AIBU to think claiming two state pensions seems unethical?

They paid in, so are entitled to take out. It’s as simple as that really. I get more upset about those people who don’t contribute enough to get a full pension, but who get near enough full pension anyway by claiming pension credits to top it up?

eh? I thought you had to work 35 years to get full state pension??

If you've paid the qualifying contributions you are entitled to it.

So what?
Life is more than "paying in".

People on here would be the first to rage at people on benefits, but as soon as it's pensioners doing something that yes, imo, is unethical, it's absolutely fine 🤷

I don't blame anyone for using loopholes, but th system needs an overhaul.

At least they've paid something in. Lots of benefit claimants pay nothing in .

OP is perhaps mainly bitter about what must be a large number of other ex-pats also taking advantage of the UK taxpayer in a similar way.

More ageist rage-bait?

The DWP put out an advertising scheme a few years ago. Especially targeting residents in Ireland but also to anyone else that has now left the UK and meets the criteria.

This scheme let people 'register interest' before the April 2025 deadline.

If they registered interest before the deadline, the DWP would contact them and give them a pension forecast and if there was any gaps, they could back pay historical years, all the way back to 2006 in Class 2 or 3.

So for less than £3200, you could back pay the necessary empty years and as a result, get the full uk state pension.

How the government can afford all these pensions for people that only lived in the UK for 3 years, I have no idea. It leaves me feeling salty though.

Its ethically wrong, but people don’t seem to care about right and wrong when it comes to money. Just because you can get a state benefit, doesn’t mean you need to take it. Its current taxpayers who are paying for wealthy people like this, and there are many other more worthy places that money could go. Dementia research being one of them.

This. What an unpleasant way to talk about your parents.

My in laws are like this.....my MIL actually claiming 3 pensions. One country she didnt even work in but her DH did?? She is travelling to one of the countries soon as all her pension there has been 'stacking up' so they need to make arrangements to transfer it to UK. I didnt think it unethical but like OP's mother, they also dont need it. MIL previously sent several thousand to a 'Nigerian prince' who she met on an online dating site 🙈 so these pensions aren't even being put to good use. In saying all this though I dont really feel its my business either. Its odd how the system works though....

The thing is with pensions is people feel they are entitled to it if they have paid in.
If you want to make big changes to the terms etc, then you have to be wise about it. Look at the WASPI stuff for example.
If the Gov suddenly said it was to be means tested, there would be riots.

There's just so much wrong with our benefits system . Needs a complete overhaul. And people are just happy to keep taking because they can even when they don't need it. The greediness just makes me sick.

It won’t happen, politicians are too chicken to go after anything to do with pensioners. They’ll just take more money off poor people.

If it is possible, then they are not doing anything wrong. Don't hate the player, hate the game.
I think I replied to you on the other thread too, and said about my ex who left here at 40. Will he be able to do the same? I am not sure if he paid voluntary NI or whatever it is. He is self employed and was putting money into private pensions. I don't really know how it all works.

Very tough to hear, I will be working and pay tax beyond the qualified years but can't get the full pension until another 15 years. All money would be drained by then. Nothing left for people who contributed fully all those working years.

They 'closed' it in April this year.

Well more like amended it.

You could previously pay between £160-170 per year and get a full state pension.

The criteria for the previous offer was you has to have lived in the UK for at least 3 years and been either employed or self employed when you moved abroad.

From April 2026, you now need a minimum of 10 years residence in the UK to be eligible for voluntary payments.

You are also no longer able to play the lower Class 2 rate. You can only pay the voluntary Class 3 rate which is £900+ per year.

It's an improvement but still not great.

Depends which country they live in

You don’t get the triple lock, your pension is locked flat at claiming age, so it’s worth significantly less than the indexed amount a uk pensioner is claiming.

I was about to post that. Most pensioners abroad get a lot less than they would had they remained in the UK. Their pension doesn't rise at all from the moment they claim it.

There isn’t any access to class 2 for non residents anymore. https://bdhsterling.com/how-uk-national-insurance-changes-from-april-2026-could-affect-you-if-youre-an-expat-in-australia/
I correct my previous comment, EEA residents and another category still get the triple lock. Outside those don’t.