DWP imposes 'cruel' state pension 'freeze' on thousands of people

A war veteran state pensioner says she has lost out on £50k - all because of a "frozen" state pension rule imposed by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). Anne Puckridge is among half a million pensioners living abroad missing out on state pension increases.

Ms Puckridge is travelling 4,400 miles from her home in Canada to ask the Labour Party government to change rules. She says the pension freeze has affected “virtually every decision in my life” and added: “I can’t remember when I bought anything new, and I have to limit even essential purchases to thrift and similar stores.

"Social activity and entertainment are mainly only memories, and festive seasons such as the approaching Christmas or birthdays are embarrassing rather than exciting events.” The End Frozen Pensions campaign says the current regime is “cruel and unnecessary”.

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Her state pension has been frozen at the rate it was when she first emigrated—missing out on regular increases received by those in Britain. Mrs Puckridge, who moved to Canada in 2001, is getting only £72.50 a week, instead of the full £169.50 entitlement.

Anne says: “I will be 100 years old in a few weeks’ time, and the decision to take the journey back to the UK at this stage of my life is not one I have taken lightly … We feel our country has cruelly abandoned us.” In response, a government spokesperson said: “We understand people move abroad for many reasons, and we provide clear information on how this can impact their finances in retirement, with the policy on the uprating of the UK state pension for recipients living overseas a longstanding one.”

32 UK parliamentarians have signed their names to a pledge urging the UK Prime Minister to carve out time for a meeting with Mrs Puckridge during her visit to the UK in December.