Services and benefits

Cymraeg

Social security agreements between the United Kingdom (UK) and other countries

Important notice

We are currently updating all the overseas leaflets on this site. For this reason some of the information you see here may not be absolutely up-to-date.

Please note, a new system of bereavement benefits for men and women was introduced in April 2001, replacing a range of widows' benefits. If you are living abroad and think these benefits may apply to you, please contact:

The Pension Service
International Pension Centre
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE98 1BA

UK phone: 0191 218 7777
UK fax: 0191 218 3836

Email: tvp.internationalqueries@thepensionservice.gsi.gov.uk

Outside UK dial international code, then:
phone: 44 191 218 7777
fax: 44 191 218 3836

To get a pension forecast UK phone:
0191 218 7585

Outside UK dial international code, then phone:
44 191 218 7585

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What is a social security agreement?

If you are going to another country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or a country which has a social security agreement with the United Kingdom (UK), you might be able to get a benefit which you would not normally get abroad. Or you might be able to get a benefit which that country provides.

If you are coming from one of these countries you might be able to get a benefit from that country or a benefit the UK provides.

Check the list below to see if the country you are going to or coming from has a social security agreement with the UK. You can get information about the agreement by downloading the leaflet.

The leaflets also include information about medical services.

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A-Z listing for social security agreements

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Pensions information for European workers

The EUlisses website provides pensions information for people who have worked in different countries of the European Economic Area (EEA)

Visit the EUlisses website

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Definitions

European Economic Area

European Community (EC) social security rules apply to European Economic Area (EEA) countries.
EEA countries are:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK).

Gibraltar – The UK applies the EC social security rules to Gibraltar as though it is another EEA country.

Switzerland – The EC social security rules largely cover Switzerland.

UK means England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but not the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales.

Remember that this website is only a general guide to benefits and schemes and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law. We have made every effort to ensure that the information on this website is correct. However, changes in the law may make the website become gradually less accurate.

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