Pensions Bill

Written evidence from William Harry Plant (PB 57)

1)

I represent a small but significant group of ‘expats’ with connections to Cebu in the ‘social security agreement country’ of The Philippines. We believe we represent the ‘tip of the iceberg’ for expats throughout the world.

SUMMARY:

We are most alarmed by proposals in the Pension Bill to unfairly terminate UK Pension rights for the wives of many UK citizens living overseas.

We seek to demonstrate that these proposals would create devastating financial hardship for their families who have long planned their lives abroad.

Furthermore, we are particularly alarmed, angry, hurt, insulted and incensed by the callous propaganda purported to come from Nigel Mills and Steve Webb referring to ‘Thai brides’ and ‘Free-wheeling foreigners who seek only to benefit at the expense of British taxpayers’!

2)

Rather than produce long-winded arguments, I provide below a few ‘Case Histories’ and ‘Comments’ by a genuine cross-section of our members. They speak volumes!

Please read them.

Empathise with them.

Recognise how your decisions impact upon their lives

... and please help them!

These are not ‘Thai bride’ marriages of convenience but genuine, loving, caring, loyal, devoted and responsible couples who wish to stay together .... looking after husbands, wives, children, parents.

These are husbands who invested for years, relying on their NI Contributions to provide financial security for their wives.

Their wives have a legitimate expectation that they would be entitled to their promised pensions.

3)

Nigel Mills would have us believe that "it is not right to provide pensions" to the wives of UK citizens abroad. We absolutely disagree!

IT IS RIGHT and reasonable that valid Married Women’s Pensions should be paid!

Living abroad, they have no opportunity to pay or make up the necessary contributions. So, they should be made an ‘Exception To The Rule’... ‘A Special Case‘.....

Otherwise they face undeserved destitution in their old age!!!!

A means could be set up, for future years, whereby they could be given ‘Pension Credits’ to take into account their roles as Carers/Mothers just as if they had resided in the UK.

4)

In CONCLUSION, we respectfully request that the Bill be Amended to provide Transitional Protection for this group of women whereby they will receive the Pension they would have had under the previous rules.

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CASE HISTORY, 1

Guy T. Age 59

Born and raised Norfolk.

Worked UK, 1975-1980, 1989-1990, Norfolk.

Worked overseas in developing countries, 1980-1988, 1990 to date.

Married Filipina wife (Age 56) 1993 (full relationship from 1988), one son dual nationality (Brit/Filipino) (Aged18).

Wife and son have visited UK on numerous occasions as tourists. Considered settling in UK in 1989, again in 2004 but residency requirements for my wife to obtain UK citizenship were simply too onerous. My work is in development and UK employment is not feasible with my background and experience.

Settled in Cebu, Philippines,2004.

I paid full NI Contributions for the duration of UK employment, and subsequently Voluntary Class 3 since 1980 in order to protect my pension benefits on the advice of an accountant and local tax office. This became an increasingly important consideration following my marriage, the birth of our son and the move to Philippines for permanent residence and settlement in 2004.

My employment opportunities have become less in recent years and the UK pension INCLUDING wife allowance is (AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN) a vital element in our retirement planning.

It is vital in order to supplement savings in order to provide a minimum standard of living for my family in the event of my early demise.

My son is a UK citizen but considered an ‘international applicant’ by British universities. Thus, fees are triple what we would pay as UK residents. ‘Onerous Visa Restrictions’ prevent us from returning to the UK so we are obliged to send him to University in the Philippines.

Cutting my wife’s pension entitlement would be a ‘double whammy’ making life very difficult for us

I consider the proposals currently being discussed to be downright theft, and if formalised will constitute a totally illegal denial of the pension rights that I have paid for in a formal contract with the UK government. The fact that my wife has not lived in the UK is a total irrelevance to this issue, and was in fact brought about due to the excessively punitive restrictions imposed by the UK government.

.CASE HISTORY, 2

Andy P . Aged 59

Married to Filipino wife Age (37) for 8 years

Lived: RAF for 26 years also served tours in NI and Falklands. Oman 2 years. Kuwait 5 years , Cebu 5 years

Children 2  Twins, Ages 6 

Presently living Cebu Philippines .

