How can I claim my UK and Spanish pension separately?

By
Bruno Bianchi
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Question

I have lived in Spain for quite a few years and worked as autonomo. I retire in a year and a half and was wondering what to do about state pensions.

I have kept up my social security payments in the u.k. I have paid into the Spanish system for 17 years at the basic contribution rate. Now here is the main question. Can I claim my u.k. pension separately from my Spanish one or will the Spanish pensions office lump them together.? I feel I would be better off if I could keep them separate.

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“I applied for my UK and Spanish pension here in Spain I get my UK pension. But no Spanish pension, as they said I only had 13 and half years worked here as self employed autonomous, paid my social security every month all the years i work here, they said its 15 years minimum before any Spanish pension is paid, so can’t get any Spanish pension even with everything I have paid over the years”

“After many phone calls to UK about my pension Spanish Social Security got both my pensiones one month after I retired ! They are not slow or useless ,depends on individual workers not the system !”

“I worked here in Spain for 13 and half years and paid into the system. I now receive my Spanish pension and my UK one.”

“You will apply for both pensions in Spain (as the last place you worked) and they will contact the UK. The pensions will be worked out according to each country’s rules together, but paid separately. You would be unlikely to be better off even if you could apply separately, as they are “aggregated” together by both countries. The UK one arrives more quickly. Spanish pension can take six months or more to be paid out (although it is backdate to the date you became eligible, or the date you claimed it, if it is later than the qualifying date).”

“Log on to Social Security in Spain with your clave pin and it will tell you what you’re entitled to. That’s what I did.”

“If you have worked 15+ years in at least one of them you usually get them paid separately. However, you should be able to do the paperwork to claim both of them through a social security office here in Spain.”

“You apply for your pension in the last country worked in which appears to be Spain. Spain will contact the UK for your work history and contributions and your pensions will be put together. To find out what you’re entitled to in Spain, you can search on our website for “pension calculations”

“I claimed my Spanish state pensión and the UK one at the same time,two years ago,through a gestor,no fuss and paid separately.”

“You apply for both at social security here in Spain. Paid seperately from different entities.”

“Hi I was on the same boat,and now I am getting both of them separately”

“The correct procedure is you apply for both (or more EU countries) pensions in the country where you last worked (eg Spain). What this does is to arrive at aggregate total number of years worked / contributed. This total then determines the pension payable and each country will pay proportional pension according to their rules. This is better mechanism than claiming individually from each country since you do not get all years counted.”

“Maybe not your thought but worth remembering your UK State pension will still be liable for tax in Spain alongside other income.”

“Go to Oficina INSS and apply for both, U.K. and Spain. All you need is vida laboral and your U.K. National insurance number, they were very quick and I received the Spanish one first and then the U.K. one arrived. Spain will apply for you to U.K. good luck”

In conclusion, the process of claiming your UK and Spanish pensions separately can vary depending on individual circumstances, and it may be helpful to consult with a financial advisor or pensions expert. It’s possible to apply for both pensions in Spain, as the last place you worked, and Spain will contact the UK for your work history and contributions. Your pensions will be put together, but paid separately. It’s worth noting that the UK State Pension will still be liable for tax in Spain alongside other income. The members of Spainguru’s Facebook group suggest that it is best to go to Oficina INSS and apply for both, UK and Spain, having vida laboral and your UK National insurance number. It’s worth noting that the process might take some time and may vary from one person to another.

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