tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post5556641173098454224..comments2023-08-10T12:55:23.427+01:00Comments on SUBROSA: Pensions In An Independent Scotlandsubrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-45285658215461730862012-02-28T12:45:49.665+00:002012-02-28T12:45:49.665+00:00My first three paragraphs were written tongue in c...My first three paragraphs were written tongue in cheek Anna and I thought you, most of all, would realise that. It wasn't my intention to offend but to bring your points to the notice of my readers and also to add my own views on pensions.<br /><br />I don't know those you mention and it's unfortunate they used language which upset you. I wouldn't tolerate that either.<br /><br />I too work hard on my blog.<br /><br />No, I didn't set this off at all. You set it off with your 'humour' about the wastelands north of Aberdeen. I only responded in a similar vein.<br /><br />No person can be responsible for the reactions of others.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-71125146482775124122012-02-28T07:36:12.000+00:002012-02-28T07:36:12.000+00:00Dear Subrosa,
I'm just as disappointed by the ...Dear Subrosa,<br />I'm just as disappointed by the calibre of readers that read your post and decided to knee jerk their way down south having completely misread my post. <br />You have only read the posts which I left up on the site. <br />The foul mouthed sweetie who goes by the name of 'Shona', and 'Brigadoon', whoever they are, are out the back by the trash can where they can't offend anyone with their poor grasp of language - only the second time in a year I have had to moderate comments. <br />Neither of them had the slightest interest in the issue of pensions, British or otherwise, nor even a modicum of humour to see that the picture was labelled 'the British governments view of Aberdeen'. <br />Both of them following your lead in reading my post as ME making an attack on God's own country etc. etc. ad nausea. <br />Even if I thought 'north of Aberdeen' was a frozen wasteland and had failed to grasp the nuances of the perfection of life that would be achieved by Scotland once it was no longer held back by the albatross of Westminster and the English nation - it doesn't entitle your readers to insult me and call me a 'fecking English bitch' nor wish that I should drop dead....<br />I work hard on my blog to allow readers a place where those of many political views and hues can exchange views peacefully - I don't appreciate being turned into a version of the Glasgow music hall with cheap insults and rotten fruit being traded in place of debate. <br />You set this off with your misread assumption that my post was a commentary on the desirability or otherwise of Aberdeen, not a commentary on the vicious approach of the British government to those they deem to be living abroad - the knee jerkers have merely followed your lead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-57310237602176114502012-02-28T03:17:12.752+00:002012-02-28T03:17:12.752+00:00Anna, you disappoint me by insulting my readers an...Anna, you disappoint me by insulting my readers and I'm not prepared to have them described in that manner.<br /><br />You've had only two people comment on the blog post yesterday, one twice and one four times - quite possibly because you engaged them in discussion. Whether they read my blog or not doesn't entitle you to insult them here.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-3806184520656821142012-02-28T02:23:33.382+00:002012-02-28T02:23:33.382+00:00Oh Carol, I've just remembered. I think a coup...Oh Carol, I've just remembered. I think a couple of years work he did for a British company - even though he was living abroad - featured somewhere too. <br /><br />He was refused initially but had done his homework. With hindsight I think his lengthy communications with the DWP were more of a project than anything else.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-50141932768981591282012-02-28T02:18:09.729+00:002012-02-28T02:18:09.729+00:00Brian, I'll email her your findings.Brian, I'll email her your findings.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-76613809729632509582012-02-28T02:16:55.613+00:002012-02-28T02:16:55.613+00:00Carol, It's nearly 10 years ago now and I'...Carol, It's nearly 10 years ago now and I've forgotten all the ins and outs but if I recall he worked here for just over 2 years then studied at the Sorbonne for 6 years then Grenoble Uni to do his PhD for 2 years. When he was in France he was treated as a UK student studying abroad and thus managed to scrape the timing. I do remember he sent me various certificates etc which I had to take to Glasgow (he didn't trust them not to lose them).<br /><br />His pension isn't much I don't think but it's better than nothing. We haven't discussed recently.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-35566315603519158372012-02-28T02:12:13.190+00:002012-02-28T02:12:13.190+00:00Good link Brian and I hope Anna reads it.Good link Brian and I hope Anna reads it.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-47886069924619855322012-02-28T02:10:51.994+00:002012-02-28T02:10:51.994+00:00Yes Brian, I believe DLA is paid to those abroad a...Yes Brian, I believe DLA is paid to those abroad as I know someone who is a part-time resident in Spain yet receives it. Thanks for the links.