that they won’t cover me after the age of 70 & the Pension People in England tell me yesterday that my National Health cover will cease after I’ve been here for 6 months! So, that means that in 3 years time I’m going to be “Up The Creek, Without A Paddle!”

I’ve no intention of returning to England ( I love this climate & these people so much) but if, in the future,I sustained a serious injury or had a serious illness, it would be reassuring to know that I had the right to go back for the free treatment that I’m entitled to. After all, I’ve been paying for this with 45 years of NI stamps.
That 45 year “Investment”, with compounded interest, would amount to a very handsome lump sum.

A very good friend of mine died 17 months ago, only 8 months prior to his 65th birthday, leaving no widow. so the Thieves (sorry, Government!) had received over 44 years of NI stamps & didn’t have to pay out ONE PENNY! Maybe to give hand-outs to the thousands of “cap in hand” aliens who have never even heard of the term “NI stamp”?

By Barry Welford , August 27, 2009 @ 10:10 am

Thank you for your comments, Desmond.

Unfortunately there are over 500,000 people who are in similar boats. Some of the most senior are more critically affected than the ‘youngsters’ who are only just over 65. Many of them have no other option than to return to the UK and hope someone will help them to survive. Given the issues that the UK MPs seem to wrestle with, you might have thought this dossier should be at the top of their pile.