Brit Expat Retirees Advised To Choose Countries With UK State Pension Uprates

Britons looking to retire overseas using their state pension are forced to choose their destinations carefully.

Since the failure in government of a good number of attempts to deal with the scandal of frozen UK state pensions in major retirement hubs worldwide, would-be British expatriate retirees are having to continue choosing their destinations carefully. For many, the decision to retire overseas on the state pension is based on the ever-rising costs of staying in the home country, but those who take the chance of losing their annual updates often don’t take into account cost of living rises in their chosen haven.

Information on the government’s pension website gives full details of which world states aren’t subject to British state pension freezes, but it’s still uncertain whether British pensioners living in European Economic Area countries or the European Union will continue to receive uprates post-Brexit. Those in Gibraltar, Switzerland, Turkey, Barbados, Israel and the USA as well as other states with UK reciprocal agreements – also known as bilateral agreements – will continue to get the annual increase, but UK expat pensioners in New Zealand and Canada are not entitled in spite of the social security agreement with both countries.

The published list is long and includes EU and EEA member states, but the majority of the remainder are either countries with high costs of living or destinations most expat retirees wouldn’t even consider for good reason, as most lack the basics necessary for a comfortable retirement. The only possibility for a cheaper lifestyle and a state pension upgrade is the Philippines, already a popular British retirement destination for its friendly locals, great weather and low cost of living. Given the fact that life expectancy is on the increase, especially in warmer countries, the lack of concern shown by the British government for its citizens is shameful at best and cruel at worst.