State Pension

JoeCrystal

wkt54 said:

Thanks but what is a VPN?
I am only here for a few months on holiday.
They have my UK address which is where they sent the letter to.

VPN stands for Virtual private network.  Popular among the users who want to make the websites to think they are from another country. If someone in the US wants to watch BBC Iplayer, then they can use a VPN to make the website think the user is from the UK and so can watch the Iplayer. Could you wait until you return to the UK before claiming? Your State Pension increases by the equivalent of 1% for every nine weeks you defer after all.

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/how-to-claim
Do you want to download the form, complete it, send it to your sister and have her post it to DWP?

barnstar2077

wkt54 said:

Thanks but what is a VPN?
I am only here for a few months on holiday.
They have my UK address which is where they sent the letter to.

A VPN would be a way to make it appear that your computer connection originates from the UK.  You would log into a UK based VPN before going to the previously mentioned website.  The website should think that you are in the UK and allow you to access it.    I have never used them myself, but a quick google says that ExpressVPN have a 30 day free trial that you could use and then cancel.  Is there anyone with you that is a bit tech savvy that could help you out?

t0rt0ise

You need the international form. Can you not access that?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/501316/ipc-br1-gov-nsp.pdf

wkt54

Thank you for your replies and help.
I think the best thing to do is take JoeCrystal's advice, and defer the pension until I can go back to the UK and sort it out.
You can put off claiming your State Pension when you reach State Pension age. We call this “deferring” your State Pension. You don’t have to do anything to defer your claim – we will only start paying your State Pension after you have claimed it.
Thanks

JB50MSE

I deferred my State Pension, and I now receive slightly more every week I live! If you don't need to receive that income immediately on 15 Nov, do delay claiming it. Quote from the government website, "Your State Pension increases by the equivalent of 1% for every 9 weeks you defer. This works out as just under 5.8% for every 52 weeks." Better than interest on a savings account these days!  https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/what-you-get

wkt54

If you defer your pension for say, one year, and then claim it. will they give you one year's pension in a lump sum?

JoeCrystal

wkt54 said:

If you defer your pension for say, one year, and then claim it. will they give you one year's pension in a lump sum?

How about reading the government webpages about the state pension? In this case, no, instead you will see an increase in your weekly state pension. It used to be a case of taking a lump sum or extra state pension, but that only applies to who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.

wkt54

I am due 150 pounds a week on 15 November this year.
So if I defer it for one year, at 5.8% interest, in November 2021 I will be receiving 158.80 ponds a week, and lose 7,500 pounds?

noitsnotme

wkt54 said:

I am due 150 pounds a week on 15 November this year.
So if I defer it for one year, at 5.8% interest, in November 2021 I will be receiving 158.80 ponds a week, and lose 7,500 pounds?

If you live another 20 years that extra £8.80 a week is worth £9152.  You’d have die after just over 16 years to not make that £7500 back.