Paid contributions to NI since the age of 15 . A s suming my family would be covered  and taken care of should anything happen to me .

Living on a Sgt's Military pen sion which is £961 per month , at present I do not meet the financial criteria to return with my wife to the UK.

I have Diabetes, Angina, Hypertension and suffered a heart attack 3 years ago. Out o f my pension every month I pay P9000 (£100+) in medication and can claim nothing from the UK .

I served Queen and country for 26 years in the Royal Air Force. I want to know what provision my children would have if anything happened to me tomorrow. U nder the new penny pinching sch eme the government wants to fleece everyone apart from every blood sucking EU member that just turns up and expec ts housing, benefits, education and medical.

My family and I claim nothing . and you ’ r e going to penalize my family for not living in the UK. When are you going to realize that I am doing you all a favour living outside the UK , I am not a drain on the system at all. Here in the Philippines I pay for everything as I am not entitled to a penny.. .. This is something that our British Government should take on board to every free loader turning up on our shores expecting handouts. 

T his hair brained idea that you ’re trying to push through, means cutting my wife off without a pension and cutting adrift my 2 children who are British passport holders. Tell me what provision do you have for them ?

. 

CASE HISTORY, 3

Malcolm F. Age 62

Married - 21st May 2012 in Angeles City

Filipino wife age d 29, Daughter 9 her child, not adopted by me, but have plans to sometime in future if and when I can afford it.
Came here to Angeles City, Pampanga, Dec 2012 - but have rented an apartment here for past 5 years.

With 40 years NI Contributions, I have done a state pension calculation online, and I qualify for £110+ basic pension on * 13th June 2016 .

I have 2 small pensions from the Electricity Board and M anchester Council as I took early retirement on health grounds in approx 1998.

 

My wife has never been to UK
My wife has no income, and isn't allowed any pension herself, but receives a small portion of my small private pensions on my death. (approx 50%)

I relocated to the Philippines due not being able to afford to bring my wife to the UK due to the new minimum earnings threshold. Also, for better quality of life regarding my pain being eased by the climate.

The fact that my wife and daughter will be left high and dry through not receiving my pension entitlement is wrong, especially when she will have born the mental and physical cost of my care, saving the NHS thousands of pounds.

I urge the government to think again.

*If the new proposals are implemented on 6 April 2016, this man will miss out big time!

CASE HISTORY , 4

John M. Age 56.. (with 'reduced life expectancy')

Married to Filipino (dual British and Philippine nationality) for 24 years.

We lived together in Leicester for nine years, where my wife worked for Leicester City Council and was my registered carer.

As such she has less than 7 years NI Contributions.

I worked in the UK for 23 years before having to take ill health retirement.

We moved to Balingiga, Philippines where I received Disability Living Allowance for the first six months in recognition that we moved here to benefit my health.

I paid 9 years Voluntary NI Contributions purely to provide a pension for my wife, considering my reduced life expectancy.

In my case the government's new policy is pure theft.

If we were forced to return home, my life expectancy would be substantially reduced and we would be a substantial cost to the tax payer.
You are welcome to use my details to campaign against this iniquitous government policy.

CASE HISTORY, 5

David W. Aged 58

30 years NI Contributions

Started work age 16 - MOD Engineering A pprentice

Worked for various International Companies

Currently teaching English in China

Met S.... (now aged 51) in 1998 while working in Hong Kong in telecom i ndustry ( Netrix ) but made redundant.  

I did NOT return to UK to 'sponge' off free NHS, DOLE/Job Seekers , Rent Allowance .

I tried a 'Start-up Company' Congruent International (HKG) Ltd

I paid NI Contributions on unde rstanding my future wife would benefit .

In M ay 2001, S... and myself moved to Cebu .  She promised to look after me, find me somewhere to live and make sure I never went hungr y .

We were married on 16th June 2002 and lived with her daughter by her previous marriage (her husband was killed in an accident).

