Originally Posted by billgates

When I first applied for residency my finger prints were taken.

When I applied to renew my residency they weren't, and I'm sure that no-one else had theirs taken either, and some of them were applying for their first residency.

So maybe this is something else they have stopped doing?

Originally Posted by lynnxa

they haven't done that since they changed the rules from 'applying for residency' to 'registering as resident' in 2007

Originally Posted by billgates

What's with the entitlement attitude that so many brits have?
I hear it all the time, just because someone has "been paying into the system all my life" why do they expect to be able to "get something back"?

I mean, you pay car insurance for years and never make a claim. Do you then expect a refund? No. And if you stop paying your car insurance and then have an accident you suddenly find that you aren't covered. As expected.
So why with the uk National Insurance that everyone in the uk pays do people still expect to be able to claim on it long after they have stopped actually paying into it?

Oh, and I agree about the bankers. They should be strung up.

Originally Posted by mikeglover

Ive not reached retirement age yet but is it true that Brits who retire out here still get the UK winter fuel allowance? if so, do most of them opt out of receiving it ?

Originally Posted by mikeglover

Ive not reached retirement age yet but is it true that Brits who retire out here still get the UK winter fuel allowance? if so, do most of them opt out of receiving it ?

Originally Posted by mikeglover

Ive not reached retirement age yet but is it true that Brits who retire out here still get the UK winter fuel allowance? if so, do most of them opt out of receiving it ?

Originally Posted by mikeglover

Well said all, i agree that as i have paid into the system and the system allows me to have a winter fuel allowance when i retire (sods law, they will scrap it just as i reach retirement age - which also keeps changing before i can reach it), i will gladly accept the allowance (it gets pretty chill up here in the mountains). I wonder also, how many of the people who reckon that as we have left the UK, we are not entitled to anything, still decided to get a S1 from Newcastle before they came over here (before state retirement age). Which reminds me, as i live over here, can i still get one when i reach retirement age?

Originally Posted by lynnxa

once you reach retirement age you will automatically have your healthcare here paid by the UK via the S1 - they'll send it to you



as it stands atm of course...............

Originally Posted by tommy.irene

Only if you ask them.. how does a computer know you moved to Spain,,, and yes we still get the winter fuel payment..

Originally Posted by lynnxa

the computer will surely have your address

how else will it know where to send the pension info letters ?

Originally Posted by tommy.irene

I had to ring the penson office and fill the form in over the phone ,that i had moved to Spain..they dont inform you.. you inform them..

Originally Posted by lynnxa

of course you had to inform them that you live in Spain - wouldn't you tell them of any change of address

what I mean is - assuming they know your address (wherever that may be) - the forms would be sent to you & when you get your pension you will automatically get the S1 if that address is in Spain (or anywhere else you can use it)

I recently received S1 forms from myself & my children - I didn't have to ask for them - they just appeared in my letter box

Originally Posted by snikpoh

I think something has been lost in translation.

As an early retiree, I haven't informed the 'pensions office' (DWP I assume) that I am in Spain. Should I have done?

When I get close to retirement age, I assume that I will have to inform them then and wait for the forms - they won't be able to send them to me which I think is what was being said.

Originally Posted by snikpoh

I think something has been lost in translation.

As an early retiree, I haven't informed the 'pensions office' (DWP I assume) that I am in Spain. Should I have done?

When I get close to retirement age, I assume that I will have to inform them then and wait for the forms - they won't be able to send them to me which I think is what was being said.