Claiming pension from time worked in Germany?

greenglide

Normally the accrued benefits overseas where there is a mutual agreement (all the EU countries) can be paid along with the UK state pension. The overseas pension also will meet the minimum requirements for a US pension (the 10 years requirement).

If he is already claiming UK SP this should have been claimed as part of the SP claim and the International Pension Centre would have handled all this.

The check that you are still alive (the "Life Certificate" in DWP speak) shouldnt be necessary within the EU (at present) as all of this is handled as part of the mutual agreements. If course, with leaving the EU, presumably all of this will fall away and we will be back in the days of requiring to produce the evidence ourselves.

wookie6

Thanks greenglide for the useful response.

woolly_wombat wrote: »

Is it still possible to claim directly from the German authorities JezR?

I have read comments on MSE in the past citing difficulties in providing evidence each year of still being alive.

I thought claiming via the International Pension Centre overcame that difficulty.

In the event that the person is living in the UK, finished their working career in the UK and is already claiming UK SP, I would also be interested in whether it is still possible to claim directly from the German authorities?

JezR

woolly_wombat wrote: »

Is it still possible to claim directly from the German authorities JezR?

I have read comments on MSE in the past citing difficulties in providing evidence each year of still being alive.

I thought claiming via the International Pension Centre overcame that difficulty.

There shouldn't need to be any need to be in regular contact with the German insurance people as it all should be handled through the IPC.

However, there are plenty of reports about of people where things don't go as smoothly as they should be, and this seems to arise from the German end of things, especially when the records have gone astray.

JezR

wookie6 wrote: »

In the event that the person is living in the UK, finished their working career in the UK and is already claiming UK SP, I would also be interested in whether it is still possible to claim directly from the German authorities?

No you must claim initially through the country of residency if resident in another EU country.

Was the information supplied when applying for the UK pension, or was this overlooked at the time?

woolly_wombat

greenglide wrote: »

Normally the accrued benefits overseas where there is a mutual agreement (all the EU countries) can be paid along with the UK state pension.

What about the situation where someone might wish to claim an EU pension (e.g. from France) before their UK pension?

Is that possible?

The last time I phoned the IPC they instantly demanded chapter and verse on my OH's entitlement to a French pension and, as I was enquiring on his behalf, I was a bit reluctant to engage fully.

wookie6

Was the information supplied when applying for the UK pension, or was this overlooked at the time?

This was overlooked at the time unfortunately.

woolly_wombat

wookie6 wrote: »

This was overlooked at the time unfortunately.

What is the normal retirement age for their German pension?

I have just spoken to the International Pension Centre and they have told me that it's possible to claim the different state pensions at different ages.

Get your relative to give them a ring. I found them very helpful.

wookie6

What is the normal retirement age for their German pension?

I believe its 65 but need to confirm. Thanks, I'll tell them to call the IPC.

eastcorkram

If someone has say, 45 years NI contributions, never contracted out, I assume they would qualify for full amount of SP.
If someone had 35 years, plus 10 years contributions in a different EU country, would they get more? ie, the full UK pension, plus something from the other country?

woolly_wombat

eastcorkram wrote: »

If someone has say, 45 years NI contributions, never contracted out, I assume they would qualify for full amount of SP.
If someone had 35 years, plus 10 years contributions in a different EU country, would they get more? ie, the full UK pension, plus something from the other country?

That's my understanding of the current system.

Have you looked at the link provided above by Marine_life?

After article 50 is triggered next week....who knows? Certainly not the IPC when I 'phoned them earlier this week.

That's why my OH is considering claiming now for a pension accrued for a 4 year spell spent working in France.

He doesn't want the income now and would have to take a reduction (allowed in France for taking pension from 60 onwards).

Usually I'm all for delayed gratification but sometimes a bird in the hand could possibly be worth two in the bush?