A significant state pension controversy has emerged, leaving numerous British retirees feeling marginalised and treated as second-class citizens due to frozen Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) payments. This policy, maintained under the current Labour Party government, disproportionately affects expatriates in countries without reciprocal pension agreements with the UK.
Veteran's Struggle Highlights Widespread Issue
Peter Sanguinetti, a British Army veteran residing in Ontario, Canada, embodies the plight of thousands. Canada lacks a reciprocal relationship and pensions policy with the DWP, meaning his UK state pension is permanently frozen at the amount first paid when he claimed it. He expressed profound frustration, stating, "There is absolutely no excuse for the British Government to treat me as a second-class citizen." Mr Sanguinetti is among more than 100,000 British pensioners living in Canada facing this financial freeze.
Lack of Forewarning and Lasting Impact
Mr Sanguinetti revealed he was never adequately informed by the DWP about the consequences of retiring in Canada, with the full impact only becoming apparent years later. To compensate for the frozen portion of his pension, he took on work as a school bus driver until the COVID-19 pandemic halted operations in March 2020. He poignantly questioned, "Should it be necessary for a British pensioner to continue driving a school bus until aged 81 years old just to fill that part of his state pension stolen from him by the British government?"
Frugal Living and Financial Strain
The financial constraints have forced Mr Sanguinetti and his wife into an extremely frugal lifestyle. They rarely dine out, attend the theatre, or take proper holidays, with their social life largely confined to membership in the Royal Canadian Legion. To manage costs, they grow their own vegetables, freeze produce when possible, and strategically stock their freezer during seasonal price drops, minimising trips to their nearest town, Huntsville.
A Call for Fair Treatment
Emphasising his contributions, Mr Sanguinetti argued, "I served when I was called. I worked. I paid in. There is no moral justification for treating me differently from someone who retired in Florida or France." His statement underscores a broader demand for equity in pension policies, challenging the government to address what many perceive as an unjust system that penalises retirees based on their country of residence.
