Nearly half a million state pensioners are set to miss out on the state pension triple lock boost in just a few weeks.
Under the triple lock system, the state pension will increase by 4.1 per cent in April, however thousands will miss out.
Nearly 500,000 UK expat pensioners are set to miss out on the state pension triple lock boost due to the Labour government’s ‘frozen pensions policy’, which prevents annual increases for retirees in certain countries.
Campaigners fighting to end what they call an international scandal are now hopeful that the election of Mark Carney as Canada’s new Prime Minister could bring fresh momentum to their cause.
The frozen pensions issue continues to impact over 100,000 UK pensioners living in Canada, along with hundreds of thousands more worldwide.
Mark Carney, Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister and former Governor of the Bank of England, is likely to qualify for a UK state pension due to his years of service in Britain.
However, under the UK’s ‘frozen pensions policy’, his payments—like those of thousands of other expats—could remain fixed at the rate he first claims them, without annual inflation-linked increases.
This long-standing policy has left nearly 500,000 UK pensioners worldwide facing financial hardship, simply because they retired to countries excluded from state pension uprating, including Canada, Australia, and parts of the Commonwealth.
Edwina Melville-Grey, Chair of End Frozen Pensions Canada, said: “We don’t imagine for a moment that Mr Carney will be reliant on whatever UK state pension he might be entitled to.
From April 6, 2025, UK-based pensioners will see their state pensions rise by 4.1 per cent due to the triple lock policy
GETTY
“However, we know for sure that many thousands of the affected UK state pensioners living in affected countries, including those in Canada, see their UK state pension as a vital lifeline helping them through arduous times.
“We know that he has many immense challenges on his desk right now and wish him well in meeting those. But we hope he will be able, when the time is right, to meet with our lead campaigner on this issue, 100-year-old Anne Puckridge. Her situation embodies the injustice of this scandal.”
From April 6, 2025, UK-based pensioners will see their state pensions rise by 4.1 per cent due to the triple lock policy.
The basic state pension will increase from £169.50 to £176.45 per week. The full new state pension will rise from £221.20 to £230.25 per week. Meanwhile, affected expats see their pensions permanently frozen at the rate when first claimed.
The End Frozen Pensions campaign represents approximately 453,000 British overseas pensioners impacted by this policy. For many, their UK state pension is described as “a vital lifeline helping them through arduous times”.
The campaign hopes Carney’s familiarity with both countries’ systems could lead to progress
GETTY
John Duguid, Chair of End Frozen Pensions International, believes Carney’s election presents a diplomatic opportunity.
He said: “Simply more needs to be done to address the ‘frozen’ pensions policy in diplomatic settings, and the election of Mark Carney as Canada’s Prime Minister paints the perfect opportunity to do so.”
He emphasised the modest cost of addressing the issue.
“The current political appetite surrounding trade and negotiations further reinforces the point that the cost to unfreeze pensions is extremely modest and will be an essential lifeline to many affected pensioners who are struggling to make ends meet.”
The campaign hopes Carney’s familiarity with both country’s systems could lead to progress.
As the Labour Government prepares for benefit cuts, the End Frozen Pensions campaign continues to advocate for equal treatment of British pensioners regardless of where they live.
