UK Pensions

[Dave H 12]

I have been working and paying towards the national pension since 1982. After I move to America to marry my fiancee, what happens to the contributions? I also have a private pension with about 20 years in too. I know the private one I can just transfer into US and carry on with personal contributions (I hope)

Thanks In Advance

Dave

[Lansbury 19]

With the State one you have choices. When you retire if you do not have enough contributions in US Social Security, if they don't change the rules, you can use your your UK one to top up the US one. If you return to the UK it works the other way around. You can receive pensions from both but US has a windfall elimination which you need to read up on. Go to the Social Security web site and search on it.

Private pension quite hard to get it transferred to a US scheme. My wife and a lot of others have been unable to do so. It stayed in the UK and she now receives her monthly pension from it. November she starts getting her UK State pension.

There is good information on both the UK and US social security web site about pensions overseas and the arrangements with the US, well worth reading up on it now so you have a loose plan of what you want to do when the time comes.

[Dave H 12]

With the State one you have choices. When you retire if you do not have enough contributions in US Social Security, if they don't change the rules, you can use your your UK one to top up the US one. If you return to the UK it works the other way around. You can receive pensions from both but US has a windfall elimination which you need to read up on. Go to the Social Security web site and search on it.

Private pension quite hard to get it transferred to a US scheme. My wife and a lot of others have been unable to do so. It stayed in the UK and she now receives her monthly pension from it. November she starts getting her UK State pension.

There is good information on both the UK and US social security web site about pensions overseas and the arrangements with the US, well worth reading up on it now so you have a loose plan of what you want to do when the time comes.

Thanks for the reply, I will look into the sites

Thanks

Dave

[Lansbury 19]

Just had another thought. Contact UK Pensions and ask about buying the extra years you need to make up your contributions to 30 years. That way when you reach UK retirement age you will get a full UK State pension. It needs 30 years contributions for a full pension. You probably only need to buy around 2 years and the cost is often quite reasonable for the return.

Edited August 6, 2010 by Lansbury

[Dave H 12]

Just had another thought. Contact UK Pensions and ask about buying the extra years you need to make up your contributions to 30 years. That way when you reach UK retirement age you will get a full UK State pension. It needs 30 years contributions for a full pension. You probably only need to buy around 2 years and the cost is often quite reasonable for the return.

Thanks agai

That sounds great. I actually may only need to pay for abot 6 months contributions then as I started to pay in January 1982. My move may be finalized by about June next year. Thats amazing news

Thanks ever so much

Dave

[tokyo.lovers 6]

japan also has a national pension. but i think since the usa and japan are close allies you can combine your years in the usa and japan to get a double pension or something. hope the uk is good!!