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Do I qualify for a British pension?

I live abroad, but don't know what I'm entitled to regarding the state pension. Do I qualify for a British State Pension?

A British state pension is afforded to those who have paid in the required amount of National Insurance during their lifetime no matter where they live. You may also be eligible to pension benefits based on contributions to other countries’ welfare systems (e.g. those in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland).

If you have already started receiving you UK state pension when you decide to move overseas, you can continue to receive payments.

The UK state pension increases each year but you will not receive this increase unless you are in a country that has a social security agreement with the UK. This includes the EEA and Switzerland but excludes countries like Australia.

You must choose one country and respective bank account to which your pension will be paid and must make your initial claim within 4 months and 4 days of the state pension age.

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Last updated: 16 June 2016 at 10:45