The Canadian Alliance of British Pensioners (CABP) continues its advocacy against the UK’s “frozen” state pension policy, which affects approximately 500,000 British expatriates in countries without reciprocal agreements, such as Canada. Under this policy, pensions remain at the rate first received abroad, without annual increases, leading to significant financial disparities over time.
In November 2023, CABP representatives delivered their latest position on frozen pensions to 10 Downing Street, urging the UK government to address this longstanding issue. They also launched a petition titled “Tell the political parties to end frozen pensions,” which has garnered over 168,000 signatures to date. citeturn0search0
Prominent cases have highlighted the policy’s impact. Anne Puckridge, a 99-year-old World War II veteran residing in Canada since 2001, has seen her pension frozen at £72.50 per week. Had she remained in the UK, she would currently receive £169.50 per week, resulting in a cumulative loss of over £50,000. citeturn0news9
The UK government maintains that altering the policy would incur substantial costs, estimated at over £4.5 billion over five years. However, campaigners argue that a more targeted approach could cost around £55 million in the first year. citeturn0news9
CABP continues to advocate for policy change, emphasizing the financial hardships faced by affected pensioners and seeking equitable treatment for all UK state pension recipients, regardless of their country of residence.
Recent Developments on Frozen British Pensions
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/nov/30/war-veteran-frozen-pensions-no-10
