Country guide
Did you last work in the UK or another European Economic Area (EEA) country?
Benefits payable under State Pension age
Translation/interpreting service
Further information UK diplomatic missions and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Electoral information for British Citizens living overseas
Did you last work in the UK or another European Economic Area (EEA) country?
If you last worked in an EEA country then you should make your claim for your UK State Pension through the social security institution in that country. You should contact that institution for details of what you need to do, if you have not already done so.
Example 1: At the age of 50 you left the UK to live and work in Cyprus. You are now approaching UK State Pension Age and still living in Cyprus. You should claim your UK pension through the social security institution in Cyprus.
Example 2: You came to the UK from Ireland at age 20 and worked in the UK until age 55 when you returned home to live and work in Ireland. You are now approaching UK State Pension Age and still living in Ireland. You should claim your UK State Pension through the social security institution in Ireland.
Example 3: You retired from work early in the UK at age 58 and went to live in Spain. You are now approaching UK State Pension Age and still living in Spain and have never worked in Spain. You should claim your UK State Pension direct from IPC.
Example 4. You left the UK at age 40 and went to live and work in Germany. At age 60 you retired from work early and moved to Spain where you now live. You should claim your UK State Pension through the social security institution in Germany.
Example 5: You left the UK at 35 and went to work in France. At age 59 you retired early to live in South Africa. You are approaching UK State Pension Age and are still living in South Africa. You should make your claim for UK State Pension through the social security institution in France.
If you last worked in the UK then you should make your claim for UK State Pension direct through our secure on-line E-Claims Service or by contacting IPC.
Please note that if your claim should be made through another social security institution for your UK State Pension and you apply direct to the UK then it will be returned to you and you will be asked to follow the guidance given above.
For details on how to claim through a social security institution within the EEA, including contact addresses, please visit the Europa website. In the drop down menu shown, please select claims, followed by the country you require and the language you would like the information in.
Moving abroad
Before moving abroad, please tell us:
- the date you are leaving the UK
- whether the move is permanent or temporary (and give a return date, if possible)
- your new address
- new bank details, if required
- your nationality
- whether you receive a pension from another country
- details of any dependents moving with you
Find out more about Social Security Abroad
Find out how to pay NI contributions from abroad
Benefits on return to UK
Please tell us if you are returning to the UK so that we can consider whether anything needs to be done about your benefit rights.
If you are getting a UK State Pension or bereavement benefit and were living in a country where annual increases are not payable, you will receive the increased rate while you are in the UK. You must tell us within one month of your return to receive the increased rate from the earliest possible date.
State Pension deferral
You also have the option to defer your State Pension, which simply means putting off claiming your State Pension when you reach State Pension age, or choosing to stop claiming it after you have already claimed it. This allows you to build up extra income or a taxable lump-sum payment.
Find out more about State Pension deferral
Country specific information
Benefits payable under state pension age
If you are receiving one of the following benefits:
- Bereavement Benefit/Widows Benefit
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit
- Pro Rata Incapacity Benefit
- Jobseekers and Benefit Enhancement
Please contact us for further information
Translation/Interpreting Service
We can arrange a telephone interpreter for customers’ whose first language is not English.
Further information UK diplomatic missions and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
You can find out information about, and contact details of, UK diplomatic missions and further information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Electoral information for British Citizens living overseas
Find out about voting from abroad on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
Find out how to register to vote in UK elections when abroad on the aboutmyvote website