Coming back to the UK after 45 years living abroad.

Oh I do love it, not, when people live abroad for many years and when they get older, decide to come back and use our NHS and all the other benefits.
I agree, ajswan. We did not return for that reason, but to work and carry on contributing.

When we moved abroad we employed an accountant. His first comment to us was, "you can't be in both systems. You've chosen to live and work here, so you should get yourselves into the system. You lose the right to be in the UK system."
Goodness knows how much we paid in taxes, contributions and medical insurance abroad. We probably have a pension sitting somewhere in Europe but trying to get hold of it after December will be a nightmare, it will probably just disappear.
In the meantime, back in the UK, we had to pick up where we left off even though we lost out on several counts.

You will need to research on government websites. May depend on why you left UK, are you UK citizen?

Oh I do love it, not, when people live abroad for many years and when they get older, decide to come back and use our NHS and all the other benefits.

My brother was born in England but moved to South Africa at 2 years old when our parents emigrated. He married a South
African woman and they had two children. About 10 years ago in their sixties they decided to move to a "crime free" country - England. He got a job with B & Q and she got a job with a family firm gift shop. He has a British passport, she has not, and she foolishly allowed her SA passport to lapse. They have both retired now, in their mid seventies. She cannot get a British passport without her SA passport, so can go nowhere, not even back to SA to visit their family still there. To renew her SA passport requires many hoops to be jumped through, including fingerprints to be taken at the SA Embassy in London, which entails a lot of travelling to. He gets some small benefits which allow them to live in a little flat and have enough to eat, but no luxuries. They both get free health care. I don't think she gets benefits. Their jobs did not pay pensions.
What about all the foreign immigrants arriving from all sorts of countries who, according to the press, are given free housing and money, and say that is one of the reasons they choose to come here?

There is a wealth of info here www.ageuk.org.uk/services/information-advice/guides-and-factsheets/

They could have paid voluntary contributions into the UK scheme for years as Gagajo says she did, so would be as entitled as anyone else to a State Pension.

We moved back to UK after living in Spain for 15 years because of my husband's health . We unable to sell our house in Spain so we just handed the keys back . We was not entitled to council property but I didn't expect we would . We had to be mean tested for benefits being my husband has in a small war pension . They will find they are unable to register with a doctor until they have a UK address . Even with that they needs proof of bills in there name . Trying to find a dentist is near to impossible . You can get emergency treatment on the NHS but until you have registered with a doctor , you cannot get referrals to see specialist . Also all this takes time . Good luck .

My Sil does do some Zoom classes and has done since their first lockdown but the situation is so bad that lots of people can no longer afford to pay the membership.

Quizqueen, yes, absolutely!

I wonder if your sister-in-law (?) has tried teaching yoga via zoom or similar? I say this because my son’s girlfriend has found loads of new clients during lockdown - so many in fact that she’s decided to give up her studio.

Obviously this isn’t the solution but might ease the immediate situation a little.

quizqueen

The conundrum is not what will they get but what do they deserve to get? After a working lifetime of paying tax and choosing to spend their money on another continent, my opinion would be that they deserve nothing from the UK taxpayer!

Oh quizqueen you are very brave to come out with that!

I do tend to agree though.

The conundrum is not what will they get but what do they deserve to get? After a working lifetime of paying tax and choosing to spend their money on another continent, my opinion would be that they deserve nothing from the UK taxpayer!

Daisymae

I know people who paid NI while living abroad and got state pension on returning. In time they also got state care, sheltered accommodation and a nursing home. No idea how that worked though.

I voluntarily paid Class 2 or 3 (I forget which) for years while overseas in order to keep my UK pension. Only for them to raise the age so high I may not ever get it.

I won't bother again.

not sure if this has been suggested already, worth a look,

www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs25_returning_from_abroad_fcs.pdf

Arent families a worry, Harri? I hope your your sister is coping.

I was wondering if my newly widowed sister would come back to the UK. She has lived abroad for 52 years. Slightly different in her case as she already has a house here and continued to pay contributions right up until retirement. She has a UK pension but the German government deduct that same amount from her German pension.
I think it would be difficult to resettle if you do not have the funds to support yourself, hard enough to get care even when you are permanently domiciled here.

Thank you! I expect they will stay in SA but it is very hard for her!

I hope you can find a way through the bureaucracy and it works out well kitty.

Thank you all for your help. I knew the grans would help.

I will look at all the links you have supplied I had looked but I don't trust that I am looking at the latest info.

When DS1 came back from Japan having suffered a major stroke, we were told by the very officious woman (who seemed to enjoy making me cry) at the DWP that he would not be eligible for NHS treatment for 6 months but the gp ignored that.

Both of them receive (very small) UK pensions and have UK bank accounts.

DH is one of 4 brothers (one of whom lives in Thailand) and DSIL has 2 sisters so there is no lack of support. And, some of us send them money occasionally as it is.

They have not said that they intend to come back but I would like to have some information in case it is the only option. This morning they were unable to get to their son's house because of the unrest on the main roads.

I feel so sorry for my SIL as she is carrying this responsibility on her own with little back up apart from family who are all working.

A few of you will know that i am a huge promoter of the Alzheimer's Society and there is nothing like that in SA so she is using their online information, Talking Point and me!!

You can only feel sorry for her!!

Thank all again, so much.

It would appear that "Citizens who return to the UK on a settled basis will be classed as ordinarily resident, and will be eligible for free NHS care immediately." Presumably, he will have to prove that he's here to stay.

www.expatnetwork.com/expats-have-to-pay-for-nhs-care/#:~:text=Citizens%20who%20return%20to%20the,for%20free%20NHS%20care%20immediately.&text=Note%20that%20these%20changes%20apply,with%20your%20local%20health%20authority.

Could you ask your GP ‘s opinion kitty?
- your family doctor, not any grandparent!
??

I know people who paid NI while living abroad and got state pension on returning. In time they also got state care, sheltered accommodation and a nursing home. No idea how that worked though.

NHS care is based on residency. NHS cards be surrendered after three months.

Acquaintances moved back to the U.K. from SA 6 years ago to be close to their family. Both born in the U.K. Both have definitely been cared for by the NHS in primary and secondary care, one is currently in a care home which is part funded. I’m not sure if things have changed for those newly returning. Hope you can work it out for them kitty, difficult position to be in.