AIBU to think claiming two state pensions seems unethical?

According to your own personal ethics, not theirs.

In my last job I saw people who had lived abroad most of the lives but were Uk citizens and came back with nothing at retirement age and got full pension credit, housing benefit etc despite not living here for years or contributing anything.

I think it’s fine to hate the players as well as the game. They have a choice not to take advantage of something that’s legal but unethical.

It irks me when I received just 6 weeks of widows pension after my hubby died because my salary then meant no child benefit ie no child benefit, no widows pension. He also died 15 days before the rules changed so I won't be able to claim any of his pension when I retire either.

But, I don't think they've done anything illegal, unethical maybe but they followed the rules... I do hope they've tighted the rules up now.

I do know someone in Spain who gets a full UK pension. He never worked a day in the UK cos he left when he was 16yo . That is just wrong.

It does seem odd to be entitled to pensions in two different places, or to have worked enough years in each place to qualify.

Are you sure they are both state pensions?

You’re absolutely right. Irish friend of mine did the mandatory 5 years in London after university before moving home in her late 20s. Has done the topping up, I’m not quite sure how it works but she said she doesn’t have to pay in much annually, and will be entitled to a full UK state pension when the time comes, in addition to an Irish one. As a pp said, don’t hate the player, hate the game. Does seem like a massive waste of taxpayer funds though.

I've lived in Canada for 17 years and plan on taking a UK pension (that's if there's anything left by the time I'm 67!). I've paid the national insurance contributions.

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.

DH and I do this. We pay into national insurance, get absolutely nothing back from the UK in services but will be able to claim pensions. Would you honestly turn down money that legally available to you?

Only if you care to provide the stats.

I wrote about this on another thread, but thought I'd start my own as it irks me and I'm wondering if IABU.

My parents emigrated from the UK in their early/mid thirties and have never lived in the UK since. They are now late 60's. My Mum told me recently that both her and my Dad are claiming a full UK pension, in addition to a full pension in the country them emigrated to. They don't need this money, but she seemed quite smug about how they can 'double dip' and live the Life of Riley while sitting on a load of money, rental properties etc. I told her it seemed a bit unethical to me, but she didn't understand my viewpoint at all.

How is this possible? She said that they only had to pay their (national insurance?) for a period of time after moving, to then be eligible for the full UK pension on retirement? Can someone explain to me if this is correct, as I half think they've scammed the UK system somehow!

It irks me when I received just 6 weeks of widows pension after my hubby died because my salary then meant no child benefit ie no child benefit, no widows pension. He also died 15 days before the rules changed so I won't be able to claim any of his pension when I retire either.

But, I don't think they've done anything illegal, unethical maybe but they followed the rules... I do hope they've tighted the rules up now.

I do know someone in Spain who gets a full UK pension. He never worked a day in the UK cos he left when he was 16yo . That is just wrong.

"Likely" is doing lot of heavy lifting here.

They are likely to get back far, far more than they paid in.

Why are h so bitter about ur own parents? Ur mums mistake was telling you, even her own flesh is jealous of her. Owning assets doesn’t necessarily make you rich as your cash is tied up. You don’t really have any idea about their finances and just seem to be jealous.

You can only get a UK state pension while abroad if you've paid in. No advantage-taking here.

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?

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?

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.