'Expat Blues'

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The Work and Pensions web site is really easy to use but first you must obtain a Gateway ID - using a UK address  ( do you have family whose address you could use?).  With this you can easily check online your Pension forecast and projections. I did this only yesterday to obtain confirmation that we both are entitled to full pensions.
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/ Have fun Shane

Hi Shane,
Very useful stuff & a timely update.
I was sorry to read about the 'top-up' contributions having increased only yesterday. I have been meaning to do a top-up for the wife for about a year already, but never got round to it!!!

I just tried the website 9as I have a UK Gateway ID & password since the last time I submitted my tax returns on line. However it asks for a UK Post Code, and it would not accept any valid one (of relatives) that I entered. I don't have a UK home and on my 2006 tax return I gave my KL address and postcode. That doesn't work either!!!

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HI FCS

Luckily I use my parents address for all UK stuff and we have therefore been able to recieve the PIN numbers you need via the post.  Its odd that the web site does not accept a valid post code.  Well weird.

It is a good system, if you can access it.

Yes the contributions increase was another one of those Gordon Brown "slip ins' that unless you read the very small print you didnt find out about and no one was going to tell you up front either!  I think we worked out that by paying before 5/4/09 for past years missed, we saved about 35% on the voluntary contributions.

Shane

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hi,

I've also thought about UK pensions. I'm 62 this year. I worked in the UK from the ages of 16 to 19 and paid national insurance contributions. Then I went to university to study architecture. It was a 6 year course (the best sort). After that it was working for 3 years. Again contributions were paid.

Then I went self-employed for 4 years and paid zip.

I've always thought that my total years of payment (6 plus 6 at university) would get me a box of matches, a couple of woodbine and half a pint of mild?

Do you mean that there's actual money out there for folks like me?

regards, Scott

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Hey Scott,
I can't guarantee the years for University but that's what they said in one of our letters they sent us.
They give you the chance to pay 12 back years...about 350 quids per year average (starts about 308 and works up to around 400 for the last couple of years) Then it jumps for next year and beyond to 600+ quids. But if you add your 12 to the pay 12 for around 4000 quids ...you're getting close. You could then have a few years at the higher rate.  I got a forecast yesterday saying I had 27/30ths making 86 quids per week plus 60% of that for my wife...say another 50quids...136 quids a week for life. (I'm sure you can divide 86 by 27 and find out what one 30th is and then multiply up ) I have paid more since then because it's such a good deal.
If you're 62 now you have time to get this together and 4 or 5 grand thrown their way will give you back maybe 7-8 grand a year...then live long and stay happy!!
You can try the 'Sag' approach if you have a UK address to get the activation code or you can phone
Tel: 44 191 2253503 quoting your NI number.

Address:
HM Revenue & Customs,charities,Assets and Residence-
Residency.
Room BP1301, Benton Park View.
Longbenton.
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE98 1ZZ.

Loopi.

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hi, Loopi,

Thanks for the advice.

One problem .. the NI number ... it got lost in the great move of 1983. I remember getting something sent to me by my sister in 1987 but it got thrown away, along with some tax stuff, as I didn't feel like helping the Iron Lady buy a new coat of rust remover.

regards, Scott

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Scott

Firstly you should find that years at Uni = considered as a paid year.

Next , find out from DWP  how many years you can now pay and do the math.

No NIC - I am sure they will be able to rarck you down somehow. A quick Google will bring up ways to find it ie

If you can’t find it, and don’t know your NI number, check previous pay slips or if it's not on there call the National Insurance Tracing Line on 0845 915 7006

In the end it may cost you 5000 quid or maybe a bit more but afterwards I bet that when you see the illustration of what it means in terms of Pension payable, it will be a no brainer.

Its worth a few quid on phone calls to find out.

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Scott,
I would give them a ring, I'm sure they can help you find it.
The booklet they send you to battle through is online here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pdfs/nico/ni38.pdf
It might give you some more ideas.
I was checking to see if there was a reciprocal agreement with Singapore but it seems not.
If you want to do it you'll probably have to pay.
Let's say 6000 a year and you live 20 years past 65...that's 4-6 grand in and 120 grand out.
You couldn't get that backing a horse!!

Just keep in mind here that if you claim from a Commonwealth country you probably won't get the yearly increases.
Loopi.

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I might be wrong but can't see even with the back payment would get you 6-7K per year as quoted by Loopi below. The max you have to work is 30 years which is now correct. My wife worked 27 we bought back the extra 3 ( cost 2k) = 30 but she only gets 96 quid per week or say 5k per year. Also as you mentioned that now stays at 96 per week for life!! as we live (will live in hopefully OZ.  In my case I have another 6 years to go before I can claim but I have paid up and beyond my 30 years so my guess is I will get the same ( or whatever the equation will be then)

Cheers

Brian

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Perhaps I should clarify that I would be claiming for my wife also, so what my forecast says is that after making up the missing 3 years I would get 96 pounds, being the current full state pension, plus 60% for my wife, who would also be retired but not yet eligible for a full pension in her own right.  This makes a total of 7956 at today's rates (96 + 57.60 x 52)

However, my wife has also paid up her stamps but is 5 years younger than me so when I reach 65, I will claim for her full state plus 60%, but when she reaches 65 she will be eligible for a full pension making a total of 9984 per year (2 x 96 x 52).

This works for me claiming for my wife but I've got no idea how it would work for your wife claiming for you, but both partners must be retired. As far as I know, the eligible partner claims for the dependant, and I wouldn't have thought that gender would matter these days.

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Hi

Thanks for the info and address and interesting discussion on the UK NI and pension. Like Scott I didn't think I would get much as I contributed between Feb1975 to July 1984 then I moved to Ozland. About 9yrs 5 month max. I was with the Kingston Area Health Authority then. I now get  full Oz NSW's Govt controlled State Super pension which is reasonable. I am waiting for my wife to retire in November this year before moving to Malaysia. My wife too contributed UK's NI for 8 years.

This will help if I can get more cash for retirement. Loopi, Thanks for the info and address I will write to them. Should I give my friend's address in UK or should I give my Oz address, you think?

Although I love Australia and it will always be my home, I would love to spend about 10 years in Asia and esp use Malaysia as the bench for near destinations. MM2H will come in handy for that although I have some job invitations I am not too sure if I want to work there unless it is part time and it will not infringe on my travels.

There is a secret side to me that is attracted to Queensland esp Gold Coast and Cairns. A cheap tropical farm down the coast by the beach is very tempting. You could live comfortably in the smaller coastal towns up north for under Aus $300 pw if you own your home outright. One temptation is to join the grey nomads and stroll the caravan trail around Australia.

So many things to do and few years left to do them. I will miss Sydney as it is one hell of a city but I am sure I will always return home one day!

cheers

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hi,

Thanks for all the information. I'll shortly be starting to look into the whole pension situation, who knows, maybe I'll be getting something like 90 quid (++ ) per week. That's almost a living wage in Malaysia.

I don't mind paying in something as it sounds like a reasonable deal.

Grey Nomads, haven't come across that one before. I've always looked at myself as a PT (Perpetual Tourist, or Permanent Traveler) although I've become a bit grounded in the past few years. 

I should start moving again.

regards, Scott

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There are various sites to research UK pension forecasts but they all drive you nuts.
The place to get the form to apply for your forecast is here:

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/br19/home.asp

You will see the printable form and the interactive form (fill it in before you print it).

Loopi.