Payments are at risk
State pensioners must follow strict holiday rule from DWP or lose payments
State pensioners are being reminded of a four-week rule that affects a £18,000 Department for Work and Pensions, DWP, payment. Pension Credit is worth £4,300 for state pensioners and can be massively useful amid the Cost of Living crisis.
But there are strict rules for retirees claiming Pension Credit and spending time out of the country. State pensioners may treat themselves to lengthy holidays in their retirement, having slogged for years to try and build up a decent pot of funds.
But the DWP is reminding retirees: “You can continue to get Pension Credit if you’re away from Great Britain for 4 weeks or less – for example, on a holiday.”
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You must be eligible for Pension Credit when you go away AND remain eligible for it while you’re away AND contact the Pension Service helpline to tell them you’re going away, the benefits department goes on to also stipulate.
You can get Pension Credit for up to 4 more weeks if you’re away from Great Britain because of the death of a close relative.
And you can get Pension Credit for up to 4 more weeks while abroad if a close relative dies while you’re away and you cannot reasonably return to the UK
You cannot apply for Pension Credit if you’re already outside Great Britain, though, under rules from the DWP.
You cannot get Pension Credit if you’re moving away from Great Britain permanently, either.
This is just one of many constraints on retirees living abroad, because retirees famously have their state pensions frozen in certain countries too.
This is all to do with reciprocal agreements and the fact the Labour Party government and DWP don’t have agreements and settlements with other countries.
It means retirees living abroad after retiring are at risk of lower payments from the UK state.