The UK state pension income is able to be claimed by anyone who has a minimum of 10 years of National Insurance contributions and has reached the state pension age. This also applies to anyone who has retired abroad, but there are some changes that may affect this.
To claim the state pension abroad, you must be within 4 months of reaching the state pension age and also have between 10-35 years’ worth of National Insurance contributions before you can apply.
In order to claim the pension, you must contact the International Pension Centre (IPC) and complete an International Claim form.
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As the new tax year approaches, now is a perfect time to think about making your finances work for you, especially when it comes to planning your retirement. The concept of the financial year isn’t just limited to accountants or financial advisers. It affects us all, as savings such as ISAs and personal pensions have limits on how much you can invest per year. Other deadlines also depend on this calendar – which is why this is the busiest time of year, as many tax breaks cannot be carried forward to future years.
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Retirement planning is a complex process. As your retirement date draws nearer, it’s sensible to think about some key issues that will help get you off to the best possible start for the next stage in your life. Follow our simple tips below to give yourself peace of mind and, the best possible opportunity to make your pension plan work for you.
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After years of hard work and paying in, a comfortable retirement is probably the light at the end of the tunnel.
40% of over-55s, however, are worried that their money will run out. (1)
Moneywise.co.uk – April 2018
It’s worth taking some time to make some retirement decisions and figure out how much you are going to need – and if you’re on track to build up the pension fund needed to provide this.
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In yet another sign that retirement is becoming an increasingly fluid concept, figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of women working past the age of 70 has doubled in the last four years.
The abolition of the compulsory retirement age in 2011 has meant that many more workers, men and women, are choosing to work on past their normal retirement date. For some, it’s the desire to keep physically and mentally active into their later years, for others the freedom to work for longer provides a welcome boost to their retirement income. With increased life expectancy, many more people are set to live active lives well into their eighties.
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From energy tariffs to mortgages, people who stick with the same pension provider year-in, year-out are at the greatest risk of losing out. The leading rates or most competitive prices are often reserved for those who compare the market, so the only way to cut your bills—or increase returns—is to look for a better deal. The same principle applies to saving for retirement: too many people have old or forgotten pensions that impose excessive charges or are made up of underperforming or otherwise unsuitable investments and assets. But there’s more to the pension problem than meets the eye, but carrying out pension checks can help your retirement income.
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Before you fall foul of a scam, make sure you educate yourself on how to keep safe.
An increasing number of fraudulent companies and cold callers are targeting savers with pension scams, claiming they can liberate pensions for lucrative investments, only to make off with your hard-earned cash. it’s a problem we hear about often at Pension Works – and once stung, there’s very little recourse.
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Politicians, consumer groups and the investment industry, in general, welcomed the pension freedoms introduced by the government in April 2015. The changes gave people more choice and flexibility in how they funded their retirements.
However, the sweeping nature of the reforms has caused one or two problems. Earlier this summer, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its initial study of the new system, alerting savers to potential risks.
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