Shortfall in State Pension for multi country worker

sophie2

Hi I am British citizen who has lived and worked in several different European countries, including the UK. I'm nearing retirement age and now find I have to claim my retirement from all the different countries I've worked in. I asked for my E205 form from the UK. I worked from age 13 every Saturday and every holiday, and paid my stamp, but this is not recorded - only from age 16. Also it does not give me any credits for time when i had to stop work to look after my daughter and I am wondering if I can claim for this. She was born in 1968. I read somewhere on this board that my name has to be on a family allowance book to qualify. I wasn't allowed any F.A. as you didn't get it for the first child in those days. I am a single mother. It was difficult to get any help at all in those days. In the end I left the UK because I couldn't manage.

In France I was exploited, because of my situation. My employers didn't declare me even though they had promised to, so that they didn't have to pay the social costs (they often didn't pay me what I was owed also - but that is another story) so I have no employment record for the first year and a half I worked there. Eventually I worked for people who did declare me, but have lost all records with moving around, and the French don't seem to keep any. So I have lost those years too.

I will have a very small pension from Switzerland where I worked for about 30 years in total - need at least 40 to get a full pension. So I have quite a shortfall and really need to do somethingabout it. A friend of mine who worked in Switzerland also continued to pay in the UK. I am wondering if I can buy back any years in the UK? can anyone tell me how to do so and how much this costs?
Sorry for my ignorance but I am not up-to-date with these matters.

I'm new to this board so hope I am not breaking any rules or posting in the wrong place. I'm not trying to get something I'm not entitled to either. Just recuperate what I have lost. I've worked hard all my life and now find i am in a difficult situation.

Also like to know about deferring pension until age 65 as I am told you the receive a larger pension. Do you pay the stamps during these years. Can someone let me know where I can find out answers to these questions.

Sorry I realized I'd have to post a new thread in order to get any answers.

EdInvestor

sophie2 wrote: »

Hi I am British citizen who has lived and worked in several different European countries, including the UK. I'm nearing retirement age and now find I have to claim my retirement from all the different countries I've worked in.

When you claim your UK pension you can tell the DWP people about where you worked overseas and they will chase up any pension entitlements for you. Very large ones may need to be claimed direct but they should still help set it up.

only from age 16.

They only count from then on.

Also it does not give me any credits for time when i had to stop work to look after my daughter and I am wondering if I can claim for this. She was born in 1968.

HRP credits started in 1978 IIRC, so you should be able to claim after that if you were here and receiving child benefit.

I will have a very small pension from Switzerland where I worked for about 30 years in total - need at least 40 to get a full pension.

On the whole European countries pay much larger pension amounts than the UK, so what might seem to be a small pension in Switzerland could turn out to be a large pension in UK terms

I am wondering if I can buy back any years in the UK? can anyone tell me how to do so and how much this costs?

Yes you can pay in arrears back to 1997.Working expats can pay class 2 voluntary NICs which cost about 2 quid a week, a bargain.

Also like to know about deferring pension until age 65 as I am told you the receive a larger pension. Do you pay the stamps during these years.

No

Can someone let me know where I can find out answers to these questions.

https://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

If you are due to retire before 2010 you can ask for a forecast.If due to retire after 2010, you will only need 30 years to get the full basic state pension as the rules have changed.