Taking National Insurance Pension Contributions back to Australia

Justin1970 Member

2POSTS

6 years ago

Hello,

I have been living in the UK for the past 17 years and have decided to return home to Australia. Other friends from OZ, NZ and Canada have received a lump sum payment of their NI contributions when they returned home.聽 Does anyone know how to go about this process and what it might actually be called? I've tried all manner of word combinations on google and the GOV.uk website, but with no luck.

Thanks in advance.
Justin

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Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8114POSTS

6 years ago

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

If you're referring to the UK State Pension, then I don't think you can, however, I've never tried and you appear to have friends who have, so perhaps you should contact them and ask.聽 That said, you don't lose anything you've paid in, you can claim what I suspect will be a reduced pension when you reach UK state pension age (reduced because you won't have paid in enough in 17 years to qualify for a full pension).

If you're referring to a private pension, you just contact the institution you've got the pension with and ask them what your options are; you should be aware that private pension savings often came with a tax benefit that you may have to pay back if you take it early.

I've found a website on the Internet that may help you further; this will take you there.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team