Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Jan 28th 2020, 12:33 pm
#31
Dunroaming back in UK
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Expat in Yorkshire now
Posts: 11,298
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
I can only assume your understanding of what will happen after Brexit is limited. No , it will not be a bit more paperwork. After Brexit any UK national will need the visa requirements of a 3rd country citizen. They will need an income of over 25.000 Euros a year per individual. They may also need health insurance as at the moment the S1 cover is only available until then end of 2020 and needs the approval of the spanish Government. Further they will require a Spanish driving licence as from THIS fFriday anyone who has not registered with DGT will need to do a spanish driving test ( in Spanish Language). Plus if they leave spain for more than a set period they will lose their residency. So I think you will find it is a bit more than just an extra sheet of paper.!!
Jan 28th 2020, 12:34 pm
#32
Dunroaming back in UK
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Expat in Yorkshire now
Posts: 11,298
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Retirement visas are available for third country nationals. Assuming the Spanish government doesn’t put any extra measures in place any future British retiree will need to provide evidence of income, i.e. pension, and accommodation. This is what is required now for those wishing to use FOM as self sufficient persons. Healthcare arrangements post-Brexit have yet to be decided but the UK is seeking a reciprocal agreement with the EU but failing that bilateral deals with individual countries. Driving licences are likely to be dealt with on a similar basis. So yes, for those in receipt of a reasonable pension and looking to buy a property in Spain, it will boil down to some extra paperwork.
Jan 28th 2020, 2:30 pm
#34
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
To see how close they would be to the Spanish income requirement we would need to examine the before housing costs (BHC) number.
Jan 28th 2020, 2:33 pm
#35
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
I agree it doesn't sound like it, but it's £30,000/yr for a couple, and if they have paid off their mortgage a couple should be able to live fairly comfortably on £30k. As always with any sort of average there is going to be a wide variation on either side, and even a full pension of £155/wk (£8k/yr) for a single person living in rented accommodation is going to be very tough - it would be easy to pay £8k/yr in rent for a decent flat in many parts of the UK.
Jan 28th 2020, 2:38 pm
#36
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
I agree it doesn't sound like it, but it's £30,000/yr for a couple, and if they have paid off their mortgage a couple should be able to live fairly comfortably on £30k. As always with any sort of average there is going to be a wide variation on either side, and even a full pension of £155/wk (£8k/yr) for a single person living in rented accommodation is going to be very tough - it would be easy to pay £8k/yr in rent for a decent flat in many parts of the UK.
Jan 28th 2020, 2:44 pm
#37
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Do you have a link for that? - often the numbers for pension median income is quoted "AHC" - after housing costs, i.e. they deduct rent, mortgage, building ins, council tax, utlities etc and the median pension income (AHC) is quoted.
To see how close they would be to the Spanish income requirement we would need to examine the before housing costs (BHC) number.
To see how close they would be to the Spanish income requirement we would need to examine the before housing costs (BHC) number.
Pension earnings have fallen dramatically over the last decade, according to new data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The figures show that the current median weekly income for single pensioners is £285, down from £312 in the 2012-13 tax year. Income earned by retired workers is made up of several sources including the state pension, workplace pensions, personal pensions and income from savings and investments. Here, we take a look at which regions retired earners earn the most and how you can boost your private pension and state pension income too.
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/04...earn-the-most/
Jan 28th 2020, 2:45 pm
#38
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Indeed - those who only have the state pension and who have not bothered to save into a private one will have a tough time, especially if they are renting - that said they will doubtless be able to access housing benefit and other handouts from those who were more prudent.
But no doubt members of the BE Popular Front will be along shortly to chastise you for your bourgeois attitude! 
Jan 28th 2020, 2:48 pm
#39
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Kent
Posts: 101
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Indeed - those who only have the state pension and who have not bothered to save into a private one will have a tough time, especially if they are renting - that said they will doubtless be able to access housing benefit and other handouts from those who were more prudent.
Jan 28th 2020, 2:52 pm
#40
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Unfortunately reality for many people. Even in Germany more and more people rely on food banks https://www.dw.com/en/dramatic-rise-...nks/a-50473042
The leader of Tafel, Germany's umbrella organization for food banks, warned on Wednesday that they were in danger of being "overrun" if the country does not do more to combat poverty amongst the elderly. The number of people relying on food donations has increased to 1.65 million in the past year, a 10% increase overall, and 20% increase among people 65 and older.
The leader of Tafel, Germany's umbrella organization for food banks, warned on Wednesday that they were in danger of being "overrun" if the country does not do more to combat poverty amongst the elderly. The number of people relying on food donations has increased to 1.65 million in the past year, a 10% increase overall, and 20% increase among people 65 and older.
Jan 28th 2020, 3:04 pm
#42
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Here is one link from the DWP
Pension earnings have fallen dramatically over the last decade, according to new data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The figures show that the current median weekly income for single pensioners is £285, down from £312 in the 2012-13 tax year. Income earned by retired workers is made up of several sources including the state pension, workplace pensions, personal pensions and income from savings and investments. Here, we take a look at which regions retired earners earn the most and how you can boost your private pension and state pension income too.
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/04...earn-the-most/
Pension earnings have fallen dramatically over the last decade, according to new data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The figures show that the current median weekly income for single pensioners is £285, down from £312 in the 2012-13 tax year. Income earned by retired workers is made up of several sources including the state pension, workplace pensions, personal pensions and income from savings and investments. Here, we take a look at which regions retired earners earn the most and how you can boost your private pension and state pension income too.
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/04...earn-the-most/
This gov pension service link gives you an idea of the issue, Which should have done a better job making it clear which number it is quoting.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...-18-report.pdf
The reason for pointing this out is that of course, to meet any Spanish income requirements after Brexit it will be the BHC figure that is pertinent, not the AHC.
Jan 28th 2020, 3:13 pm
#43
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Unless disabled, everyone has earned enough during their near-50 years of work to pay something into pension savings for their retirement, some have made choices to spend it in other ways during that time and that is their choice of course, but the idea that over 50 years there was zero opportunity to prepare is erroneous.
Jan 28th 2020, 3:14 pm
#44
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Unfortunately reality for many people. Even in Germany more and more people rely on food banks https://www.dw.com/en/dramatic-rise-...nks/a-50473042
The leader of Tafel, Germany's umbrella organization for food banks, warned on Wednesday that they were in danger of being "overrun" if the country does not do more to combat poverty amongst the elderly. The number of people relying on food donations has increased to 1.65 million in the past year, a 10% increase overall, and 20% increase among people 65 and older.
The leader of Tafel, Germany's umbrella organization for food banks, warned on Wednesday that they were in danger of being "overrun" if the country does not do more to combat poverty amongst the elderly. The number of people relying on food donations has increased to 1.65 million in the past year, a 10% increase overall, and 20% increase among people 65 and older.
Jan 28th 2020, 3:21 pm
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Kent
Posts: 101
Re: Is Brexit causing an British exodus from Spain?
Unless disabled, everyone has earned enough during their near-50 years of work to pay something into pension savings for their retirement, some have made choices to spend it in other ways during that time and that is their choice of course, but the idea that over 50 years there was zero opportunity to prepare is erroneous.