AIBU to think claiming two state pensions seems unethical?

It's the use of loophole. It was never a loophole.

The whole "moral" argument can be debated until people are blue in the face, it doesn't change anything. The ability to claim more than one state pension having worked in different countries, has been around for nearly 70 years.

Which was widely felt to be unfair, which is why it changed?
I’m not sure what point you’re making, your statements don’t seem to bear much relevance to the comments. Something can be immoral and legal, something can be legal and disagreed with by a majority of people and become illegal.
No one is claiming it once wasn’t legal.

There's alwsys exceptions for almost anyyhing. And the situation you describe is one of them. Im talking about the norm rather than the exception. But i think you know that....

The ability for certain people living or working overseas to pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions was an explicit part of UK law and HMRC policy.

They probably did, or at least voted for one choice out of two or three similar options. But on structural issues voting doesn't have much influence on the direction of travel, the WASPI debacle has it's origins in the last century ago but has been processed through by both red and blue (and yellow) teams.

Why would OP feel like she owes the state for money family members have claimed?

OP says that she feels that it is unethical for her parents to have been paid this money. Of course there is no guarantee that her parents won't spend the lot, leave it to charity but if the OP does inherit any money (and I agree, this is a big if and is not the point of the thread...) then logically she should "repay" the amounts unethically received.

It’s absolutely was loophole to allow those not working or paying tax in the UK to buy NI contributions at a hugely, hugely discounted rate, which exactly why it was so unpopular that people like you were allowed to milk the system for so long and the exact reason it has recently been made a lot less profitable and rightly so.

I understand where your coming from however the department that pays it is called the future pension centre.

They also give out pension statements so the word pension is still a very valid and used term.

How is it a "loophole". HMRC aren't stupid - the system has been in place for a great many years. It's just not everybody has heard about it, it's never been a big secret, the information has always been readily available on their site.

Where I live you need 42 years of contributions to get the full state pension. If you move overseas part way through your life it's not possible. Also couple that with low salaries meaning, lower contributions which then also equates to a much more meagre pension... Without the UK state pension I'd be in trouble when I reach retirement.
Admittedly being able to 'catch up' with paying for missing years was a very good deal, however I would have been paying the same had I remained in the UK.

What would be your logic?
There’s no suggestion the money would go to OP?
The parents could be happily spaffing all their money, and OP has made no suggestion she’s angling for inheritance. Why would OP feel like she owes the state for money family members have claimed?

I can see my parents living at least another 20-30 years as they are both currently very healthy. If this happens (big if), then thats over 250,000 in money paid out to them

So when your parents do eventually die, you will be writing a cheque for that amount and returning it to the government then?

You are aware that a common loophole used by UK small company owners means they get NI credits and thus build up a full state pension without actually paying any NI contributions at all, don’t you? They receive most of their income as dividends from the company, which has a lower tax rate and no NI, then pay themselves a minimal salary via payroll at a level that gives an NI credit without actually reaching the level where employees NI deductions are taken. At least the OP’s parents paid some contributions!

Until literally 2 months ago you only paid £180 a year in order to be able to claim from outside the UK.

It’s farcical it was allowed for so long.

I have a friend who had her first child at 20. She hasn’t worked since and is now 44. Her youngest is 4. Her oldest now also has a child and is not working. At what point will this family pay enough to cover themselves?

They will qualify for Pension Credit, which is only £3 a week less than a full State Pension. Someone who has worked for 35 years + and fully paid all their NI, will only get £3 a week more. I had a thread on this a while ago, at the unfairness of that, and I was told IWBU. 😳

Always someone else to blame. No-one takes responsibility for their own actions these days.

And people wonder why the world is in the state it's in.

More like £900 for each 'incomplete' year, but yes, you definitely get out more than you pay in

@Whatwerewetalkingabout is absolutely spot on. It should be questioned— these people are exactly skimming the cream off the state.

I am in the EU, and in a country that means my pension won't be frozen. I am also included in the triple lock agreement. I am very fortunate.

And also subject to currency fluctuations.

I hate this argument, if anyone has any issue with taking tax money or avoiding tax in an ethically or morally questionable way (only made possible by loopholes), it's always jealousy. Sorry but no, it should be perfectly acceptable to question questionable ethics.

Some of our services like child protection and the NHS are on their arse, wealthy people (and of course the very rich) skimming the cream off the state or avoiding contributing whilst others struggle is a worthy topic.

I started work at 17, had children, went back and now just have two years to go to qualify (early 60s). My sister was in education till 21, went travelling and lived in Asia until 10 years ago. She’d never had a job in this country until she started working about 6 years ago and has now “filled-in” many years - she said about £200 per year. I’m pretty sure when I checked my history recently I’d been paying over £1000 per year in NI early 1990s. I love my sister but it’s hard not to feel I’m boring, slogging away. She’s just more astute than me! I lost one year’s contribution because of 6 weeks not paid when I went on maternity leave (always been PAYE) in 1996 but hadn’t realised. At least I only have 2 years to go (but will of course continue after that). Maybe I’m crazy but I do like to see “NI contribution” on my payslip!

Well you've made a thread inviting people to slag your parents off.

Did they use the phrase "double dip" or did you add it for effect?

Whilst starting a thread on Mumsnet about how grabby they are! Very respectful! They are merely claiming what they are entitled to. If they weren’t you would probably be starting a thread to say how stupid they are. Blame the politicians not them. They didn’t make the rules.

I understands quite well, thank you.

In your original post I responded asking which NI contributions arrangements you were referring to, I was seeking clarification, some specificity, as quite a few different scenarios had arisen on the thread since then. That is all.