Any extras to the State Pension??
Nov 4th 2011 | 3:28 am
#16
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,330
From: my paradise - Jávea
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
£120 pw is about right for a full UK State pension so that's about £7250 pa and if we average the exchange at £1 : €1,10 that's about €8000 pa. I heard that the full Spanish pension was about €1000 pm so about €12000 pa.
This squares with the fact that the standard UK State pension is one of the lowest in Europe. Lower even than some of the East European new members. It's OK if you qualify and can have all the top ups and add on's such as pension credit and housing benefit then I guess it is about the same as the Spanish pension but of course a UK State pensioner does not qualify for the add on's
This squares with the fact that the standard UK State pension is one of the lowest in Europe. Lower even than some of the East European new members. It's OK if you qualify and can have all the top ups and add on's such as pension credit and housing benefit then I guess it is about the same as the Spanish pension but of course a UK State pensioner does not qualify for the add on's
they don't get all the other 'top ups' that a UK pensioner living in the UK would get though, as you say
I did see something somewhere (if I could remember where I'd post it) which worked out that even though the basic UK pension is low - with all the add-ons (which aren't that hard to qualify for) it is actually quite high compared to most other countries
Nov 4th 2011 | 3:33 am
#17
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,231
From: Granada Costa
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
I currently get a total state pension of about £178 - that's about €11000
Nov 4th 2011 | 3:34 am
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,912
From: Puente Esuri
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
my converter brought it to nearly 600 a month & yes, Spanish pensioners get a bit more than that
they don't get all the other 'top ups' that a UK pensioner living in the UK would get though, as you say
I did see something somewhere (if I could remember where I'd post it) which worked out that even though the basic UK pension is low - with all the add-ons (which aren't that hard to qualify for) it is actually quite high compared to most other countries
they don't get all the other 'top ups' that a UK pensioner living in the UK would get though, as you say
I did see something somewhere (if I could remember where I'd post it) which worked out that even though the basic UK pension is low - with all the add-ons (which aren't that hard to qualify for) it is actually quite high compared to most other countries
Nov 4th 2011 | 3:36 am
#19
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,824
From: Living in a good place
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
There was a programme on canal sur and all the pensioners interviewed were getting nowhere close to average. The average is pushed up by public sector workers. Many spanish elderly get around 400 euros pm and there are no top-ups.
Nov 4th 2011 | 3:40 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,912
From: Puente Esuri
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
Wow! how do you do that! I have £97 + what serps I earned before contracting out and a small addition for caring before reaching 65. Total £118.50. Kath has earned a 66% State in her own right so we get the grand total about £200 pw.
Nov 4th 2011 | 3:44 am
#21
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
You only get out what you put in for a Spanish pension.
Everyone bleats on about how well off Spanish pensioners are comparted to UK counterparts,
I would say, either you are bllind or dont know many Spanish pensioners, of course I will expect the "but they get free/cheap holidays" remarks.
And a free holiday is no good, when the roof in caving in......
Nov 4th 2011 | 3:56 am
#22
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,231
From: Granada Costa
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
Between us we get £330/wk which at 1.15 exchange is nearly €20000.
It just goes to prove that the quoted basic pension rates are not necessarily representative of what some people get.
Nov 4th 2011 | 4:15 am
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,912
From: Puente Esuri
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
My wife also earned 60% pension in her own right but also gets the SERPS extras - that adds up to £151/wk (£7850pa).
Between us we get £330/wk which at 1.15 exchange is nearly €20000.
It just goes to prove that the quoted basic pension rates are not necessarily representative of what some people get.
Between us we get £330/wk which at 1.15 exchange is nearly €20000.
It just goes to prove that the quoted basic pension rates are not necessarily representative of what some people get.
Nov 4th 2011 | 4:34 am
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,912
From: Puente Esuri
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
There is an e-petition currently on-line:-
"To pay a state pension in line with the rest of the EU which is 11.2% GDP. And above the poverty level."
Sadly it has only received 149 signatures so far!
It was originated by Pensioners Campaign UK but not supported by many it seems.
"To pay a state pension in line with the rest of the EU which is 11.2% GDP. And above the poverty level."
Sadly it has only received 149 signatures so far!
It was originated by Pensioners Campaign UK but not supported by many it seems.
Nov 4th 2011 | 5:00 am
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,367
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
I've just been walking this afternoon in one of our local seaside resorts, loads of buses full up with Saga Louts arriving, could be trouble in town tonight!
The holidays certainly aren't free, but it's the cheap, out of season period, and there seems to be no shortage of punters out for a fun week.
Nov 4th 2011 | 5:57 am
#26
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,231
From: Granada Costa
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
Nov 4th 2011 | 7:16 am
#27
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,327
From: Chiclana
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
My wife also earned 60% pension in her own right but also gets the SERPS extras - that adds up to £151/wk (£7850pa).
Between us we get £330/wk which at 1.15 exchange is nearly €20000.
It just goes to prove that the quoted basic pension rates are not necessarily representative of what some people get.
Between us we get £330/wk which at 1.15 exchange is nearly €20000.
It just goes to prove that the quoted basic pension rates are not necessarily representative of what some people get.
Nov 4th 2011 | 8:23 am
#28
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 509
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
I got 1.1517 on my company pension on the 1st. Citibank.
Nov 4th 2011 | 8:24 am
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 205
From: Alfaz del Pi, Costa Blanca
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
Not available outside the uk unless one of you is receiving a pension.
Nov 4th 2011 | 10:07 am
#30
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,231
From: Granada Costa
Re: Any extras to the State Pension??
The average exchange rate last year was 1.15. The official rate for tax purposes was 1.16.
I got 1.14 last week for a UK cheque paid into my Spanish bank.
