Do You Know About the Benefits
Available to British Nationals?
By ROBERT O'CONNOR
Every year I return to England, the land of my birth. My purpose for this journey home is multifaceted. Being directly connected with the financial services industry, I always do research on how financial products, such as auto and home insurance is being marketed.
I visit various government information centres and gain valuable insight and information on what's new in UK State Benefits. I also meet with my UK consultants, who have the in-depth expertise on UK State Benefits.
As a semi professional photographer, I take great delight in capturing the beauty of leaded glass windows in England's old churches. Many of their graveyards having the most majestic crucifixes, statues of thinking angels, and other statuesque figures.
As a member of a private member's club in Victoria, I take the advantage of the club's reciprocity privileges (the right to visit affiliated clubs throughout the world). I often wander through the hallowed halls of these clubs located in London, Liverpool, and Scotland. I'm like the little boy, who while growing up in Liverpool, was prohibited from even thinking of going into Liverpool's poshest hotel at that time The Adelphi.
Most of my visits bring in me the contact with a man whom I am deeply in love with - my 96-year old father. I always, always take a week or so to walk hand-in-hand with my Dad. Cherished moments never to be forgotten.
I thought in this epistle I would touch on some of the benefits of having a British passport and a UK residential address, with a "Did you know?" column.
Did You Know?
Any British citizen born on or before September 2, 1929 is eligible to receive a free 10-year passport. Go to www.passport.gov.uk or telephone from Canada the passport advice line at 011-44-870-521-0410.
Did You Know?
If you are 60 or over, all rail companies offer a one third discount on most types of rail tickets. Simply take your British passport to any staffed railway station, pay £20 and you will receive a one-year pass. For more information go to www.senior-railroad.co.uk or telephone from Canada 011-44-845-748-4950.
Did You Know?
From April of this year UK residents aged 60 or over, and those with disabilities are entitled to a free bus pass. In 2008 the plans are for this bus pass to be available for use throughout Britain, with no restrictions to your UK residential address!
Did You Know?
Any British resident who is age 60 or over, is entitled to free National Health prescriptions, along with generous subsidies for dental, hearing aids, chiropody/podiatry services. All eyesight tests are free to people 60 or over. If for some reason you cannot visit an optician's practice, they will come to your home!
Did You Know?
If you were a resident of the UK and age 60 or over you, would receive a £200-winter fuel payout. An extra £100 is paid where someone in the same household is aged 80 or over.
Did You Know?
If you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions, and are under pension age, and you die, your spouse is entitled to a £2,000.00 death benefit (this is known as a "Bereavement Payment").
Did You Know?
Since November 2000 the UK government will pay an "ex gratia" (Latin for out of grace, favour, or indulgence; gratuitous) payment of £10,000 to the surviving member of British groups held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War.
• The £10,000.00 is paid to surviving members of Armed Forces or Merchant Navy who were held prisoners.
• Certain former service personnel who were members of the Colonial Forces.
• British civilians interned in the Far East. To qualify you must have been born in the UK, or had a parent or grandparent born in the UK.
• If you are the surviving widow (or widower) of any of the above you may qualify for the £10,000.00. For more information on the "ex gratia" payment, write to: Veterans Agency, Norcross, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 3WP United Kingdom, or go to www.veteransagency.mod.UK.
Did You Know?
That if you have only made one year of National Insurance contributions (NI), and you are in your forties or fifties, and you are willing to make some voluntary NI contributions, then you and your spouse may well be entitled to a UK State Pension!
Robert O'Connor is a UK Expatriate and a specialist on Canada's CPP and UK State Benefits. He can be reached via email: roconnor@telus.net or telephone: (604) 682-8087.
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