Drawing a UK state pension from abroad

[Odsox]

Tony,correct me if I'm wrong,but do you still get the yearly pension rises when you live abroad,something in my head about it staying at the rate it is when you go abroad ?(that might be just a proposal,applicable to those outside the EU,or alcohol - induced hallucination.)

That used to be the case Jerry, so your alcohol besotted brain still works reasonably well.
It used to be that the pension amount was frozen at the rate of your first payment but it all changed a few years ago though and you now (in EU anyway) get the increases and the Christmas bonus. What you don't get is the fuel allowance, severe weather allowance or the bus pass.
I'm not sure what would happen if the UK leaves the EU though.

[safronsue]

or what happens if your adopted country leaves the EU. i really need to be sorting this out too so thanks for all the info.

[Mrs Moustoir]

I seem to remember reading something about the winter fuel allowance now being available to ex pat pensioners in the EU. Changes came in this year.

Note: yes, have looked it up! People used to have to qualify before they left the UK but can now claim provided they have been UK tax/NI payers in the past. European Court of Justice said UK rules on this were unfair so now pensioners have until March 2013 to put in a claim.

[Odsox]

Wow, thanks for that Mrs Moustoir, you are indeed correct.
I have downloaded the relevant form and will send it off later today.

Of course to find the form I had to wade through pages of Daily Mail and clones, commenting on ex-pats basking in the winter sun on a sub tropical beach while claiming the winter fuel allowance.
Funnily enough they didn't mention anything about all the taxes these ex-pats paid to the UK treasury for 50 years prior to leaving.

[Mrs Moustoir]

Glad to help. Get your claim in quick though as it seems Ian Duncan-Smith is looking for a way to close the loophole and stop ex pat pensioners claiming - never mind how much tax and NI they've paid.