State Pension Eligibility

[busybee]

Does anyone know if a commonwealth citizen who is currently working and residing abroad is eligible for UK state pension? She was trained as a chartered accountant in UK and then worked in UK for a number of years. Whilst employed she paid her National Insurance contributions.

Any experience/advice with regards to claim the state pension while abroad is appreciated.

busybee

[Itsallaguess]

Does anyone know if a commonwealth citizen who is currently working and residing abroad is eligible for UK state pension?

She was trained as a chartered accountant in UK and then worked in UK for a number of years. Whilst employed she paid her National Insurance contributions.

Any experience/advice with regards to claim the state pension while abroad is appreciated.

If she has her National Insurance number then one option would be to phone the Future Pension Centre and ask them - I'm sure they'll be in a great position to offer advice based on earlier contributions.

There's a link below with some information, but the free-phone telephone details (which they suggest is the best contact method for pension queries where pensionable age will not be reached for more than another month) are -

Telephone: 0800 731 0175
Telephone from outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 3600

https://www.gov.uk/future-pension-centre

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[BBLSP1]

I've recently dealt with the Future Pensions Centre from overseas on the above quoted number (+44 191 218 3600) and they were very helpful.

When calling, have your National Insurance number at hand and details (name and address) of UK employer(s), which they use as a cross-check.

[busybee]

Thanks.

The commonwealth citizen has paid 8 years of NI contributions in UK whilst working there . To qualify for the new state pension, she is aware that she has to have a minimum qualifying period which is 10 years of NI contributions. Does anyone know which class of contributions she has to pay to address the shortfall? She is self-employed.

[BBLSP1]

As an expat (British Citizen) I pay voluntary Class 2 contributions. I believe this is also what a self employed person would pay.