Eligibility for State Pension
Jan 18th 2011 | 11:00 pm
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,327
From: Chiclana
Re: Eligibility for State Pension
Yes the person gets a Spanish pension and a UK one.
Jan 18th 2011 | 11:17 pm
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 843
Re: Eligibility for State Pension
Hi, I am writing on behalf of a friend who will be 66 this month and has lived in Spain for 30 years. Before leaving the UK he accrued approximately 18 years of National Insurance Contributions and since living in Spain and running his own business has paid in 18 years of Social Security payments. Can anyone tell me if he is likely to get a pension from Spain based on his contributions and how much this will possibly be. I know the pension rules are complex but would appreciate any information you may have. Thank you
Jan 18th 2011 | 11:38 pm
#19
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29,825
From: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Re: Eligibility for State Pension
Hi, Having been to a talk by the British High Commssion regarding pensions the current situation is that you are supposed to apply in Spain through the local Social Security office who will issue the form if you have paid into the Spanish system and they will sort it out with the National Insurance contributions made in the UK. Thats the thoery but in practice its different as the paperwork involved is tedious and the time taken to receive any pension can be long. They will not write to you as you have to apply to them. The best thing is to try applying to the UK with a form which you can download from the Pension Service. The amount of pension is always based on contributions. Forecasts are not advisable at his age unless he is going to wait and get a larger pension by waiting.
