Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

My wife and I, both of us are over 60, are planning to move back to the UK as soon as our house is sold in Cape Town.
We both want to work either part-time or full time but want to understand what benefits we are entitled to.
I have checked on many web sites, phoned different government depts but nobody can say for certain what we would be entitled to. All I get is the run around to phone this dept. or that dept.
Can anyone help that has been in the same position as us?
Are there any companies in the UK that can assist me?
Kind regards,

Martin

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Welcome to the forum. Folk are going to need more information before giving you useful advice. Are you UK citizens? When did you leave the Uk? Did you work there before leaving? Have either of you been making voluntary NI contributions etc.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

You need a "Benefits Check" from a competent Welfare Rights Adviser. I consult Age Concern. Try a google. It is not a "company" but an organisation that exists to help older people to help themselves.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

snapshot for the OP

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN....pdf?dtrk=true

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/be...ming-benefits/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/

.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

We can't tell you what you might be eligible for - maybe something, maybe nothing.

I you are destitute when arriving back in the UK (does not sound like it as you have a home to sell) you might get something.

You'll need to visit the job centres. citizens advice bureau and social services offices to find out.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Thanks very much.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Unfortunately with the exchange rate we won't have very much to take back

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

I left the UK in 1970 while my wife left in 1983. We both worked there and do receive a social pension from the UK every month. Neither of us have paid voluntary contributions. We are both British citizens.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Then, as I understand it, you'll both have NHS coverage from day one, but would not have access to any other so-called "benefits" for three months.

I hate it when people use the word entitlement in this context,

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

I know.
The word 'entitlement' in regard to social help and welfare has been rather high-jacked the past decade or so & it has come to mean something other than often intended . Something negative.


Welcome to BE silver49. I was born in the year of the wood horse so we're not far out in vintage.

It may help members if you would feel able to say what sort of assistance you were thinking of to help with your repatriation and getting you both on your feet with a roof over your heads and working.

Or perhaps what your concerns are for making this huge move.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

If you are moving back with the proceeds of a house sale and don't have dependent children with you, then I would be pretty sure you won't be eligible for any benefits. It doesn't take a lot to preclude one from benefits, maybe £16k or so? Plan to stand on your own two feet when you get back.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

If you are already receiving the UK state pension, then I think I'm right in saying that in South Africa you do not get the annual increase. But you will in the UK, so your UK state pension will become more valuable to you.

You will be entitled to NHS care from the day you arrive, but you will have to wait for entitlement to any means tested benefits.

The most important benefit for you will be Pension Credit which currently guarantees an income of £230.85 per week for a couple. In other words, your income will be made up to this amount, if it is below that level.

You can have up to £10,000 in savings without your entitlement to Pension Credit being affected (both the £10,000 and the income from the £10,000 will be ignored). Above that level your pension credit will be reduced by £1 a week for every £500 in savings.

Pension credit is not the only means tested benefit you may be able to claim after three months. You may also be able to get housing benefit and council tax support. If you have care needs due to disability you may also qualify for attendance allowance.

Being of pension age, you will be entitled to the freedom pass, giving free bus use, and free NHS prescriptions and eye checks.

The Age UK site will be of great help to you. I also compiled a list of links for over fifties which you will find useful.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

A&E NHS emergency treatment is available on day one.

For other treatment, don't you have to register with a GP by showing proof of a UK residential address eg utility bill ?

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

It's up to the GP to check. Most don't seem to. Mine didn't when I registered two years ago. We had someone on the forum recently, who said he'd had difficulty, but that's the first I can remember saying that. Either way, proof of residence need not wait for a utility bill, a copy of a tenancy agreement, or proof of property ownership would suffice.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

If you don't like the word entitlement then please don't assist me!

Would you prefer I use the word benefits???

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

When I spoke to the Social Service and went onto all the web sites they list a long list of possible BENEFITS but I am trying to find out what relates to us.
It is impossible to get that answer so I am hoping this forum can assist.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Thanks so much for all the information. I owe you!

