How to avoid paying into French health scheme when UK resident

Banking & Financial
1

Hi there. I am a UK resident but lived and worked in France for 20+ years. I have just started receiving my French pension but am not yet entitled to the UK state pension. I work in the UK and pay NI contributions so my healthcare is provided in the UK. The pension provider in France (Agirc-Arrco) are asking for a document proving I receive a pension in the UK otherwise they will deduct their own health care contributions. Does anyone know what other document /proof of UK cover is acceptable as I am still working in the UK? AGIRC-ARRCO, DWP, HMRC, DofHealth, NHS England all not very helpful
 Thanks for any advice you can offer.

2

This is rather odd if you are non -resident!

Did you complete the formalities when you left France?

https://www.impots.gouv.fr/particulier/questions/je-pars-vivre-letranger-quelles-demarches-dois-je-accomplir-dois-je-cloturer?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6i8iUQMc2cKTjGOA5g-Kcx2BAw27rbyDHzuzd1gcWo6FhTKMBPKk3GXdfDcQ_aem_X9LDMjX7qdm5bT-UtJj7UQ#:~:text=Si%20vous%20ĂȘtes%20considĂ©rĂ©%20comme,Ă %20la%20date%20du%20dĂ©part

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However in many situations a person who has worked in France and is now receiving a French pension, would continue to be covered by CPAM if they move abroad in retirement. So the fact that the OP has moved to the UK is not proof that the UK has taken over their healthcare.
Maybe payslips showing NICs being deducted?
Alternatively, ask AGIRC-ARRCO whether they can accept a dĂ©claration sur l’honneur. Sometimes institutions will, if you can convince them that your situation is genuine but simply the document they are asking for is unobtainable because it is not a thing in your country and nobody will issue it. You could explain that the UK is not as efficient as France, tell them how many organisations you have contacted and none of them could help. That usually goes down well.

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4

I see what you did there :wink:

5

Hi Jane - I did complete all the formalities when I left France and the French authorities are aware that I am now taxed in the UK - including on my French pension. I agree that it is rather odd.

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Thanks for this Sandcastle. I will send them my NI statement, payslips and a copy of my GHIC in the hopes that this will be sufficient. I will also explain my difficulties in obtaining what they ask for and throw in a ‘declaration sur l’honneur’ for good measure. Fingers crossed.

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With regard to French efficiency - a word of warning for those retiring soon - I began applications for my French pension in good time. The basic French pension was first paid to me 6 months after the ‘date d’effet’ and my complementary pension arrived more than 12 months after the due date! I’m hoping that I won’t have the same problem when it comes to my UK state pension.

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No we are much more efficient in the UK, just go on line to the gov.uk website to check payment date.

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No, you can apply up to three months before your UK state pension start date and it will start on time - note however that it is paid one month in arrears so if you reach pensionable age in (say) June your first payment will arrive in July.

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10

Well naturally. How else would you describe the difference in the two countries’ approaches, if you are trying to get a French administrator to help you.

But in any case, I think if you explain to a French administrator that there is no UK equivalent to the attestation des droits, the UK is unable to provide confirmation that a given individual is entitled to NHS cover because essentially the UK has no system for keeping up-to-date records on who is currently entitled to NHS cover and who is not, they would probably interpret it as the UK not being as efficient as France. I suppose it all depends what you mean by efficiency.

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11

Not forgetting the actual week day depends on the last letter of your NI number :upside_down_face: