For Britons: your UK State Pension when you retire abroad

The State Pension is paid worldwide, but it only increases each year if you live in the European Economic Area (EEA), Gibraltar, Switzerland, or a country with a social security agreement with the UK that allows increases ^{1 2}. Elsewhere, "you will not get yearly increases" ¹. The UK has agreements with Canada and New Zealand, but they do not give increases ².

What "frozen" costs. The amount stays the same while prices rise. With 3% inflation a year, a frozen pension buys about a quarter less after 10 years and about 45% less after 20: over a retirement of 20 years or more, it weighs as much as the cost of living itself. If you come back to live in the UK, your pension goes up to the current rate ¹.

Before you choose a frozen country, check your other income (workplace or private pensions, savings) can absorb it, and compare the same country with our Can I afford it? tool at today's amount and at 25% less.

• Claim within 4 months of your State Pension age, through the International Pension Centre (by phone or with the international claim form) ³. Get a State Pension forecast first if you are not sure how much you will get ³.
• Where: into a bank in the country you live in, or a UK bank or building society; your own, a joint or someone else's account (with their permission) ³.
• Currency: usually converted into your local currency at the day's rate, with a 0.39% conversion charge before payment ³.
• When: every 4 or 13 weeks; under £5 a week, once a year in December ³.
• Part of the year abroad: you must choose one country for payment: you cannot be paid in one country for part of the year and another for the rest ³.
• Tax: depending on your residence, the UK, your new country or both may tax it; with a double taxation agreement you pay only once, to the UK or to your new country depending on that agreement ⁴. See the tax section of each country page for your destination's rule.

If you get a UK State Pension and move to an EU country (or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland), you and your dependants may be entitled to an S1: the UK pays for your state healthcare in your new country (not private care) ⁵.

• Apply online up to 90 days before you move, once your State Pension is being paid; you need an address in the new country (a temporary one is fine) ⁵.
• Register the S1 with the health authority of your new country: cover does not start on its own, and you often need it before you can register with a doctor or get a medical card ⁵.
• If you also get a state pension from your new country, you cannot get an S1: that country is responsible for your healthcare ⁵.
• A partner entitled to an S1 in their own right applies separately ⁵.

Outside the EU (our Latin American and Asian destinations), there is no S1: you need local or international health cover. See Health insurance for retirees abroad.

• [ ] Check whether your destination keeps your pension rising (table above) ².
• [ ] Get your State Pension forecast and claim within 4 months of State Pension age ³.
• [ ] Choose the account and the 4- or 13-week schedule ³.
• [ ] EU destination: apply for your S1 up to 90 days before moving, and register it on arrival ⁵.
• [ ] Tell the International Pension Centre about any change of address or circumstances.