Get your State Pension: working/living outside the UK

JTBasketman

I’m presently trying to claim my state pension, but having difficulties with 2 of the questions on the .gov.uk ‘Get your State Pension‘ form which asks about working/living outside the UK.

I have lived and worked in the UK for the last 37 years and I have 44 years of full National Insurance Contributions. I did however spend 6 years in the 1980’s working in the Far East. Although I worked internationally, I continued making voluntary National Insurance Contributions back in the UK. I worked and had time off in many different countries and often worked in one country and then had time off in another, therefore it is difficult to define/determine where I actually lived. I was paid by international employers directly into my account, I was never granted a residency status, or was in any other country’s tax system. I am not eligible for any overseas state pensions.

The countries mainly included Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan, plus work in other Far East countries. 

I’m not sure how to proceed. Due to the circumstances I have described, and I presume the question is asked to see if I would be due overseas pensions, I wonder if I should just put ‘No’ to these questions to save complications. The other way would be to try to generalise and simplify the very complex circumstances. I am worried that this will delay the payment of my pension which I need, as I presently have no other income.

Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.

sammyjammy

I would answer no to the questions, they will just hold up your state pension unnecessarily as in your circumstances it is not relevant.

JTBasketman

Thank you for your reply. I am coming to the same conclusion. I did try entering a work country and it followed with a request for a Nation Insurance Number for that country, which I never had. So I'm assuming my situation is not applicable for this.
Thanks again for your reply.