FAQ
Some questions we are often asked.
Our observations on the HMRC deadline
Some Irish media reporting in May/June 2024 put “time frighteners” on people. Our experience with HMRC and what they did on the 2 prior extended deadlines on this program, is somewhat at odds with this media reporting that you absolutely need to have the application submitted in by August because of their 10-month backlog prior to the April 2025 deadline.
HMRC have said as prior deadlines approached that “it is not your fault we are delayed in responding to you. We will offer you the opportunity to pay for any gap years within 8 weeks of the date of our statement, when it is sent to you by post, even if that is beyond the deadline”.
So the key is to get the application submitted in good time but not in a panic, where the quality might be ompromised and cause a problem.
Is the UK State Pension taxable in Ireland?
Just like the Irish contributory State Pension, it is as taxable as any income you have, subject to your allowances etc.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
Can I claim my UK State Pension myself?
It is possible to do it yourself. Having lived in the UK for 5 years, we went through the procedure directly ourselves, subsequently gained experience at it helping other Irish people through the process, and ultimately became a registered agent for HMRC.
Should you wish to explore the process yourself, you can find the relevant information and forms from the UK Department of Work and Pensions (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions ), and write to them, completing the forms and requesting a Pension Forecast Statement.
Furthermore, you can find forms on His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs). These forms can be printed with their respective 33 pages of explanatory notes, completed and sent by mail.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
Will this impact my rights s to the Irish Contributory State Pension?
The Department of Social Protection have answered this from an enquiry in May 2022. “Your UK pension does not impact the personal rate of your Irish State pension”.
When you redeem extra years on your UK State Pension, you are making an AVC (Additional Voluntary Contribution) to your UK State Pension. Effectively, you are accessing (probably) the best value AVCs that exist. If your contributions are assessed as Class 2 by HMRC, the cost of all your contributions are paid back within 6 months on retirements, and you enjoy the benefits for your lifetime. Even if you are assessed as Class 3, the payback is just 2 years.
Your UK State Pension can allow you to double the value of your Irish Contributory State Pension!
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
Is Brexit a factor?
Happily, the agreement concluded between the UK and Irish Governments in 2019 reaffirms that existing cross-border social security arrangements, including UK State Pension, will continue post Brexit. the Under the CTA (Common Travel Area) Irish citizens have access to the UK state pension in the same way as the British so, we have the ability to boost our UK state pension rights while outside the UK (subject to approval from HM Revenue & Customs).
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
What is the Triple Lock Guarantee on UK State Pensions
Annual increases to the UK State Pension are based on the Triple Lock provisions introduced by the British Government in 2010. This states that the UK State Pension benefits increase by whichever of these is higher of 2.5%, the UK rate of Inflation, and annual UK earnings. Effectively this means a minimum of 2.5% growth per annum, and more if either of the other 2 are higher. In 2023 the annual increase was 10.1%.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
How much does it cost?
Phase 1 Fee to UK State Pension Abroad is €275 (inc vat) payable on registration
Phase 2 Fee to UK State Pension Abroad is €275 (inc vat), payable should you wish to progress to Phase 2.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
How do I know in advance how much it will cost to claim back each year of UK State Insurance?
‘Will HMRC delays mean I’ll miss the deadline to increase my state pension?’
8th Jan 2024 Daily Edition
‘Will HMRC delays mean I’ll miss the deadline to increase my state pension?’By BECKY O’CONNOR Pensions Doctor with the Daily Telegaraph
Our reader has been waiting for the taxman to respond for nearly a year In a recent reply to a very similar query on the HMRC Community forum, HMRC said that it is not penalising anyone because of the length of time it takes the International Teams to reply to CF83 applications.
It added that CF83 application forms received close to April 5, 2025 will be given an extended time of eight weeks to forward any payment of voluntary national insurance contributions.
How long does it take?
Getting responses from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs can take many months. It is slow but it does yield a response. If you are planning to buy back up to 17 UK State Pension years, this must be filled with HMRC before 5th April 2025. Therefore taking action immediately is very important for you to achieve this deadline.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
I don't remember my UK National Insurance number
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
Can I still Apply Next Year?
Of course you can. The only issue is that you will only be able to reach back up to 7 years after 2024, as opposed to 17 years if you have applied before then. Given that His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs take 35-40 weeks to respond, this deadline is only achievable by immediate action.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
I have only worked for 1 year in the UK
Unless you have worked a minimum of 3 years paying UK National Insurance, it is extremely unlikely you can act to achieve a UK State Pension.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
I am thinking of going back to the UK
This should not be an issue. You can still, if you wish, claim some UK State Pension years that you may be missing, and if you resume work in the UK continue to pay UK National Insurance in future years to enhance your State Pension.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
I am Irish but live in Spain
There is no reason you cannot claim a UK State Pension from Spain or any country.
At UK State Pensions Abroad, we do not offer pension advice; we offer specialised information and implementation assistance on UK State Pension entitlements. For pension advice contact your financial advisor.
Will this affect my rights to the Irish Contributory State Pension?
The Department of Social Protection have answered our specific enquiry on this topic “Your UK pension does not impact the personal rate of your Irish State pension”.
When you redeem extra years on your UK State Pension, you are making an AVC (Additional Voluntary Contribution) to your UK State Pension. Effectively, you are accessing (probably) the best value AVCs that exist. If your contributions are assessed as Class 2 by HMRC, the cost of all your contributions are paid back within 6 months on retirements, and you enjoy the benefits for your lifetime. Even if you are assessed as Class 3, the payback is just 2-3 years.
Your UK State Pension can allow you to double the value of your Irish Contributory State Pension!
What is the UK State Pension?
The UK State Pension is a contributory pension which is funded by the UK government and provides a pension amount in 2024 of up to £221.20 per week on reaching pension age. This amount usually rises year on year (+10.1% in 2023), and is subject to a unique Triple Lock, guaranteeing a worthwhile boost annually towards your final amount when retirement beckons.
When will the UK State Pension commence? For people currently above 60 years in 2021, the retirement age is between 66-67 years old. Generally, for those who reach 60 after 2021, the pension payments begin on their 67th birthday. (It should be noted that UK government has a plan to extend the retirement age, but this would be very gradual should it happen).
It is worth noting that the State Pension scheme was revised in 2016 with a new State Pension being introduced. the new State Pension applies to those claiming benefits in the years before then.
