Pension contributions paid abroad

PaquiSteve

Hi all:- neither HMRC nor the internet can answer this one. So, here goes. I'm three years off pension age here in the UK. In the eighties I lived, worked and contributed in Spain. Those years seem to count for nothing towards my pension here thus leaving a shortfall. Can I claim those contributions toward my UK state ppension? If so, how? There must be loads of people in the same position. Thanks.

molerat

Not against your UK pension but ......

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/retire-abroad/state-pensions-abroad/index_en.htm

p00hsticks

PaquiSteve said:

 Those years seem to count for nothing towards my pension here thus leaving a shortfall.

To be pedantic, I beleive those years will count in the sense of determining whether or not you are entitled to any UK State Pension (you now need at least ten years) but not when calculating the monetary amount you are entitled to. As molerat has pointed out, the years in Spain may have resulted in you earning some sort of Spanish equivalent. 

The International Pension Centre shoudl be able to advise;

https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

xylophone

And have you obtained a state pension forecast?

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

What exactly does it say?