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

What are you talking about? How is telling somebody that they will need to stand on their own two feet if they have more than a certain amount of savings patronising in your book? It is a simple fact, the UK does not provide benefits to adults without children that have money in the bank.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Go and register with a GP. Proof of citizenship and address MAY be needed.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Actually, it does give money to people with money in the bank, if they are over state retirement age. Try reading my post above.

I thought your comment was patronising, because you are addressing two people over retirement age, who have presumably been 'standing on their own two feet' for a considerable length of time. Moreover, they have previously worked in the UK and payed into the system.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

You are welcome. I hope your move goes well.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

New2old gave you some good links, I'll add another:
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

It's quite possible that you won't be able to work out exactly which benefits you might get (& how much), until you are actually back resident in the UK.

NHS, you'd be eligible on arrival; others might/will be subject to an habitual residency test, and/or means tested.

If you check the links given carefully, you'll see explanations of eligibility which should help you work out whether or not you might be able to claim.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

That ends tomorrow. If both are over state pension age by tomorrow, or they have already been claiming this, then it will continue, but there will almost cetainly be changes for this in the future for obvious reasons.

There are lot of changes under the Welfare reforms. i.e. the two new welfare payments of Pension Credit (for those who didn't plan for their old age) and both parts of Tax Credits (for those that don't keep the children they are having or themselves) are just about being reversed. It's foolish to rely on benefits longterm.

Even SMI (Support for Mortgage Interest) that many pensioners used as they didn't plan to pay off their mortgage when they retired, is stopping.
The same with those who rent privately, Local Housing Allowance is being reduced and is being frozen and more often than not, this benefit will now not cover all the rent.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

For that benefit they must "have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years".
https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/eligibility

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

That is incorrect. Fresh claims of pension credit are available for people who reach pension age before April 6 2016, as the OP and his partner have already done.

The Prime Minister recently reacted with anger to a suggestion his government would cut pension benefits.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Not for free in England anymore, soon. That is ending. They did say in 2015 that they were planning to stop this.

If the OP and his wife can prove he has returned to the UK to live, then that will still be free.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Since the OP and his spouse are returning to the UK to live, why should this be a problem?

Which is why a new pensioner's housing allowance is being introduced for pension credit claimants.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

That's what I said.


State pension is different to Pension Credit. Don't get state pensions confused with welfare payments for pensioners.

Camereron can indeed say he hasn't cut state pensions as they are going to rise for those of pension age from 6 April; at least, it will be a rise for those who didn't plan for their retirement. This ensures they then can't claim Pension Credit. Pension Credit is/was a passport benefit to other benefits, such as Housing Benefits and Council Tax Allowance. Pension Credit was a new benefit, it encouraged abuse and it is right that this will end.


The government are also ending other benefit for pensioners:-
Research showed that many pensioners were retiring without paying off their mortgage as they expected the welfare state to pay the interest on that mortgage for them. That benefit is ending.
Benefits for rent in private housing is being frozen from this month for 4 years, but already it often won't over all the rent.
Free NHS for visiting UK state pensioners has ended if they reside outside the UK.
Retirees to another EEA country no longer get their health care paid for by the UK if they aren't in receipt of a UK state pension.

All these changes have been in the public domain for years. It's a foolish person who plans their retirement around UK benefits. Benefits change all the time. Just look at all the welfare cuts.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Pension credit is not ending. Savings credit is being reduced. That is all.

I attempted to provide a link to Age UK's information about the new pensioner's housing credit linked to pension credit, but the link does not work. Here it is again..

This is what Age UK says about it:

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

That's why I said it wouldn't be a problem if they can prove they are residing in the UK.

I was merely correcting that free A&E for all in England, seems to be ending. The government living up to it's pledge to shut down another abuse.


I can't get your quote to work. I assume you are talking about the welfare reforms of six income based benefits for working age people being placed under one new benefit Universal Credit? And that as pensioners are not of wokring age, there is is separate section for them? I hadn't read anything yet that says that pensioners renting in the private sector would have all their rent paid for by benefits. Have i missed it?