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-25532647641248089182012-02-28T02:07:42.695+00:002012-02-28T02:07:42.695+00:00I get a pension Anna and because I worked over 42...I get a pension Anna and because I worked over 42 years in total. The years I spent abroad still allow me my full pension.<br /><br />I can't speak about Brits who live permanently abroad because I only know those who live half and half and have kept a home here. Some downsized their homes here in order to have capital to buy abroad.<br /><br />It seems you've had a much harsher winter than here and I've, sadly, no answer about the Scotswoman who lives on £90 a week there in France.<br /><br />I must mention quite a few people who lost all their savings in the Iceland financial collapse lived abroad and none received even an answer to their thousands of emails to the UK government, so I understand your anger.<br /><br />Of course I can't be sure, but if Scotland was independent it would have a government who would protect the vulnerable.<br /><br />Don't hold your breath to hear anything from any MP. If any Scot has family still living in Scotland I suggest they contact their MSP. Unfortunately English folk don't have the choice.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-11912508797313816702012-02-28T01:04:25.057+00:002012-02-28T01:04:25.057+00:00Yes Brian she did, though I still can't see ho...Yes Brian she did, though I still can't see how anyone would qualify at all if they had little or no contributations in this country, that surely cannot be right. I have never heard of it before anyway, perhaps someone can enlighten me?carol42https://www.blogger.com/profile/04800081110262351341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-14439486317007530832012-02-28T00:31:41.027+00:002012-02-28T00:31:41.027+00:00Here's the latest Parliamentary Briefing Paper...Here's the latest <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06019" rel="nofollow">Parliamentary Briefing Paper</a> on Winter Fuel Payments.<br />I have a cunning plan for Mrs Raccoon to claim WFP. She establishes habitual residence in the UK (three months is usually sufficient) starting from the end of June so that she is in the UK during the qualifying week, submits a claim and goes back to France to await the dosh.<br /><br />carol42: did your friend <a href="http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/state-pensions/how-does-it-work" rel="nofollow">reach her state pension age before 6 April 2010?</a> If so the minimum was ten years for women and 11 for men to get the minimum (25% pension). Sorry.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-46401899603467616212012-02-28T00:12:08.693+00:002012-02-28T00:12:08.693+00:00I can't understand how your brother gets a UK ...I can't understand how your brother gets a UK pension if he didn't pay into it while working in Canada.My friend worked in Glasgow for 8 years before emigrating to Canada in the 60s. When she reached 60 she enquired about any pension entitlement in the UK and was told that without a minimum of 10 years employment she was not entitled to anything.carol42https://www.blogger.com/profile/04800081110262351341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-47587749785229360202012-02-27T23:48:23.905+00:002012-02-27T23:48:23.905+00:00Here's an interesting article on some top-up b...Here's an interesting article on some <a href="http://www.frenchentree.com/retiring-to-france/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=38605" rel="nofollow">top-up benefits</a> that can be claimed by British expats in France. It might be worth asking at the Mairie if there is a French version of Winter Fuel Payment that expats can claim if they didn't export their claim from the UK.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-35025682794096747772012-02-27T23:29:35.715+00:002012-02-27T23:29:35.715+00:00Rosie,
I think the key to this question is when th...Rosie,<br />I think the key to this question is when the claim for a particular benefit starts. It's obvious that someone living abroad cannot open a claim for jsa - they can count their NI contributions against the claim requirements in their new country of residence. Contributions- based JSA claims can be <a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/international/benefits/jobseekers-allowance/jobseekers-" rel="nofollow">exported abroad in certain circumstances.</a> Similarly, the contributions based elements of DLA and ESA can be exported and claimed for as long as one's health qualifies.<br />The EU regulation is <a href="http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/employment_and_social_policy/social_protection/c10516_en.htm" rel="nofollow">1408/71</a> and <a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/a9-2001.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a> and Commission of the European Communities v the European Parliament and the Council [2007] ECR I-8695 ruled that certain benefits should be payable to EEA citizens in the UK.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-8749843578312478522012-02-27T21:25:46.648+00:002012-02-27T21:25:46.648+00:00Oh, and Subrosa?
