Getting Foreign State Pension

MrE1

In addition to UK state pension may I also get foreign state pensions through voluntary contributions (or similar).

If so what would make me eligible for them? Are there any countries I can recieve it without working there or having citizenship?

molerat

In answer to the first part, possibly yes. Many people now get state pensions from different countries.

In answer to the second part, you would need some sort of citizen rights or employment history in that country.

Even the UK's extremely lax voluntary contribution system requires you to have a NI number which is only gained by birth or residency rights.

Marcon

MrE1 said:

In addition to UK state pension may I also get foreign state pensions through voluntary contributions (or similar).

If so what would make me eligible for them? Are there any countries I can recieve it without working there or having citizenship?

No. You can't just 'tap in' to a country's state pension provision by paying a few contributions of some description (although I like the spirit of enterprise you're showing by suggesting it!).

bostonerimus

How would you qualify for such pensions? Do you qualify because you have made contributions to a foreign scheme or by citizenship and some default benefit? Only you can answer that.

Brahmsthirdracket

Hi, I would like to ask if having paid into the German Social Security System for 15 months while working there, whether it is worthwhile making a pension claim. I am in receipt of a UK pension, so they sent me the forms by default.  Thanks

pinnks

Brahmsthirdracket said:

Hi, I would like to ask if having paid into the German Social Security System for 15 months while working there, whether it is worthwhile making a pension claim. I am in receipt of a UK pension, so they sent me the forms by default.  Thanks

Yes it would be worth it as you have more than 12 months of paying into the system.  Further, your post-17 education and training may give you extra qualifying periods, and perhaps some earnings points too, for your German record and then the EU rules on aggregation of UK and German years will get you past the minimum 5 years required to get a pension there.  Every little helps, as they say.

Further, the pension is taxable only in Germany.  You won't qualify for the German personal allowance, or other deductions, other than a standard 102€ but a portion of the pension will be tax free, meaning an effective tax rate on a small pension of perhaps 12 or 13%.  

Brahmsthirdracket

That's very comprehensive advice!  Thank you very much, pinnks!  Would tax be deducted at source in Germany as I live in another EU country where it would be paid?

pinnks

Tax won't be deducted at source but you can ask the Finanzamt to assess you without the need to submit tax returns (Amtsveranlagun).  You can also set-up a SEPA direct debit mandate so they simply take your tax on the due date and authorise email correspondence, though your tax assessment still comes by snail mail.  Your tax office will be Neu Brandenburg (Rente-im-Ausland) Rente im Ausland. The pages in English get better every year but the German pages are still slightly more comprehensive.

Merly1_Taz2

Hi 
I receive a very small French state pension and need to have my existance authenticated each year.  But, I found that the NHS Medical Centre's (where I live) receptionist related that the doctors in their practise do not validate the existance (proof of living, residing and paying taxes in the UK) of a person. Yet it seems to me that a body for the promotion of Health and Wellbeing does not advocate to authenticate my existance should. I need to get this authenticated or my small pension will be suspended where upon I will be short during the month for payments or provisions of sorts. Where is the wellbeing  with that I ask.