In March 2005, my self and my wife visited Family in the UK, celebrating my 50th Birthday

In May 2008 I suffered a Heart Attack .

I had already spent Php1M+ in February 2008 after my wife’s mother had a stroke, heart attack . She needed Kidney Dialysis twice a week.

I also have an Umbelical Hernia in need of Surgery

Even after my heart attack, I stayed in the Philippines, as I knew my wi fe would not be granted a Spouse Visa .. no accommodation, no Job.   I stayed with my wife in the P hilippines and she supported and comforted me, and stood by me .

My wife’s daughter now works in Hong Kong while we look after her own young child.

In a UK Pension Forecast ( 1999?) I was informed I was entitled to 60% UK State Pension as I did not have the requisite 44 Q ualifying Years.  Also that my wife would receive 60% of whatever my pension was.

The online Pension Calculator now says I am entitled to Full Pension and my wife to 60% of that.

I have been compelled to find teaching work in China in order to provide for our family.

It would be most unjust if our financial hopes for the future were taken away by withdrawing my wife’s promised pension!

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COMMENTS , 1

Paul D. .... flagrantly breaking contracts with British Citizens as though they never existed. A sad day!

COMMENTS , 2

John N. Batangas. Philippines

My experience is that I have had to retire here, as I am physically disabled, my ex wife was not bothered and did not want the trouble, and so I now have a partner, who does everything for me, from washing me, pushing my wheelchair, and looking after me 150%. Where can I get that help in the UK.

I will marry her once my UK divorce has gone through hopefully in 3 years.

I am renting a bungalow as its wheelchair friendly, but if I die where will she go, how will she live after looking after me? I only have a quarter of my private pension which I commuted to be able to buy a house and land here, my ex took everything, and kicked me out.

As you say, she (my future wife) will be destitute when I pop my clogs.

COMMENTS , 3

John T.

Sorry I’ ve been out of touch and have only just discovered the issue over pension thef t.

I th ink much to be stirred here .(European court of human rights etc).

Regarding the government theft of our pension rights . Does this even affect wives from the Philippines who are UK citizens ? Presumably the gover n ment are running short of money to pay all the immigrant s their dole money and benefits . The way this has been done is blatant theft .

Fair enough, if they are go ing to cut pensions in this way , it needs to be done in such a way that everybody is aware of the situation when they start their working lives ......NOT AFTER T HEY HAVE PAID INTO THE GOV’T POT ALL THEIR LIVES .

This amounts to grand theft and a gross breach of contrac t.

PS: The Brit ish government considers itself  the only institution in the world where it is ok to move the goalposts once the game has started.

Whatever game you're playing, it ’ s called cheating !

COMMENTS, 4

Ron H. .... Disgusting Pension Pillage!

COMMENTS , 5

Ian R.  Aged 57

London and Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Married to Filipino, Aged 39, since April 2008

 While a few years off of retirement these proposed changes are an outrage for those of us married to non EU spouses who have already paid the full qualifying NI contributions from our own earnings, they cannot simply change the terms of contract, under any other legal entity this would be a flagrant breach of contract.

I am already a victim of this regime, I am back in UK working six days out of seven to provide for my spouse in the Philippines, separated from the one I love because I do not meet the spousal visa requirements, unable to afford the extortionate visa application expenses. I suppose I should be grateful to see my wife and family once a year for a month!!

It’s reassuring though to see so many EU citizens that are able to live in the UK and come and go freely, simply because UK (cannot) stand up to Brussels but it has the audacity to continually pick on its own citizens and spell out what we can and cannot do.

I was proposing .... after I retire/until such time I die , leaving my company pension lump sum to my spouse for her future years knowing she would be able to avail of the spouse pension based on my NI contributions in addition to my company widows pension which would be sufficient to continue for her to live there .

This I thought was a safe bet, she would be taken care of through what I thought was a provision I have already paid in for over thirty five years. In making sensible provision that was a fall back for potential problems in later life for both of us . 

