[NannyOgg]

Hi All,

Just inquiring for a fellow pom who has been here 25 years. They left the UK around aged 30 but before they left fully contributed to a state pension.

I know it would be worth very little but does anyone know if they entitled to claim it? And of so how would they go about it?

Thanks

Nanny x

[Sam B]

When I left Uk a few weeks ago, I phoned National Insurance to cancel my contributions, and I asked them about this. Yes you are entitled to the pension and how much you get depends on how much you contributed. Get them to ring the NI office in the UK. I can't remember the number though.

[wiki]

I think that under the reciprocal agreement, if they claim a NZ state pension then they can't claim the UK pension as well - as far as I understand it, they will take your contributions to a UK state pension into account when working out if you are ellgible for NZ superannuiation. That way the number of years that you paid in doesn't just count from when you arrived in NZ...

And it's the same if you go back to the UK - you can count your years as a tax-payer in NZ as keeping your UK NI current.

My Dad has lived in NZ since 1965 and as far as I know only gets NZ pension payment that takes his residency in both countries into account.

I don't tend to think about the state pension though - in 35 years when I'm finally elligible I doubt there will be anything to claim!

[leeb]

Just spoke to Inland Revenue today (or whatever they call themselves these days) and you are entitled to claim your state pension if you live overseas. However, under current rules you must have paid NI contributions (in full time employment) for 11 years as a male to qualify for a minimum pension (calculated from your payment amounts). Not sure what the number of years before entitlement was for women but it is less. There are 2 caveats to this, 1) You can top up your NI contributions from abroad for a fee (I was qouted £124 a year for my circumstances) and 2) They are currently looking at changing the number of years you need to have contributed before you can claim a state pension as the curernt system positively descriminates towards women.

Lee

[leeb]

My spelling gets worse and worse. Sorry everyone

[Croft]

Not only are they entitled to the pension (if they've qualified!), by NZ law they MUST claim it. Any pension they get is taken off their NZ pension. With the reciprocal agreement with the UK this is handled a couple of ways, the easiest being direct to NZ Superannuation who figure it all out for you!

Full details in a Work & Income leaflet here.

http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/international-services/uk-agreement.pdf

and here.

http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1084781834510

[Riddley]

The phone no. from overseas for the pension forecast team is: 44 191 225 4811 8am - 5pm (UK time) Mon - Fri.