British retirees living in squalor abroad

Here is an interesting article from Easier Travel News pointing out how many UK retirees don't take in all the considerations of moving abroad and end up living in poverty. Of course they are moving from one high tax country to another (Spain) so their pounds and shillings don't go so far. Maybe they should consider Panama where the low cost of living can keep them out of squalor.

British retirees living in squalor abroad
25 October 2006       
The Foreign Office today voiced its concern that thousands of British citizens retiring to ‘paradise’ abroad, end up living alone in poverty and poor health due to inadequate preparation for their new life.

Bruce McIntyre, British Consul in Malaga, says of the situation, “Sadly now, in Malaga, we spend much of our time dealing with elderly British nationals who moved out here ten or fifteen years ago and now cannot manage alone. Sometimes a partner has died and the other is too old or infirm to go out and buy food; sometimes people have made bad property investments or have not budgeted their pensions sufficiently and are living in extreme poverty. British retirees need to realise that not many European countries have welfare provisions like the UK - there are often no old people’s homes, no district nursing, community care or meals on wheels. We provide help where we can but there are just a few steps you can take to ensure that it doesn’t come to this.”

Steve Jewitt-Fleet of the Foreign Office, says “It is astonishing how many fit and healthy retirees make no plans or provisions of any kind for their future health and wellbeing when they retire abroad. The majority of British nationals do not register with local authorities when they move and often the FCO often only hear about these people when they get into serious difficulties. We are not trying to warn people off retiring overseas – we just want to advise people make sensible precautions in order to enjoy their retirement abroad.”

Matt Havercroft, editor of ‘a Place in the Sun’ magazine, says: “The benefits of moving abroad are clear to see. The cost of living is, more often than not, lower than the UK, plus the climate more conducive to a healthy and far less stressful lifestyle. However, many Brits are finding life abroad difficult because they simply haven’t done their homework. They find themselves alienated in a foreign culture, the dream of a home in the sun has come with a whole host of unexpected complications that they are used to getting sorted instantly at home and the infrastructure is significantly different to what they are used to.”

As part of its ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign the Foreign Office has produced a guide called ‘Going To Live Abroad’ available at www.fco.gov.uk/travel or for further information and help on planning your move, check out the government’s one-stop shop website: www.direct.gov.uk

How best can people prepare for moving abroad? The Foreign Office advice is:

Before You Go

Properly research your destination. Find out about the local laws and customs

Find out what the Foreign Office can and can't do for you by reading the Guide to Support for British Nationals Abroad at www.fco.gov.uk/travel

Learn some of the local language. You may be moving to a British enclave but you'll still need to deal with the local authorities, the local health service, and all the things you have to deal with at home but in a new language

Work out your retirement income. You must be clear of your financial situation, allow for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. As part of this get a state pension forecast from the DWP

Find out about your tax liability abroad from Customs and Revenue

If you are buying property treat the purchase as you would in the UK. Seek professional legal advice and do all appropriate searches

When You Arrive

Register with the local authorities, this will ensure you have access to local welfare and health services

If it is an EU member state or a member of the EEA you must apply for a residence permit within three months of arrival

Register with the British Consulate if appropriate

Open a non-resident foreign bank account. You'll need this when dealing with local expenses and bills

Find out about your welfare rights abroad - you may be able to claim a benefit of that country. The benefits you receive in the UK may also be affected by your move

Find out about health costs abroad - If you go to a country in the EEA and you are entitled to UK state pension, incapacity benefit at the long term rate, widows’ benefits or bereavement benefit, you may need form E121 to claim free or reduced cost medical care as a local

Make a will. If you die abroad without a will this can lead to all kinds of legal difficulties

Ensure your passport is valid

Comments

[Linda Berlandier-Robinson]

I am considering retiring to Panama, but before I plan an exploratory visit, I would like to be in contact with other Britons who have retired to Panama to exchange views and ask advice. Can anyone help to put me in contact with some of the 1,000 British I understand are in Panama?

[Linda Berlandier-Robinson]

I am considering retiring to Panama, but before I plan an exploratory visit, I would like to be in contact with other Britons who have retired to Panama to exchange views and ask advice. Can anyone help to put me in contact with some of the 1,000 British I understand are in Panama?