I am coming up to UK state pension age and have worked more years in a 3rd EU member state than in the UK, however I fully funded my UK state pension via voluntary Class 2 contributions as this offers a good ROI. I have lived in France since 2019, but I have not being working and therefore do not have French state pension rights.
From what I read the country responsible for issuing an S1 is that which has received the most years of contributions. In my case this would suggest that the UK is responsible. Is that correct?
Other people are more knowledgeable than me on this one but I can definitely say I’ve never found a downside to an S1 and there are lots of advantages to it.
My understanding of whether you are entitled to an S1 though is not where you worked for the majority of time but where you last worked as that because your responsible state. Others will add to this though.
I have just found the following on the NHS website.
“If you have lived and paid social security contributions in several countries covered by the UK’s European reciprocal healthcare arrangements, and you are now living in a different country, the country in which you paid social security contributions for the longest period is responsible for your healthcare.”
I think it is the last state you worked in that is your competent state and responsible for issuing your S1. I echo @AngelaR comment, I haven’t heard of any S1 downsides.
Sorry for a bit of gallows humour, but that depends on how long you live I decided to only partially top up.
That appears to be contrary to the statement on the NHS; I guess the only way is to apply. If it is the last country that is bad news as I worked a short period in Switzerland where everyone has to have private insurance.
Yes, it depends how long you live, but that is the same as any other pension. As workers outside the UK pay class 2 it was under £200 for a year.
That may be at odds with what the other country thinks! It is common to read that the responsibility lies with the last country you worked in. But what does need clarification is whether the EU country you paid into takes charge. Had yiu worked in France then the position is clear.
Article 23 of Reg 883/2004 EC (which covers social security coordination) states: " Right to benefits in kind under the legislation of the Member State of residence:
A person who receives a pension or pensions under the legislation of two or more Member States, of which one is the Member State of residence, and who is entitled to benefits in kind under the legislation of that Member State, shall, with the members of his family, receive such benefits in kind from and at the expense of the institution of the place of residence, as though he were a pensioner whose pension was payable solely under the legislation of that Member State."
Maybe not. First question is whether Switzerland participates in the S1 programme, if so then it is your competent county and they need to cough up the S1. If not then you should apply to the last S1 participating country you worked in. Which in your case seems to be the UK. As an aside, when making the application I wouldn’t mention Switzerland if Switzerland is out of the programme, it will only confuse matters.
Yes and no. They participate but as the Swiss system is private insurance so I would have to take out a private insurance policy. I see the Swiss S1 polices are far less costly than for insurance in Switzerland. Formally I was paying ~CHF 700 per month for 2 persons.
I have just read the Swiss social system website. If I retired from Switzerland, CH is responsible but as I moved before retiring the responsibility appears with the country I have paid the most contributions.
Possibly also need to check whether voluntary contributions count the same as employment contributions in building up S1 eligibility. With no employer contribution it is much, much less to UK gov.
The news from today is I called all counties responsible authorities.
The answers were: no, possibly and most likely. My ex CH medical insurer said that they are not responsible for an S1 as I did not retire in CH, the Austrians said they are may be the provider but will need to check, and the NHS stated that they are most likely responsible as I am fully funded.
I have been told by the Austrians to submit documents to obtain an S1; not clear if I will get one or not, but it is progress.
I also established that not all S1 are equal. A UK S1 is valid in the country of residence and begrudgingly the Maybot gave us citizens of nowhere access to treatment from the NHS. An Austrian S1, for example, with provide health cover in the country of residence and the country/ies that pay your pension/s
I decided to only partially top up. 