Many UK citizens dream of moving abroad after retirement to live their golden years. Some may want to Asian cities, while others prefer to be closer to home in European countries. Whatever your choice, you may still want to know how to claim your UK State Pension when abroad.
To help you understand what to do, this article by Pacific Prime UK looks at what the UK State Pension is and what the qualifying years are, as well as provides an overview of how to claim your UK State Pension abroad.
What is the UK State Pension?
The State Pension is a regular payment from the government to most UK citizens, claimable when they reach 66, which is the legal age of the State Pension if eligible. You can use this calculator to plan ahead and determine how much retirement income you can expect.
UK State Pension: Old and New
There are currently two State Pension schemes, and the one you fall into depends on when you were born. The first is the old State Pension, and the other is the new State Pension, which was introduced on 6 April 2016.
Note: If you have been claiming from the old State Pension, you will not be switched to the New State Pension. Only new claimants receive the new State Pension.
Old State Pension in the UK
You can claim the old State Pension if you’re:
- a man born before 6 April 1951
- a woman born before 6 April 1953
How Much State Pension Will I Get?
With the old State Pension, you can get a maximum of GBP £156.20 per week (in 2022/23). This amount increases every year by whichever is the highest of the following:
- Earnings – the average percentage growth in wages (in Great Britain) each year
- Prices – the percentage growth in prices in the UK as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI)
- 2.5%
According to Age UK, if you have made less than 30 years of contributions to the National Insurance scheme, you’ll get 1/30 of the full State Pension amount for each year of contributions.
You may also get an Additional State Pension, which is based on your National Insurance (NI) contributions. The amount you’re entitled to depends on your earnings and whether you have already claimed certain benefits.
New State Pension in the UK
The new State Pension scheme is somewhat different from the old State Pension scheme. To be able to claim the new State Pension, you will need to be:
- a man born on or after 6 April 1951
- a woman born on or after 6 April 1953
How Long Must I Contribute For Until I Can Qualify?
On top of your date of birth, you’ll usually need at least 10 qualifying years (up to 35 years) on your NI record to get any State Pension under the new scheme. To help clarify, this means for 10 years, at least one or more of the following must apply to you:
- You were working and paid National Insurance contributions
- You were getting National Insurance credits, for example, if you were unemployed, ill or a parent/carer
- You were paying voluntary National Insurance contributions
How Much State Pension Will I Get?
To get the full amount of GBP £203.85 per week (in 2022/23) under the new State Pension scheme, you’ll need 35 qualifying years. Your new State Pension is based on your NI record when you reach the State Pension age. You can get an estimate by checking your State Pension statement.
How to Claim Your State Pension Abroad
Once you have reached the above requirements, you can make a claim. You must contact the International Pension Centre (IPC) within 4 months once you are eligible, to ensure your pension claim gets processed swiftly and smoothly. It is also possible for you to get a letter from the Pension Service no later than 2 months before you reach State Pension age.
You can contact the IPC, Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm:
- By email, using the online enquiry form
- By telephone: (+44) 0800 731 7898
- By textphone: (+44) 0800 731 7339
- By video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users – check how you can use this service
- By claiming online
How do I Obtain My Pension Payment When Abroad?
To receive your UK State Pension, you will need:
- a bank account in the country you’re living in
- a bank or building society in the UK
You can use:
- an account in your name
- a joint account
- someone else’s account – if you have their permission and keep to the terms and conditions of the account agreed upon
Note: You’ll need the international bank account number (IBAN) and bank identification code (BIC) numbers if you provide an overseas account. You’ll be paid in the local currency, and the amount you get may change due to fluctuations in the exchange rates on the day of the transaction.
Get Further Advice from the IPC Regarding Your State Pension
Contact the International Pension Centre if you want advice on how your pension might be affected if you’ve already retired or are considering moving abroad.
When Will I Get Paid?
During your claim, you can choose to be paid every 4 or 13 weeks. However, if your State Pension is under GBP £5 per week, you’ll be paid once a year in December.
Your payment day depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance number.
| Last 2 digits of your National Insurance Number | Payment day of the week |
| 00 to 19 | Monday |
| 20 to 39 | Tuesday |
| 40 to 59 | Wednesday |
| 60 to 79 | Thursday |
| 80 to 99 | Friday |
Do Retirees Need International Health Insurance Abroad?
In the UK, citizens and residents enjoy free universal provision from the NHS, and private medicine and medical insurance are auxiliary rather than essential. However, outside of the UK, healthcare operates differently.
Many countries require UK retirees to have health insurance to cover medical costs that may arise due to illness or an accident, as one of the mandatory requirements for visa application. This is true for countries like the UAE and Thailand.
Fortunately, Pacific Prime UK specialises in international health insurance plans for retirees that provide medical benefits in virtually any country worldwide. The core benefits and features include:
- Global coverage
- Portability
- Inpatient and outpatient coverage
- Direct billing
- 24/7 customer support
Reach out to Pacific Prime UK for More Insurance Options
Retirees may consider securing retiree health insurance to help provide a sense of security. Different insurers will have different policies in place. While some insurers will cut off new clients at certain ages, some others provide plans with no maximum age limit and even lifetime renewability.
Pacific Prime UK’s team of experts is on hand to help retirees make the right decisions when choosing the right health insurance plan. As the region’s go-to insurance broker for health insurance plans, we have supported numerous individuals and families with their health insurance needs.
With over 20 years of experience in the industry, our team of expert advisors is always at your service to help and support you throughout your insurance journey. Having collaborated with top global insurers and won awards for our excellent customer services, we are the broker of choice for many expats, retirees, and businesses.
Contact us today for impartial advice and an obligation-free plan comparison!
For those who wish to retire or move abroad, our guide to moving abroad as an expat will help you prepare properly. We also frequently update our blog to provide the most updated information regarding financial health in various aspects.
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