Claiming a State Pension When Living Abroad

If you're planning to temporarily or permanently live abroad when you retire, you'll still be able to claim your State Pension. If you move to the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland (or to a country with which the UK has a social security agreement that includes state pensions), then you'll be entitled to receive yearly index-linked increases. If not, you'll still be able to claim your State Pension, but you won't be entitled to the yearly index-linked increases. However, if you return to live in the UK, your State Pension will be increased to current levels.

How Your State Pension Will be Paid

If you live abroad, then your State Pension can be paid directly into a bank or building society in the UK, or directly to a bank in the country in which you live (this option may not be available in certain countries). Payments will be made in the local currency of the country in which the bank account is held.

Alternatively, a cheque in sterling may be sent every 4 or 13 weeks, although for small amounts of pension (under £5 per week) annual payments may be made. The cheque may be sent to you, your overseas bank or someone else outside the UK chosen by you.

If you only spend part of the year abroad, you must make a choice as to which country you want your State Pension paid to; you can't have it paid in one country for part of the year, and a different country for the rest of the year.