Neither your brother nor anybod...Oh, and Subrosa? <br /><br />Neither your brother nor anybody else has a 'right' to a pension - you get a UK pension in return for having paid for it for 37 years - you could have done the same thing. <br /><br />Given that the Westminster parliament is packed full of Scots - can you explain why none of them have been overtaken by this 'inherent feeling of social justice'<br />to speak out on behalf of the thousands of their own countrymen - Yeah! Scots - who are languishing in European countries without one penny of assistance from the British government, never mind winter fuel allowance - or didn't you know that? <br /><br />Does their 'inherent sense of social justice' only come into play after independence? Cat got their tongue in the meantime has it? <br /><br />We're having whip rounds down here to help keep basic electricity going for pensioners in their 80s and in one case almost 90, with nothing more than a basic pension to keep them alive and no heating in temperatures that have sunk to minus 20. They spend all day and all night in bed with an electric blanket on to keep warm - and cost the government nothing except 160 pounds basic married pension a week - a pension which has been devalued by 25% in recent months. <br /><br />One Scottish lady I know is 76 ad still cutting acres of grass every summer merely to be able to pay her winter bills - 90 pound a week pension doesn't go very far - and no, she can't afford to come back to Scotland. <br /><br />We donate tins of food to a collection centre. These are not just English pensioners - some of them are Scottish - there's a thing! <br /><br />They moved here 20 years and more ago, at a time when everyone said it was all rosy and Europe now - no one told them they were going to find themselves living in what the UK would define as a 'foreign country' one day. <br /><br />So where will the UK pensioners living in Scotland be when the UK or what is left of it defines Scotland as a foreign country then?<br /> <br />Haven't heard a peep out of a single Scottish MP yet. That 'inherent feeling of social justice' is sure lying low at the moment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-41885759192831484282012-02-27T21:22:04.591+00:002012-02-27T21:22:04.591+00:00Anna, my brother hasn't paid a bean towards an...Anna, my brother hasn't paid a bean towards any UK pension, other than when he worked for a couple of years in the Foreign Office back in the 60s. I didn't believe him initially but he emailed me all the paper work some years ago which did state he was eligible for a minimum monthly pension.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-6158032572157335412012-02-27T21:19:44.619+00:002012-02-27T21:19:44.619+00:00Niko, that's one reason I don't belong to ...Niko, that's one reason I don't belong to any political party. I like to keep them guessing perhaps and make them work for my vote. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-16377418670591115422012-02-27T21:17:14.135+00:002012-02-27T21:17:14.135+00:00Jings Anna, no we haven't lost our sense of hu...Jings Anna, no we haven't lost our sense of humour and we haven't had the cold spell other parts of UK have had in recent weeks. In fact during the day here it hasn't been below 12 degrees.<br /><br />You may be of Scottish descent but have you lived or worked here for any period of time?<br /><br />However that aside, why was north of Aberdeen picked when in truth any land north of the SE is regarded as an inferior region by the EU.<br /><br />The Home Office state on their website the qualifications for anyone voting in 2014. It's not a simple case of driving over the border for the day. :) A three year residency is involved. Anyone renting a home now will be disqualified. The same applies to those from the EU.<br /><br />I'm awaiting a reply from a Norwegian friend about your point regarding those who decide to live outside of their home country. Will let you know their response.<br /><br />Like JRB (below) I didn't get the subtlety. Perhaps it's a culture difference between those who live both north and south of the border. :)<br /><br />From recent experience I would say Aberdeen has been warmer than much of England, but then again I live in that wonderful chippy bubble called Scotland.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-79484664488346017872012-02-27T21:07:30.466+00:002012-02-27T21:07:30.466+00:00Oh and gee - thanks for the link, I'm getting ...Oh and gee - thanks for the link, I'm getting a wonderful class of bigoted insults from so called readers of your blog who seem incapable of reading, all on a post that is a week old. <br />Somebody tell them that I am Scottish, I'm getting tired of listening to them ranting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-80482471463471407292012-02-27T20:58:27.470+00:002012-02-27T20:58:27.470+00:00Actually Subrosa - My better half has worked abroa...Actually Subrosa - My better half has worked abroad all his life and will get a UK pension from the 14th of next month - its called voluntary self employed stamp - you don't have to pay it, you don't get anything else in return for it, no NHS benefits nothing - but you do get a UK pension after paying it for 37 years.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-3734268594473665672012-02-27T20:56:42.533+00:002012-02-27T20:56:42.533+00:00Niko it's progress I'm told. How have othe...Niko it's progress I'm told. How have other countries managed?subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-38123881878672945152012-02-27T20:55:46.887+00:002012-02-27T20:55:46.887+00:00I've never had dealings with the Ni and pensio...I've never had dealings with the Ni and pensions at Newcastle other than by a common letter, but still your links don't explain why 'emigrants' receive pensions.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-8837984365491553972012-02-27T19:53:07.348+00:002012-02-27T19:53:07.348+00:00anna
This will explain (Subrosa average reader as...anna<br /><br />This will explain (Subrosa average reader as well)<br /><a href="http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on-sunday/politics/study_reveals_average_snp_member_is_over_60_and_male_1_2112762" rel="nofollow">HE is 63 years’ old, donates £84 a year to his party, and whenever he hears someone criticise his country, takes it as a personal insult – say hello to the Scottish National Party’s everyman.</a>Nikostratoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06581441869560921339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-75448241917903998092012-02-27T17:55:48.867+00:002012-02-27T17:55:48.867+00:00Try posting something on cyclists JRB. Many bites ...Try posting something on cyclists JRB. Many bites from the same old trouts guaranteed with every mention....they will even Tweet your post to every cyclist within a 500 mile radius. Most satisfying.....beats fly fishing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-79244284225812630772012-02-27T17:50:44.094+00:002012-02-27T17:50:44.094+00:00Ms Raccoon
Many thanks for kindly posting an expl...Ms Raccoon<br /><br />Many thanks for kindly posting an explanation of what you had intended.<br /><br />As a dour old Highlander I do confess to having missed the delicate subtlety of your sarcastic use of a ‘frozen waste’ to describe God’s own country.<br /><br />But then, my own posts may be taken as being akin to fly fishing; sometimes I get a bite, sometimes I don’t.<br /><br />;)JRBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864418763227369458noreply@blogger.com