Social housing is in short supply and councils now seem to insist that these houses only go to those that have lived in their area for years. There seem to be spare social housing in some northern areas of Scotland, but then their fuel bills will be much higher in those places.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

As is becoming traditional on this forum, I request that formula provides some evidence that there are plans to abolish pension credit, and a link to the 'research' that shows it is open to abuse.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Formula, I don't claim any benefits. Nor am I ever likely to, since I have a fairly high income and level of savings. However, I do believe in the welfare state, and I like to be helpful.

You, on the other hand, seem to get a kick out of imagining the safety net of welfare being dismantled, and your fantasies go well beyond Conservative party policy, even assuming that the Tories get to carry out their entire programme, given that they have just had to backtrack on disability benefits.

SNIP

For the benefit of the OP. The advice I've given is 100% accurate (though I could have been clearer on the residence qualifications for attendance allowance). Formula has confused two separate benefits -- pension credit and pension savings credit. Only pension savings credit is being cut back. I did not mention pension savings credit in my original post, but because of your age you would still be entitled to make a claim. Details are on this link.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

:goodpost:

Edited to add: On "entitlement": it's just a stylistic preference. One needs to fit certain criteria to receive almost every form of benefit; I prefer the word "qualify".

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

The Welfare State is necessary in the modern world. It's just that many governments are not in touch with reality and have not paid sufficient attention to it.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Treatment at A&E and GP surgeries remains free to all including visitors not that it's relevant to this thread as the OP is returning to live permanently in the UK.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Firstly thank you for your question, it's exactly the information I am looking for as well.
We are also considering returning to the UK from S. Africa but only once my husband has retired in a year or two (he has EU passport). I am also a full British citizen and I came to S. Africa in 1980. Unfortunately I haven't paid voluntary contributions either as I wasn't aware that you could do this at the time of leaving the UK. I am very interested in how you qualify for a social pension every month, I was told this wasn't possible if you haven't contributed since you left the UK.
I turned 60 last year, so I would really appreciate your imput as to how I can get a social pension like you have and where to apply.Thank you

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Your first step should be to check on your state pension entitlement (follow the link). Although you left the UK in your early twenties, it is likely you made some National Insurance contributions before then, and since you have a few years left before you reach the state retirement age of 66, you have time to make more contributions to increase your pension.

Most other benefits are means-tested and your husband's income would be taken into account. I note from your previous posts that he is a surgeon, so I doubt whether his pension income is low enough to entitle the two of you to means tested benefits. But, if I'm wrong, read my advice to silver49 above, and have a look at one of the benefit calculators available on the internet. The one on the Age UK site is easy to use.

Non means tested benefits include NHS care, and when you reach 66 you'll get free bus travel.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Thank you so much for your quick reply. You are very knowledgeable and I appreciate the help.
Yes my husband is a Surgeon but as the OP stated the exchange rate is really bad £1-R22 and dropping daily, so when any income from a pension or otherwise is converted it's not a lot.
I just wanted to know how the OP manages to get a pension from the UK if they haven't been contributing at all and which route I should take if I wanted to have one. The exchange rate would then work in my favour and then when we move back it would increase. Thank you for the link but it doesn't seem to get me onto the site at all.

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

Hi. If you've not long turned 60 then I'm guessing you were born around 1955/56, which means you fall under the new pension rules. Try this link to those rules, including eligibility https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/overview

Re: Returning to the UK from South Africa
 

The link works for me, so I'm not sure how it isn't working for you.

The url is:https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension. Type it in the address line if necessary.

The OP and spouse have already claimed their state pensions, so my guess is that they made enough contributions before they emigrated, to get a partial pension when they retired.

I'm not knowledgeable on voluntary NI contributions. Hopefully someone will be along to give you more detailed advice. But, I do know you can pay back payments of 6 years. Since you have another five years to go to retirement age, that makes eleven years that you could accumulate before retirement, added to any you paid before you left the UK.

A full pension now requires 35 years contributions, but you might get as much as 50% of that.

This is the gov.uk page on voluntary NI contributions: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-nationa...ions/deadlines
However, the new pension rules, and the transitional arrangements do complicate things.