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Original poster

Dad moved abroad 10+ years ago wants my address for pension

110 replies

chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 09:29

My dad lives abroad and is pestering me to renew his Uk drivers licence so he can claim his UK pension. I guess he needs UK ID and he will use my address for this. He's not lived here for about 12/13 years and he's visited twice (due to my personal circumstances). It expired so long ago I'm not sure if I can even renew it I'll need to go and look. But does all this sound dodgy?
Thanks.

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 11/08/2024 10:03

Eyesopenwideawake · 11/08/2024 09:31

You don't have to live in the UK to claim a UK pension but having a UK driving licence when you're not resident is illegal - you are supposed to swap it for your country of residence. Depending on his age he might be required to take a driving test in his current country which may explain his desire to renew the UK one.

Edited

This.

Original poster
chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 10:03

Undercoverdetective · 11/08/2024 09:52

I think he needs to register on the government gateway to be able to access asking for a licence. He will need to give his address. They won't issue a UK license to a foreign address. If he lies on the gateway about where he lives this may have implications for council tax etc. because I believe it links to tax and social security. It could cause you a lot of difficulty if it shows him resident with you.
I only know this from my own difficulty sorting out affairs from abroad so I hope what I'm saying is still the case.

Yes I just went on the gateway and it is forcing me to set up an account. But that will over-write my details right? So I can't do that.
He is in China and doesn't have access to UK websites. He can't get on the gateway xxx

OP posts:
Roseshavethorns · 11/08/2024 10:07

Your driving licence has to show your address. Having a wrong address is illegal. (You have 3 months to change it).
What he is asking is illegal and I wouldn't do it.

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Retirement & pensions
Allthehorsesintheworld · 11/08/2024 10:07

zzplex · 11/08/2024 09:47

People can receive their UK pension when living abroad but I don't think they get the same increases. So either he's trying to circumvent that or there's another dodgy reason related to the driving licence.

Either way it's probably fraudulent, so stay out of it.

This.
He can claim his UK pension from any country and just needs his NI number and photo ID. He must have a passport ?

Willmafrockfit · 11/08/2024 10:09

he could email them op

ObsidianTree · 11/08/2024 10:09

How many years did he live and work in the UK? Does he have enough years to even qualify for a British pension?

Bornnotbourne · 11/08/2024 10:10

Why doesn’t he use a VPN like everyone else does?

Flopsythebunny · 11/08/2024 10:12

chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 10:03

Yes I just went on the gateway and it is forcing me to set up an account. But that will over-write my details right? So I can't do that.
He is in China and doesn't have access to UK websites. He can't get on the gateway xxx

Show quote history

He can if he uses a vpn.

Willmafrockfit · 11/08/2024 10:12

or he can call them?

Original poster
chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 10:13

ObsidianTree · 11/08/2024 10:09

How many years did he live and work in the UK? Does he have enough years to even qualify for a British pension?

@ObsidianTree he lived here most his life. Came over I think when he was 12/13 and left in his late 40s after he split with my mum (who has now passed). I am his only connection to the UK now. So I think he will qualify.

OP posts:
rwalker · 11/08/2024 10:13

Unless there’s a massive back story I’d do it

tuttuttutt · 11/08/2024 10:14

He can sort it out himself. I'd tell him to get lost.

Original poster
chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 10:14

Does anyone know why he needs a drivers licence and not a passport? His passport is valid.

OP posts:
MrsCarson · 11/08/2024 10:17

He can probably apply for his UK pension through the UK Embassy in China.
Google the embassy and see what services they provide.

AquaFurball · 11/08/2024 10:18

Maybe he doesn't qualify and that's why he needs a UK address, which would be fraud.

Original poster
chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 10:23

rwalker · 11/08/2024 10:13

Unless there’s a massive back story I’d do it

@rwalker no back story. He can't access UK websites in China so wants me to do it. But I don't think I can because it wants me to set up an account. My husband says I should just do it and set up an account

OP posts:
Original poster
chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 10:25

Willmafrockfit · 11/08/2024 10:01

is there anyone else that he can ask?

No he's fallen out with his sister who resides here.

OP posts:
CasaBianca · 11/08/2024 10:26

chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 09:48

It's so he can claim his UK pension and use my address. He has been here twice over the last 13 or so years. I think he needs ID to claim his pension and maybe it needs to be UK ID? So he wants to renew his licence to get his pension.

Surly he has a passport if he was able to go to China? Why would he need another ID?

Original poster
chocolateandsprinkles · 11/08/2024 10:31

@CasaBianca he said he needs both. I wonder if he needs proof of address and the drivers licence will have my address on it?

OP posts:
Vikina · 11/08/2024 10:36

He doesn't need to access a website. He can phone them.

JoyousPinkPeer · 11/08/2024 10:38

I think it's dodgy because I don't think he is entitled to the annual state pension increase if he lives in China.. if he lived in Spain, or many other countries, yes he would. Therefore if that's the case and you are stating he lives with you, you are then part of the 'fraud'.

Mainoo72 · 11/08/2024 10:40

Sounds dodgy. Don’t get involved because you could then be arrested for fraud. Let him sort his own life admin out.

Trainham · 11/08/2024 10:43

Depending on how long ago it expired he may have to redo his test. Currently I have no car but renewed my license as don't want to redo test in the event of my getting a car.
So could be a non starter anyway.

Flossflower · 11/08/2024 10:43

A friend of mine had another friend who emigrated to another country, but used my friend’s address to claim her pension. This was because although her friend was entitled to her UK pension it would not go up with inflation. My friend eventually asked her to stop it as she would be helping her to do something illegal.

Dont do this for your father. He is not residing at your address. You will be comitting fraud. Your father is entitled to his UK pension but not the same rises that he would have if he was living in the UK. It will not stop there. Your father will be asking for you to set up a UK bank account that the pension has to be paid into. Setting up a bank account with an incorrect address is again fraud.
Tell your father you cannot get his driving licence for him. He is not entitled to it and that it is fraud to use your address. Don’t be frightened of him. He is far away!
Any decent parent would not ask their children to lie for them. He clearly doesn’t mind putting you in danger of being prosecuted.
I don’t know if you live on your own but if you do and you give your address for him you could loose your single person discount.

Yougetmoreofwhatyoufocuson · 11/08/2024 10:44

He’ll be entitled to his pension from the years that he worked here and there’s nothing wrong with him claiming it, but if he’ll trying to get you to fraudulently set up an account that implies he’s living in the UK, decline that part. His NI number and passport will be sufficient. Not everyone has a driving license.

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