Problems claiming state pension

slopemaster

My situation - I lived abroad for nearly 5 years but moved back to the UK this year, and updated my address with HMRC to reflect that I live in the UK. However, I am now on holiday abroad for 6 weeks.

Sorry this is tediously long...

1. I am within 3 months of pension age, but didn't get the letter you're supposed to receive which gives a code to claim state pension.
   

2. So I went online to claim, but as I'm currently outside the UK the page was “access denied”.

3. I tried to download a paper form, but it's only for those born before 1953.

4. So I logged in via a VPN and tried again to claim online, but it said that the code couldn't be sent out by post and I would have to claim by phone.

5. The phone number to claim on is 0800 and can only be used if you are physically in the UK.

6. So I rang the International Pensions Centre, but they said that unless my permanent address is abroad, I need to contact the state pensions people on the freephone number – but they could put me through, great!

7. Except when I got through they asked me if I was abroad. I said yes, on holiday, but I live in the UK. They said if you are not in the UK at the time of claiming, you need to do it through the International Pensions Centre. I said the International Pensions Centre will only deal with it if my permanent address is abroad.

8. Stalemate. Each insists its up to the other.

I know I can just wait until I get back to the UK, but it will then be within 6 weeks of my pension date and I can't see them getting it sorted in time.

Just wondering if anyone has any clever ideas?

Is it worth trying to put a complaint in - but who to?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

they asked me if I was abroad. I said yes, on holiday, 

Why?  Sometimes a little white lie does no harm.

slopemaster

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

they asked me if I was abroad. I said yes, on holiday, 

Why?  Sometimes a little white lie does no harm.

Because I think sometimes they can tell you're calling from abroad, eeven using a UK phone - else why would they have asked?  I do wish I'd said no, but unfortunately it's too late now!

J63320

The downloadable paper form is for the basic (old) state pension. For the New State Pension, which you will be claiming, you have to ring up (an 0800 number) and have a form sent to you. Is there someone in the UK who could ring them on your behalf and ask them to send the form to your address abroad?

Marcon

slopemaster said:

My situation - I lived abroad for nearly 5 years but moved back to the UK this year, and updated my address with HMRC to reflect that I live in the UK. However, I am now on holiday abroad for 6 weeks.

Sorry this is tediously long...

1. I am within 3 months of pension age, but didn't get the letter you're supposed to receive which gives a code to claim state pension.
   

2. So I went online to claim, but as I'm currently outside the UK the page was “access denied”.

3. I tried to download a paper form, but it's only for those born before 1953.

4. So I logged in via a VPN and tried again to claim online, but it said that the code couldn't be sent out by post and I would have to claim by phone.

5. The phone number to claim on is 0800 and can only be used if you are physically in the UK.

6. So I rang the International Pensions Centre, but they said that unless my permanent address is abroad, I need to contact the state pensions people on the freephone number – but they could put me through, great!

7. Except when I got through they asked me if I was abroad. I said yes, on holiday, but I live in the UK. They said if you are not in the UK at the time of claiming, you need to do it through the International Pensions Centre. I said the International Pensions Centre will only deal with it if my permanent address is abroad.

8. Stalemate. Each insists its up to the other.

I know I can just wait until I get back to the UK, but it will then be within 6 weeks of my pension date and I can't see them getting it sorted in time.

Just wondering if anyone has any clever ideas?

Is it worth trying to put a complaint in - but who to?

I think you're expecting it to be paid immediately you reach SPA, but that's never going to be the case. The target date for the first payment is 'within 5 weeks of reaching SPA' but there are currently delays and backlogs, so 'getting it sorted in time' is unlikely to happen, even if you'd been in the UK.

Getting a friend in the UK to phone on your behalf sounds the best idea. Nobody on the other end of the line is going to know your voice!

Qyburn

You should be able to call the 0800 number in the form +44800xxxxxxx from an overseas landline. Of course it won't be a free call.

slopemaster

I don't have a landline, but I've now discovered its possible to call 0800 numbers on Skype, using that format.

Ganga

Of course you could have contacted them and sorted it before you went on holiday 

diystarter7

Ganga said:

Of course you could have contacted them and sorted it before you went on holiday 

Hi

In fairness to the OP, they have been there for "5 years."

anmarj

diystarter7 said:

Ganga said:

Of course you could have contacted them and sorted it before you went on holiday 

Hi

In fairness to the OP, they have been there for "5 years."

In fairness, op actually said they had been abroad for five years, moved back but had gone for a holiday for six weeks.

t0rt0ise

slopemaster said:

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

they asked me if I was abroad. I said yes, on holiday, 

Why?  Sometimes a little white lie does no harm.

Because I think sometimes they can tell you're calling from abroad, eeven using a UK phone - else why would they have asked?  I do wish I'd said no, but unfortunately it's too late now!

They knew because you'd been put through internally by the International Pension Centre.