New State Pension qualifying years and contributions paid in other EU countries
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I worked for six years in the Republic of Ireland and paid PRSI contributions. I assumed that those contributions would be regarded as 'qualifying years' for my state pension (New State Pension) but it does not appear to be the case as I have been asked to pay further NI contributions. After several unsuccessful attempts to clarify the situation with DWP, I am still no further forward, having been passed from one department to another and back again. I understand that UK NI contributions are taken into account when calculating an Irish state pension. I assumed there was a reciprocal agreement with Ireland and other EU countries. Does the New State Pension take contributions made in other EU countries into account when calculating qualifying years? Has anyone experienced similar difficulties in trying to establish whether this is the case?
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https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension
And see https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/retire-abroad/state-pensions-abroad/index_en.htm
When do you become eligible for state pension?
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/retire-abroad/state-pensions-abroad/index_en.htm
I assume you are resident now in the UK. You will have to apply separately for your RI pension; under EU rules you are supposed to apply via the International Pension Centre https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre
I don't know how long it takes for an Irish pension, but I can say that it takes many months in the case of a French state pension.
You will need to make additional NI contributions if you haven't got enough for the new increased so called 'flat rate' UK State Pension; well worth doing if you can afford to do so.
How close are you to retirement?
Don't forget that if you worked in two EU countries it's double bubble pension-wise so you can probably buy added years in the Irish scheme. If your situation were reversed even though the majority of your working life had been in Ireland you would have still been able to purchase missing years for your UK pension & if resident overseas pay Class 2 contributions at a rate of £150 for each added year. Quite a bargain for a £250/year index-linked pension for the rest of your life!
In the light of current uncertainty I would be inclined to make that a priority right now.
You still have plenty of time to plug the gap in your UK state pension.
I'll have enough for full state pension in the UK. I also have 17 years of full class one PRSI contributions in Ireland.
So I can see what I'll get from here, but no idea if I'll get anything for the 17 full years in Ireland.
Had you seen this?
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/older_and_retired_people/state_pension_contributory.html
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/can-i-claim-an-irish-and-uk-state-pension-if-i-ve-paid-into-both-1.3543069