Commencement of UK state pension

[503726]

Hi, 

 

How is the State Pension initiated by the DWP?

 

Do you approach them on or around the date of your eligibility for payment or do they usually send you a letter? What address do they use? Many people living abroad must risk being off the radar, is it advisable to contact them to ensure the pension starts when it should together with the proofs of eligibility, ID & life they may need? Is it best to contact them on line or through the Government Gateway to HMRC & Self Assessment? I'd guess annual Tax Returns help the process, do they?

 

Many thanks in advance

[CharlieH]

If you are applying from Thailznd you have two options, you can phone them and apply over the phone, or you can download the pension app,cation, attach relevant documents and mail it to them.

 

Beware if you phone, you can spend alot of time waiting and calls are not free.

[chickenslegs]

DWP will not contact you, nor will they initiate your pension. You have to claim it, as Charlie said above.

 

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/how-to-claim

 

 

 

 

[Mutt Daeng]

When I claimed my SP, I phoned the International Pension Centre, 4 months prior to my data of eligibility, which  for me was 4 months prior to my 66th birthday.

Best to do it early IMHO in case of issues/delays. Also best to ring them since less info is required as opposed to the postal application form and you do not need to supply any supporting documents which may be required to support a postal application. Took me approx 20-30 minutes on the phone plus about 5 minutes waiting in the queue.

[BritManToo]

9 hours ago, 503726 said:

Hi, 

 

How is the State Pension initiated by the DWP?

 

Do you approach them on or around the date of your eligibility for payment or do they usually send you a letter? What address do they use? Many people living abroad must risk being off the radar, is it advisable to contact them to ensure the pension starts when it should together with the proofs of eligibility, ID & life they may need? Is it best to contact them on line or through the Government Gateway to HMRC & Self Assessment? I'd guess annual Tax Returns help the process, do they?

 

Many thanks in advance

Depends what address they have for you on your government gateway account.

If it's UK, then they will post an invitation letter to your UK address 6 months before retirement date with a code to enter online.

Then you complete the application online (UK IP or UK VPN required), no documents of any kind required, very simple form, mainly they want to know if you're married (answer is no), and your bank account details.

[503726]

Many thanks all of you, to be able to ask these questions here is such a help. 

 

BritManToo - do you know if the process would be any different if your address for HMRC were here (as you have been on HMRC radar with all your tax returns & payments up to date)?