UK State Pension Benefits

There are key important aspects to note. (Dated July 2014). State pension age has been increasing over the years to align men and women, and will ultimately be age 70, but this is not forecast to happen until 2060. By 2028 it will be 67. Women born after 1950 have been affected by the changes and men born after 1973 are affected.

However, there are benefits even if you are overseas. Anyone, after 6 April 2016, who delays claiming their state pension will benefit from an annual uplift in pension of 5.8% per year. Prior to this date the uplift is 10.4%, so this is worth considering.

It is additionally worth considering if you live in a country that does not benefit from inflation increases. Many people are not warned that their state pension payments will be frozen and not increased in line with inflation, if they live in countries like South Africa, Australia, Trinidad, New Zealand, Canada and nearly every other Commonwealth nation as well as many “tax-free income” countries.

It is also worth noting that pensioners who live abroad in countries such as most of the EU, and the US, receive annual increases to their state payments. Therefore taking of the state pension needs to be considered carefully as you could in some countries be locked into one rate for the rest of your retirement overseas.

Tailormade Pensions specialise in providing professionally qualified advice on company and private pension plans.

For advice on the amount of State Pension eligibility we would advise UK expats, in the first instance to look at this website.

If you are still in the UK then this link may help with your inquiry.