Originally Posted by Lis48

Hillybilly, in my experience there´s a fifth reason too. A lot of people are running away from UK rather than coming to Spain. They might feel unfulfilled in their work in UK, unfulfilled in their relationship or just generally dissatisfied with their life. I don´t think "starting a new life" is at all easy especially when the same problems you had in UK just start happening all over again. The problems are often internal and a change of scenery just papers over the cracks. Generally I think retired people out here learnt to have lower expectations from life so are happier!

Originally Posted by SoJohn

Hi,

Sorry if my reply sounds stupid, still getting to grips with these laws and such.

I was under the impression that you could not pay into a UK state pension(national insurance) and be registered as a resident in Spain. I was also under the impression this kind of arrangement would only cover you for the first three months of being out there (can only receive free spanish health care for your initial 3 months of living there)

Originally Posted by scampicat

You can indeed as a Spanish resident pay into your British State Pension (Voluntary Contributions) if you are not paying as an employed person/self employed into the Spanish scheme. I have done this and have one more year to pay for a full pension. Voluntary Contributions are nmothing to do with Healthcare, they only count towards your Retirement Pension.

As regards Healthcare, if you have an E106 (contribution based) or E121 form (for State Pensioners and people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit from the UK) from the DSS in the UK, then these will cover yoiu fror healthcare in Spain. The E106 lasts a maximum of two years and the E121 lasts indefinitely if you are of State Pension age or for as long as you are on IB.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by SoJohn

Yes indeed. I am currently trying to work out who to pay and such. I will be working for a Dutch company while living in Spain, confuses me a lot. Am I right in thinking the Spanish National Insurance, that i'm referring to, includes pension and health care?

Originally Posted by scampicat

will cover yoiu fror healthcare in Spain. The E106 lasts a maximum of two years and the E121 lasts indefinitely if you are of State Pension age or for as long as you are on IB.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by scampicat

Some people (early retirement but not of State Retirement age) just do not plan correctly.

I know several couples in this category who have come out here to live on capital. They have rapidly run out. The one couple have sold up in the UK, haven't bothered paying NI to the UK towards their State Pension (although if this 30-year rule comes in they may be OK), don't pay into the Spanish system either and are now having to drastically downsize to release more capital. They have recently found out that thye have to pay towards medicql care (hospital bill); however a gestor is registering them as self-employed (they are not, really) and they can pay into the system that way.

Another couple in a similar situation have sold up and are running out of money, but they ARE paying into the UK State Pension and are covered on Spanish healthcare. Luckily they now have several months' work a year from their previous employers in the UK.

We are also in the category of early-retirement-but-not-retirement-age, but we still have a property in the UK, we have my husband's teachers' pension to live on, we pay into UK State Pension and are covered for Spanish Healthcare.

It amazes me how many people come with no clear idea of what they are going to live on. We would not have come if we had not got my husband's pension, nor if we'd have had to have sold up completely in the UK (although I understand that keeping a property is not possible for everyone).

So, my answer to the question is, incomplete and unrealistic financial planning.

Originally Posted by crispygirl

If baggage comes with you when you move anywhere in the world to start a new life then that baggage will stay with you until you yourself take stock of it and deposit it safely somewhere else, not only leaving it behind but actually letting go of it.

Originally Posted by Jondee

Very wise words from a very wise and crispy girl

I think the only thing that worries me for when I am over there is the health of loved ones who I have left behind. Must be very hard when theres a seriously ill relative back home and you are committed to work in another country and you cant take the time out to see them. I suppose it depends on the situation, but its something else to consider when making the decision to emigrate. Some people move without realising the sacrifices you have to make.

Originally Posted by Daveinspain

Why do so many fail?..............Wouldn't failure be to sit in the UK dreaming,but never come over and give it a go.

Originally Posted by Jondee

Very wise words from a very wise and crispy girl

I think the only thing that worries me for when I am over there is the health of loved ones who I have left behind. Must be very hard when theres a seriously ill relative back home and you are committed to work in another country and you cant take the time out to see them. I suppose it depends on the situation, but its something else to consider when making the decision to emigrate. Some people move without realising the sacrifices you have to make.

Originally Posted by mikelincs

However, you are only a couple of hours by plane away, and if you were living at opposite ends on England, never mind the UK, it would take much longer to get there.

Originally Posted by Daveinspain

Why do so many fail?..............Wouldn't failure be to sit in the UK dreaming,but never come over and give it a go.

Originally Posted by Jondee

It's funny how so many people are telling me that I should really think hard about this, like I am just going to up sticks and head straight for the airport with a one way ticket in my hand.


The best laid schemes o' mice and men
Gang aft agley
And leave us nought but grief and pain
For promised joy!

Originally Posted by iocara

Personally it's not failure..... if you think about it, if people did not realise their dreams and try, then they would always look back with regret and think "If I had done that then I would have been happy, successful and content", which might never have been the case but would impact on their everyday lives, always thinking that there is something much better out their in Spain etc, at least if people try then they can look back hopefully without regrets and think "well hey I tried it, and it didn't work", the latter is not a good situation, but neither is a life time of regret.

I am in the latter class, having to live in Spain for the next 7 months, at least, trying to learn the language, not very successfully I might add but if I do go home, I will look back on the disastrous relationship and my time in Spain with a sense of pride, I tried, used my savings, but at least I know that life was not greener )

Challenged, smiling and attempting kite surfing )