An online petition has garnered the support of nearly 21,000 individuals who are calling for an end to the practice of ‘freezing’ State Pensions for UK retirees living in countries without a reciprocal payment agreement with the British Government.
The petition, driven by the International Consortium of British Pensioners which represents some 450,000 expats affected by ‘frozen pensions’, campaigns under the banner ‘End Frozen Pensions’.
This initiative aims to « end the injustice » for British nationals who retire abroad to countries like Australia and Canada, only to find their State Pensions do not get the annual uplift from the Triple Lock each April.
Highlighting the issue, an emotive video portrays the hardships faced by Brits now settled in countries as diverse as South Africa, Antigua, Malaysia, and Thailand, saddled with pension amounts that have not budged from the time they moved away from British shores.
One such Briton, Margaret from Australia, reveals she has been locked into a meagre weekly State Pension of just £24 for the last 23 years.
Anne Puckidge, a 99-year old World War Two veteran who after retiring continued her career in the UK until 76, fully paying up her National Insurance contributions only to see her State Pension fixed at £72.50 per week when she opted for life closer to her daughter and grandchildren in Canada.
James, aged 72 and living in the sunnier climes of Australia, has vented his dismay at the « difficult and unfair » predicament of having his State Pension frozen following his move down under, despite paying for extra National Insurance years to makeup for a deficit.
Spearheading the fight against what they call an « injustice », the International Consortium of British Pensioners says many hit by the rule served in the police, NHS, fire service and military but they were now forced to scrimp and save, stranded with stagnant pensions. It said: « Many are now living in poverty despite paying their National Insurance Contributions in full. »
Canadian resident John sees the dwindling value of his weekly £80 State Pension as another blow, saying: « It’s already lost a quarter of its value. »
He added: “I thought the Commonwealth had very special ties to the UK, but that is apparently not the case. In fact, if I were only to move about 200 miles further south across the US border, my pension would be fully indexed.”
Under the Triple Lock policy the State Pension will grow yearly by whichever is greater between average annual earnings growth from May to July, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate in the year to September or 2.5 per cent.
New and Basic State Pension payments increased by 8.5 per cent in April. Over the current financial year, the full New State Pension is worth £221.20 each week, some £11,502 in annual payments. The full Old or Basic State Pension is worth £169.50 each week, some £8,814 in 2024/25.
Conservative Party
Commenting on the Conservative Party manifesto for this week’s General election, Edwina Melville-Gray, speaking on behalf of the International Consortium of British Pensioners, said: « For less than £50 million the Prime Minister and his Conservative Party could have ended this long-running scandal that condemns many of the nearly half a million affected overseas UK State Pensioners condemned to poverty. »
She added: « Some of those affected are receiving a UK State Pension as little as £20 per week. It seems politically bizarre not to have done so. Many of the overseas pensioners can vote for the first time due to the recent changes in the overseas voting rules introduced by this Government.
“Whilst the decision on who to vote for is rightly an individual and private matter, it surely can’t be lost on the Prime Minister and his advisers that many of our members are desperate to vote for Parties committing to address this injustice.
“And it seems particularly tone-deaf to be trumpeting the creation of a Minister for Overseas Britons whilst ignoring the biggest political and financial issue for half a million of them. We renew our appeal to the Conservatives to put this right.”
Labour Party
Looking at the Labour Party’s manifesto promises, Ms Melville-Gray said: “While we commend the Labour commitment to review the pensions landscape and improve pensions outcomes, today’s announcement remains a missed opportunity to address the longstanding ‘frozen pensions’ scandal.
“Half a million disenfranchised, forgotten overseas pensioners are looking for a political home in the first election in decades that many can now vote in since the change to overseas voting rules. Excluded from the yearly State Pension increases and forced into financial hardship as a result, many are led to cutting down on food, medicine and other essentials, and still await a full recognition of their ongoing suffering.
“Labour backed an end to this cruel policy in 2019. It is disappointing that this ‘Government in waiting’ has made no such pledge today. We sincerely hope that Labour will stand up to its commitments, and conducts a full review of the State Pension to include addressing this deeply harmful, purely arbitrary policy. »
Liberal Democrats
Turning her attention to the Liberal Democrats, Ms Melville-Gray remarked: « We are deeply disappointed by the lack of commitment in the Liberal Democrat manifesto, towards ending ‘frozen’ pensions and the longstanding injustice dealt to nearly half a million British pensioners living overseas. »
She further stated: « Despite this Party’s previous support on this issue, we are faced once again with empty promises and a political party unwilling to stand up for this key, yet further forgotten, group. »
Reform UK
John Duguid, Chair of the International Consortium of British Pensioners, expressed his disappointment about the Reform UK contract, stating: « We’re deeply disappointed that ending the scandal of so-called ‘frozen pensions’ that condemns many of the nearly half a million affected UK State Pensioners to poverty doesn’t appear to be part of Reform UK’s ‘contract’ with the voter. »
« This is particularly upsetting given that the document clearly says that ‘Our Elderly Deserve to be Treated with Dignity and Respect’. We renew the appeal to Mr Farage, so powerfully expressed in a letter hand delivered to his HQ from the 99-year-old Second World War veteran Anne Puckridge to commit to end this scandal. »
You can watch the video and view the ‘End Frozen Pensions’ campaign petition on the website here.
