Pensions for all

[John Arton]

If Braid worked and paid National Insurance in the U.K. or its dependence's, he should be due at least a part pension. Its easy enough to check. If he has any info from previous U.K. employment that has his National Insurance number on, then if he goes to the U.K. Government website and puts in his N.I. number it will tell him if he is due a U.K. pension and how to claim it. The amount he will receive will depend upon the number of weeks/years contributions he paid. He should really investigate this as if he has retained his U.K. citizenship then he should be due something. I believe he was a serving soldier for a time so another body he could contact for assistance could be the Soldiers,Sailors and Airmen Association.
rgds
JA

[Captain Kong]

It is SSAFA John
My old mate Fred, used to work as a volunteer for them, They help all ex Servicemen with any problems, Pensions, Financial Problems, Home or housing, Domestic appliances like fridges , heating, painting and decorating his home, etc. and any problem with anything they help them, They are all ex Servicemen themselves so you are not dealing with a civil servant or anyone like that. They understand your problems,
Cheers
Brian.
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[Rodney Mills]

Braid and anyone interested,

The UK DHSS pay out a pension to overseas former subscribers. There is a minimum amount of time you have to have subscribed, also the country to which you want your pension check sent to has to have some sort of agreement with the DFS, could be Oz or N.Z. and then transferred to your country, otherwise the applicant has to have a U.K. bank account to accept the monthly DHSS deposit. I applied when I was 66. The UK DHSS said unfortunately I did not have enough time in, but to send a list of employers and country worked and they, the DHSS, would see if there was reciprocal arrangement for credit towards a pension payout. Which I did and I was given credit for the three and a half years I worked in Canada and that entitled me to a minimum pension of 88 pounds a month. I was back paid to my 65 birthday.

One's change of nationality has no bearing on collecting a pension, or receiving all the entitlements paid out. The U.K. does not recognize a change of citizenship. If one is born in Britain he is British subject UNLESS the party goes before a duly appointed representative of the U.K. ( U.K. consulate officer) and formally declares he no longer wants to be a Brit.. Then if applicable surrender his passport.

The U.S.A. has a reciprocal arrangement with the U.K. regarding State pensions. So in my case...I'm a U.S. naturalized citizen, there is a reciprocal agreement in effect, so I am entitled to any increase to my pension just as if I was a Brit living in the U.K.. Any U.S. citizen who moves to the U.K. and changes his citizenship to a Brit. will receive his U.S. social security check monthly deposited to his Brit. bank account and any increases awarded to U.S. residing pensioners will automatically be paid to this former U.S. citizen now a U.K. subject.

My wife is a U.S, citizen by birth, upon her 65 birthday, she was given a UK DFS number, my pension was reduced and this amount was deposited into my wife's bank account. Should I die before her she will collect a widows pension.

I can't remember the amount of time required in order to collect a pension, but that can easily be solved by enquiring to the UK DHSS (address below) and they will tell you if you qualify, and send them a list of other countries you have worked in as they may have bearing on what you are entitled to.



International Pension Ctre.

Tyneview Park

Whitley Road

Benton

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE98 1BA



I'm sorry. but the only e-mail address I have is out-of-date now.



Braid, be sure and enclose your National Health number.

[j.sabourn]

My wife also gets a pension from the uk although she did not earn one herself. She gets 39 pounds and so many pence a week. She also gets exactly the same pension as myself from the Australian system. I would say we are like many more not well off, but comfortable, as all old age pensioners should be. Braid is well past retiring age and should now be in a position to be a bit more relaxed, he must be slipping outside of all safety nets. The oldies in Oz who have the same problem and just have a small UK pension mostly came out here to be with family and rely on same to help support them. Todays modern families in a lot of cases would consider that an unwanted burden. I spent the last 10 plus years of my working life working out what pensions I would get when 65 only to be sadly disillusioned when one of the pension schemes (run by a Shipowner) reneged on his agreement, otherwise would have been a bit more comfortable. Cheers JS

[Peter F Chard]

I too have a partial pension from the UK which is topped up here in NZ to the local allowable limit. However the UK part is indexed to the inflation rate and rises slightly each year but the pension upper limit I receive in NZ is controlled by reducing the NZ contribution accordingly. If taken to the Nth. degree I suppose my entire pension will eventually originate in the UK when taking inflation into consideration. I worked in the UK labour force for 14 years before settling in NZ. I also have a friend, NZ born, who worked in the UK for six months and the UK contribution to her pension is six times the UK contribution to my pension !! I have never been able to work that one out either !! Regards Peter in NZ.

[Doc Vernon]

As said JS
The pension scheme here in Aus is not at all bad,and as I have said we both get part pensions too (Wife still working full time) so we are not badly off at all!
I was quite amazed too that besides what we get we are still also entitled to quite a substantial amount as far as Bank Account Savings ,Term Deposits, (Super which is held )
and also Shares which I dabble in with CommSec.
So as you we are certainly not Millionaires but can at least live a decent and comfortable life now days,with no worries! At least there is no Mortgage or Debts ! Thank the Lord!
Yes as I have said quite often here and there Aussie really is a great place to live,the older Australian gets looked after!
Mind you we have worked for what we have like so many others,so after all that we now reap the benefits!
South Africa as said does not give me anything! Zilch after working there for so may Years,i love my Country but boy am peeved at that fact!
Oh well better off getting the pension here I am sure!
Cheers

[Charlie Hannah]

Ive been on UK pension since turning 65,26pound, 31 pence weekly.I also get part pension from Aussie,seems every time i turn around some one is putting money into my account but eh i can live with that.Cheers.

[j.sabourn]

Charlie got marked on the calendar when different pensions go into bank so know can slip along to the machine. Have even to pay the taxman before February just under 1500 dollars but have budgeted for this and he can wait till nearer the time. Cheers JS

[Charlie Hannah]

John i wouldn't know when my pension goes in the bank,when i need to draw i just go to local post office and draw what i need.I haven't done my tax yet for this year,have to start thinking about it.Just claimed back taxes last year 14 years,got the accountant to do that one,first time I've used an accountant since i came ashore.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Maybe Braid is like me, left the UK to early, I paid into the NHS for 10 years until I left the UK but they say I wasn't in it long enough to claim any sort of part pension, I get a full Aussie pension so I'm not grumbling, I was told that anyone on a pension in Aus who missed out on any raises over the years could if they do a trip back home go to Newcastle and get it upgraded, failing that they could ask Cappy for a loan at a good %tage.
Cheers Des