Removing the spouse pension will mean that this will no longer be possible. I  now have to look to finance somehow either building or buying a small lot for us whilst I am still working .......for her to have a roof over her head it. Not only does this unjust proposal cause further distress and complications and unnecessary expense this will have to be done while I am working, just how remains to be seen, costs will rise but income does not.

This proposal also fails to take account that the vast majority of Philippine spouses are a good few years younger than their British husbands unlike in UK where partner ages are comparable { in my case 17 years }and as responsible husbands we have taken reasonable care to plan for later life without recourse to UK public funds despite having more right than most.

This spouse pension cost is peanuts compared to what we will save the UK treasury in terms of cost in our old age and benefits claimed if we remained in the UK,  and perhaps they should be reminded of the fact that, through our own choice to retire to a far flung corner of the world we are actually a very cost effective minority!

I strongly object to the implication that our spouses are seen "as Thai-brides" as some kind of comic episode with no commercial value, was not the NHS desperate a few years ago busy recruiting nurses from the Philippines ? . Short memories does government have not to mention double standards !!

Our loyal spouses are wonderful loving caring hard working human beings and put up with a lot of hardship that is unimaginable in the UK and do not and should not  deserve to be treated in such a shameful and disgraceful manner .

Where did that great British tradit ion of fairness and equality go ?

Just to reinforce the point we have been happily married since April 2008 and have known each other since 2004. In that time we have actually managed to share just 30 months in total actually being together. The rest of that time we are apart and rely on telephone and skype on a daily basis to stay in contact.

I am sure I am not alone in this situation, but does my wife complain, no not at all , she is a rock and understands the situation for what it is, a prime example of a loyal loving spouse in a genuine marriage!

Further reason that these proposals must be stopped !!

Why is the Philippines so welcoming to us yet the UK is not , it makes you wonder why anybody even wants to bother trying to get into Britain in the first place !!

July 2013

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There follows an Appendix 1 showing the names of 40 supporters of this Submission .

For security reasons, the names of those who have provided Case Histories and Comments have been anonymised on the advice of the Scrutiny Unit .

Appendix 1

SUPPORTING SIGNATORIES.

Ronald H. , Louth, Lincs, UK and Davao, Philippines

John N. , Batangas, Philippines

David W. , Cebu, Philippines

S. P.W. , Cebu, Philippines

Andy P. , Cebu, Philippines

Albert Edward Clayton, Cebu , Phil ippines
John Hughes, Birmingham , U.K.
Sheila James, Birmingham , UK
Anthony Turvey, Birmingham, U.K.
Margaret Turvey, Birmingham , U.K.

Keith Sandleford, Angeles City, Philippines

Peter Meldrum, Glasgow, UK

Paul D. , Cebu, Philippines

Guy T. , Cebu, Philippines

Brian Daly, Iloilo, Philippines

Gerald Riordan, Newbury, Berkshire, UK

Trevor Featherstone, Boracay Island, Philippines

Denis Franks, Sto Thomas, Batangas, Philippines

Trevor Jones, Sto Thomas, Batangas, Philippines

Peter Leach, Sto. Thomas, Batan g as, Philippines

 

Brian Fentiman, Sto Thomas, Batangas, Philippines

Malcolm F. , Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines

Ron Davenport, Poynton , Cheshire, UK

Keith Hughes, Naga, Cebu, Philippines

Delores Hughes, Naga, Cebu, Philippines

David Charles Langman Foster, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Charles Richard Plucker, Hudderfield, West Yorkshire, UK

David Valentine Lynch, Cebu, Philippines

John M. , Balangiga, E. Samar, Philippines

Ian R. , Cagayan De Oro, Philippines & London, UK

 

Peter Braam, March, Cambs, UK

Keith Meredith, Olangapo, Philippines

John Todd, Cebu, Philippines

David Reynolds, Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK

Stephen Francis W roblewski, Concepcion, Tarlac, Philippines

Andrew Williamson, Cebu, Philippines

Tim Kenny, Cebu, Philippines

Peter Lowther, Manchester, UK

Chris Stokes, Tagatay, Philippines

Keith Rourke, Northampton, UK

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