PENSIONS
- Overseas
Eileen Evason finds out if an Ulsterman
who left Crumlin Road for California 50 years ago, is missing out
on his UK pension. If this might apply to you the following information
will help you find your entitlement.
So long as the individual customer
is not within 4 months of State Retirement Age, responsibility for
providing State Pension Forecasts to customers living overseas rests
with the Inland Revenue.
If a customer is within 4 months of Retirement Age he/she can request
their forecast from the International Pension Centre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
If pensioner benefits are already
in payment to an overseas customer then their entitlement is administered
by the International Pension Centre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
In both cases the Social Security
Agency will, if approached by a customer, and to make sure that
we do not unnecessarily hand-off to another Government Department,
issue the customer with the relevant papers and provide a return
address (usually the IPC in Newcastle).
The most appropriate means of requesting a State Pension Forecast
depends on age.
* If more than 4 months before
retirement - complete form CA3638 (on the IR site) and send to the
IR.
* If they are within 4 months of retirement they should already
have been issued with an application pack. If they have received
this then they should complete the forms and return them as soon
as possible.
* If they are within 4 months of retirement and have not received
an application pack then they should contact the pension service
immediately.
Pension Service Contact Details for overseas customers
The Pension Service International Pension Centre (IPC) deal with
queries about United Kingdom benefits payable to overseas customers.
You can contact the IPC on +44 191 218 7777 or fax +44 191 218 7293.
Opening hours are 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (GMT).
Or you can write to The International Pension Centre, Tyneview Park,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE98 1BA, United Kingdom.
Alternatively customers can send e-mail through the Pension Service
website.
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