FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Alcalali, Spain
Posts: 70
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Thanks for the reply but the retirement age for women in the UK is no longer 60, in my wifes case it is 63. Spose we'll have to wait till then for an E121?
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Leigh, Lancs. Ex Valencia!
Posts: 1,778
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Sorry, didn't realise it had changed. In that case, when one or other of a married couple reaches UK retirement age, both will then be covered on an E121 for SIP card purposes.
#34
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
I spoke to a lady in the DWP offices about this and she said her retirement age has gone up to 68, she reckons they will get issued with zimma frames as well as lunch vouchers. ,-))
#35
Living in NW Galicia
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 108
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Could some kind person clarify the issue of UK retirement age and SIP. Is it correct, as suggested by earlier threads, that if one's wife reaches her UK retirement age (61 in our case) then she can apply with an E121 and obtain her SIP and as part of that process I can be included and receive full entitlement to Spanish healthcare even though I have not reached 65?
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Leigh, Lancs. Ex Valencia!
Posts: 1,778
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Could some kind person clarify the issue of UK retirement age and SIP. Is it correct, as suggested by earlier threads, that if one's wife reaches her UK retirement age (61 in our case) then she can apply with an E121 and obtain her SIP and as part of that process I can be included and receive full entitlement to Spanish healthcare even though I have not reached 65?
#37
Living in NW Galicia
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 108
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Excellent. So, by inference if we apply for our E106 when my wife is 59 and receive 2 years entitlement to a SIP, then we can reapply for a new SIP with an E121 on her 61st birthday. Or am I being too optimistic?
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Leigh, Lancs. Ex Valencia!
Posts: 1,778
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
That is correct. But remember that the E106 is issued for a period up to I believe 30 months, depending on you NI contributions in the 2 year period leading up to your application.
#39
Living in NW Galicia
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 108
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Valenciatim - many thanks for the information. I took early retirement in UK and have not paid NI contributions for 4 years as I have sufficient years contributions for a full state pension when I reach 65. It am be worth my while to investigate voluntary contributions now to secure free gratis SIP cover via the E106. I will chat with DWP.
Again many thanks from wet Galicia.
Again many thanks from wet Galicia.
#40
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Valenciatim - many thanks for the information. I took early retirement in UK and have not paid NI contributions for 4 years as I have sufficient years contributions for a full state pension when I reach 65. It am be worth my while to investigate voluntary contributions now to secure free gratis SIP cover via the E106. I will chat with DWP.
Again many thanks from wet Galicia.
Again many thanks from wet Galicia.
#41
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Voluntary NI contributions now won't help...they are only for topping up your contributions for your pension entitlement if required and entitle you to nothing else.
Your entitlement or otherwise to an E106 is dependant on your NI contributions being up to date immediately prior to leaving the UK.
Your entitlement or otherwise to an E106 is dependant on your NI contributions being up to date immediately prior to leaving the UK.
#42
Living in NW Galicia
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 108
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Hmmm. Plan A then - wait for wife to reach her retirement age and apply for E121.
I have heard of individuals who "wing it" re healthcare by keeping in place there EHIC and GP paying for minor medical costs in Spain as they require with fallback position of returning to UK to sort major health issues. Not within the rules but ......... .
Re losing the last 5 years contributions to UK pension if you leave before you are 60 - I believe this refers to the fact that you are credited with 5 years if you are in UK when you are 60 and then leave. If you have accumulated the necessary need 30 years prior to 60 for the full basic state pension you will not have years taken from that.
I have heard of individuals who "wing it" re healthcare by keeping in place there EHIC and GP paying for minor medical costs in Spain as they require with fallback position of returning to UK to sort major health issues. Not within the rules but ......... .
Re losing the last 5 years contributions to UK pension if you leave before you are 60 - I believe this refers to the fact that you are credited with 5 years if you are in UK when you are 60 and then leave. If you have accumulated the necessary need 30 years prior to 60 for the full basic state pension you will not have years taken from that.
#43
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Hmmm. Plan A then - wait for wife to reach her retirement age and apply for E121.
I have heard of individuals who "wing it" re healthcare by keeping in place there EHIC and GP paying for minor medical costs in Spain as they require with fallback position of returning to UK to sort major health issues. Not within the rules but ......... .
Re losing the last 5 years contributions to UK pension if you leave before you are 60 - I believe this refers to the fact that you are credited with 5 years if you are in UK when you are 60 and then leave. If you have accumulated the necessary need 30 years prior to 60 for the full basic state pension you will not have years taken from that.
I have heard of individuals who "wing it" re healthcare by keeping in place there EHIC and GP paying for minor medical costs in Spain as they require with fallback position of returning to UK to sort major health issues. Not within the rules but ......... .
Re losing the last 5 years contributions to UK pension if you leave before you are 60 - I believe this refers to the fact that you are credited with 5 years if you are in UK when you are 60 and then leave. If you have accumulated the necessary need 30 years prior to 60 for the full basic state pension you will not have years taken from that.
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Alcalali, Spain
Posts: 70
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
Am I right?
Confused of Costa Blanca!
#45
Ex Expat
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: West Midlands, ex Granada province
Posts: 2,140
Re: FREE HEALTH CARE SPAIN
If you have 40 years already, they won't take any off you, it just means you won't get the five years credited after 60, which you would if you were in the UK.
However, if your retirement date is after 6th April 2010, you already have more than enough.
To clarify about Retirement ages, women's retirement age increases in increments from 6 April 2010 until 2020, when it is 65 the same as the men's, then after that, everybody increases to 68.
See here for your retirement date:
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/...calculator.asp
However, if your retirement date is after 6th April 2010, you already have more than enough.
To clarify about Retirement ages, women's retirement age increases in increments from 6 April 2010 until 2020, when it is 65 the same as the men's, then after that, everybody increases to 68.
See here for your retirement date:
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/...calculator.asp
Last edited by scampicat; Feb 5th 2009 at 2:26 pm.