Where should one claim their UK state pension, is it through Spain or from the country where you are previously employed?

Question

Can anyone help with a UK state pension, I am due to claim mine this year. I am a Spanish resident but with only a few years paid into the Spanish system, the majority paid into the British system. Do I claim through Spain or the UK?

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“I claimed through the UK ,go on gov website you can get a forecast. I put my claim in over the phone 2 months before the due date. Had no problems they were very helpful. I got mine in Jan”

“I believe that you should claim through the country you last worked in. They then will claim the years from the UK and add them to the Spanish years accumulated. We are due to do ours next year. They will then pay you your pension.”

“You claim your UK pension from the UK Department of Works and Pensions, quoting your National insurance number. Your Spanish pension from the Spanish Seguridad Social, quoting your Número de la Seguridad Social. That is what my Dad did. Good luck.”

“I had to claim from three countries, UK, Spain and Switzerland. Good luck with the Spanish one, they are the most difficult to sort out. But to be honest, if you are due to retire this year, you should have started the process last year.”

“Go on gov.uk pensions theres a dedicated line to call for UK pension claimants abroad. Straightforward to do over the phone and very helpful. You can claim from 4 months b4 due date but if u claim late it is backdated”


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Bruno Bianchi
Bruno Bianchi is the Director at SpainGuru, where he offers his expertise on Spanish immigration, visas, and residency. Over the years, he has been a guide for many navigating the intricacies of Spanish immigration & bureaucracy. In addition to his role at SpainGuru, Bruno anchors the SpainGuru YouTube channel. Through this platform, he shares valuable insights and updates on immigration matters, simplifying complex processes for a global audience. Bruno's dedication to providing clear and trustworthy information has made him a trusted figure in the community. In addition to his pivotal role at SpainGuru, Bruno boasts over 17 years of professional experience in several online platforms. With roles ranging from the COO and co-founder of Spotahome.com and Sales director of the MAPSA Group, Bruno's diverse experiences (he holds 3 nationalities) and multilingual capabilities (he speaks 5 languages) make him a dynamic and influential figure in both the immigration and business sectors.