You need 30 years for a full pension, anything less gets you a pension pro rated, so 15 years is a half pension.
I think you can still pay and top up a few years.

30 years isnt it for a full pension? and you can buy back payments apparently

Sorry if I misunderstand or this has been talked about on another thread, but what is buying back payments? I left the UK at 18 before I had a job. Cheers

That would be a lot of back payments I think they allow 6 years at a time, it's something like £23 a week or something.
I can add my US contributions, not really sure how it works I have about 15 years paid here.

Thanks indeed, I appreciate it, I should hurry up and get out of here

I agree with Quoll, though it is always possible to go back, there seems to come a time when you seem to get beyond it. Family, fiances etc, even just the energy to deal with the immensity of moving. I've been here 19 years and for us (partner and 12 year old daughter, both Australian) this is the year WE GO HOME. The only advice I can give is don't leave it too late... it just gets harder and more complicated the longer you leave it.

The problem with backpaying the UK pension is that you're only paying towards Part A (I think) which provides just part of the pension. Part B is calculated from a percentage of your earnings and provides the bulk of the pension. Therefore, you can backpay pension contributions but only the part A, so you'd be receiving a small amount compared to everyone else.

Hi King Kong,

We exchanged a few posts in Sept last year and I haven't really been on BE much since then. Just wondering how your first few months back in blighty have been & what has been the hardest thing to adjust to over there (I expect that would be the weather).

Would love to hear a short summary of what it's been like to return after so many years in Aus.

Best wishes,
BB

Gotta agree with this, having a citizenship also gives your kids access to HECS-HELP so they can get free education (if they leave Australia or make less then 50k they never have to pay it back). Unfortunately rules were changed last year and this is scheme is no longer available to PRs.

We are Citizens and we certainly dont get free education....so I would check with that.....and HECS etc you do have to pay it back.....and you do not always get HECS.......getting C/Ship can be great but everyone is different and sometimes if you "just have to go" then you should.....

When I say "free" I mean that according to the current rules which can be found on the HECS website you do not have to pay this back if you leave
the country OR do not make more than 50k a year. Even then it's indexed to inflation and there is no interest.

Well I am unsure you have made your decision yet or not!? However, I lived in Australia and various places in the world I have come to the conclusion that the grass is always greener on the other side! What you don't have there you will have here, etc, etc.
18 months is enough time to settle in but not really enough time to upheavel yourselves and head straight back to the U.K because your bored.
Go back to the U.K for a holiday so that you get a feel of home, after all you are bound to miss your own country & cultural connections.

I also found Oz bland but the land itself is something to be marvelled at.

I live abroad and am thinking of maybe returning to back to Europe, hopefully it will not be the U.K as I left for a reason. Unfortunately where I am now lacks opportunities and there is the ever hovering fear of conflict, language barrier even though I'm fluent. I came here for my spouse as opposed to seeking some sunshine BUT at the same time, life is more comfortable than the U.K as everything is weather permitting.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hello everyone,
I live in South Dakota USA. Have done for 21 years. Had a green card then became a citizen in 1995. I was only going to stay for a couple of years but suddenly it is 21 years later.
I am 61 and have some disabilities. On Social Security.
I want to move to Herefor to be close to my two granddaugters. I was back there in 2003 when my son, their father, was killed in a horrific car crash. Haven't been back since.
I feel the need to return, to be close to my granddaughters, have missed out on so much of their lives.
I understand that to get benefits there is a long wait. I will get my SS sent to me, but it won't be much once it is changed into pounds. And finding somewhere to rent and having money to live on will take what little I have.
Any ideas??
Liz

If you click on "Search" and drag to Advanced Search ... then search for "benefits" and specify this forum (MBTTUK), you'll find a lot of threads on claiming benefits. It will save you time waiting for individual answers to your questions. The wait may not be as long as you think.

Also, read the thread on the over 50's and 60's, it will tell you more than you ever need to know about the experience of moving back. Put the kettle on - it's a very long thread!

We family of 6 moved back to the Uk from NZ in 2007, no regrets whatsoever.