Brit Expat done for Benefit Fraud

[margaretcarnes]

Just a cautionary tale from the Express on 26th Jan.
(We did have a link running earlier this month on banking/benefits in LOS but Ive lost the thread.)
Anyway the Express reports on a Brit who claimed £27,582 in Pension Credit, Housing and Council Tax benefits over a 5 year period. The report goes on to say that he spent only 13 months out of 42 in the UK during that time, and the rest in Thailand. He got a 6 month suspended sentence.
To quote a paragraph of the article 'Under British law he could only claim the benefits he applied for providing he spent less than four weeks living abroad every year'
This might clarify things a little, because I know that some folks think the time limits abroad while claiming are more generous.
What is really worrying though is that during the investigation into this guy, the authorities found details of his Thai bank account. He might have had a Thai bank in London, but it doesn't say.
Also, to quote the Express again, 'A Daily Express investigation recently uncovered a £1 billion a year benefits black hole in Thailand, with even successful expats still claiming Government handouts'
I know there'll be the inevitable slagging off of the tabloids, but would be inclined to take this one seriously!

[STEVE G]

[Governor]

Though I am retired and living in Thailand I still pay UK tax on my occupational pension, with nothing in return.

Like most other people I was not claiming benefits but I wonder if my old age pension will be in danger under New Labour.

[nevets]

your pension will be ok but frozen , no increase from the time you live in Thailand permanent.

[Pagey]

Nevets

Isn't your UK Govt pension only frozen from when you start claiming it if you live in Thailand ? ie when you are 65 ? or 66 in my case as it's after 2024 when the age limit starts to rise..................

If you are correct then how will they know when you moved to Thailand ?

I am not sure, just trying to clarify things for my own position.
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[nevets]

Pagey. I am 56 , you are correct if you live out of the UK and are ready to start your pension it will remain at the amount they give you no increases.
And if you are already receiving your pension, and you have told them you are living abroad and not domicile in the UK , you will receive no more increases, on what you already receive.

[nevets]

It all depends on whether they know or not .

[caller]

If benefit fraud is suspected, the DWP and Local Authorities will ask for co-operation in accessing bank accounts (if needed for the purposes of the investigation) but if this is refused and the information is needed, the banks, building societies and the like are required by law to provide the information requested. By comparison, the Police have to go in front of a judge and ask for permission. But the Govt. doesn't like its money being strolen - look what happened to the "great" train robbers.

If using an ATM on a UK account, the withdrawals in LOS will be identified.

This only covers UK banks, not sure about foriegn banks based in the UK. They can all lawfully provide this data via the data protection act in any case, but choose not to, one of the reasons the law was changed to compel them.

I guess this is the case referred to:

http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1993456.mostviewed.27_000_fraud_by_welfare_cheat.php

[Jaime]

[caller]

Agree with you Jaime, but the quote in the Express is an exageration to say the least! Look here -

http://www.24dash.com/news/Bill_Payments/2008-01-23-Benefit-fraud-drops-but-at-a-cost

Not that I would trust any of the figures in any case!

[Jaime]

Exagerration!? The Express!? Never!

Seriously, the propagandist agenda of rags like The Express and The Mail are why I don't buy newspapers anymore. They are for people who like to be told what to think.

Obviously, you take my point though.
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[caller]

Yup - and I learnt how to spell "exagerration"! I knew my effort didn't look right and now I know why!

[Big Boy]

Pagey wrote:

[Governor]

You have to have been resident in the UK for some time before you can claim benefits such as National Health treatment and up rating of pensions otherwise we could all go back for a holiday to maintain pension increases.

In a previous life I was dealing with an expected exodus of expats from Zimbabwe, which in the end didn't materialise, and I remember one of the concerns was that the British Citizens, who were quite elderly, would not qualify for NHS treatment. Prince Charles wrote to Tony Blair expressing his concerns but nothing changed.

[Big Boy]

In my case, I will still be paying UK taxes, so I would expect to eligible for things such as NHS Treatment (Sarge proved that one last year).

I would not be claiming new benefits, just a continuation in a different location. Surely, I must be eligible for the full amount - I will have contributed enough.
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