Tag: State Pension
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UK Government Revives Pensions Commission to Confront Crisis
The UK government has announced the revival of the landmark Pensions Commission, tasking it with confronting what many fear is an impending retirement crisis. The move is widely seen as a recognition that the current system is failing to deliver adequate retirement outcomes for future generations. For British expats, particularly those relying on the UK…
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Triple Lock and State Pension Sustainability in the Media
UK media has warned that the State Pension’s annual “triple lock” increases could make pension spending an ever-larger share of the economy. In fact, the triple lock – a government guarantee to raise pensions by the highest of inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5% – does add to public costs. Official forecasts show that spending…
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Frozen Pensions? Let’s Do Better
How the UK is short‑changing its own pensioners abroad Imagine working your whole life in the UK, paying your National Insurance, and retiring with the promise of a state pension that’s meant to support you in your later years. Now imagine that pension slowly shrinking year by year – not because you did anything wrong,…
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The Forgotten Generation
Reflections on Britain, Aging, and Exile I was born and raised under the constant drone of British Army helicopters in Belfast, seeing young British men and women give their lives to protect a UK city divided against itself. Despite being coined ‘the Dirty War‘, most of those serving did so for their country, for the…
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UK State Pension Advice For Expats Who Applied
The UK government extended the window for topping up gaps in your NI record, so expats began seeking UK State Pension advice, and applying to boost their UK State Pension back to April 2006 — a full eighteen years’ worth of contributions rather than the usual six. To qualify, you needed to submit your application…
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How to Maximise Your State Pension From Overseas
THE guide to boosting your UK State Pension, at the lowest cost Living abroad doesn’t affect your ability to maximise your State Pension. Yet millions of UK expats struggle to keep up with National Insurance (NI) contributions, or don’t even know they can – missing out on thousands of pounds each year. One voluntary NI…
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UK Budget 2024 – What British Expats Need to Know
Background The Chancellor’s Autumn UK Budget 2024 was announced under pressure. A new government attempting to slow the decline of trust among citizens, businesses and investors in the UK’s sluggish economy, and with added constraints from inflation, NHS spending, and rising public sector costs, the Labour government is trying to balance the books without raising…