Nurse-Tom

Hi Folks,
Need some help here. My folks have lived in Australia for the last 11 years (they retired here). Unfortunately, rediculous UK legislation means their pensions were frozen when they left the UK. This combined with weak sterling and spiralling private health care costs (they HAVE to go private) mean they are considering leaving Oz to re-retire in Spain (they lived their many years ago so feel it's a better option than the UK). The resources within the family simply do not exist to support them to remain in Australia. They are skint living in Oz so have virtually no life-style choices at all. They have a small property here which they are struggling to sell. If/when it's sold, and after moving costs and settling some health care bills they will not be left with much in their pockets.

Q: Will they recieve their full UK pension once they arrive on Spain?
Q: Will they be entitled to free health care? (They both suffer with existing chronic health conditons)
Q: Difficult question.... but..... are they really likely to be any better off financially or from a life-style point of view by returning to spain?

VFR

Yes as UK pensioners they will have free health care.
They will of course be a lot nearer to you. (stating the obvious)
They will receive (as far as I know) a better pension as they will be in the EU.

lynnxa

in answer to Q3 - from what you've said of their life in OZ - better than there - but debatably not better in Spain than the UK (apart from the weather)- it's not so cheap to live here now as in the past & in the UK they would probably be entitled to all sorts of state benefits which they wouldn't get here

a lot of pensioners are returning to the UK because the pension simply doesn't stretch as far as it used to

JLFS

I agree with Lynn, in a case like this one, there is REALLY no place like home ie the UK.

For all the maoning about the UK, for people who are not so well off, there is no better place to live, it may not be perfect but that is the place to head for.

snikpoh

It's my understanding though, that as non-UK resident, their pensions are frozen and do NOT increase with inflation, cost-of-earnings or anything like that. So, in real terms, any pension decreases year-on-year.

searcher48

in EU it will increase...one of the reasons we left our last residence country!

Fred James

Does it go back up to what it would have been if you hadn't left the EU or does it just start increasing again from the existing figure?

snikpoh

Thanks for that, will it increase the same as if you were still living in UK?

Rambling Rose

Suggest they contact the International Pension Centre to find out their exact position. They should be able to tell them whether they will get a full pension if they return to the UK or some other EU country. They are on the Directgov website:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Dire...acts/DG_178684

Personally having retired to Spain a couple of years ago we are finding it much more expensive than expected. So they may be better off in Britain although they might pick up a property bargain in Spain right now.

Rose

EsuriJohn

As far as I know the state pension will be updated to todays rate when they move into the eurozone and can be transferred to direct to a Spanish bank at a good rate of exchange by DWP.

cadiar

Yes, Spain is dearer than it used to be, but if your Parents buy a property away from the main tourist areas, and are prepared to by local produce instead of imported British Goods, then I disagree with other comments, it is still cheaper to live in Spain, but as for income, I cannot comment on Benefit entitlement from the UK. Whatever their decision, I wish them well.

jackytoo

If their only income is a state pension then it is not enough to live in Spain. In the UK state pension is topped up quite a bit by pension credit.

I don't think living inland in an isolated village is ideal for old people who do not speak the language.

cadiar

There are plenty of inland Villages that have many Expats living there, many who would happily help out with any language problems, and not charge!!! You just need to do some research before making any decisions.

UKinSpain

Hi Nurse-Tom,

It looks like you've already been given some good advice on here - certainly contacting the International Pension Centre would be a good move.

Also, our website has information about claiming pensions in Spain:
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-...s/uk-pensions/

and getting healthcare in Spain:
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-...ts/healthcare/

You'll find some other general information on the website too.
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-...ving-in-spain/

I wish your parents all the best with their move.

Sally

Rotor

If they have chronic health problems and dont speak fluent Spanish I think they are nuts and better of going to the UK ,if they are fluent then it will be a good move coming to Spain.

Good Luck to them either way.