When claiming pension why do DWP ask if you've lived overseas?

Chris_in_Ashtead

I reach my State Pension age in August this year and have just received a letter from the Department for Work & Pensions inviting me to claim my pension.

As part of the process of claiming it online they're asking if I've lived or worked overseas since 1976. Why do they need to know this?

Although I'm living in the UK now I have previous worked overseas for long periods of time, during which I always paid voluntary NI contributions. I've checked my State Pension forecast and I've paid enough contributions to qualify for the full State Pension but I'm worried why they're asking about this. Could having worked overseas have a negative effect on my State Pension entitlement? If not, why are the asking?

p00hsticks

I think it's because if you've worked abroad then you may also be entitled to some sort of equivalent pension from the other  countries in which you've worked, and DWPs International Pension Centre will then liaise with their foreign equivalents to get it paid alongside your UK one.