State Pension frozen overseas: WW2 veteran, 94, vows never 'to give up the fight'

In part one of a two-part interview, Anne Puckridge recalled her shock at discovering her state pension would not be uprated, following her planned move to Canada. Aged 76 at the time, she had already sold her house, and was days away from the move overseas, in order to live close to family members. It was a neighbour who alerted her to the fact that she would be living in a country where the UK state pension is not uprated – meaning the state pension amount she was paid wouldn’t increase each year, as it does for those living in the UK and a number of other countries. Fast forward 11 years, and Anne was told by the International Pension Centre that the department had stopped printing leaflets on the matter, in order to save costs.

The letter, dated from 2012, advised instead that the information may be obtained from the internet.

18 years on, at the age of 94, she’s determined to continue the fight for the UK to uprate the state pensions for pensioners living in all countries to today’s rate.

It follows repeated responses from the DWP which state: “The government has no intention of making any changes.”

“The excuses they give, firstly [is] money,” Anne explained.

“They say that they can’t afford to backdate us. We’re not asking for backdating.

“We’re only asking to be brought up to date from today.”

“The second point they say, is they need a reciprocal agreement.

“We asked. In 2013, the FOI 595 [response] says quite clearly [that] there is no need whatsoever for a reciprocal agreement, or rather, there is no barrier to setting up any reciprocal agreement, which has been confirmed by the Canadian government, that Britain could uprate our pensions at any time but they lack the willingness to do it.”

The DWP response to the FOI 2013/595 reads: “Bi-lateral agreements are not necessary in order for pensions paid outside Great Britain and the EU to be up-rated.

“There are currently no plans to change the existing longstanding policy of successive governments on the uprating pensions overseas; this policy was upheld in a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in 2010 which found in favour of the UK government.”

She continued: “The third one is they can’t afford it.

“It would cost £690 million a year to upgrade us, but they’re talking billions. And of course, going back for 70 years would be impossible wouldn’t it.”

The End Frozen Pensions campaign is seeking the uprate to be to today’s rate only.

“That’s all we’re asking for,” Anne said. “We realise there’s no way they’re going to be able to go back all those decades. All we’re asking for is to be upgraded from today, at today’s rate. No backpay at all.”

Anne’s career saw her work as a lecturer in a technical college.

Then, during the Second World War, she served in a variety of different roles: in the recruiting office, then in the RAF, before decoding naval messages in India.

Looking back, how does it feel to think that she has now ended up spending her retirement as a campaigner?

“Very hurtful. Very very hurtful,” she said.

“I’m astonished that the British Government will not accept the cruelties that it’s dishing out.”

“We paid for something, but we’re not getting it,” Anne added. “And it’s discriminatory because it’s only four per cent who are discriminated against.”

Anne has taken the matter to the Houses of Parliament before, meeting with one of Theresa May’s senior advisors.

She travelled there with the International Consortium of British Pensioners, presenting a petition to Downing Street, which asked for the frozen pensions to be increased.

Anne also met with more than 30 MPs.

She’s approaching 95, but Anne has vowed to continue the campaign.

“It is unbelievable that Great Britain can treat its vulnerable pensioners so shabbily,” she said.

“It’s got more and more frustrating as time goes on. None of us are getting younger.

“I’ll be 95 this year, and I’ve been fighting all these years. We’re all ageing, we’re all needing help, medical help for one thing or another.

“We’re all entitled, in fact the government have said: ‘The government is committed to ensuring economic security for people at every stage of their life, including when they reach retirement’.”

“I will not give up the fight, either until I die, or until we get our pensions.

“But I think, in many ways, it’s keeping me alive, because I’m determined not to let the government win.”

Anne now plans to return to the UK, in the hopes of meeting with the Prime Minister, and discussing the issue.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “It would cost taxpayers more than £3billion over five years to change course on an issue which has been clear and settled Government policy for 70 years. We have no plans to do so.”

Part one of this two part interview on Anne Puckridge’s campaign to end frozen overseas state pension can be read here.