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Threat of frozen state pensions lifted in boost for British expats in the EU - but you must have moved there by the end of 2020

Threat of frozen state pensions lifted for British expats in EU

The withdrawal agreement under which the UK exits the EU on January 31 provides certainty on future state pension rises for current EU expats. They will be reassured after being informed last autumn that after Brexit their state pensions would be uprated annually until 2023, but after that decisions would depend on whether reciprocal arrangements with the EU are in place.

I live in Canada but can I get my state pension paid in sterling, to convert it when exchange rates are favourable?

I have been a permanent resident in Canada and had dual citizenship since 1977. I have opened a sterling bank account with HSBC in Canada - can my British state pension be paid into it?

My elderly mother is struggling to close her French bank account and is now being hit by charges - what can we do?

My mother moved to France in 2007, but since moving back has not been able to close her bank account, and is now incurring interest. What can we do?

My sister and I want to sell some land in Germany that we inherited: How can we do it and where do we get advice?

We don't know much about the German property market so we'd like to find out how we go about valuing the land in Germany and what type of estate agency fees we can expect?

Dad passed away two years ago in South Africa and we think his partner has made off with the inheritance - what can we do?

My partner's father died in South Africa and his girlfriend has cut all ties with us after the funeral. We think she may have made of with the inheritance - what can we do?

Boost for British expats living in the EU as the UK commits to raising state pension payouts until 2023 under a no-deal Brexit

Britons who have retired to EU countries such as Spain and France have been handed a temporary state pension boost by the Government, but not the long-term reassurance they crave.

Band of MPs urge Theresa May to end 'grossly unfair and unjust' pension policy hitting over half a million British expats

A band of MPs is urging Theresa May to end a 'grossly unfair and unjust' pension policy that hits the lives of 550,000 Britons living abroad.

A quarter of a million expats may return the UK if there is a no deal Brexit - or face losing free healthcare

A so-called 'Brexodus' from the EU could increase the burden on the NHS and social care services as around 40 per cent of the returning expats would be pensioners. The Government has previously admitted it is cheaper to pay Spain and France to look after Britons than have them fly home.

Is Australia the best spot for Britons to retire abroad? Nearly quarter of a million people now claim their pension Down Under as it tops the global list

Though southern European countries have traditionally been expat hot spots, the latest figures show Australia and the USA are currently more popular retirement destinations.

My wife and I want to join our daughter in Australia, but are confused by its visa system. How much do we need to save before we can move over?

My daughter and son-in-law live in Australia and keep asking me and my wife to join them over there, but finding out the exact financial and legal requirements seems to be difficult and confusing.

Local prices have fallen 21% annually in some popular holiday spots with Singapore and the Caribbean seeing biggest drops

Prices have fallen by up to 21% in foreign resorts and cities - giving tourists more for

Prices have plummeted by up to 21% in nearly half of resorts and cities abroad, with holiday destinations in Singapore and St Lucia seeing the biggest drop, according to a new report. In good news for bargain hunters, the cost of eight tourist essentials have fallen in almost half of 42 destinations surveyed by the Post Office Travel Money's Holiday Money report. This includes six out of the 12 European locations, including the cities of Bratislava in Slovakia and Porto in Portugal.

Fury of the expats whose pensions frozen in time: Some are paid THOUSANDS less - because of where they live

Campaigners are fighting to end a 70-year reign of injustice that has resulted in more than half a million retired expats receiving a poor pension deal - simply because of where they live.

Were you caught up in the Gatwick drone chaos? Make sure you are not left stranded financially

Thousands of travellers are facing a battle to get a refund after their Christmas holiday plans ended in disaster. Here we guide you through what to do if your holiday plans were disrupted.

How a 'no-deal' Brexit could affect your mortgages, pensions, savings and investments - and five ways to protect your finances

What would a no-deal Brexit plan mean for your personal finances?

From rising mortgage rates to fund managers being unable to service investors' accounts - we take a look at what could happen if the Government fails to agree a deal on Brexit and give you our top tips to prepare yourself.

Could my ex wriggle out of sharing his pension pot by secretly moving it abroad?

I'm going through a divorce and I've heard that some people have got out of splitting their pension by quietly moving it abroad. How do I stop my ex doing this? Barrister Rhys Taylor, pictured, replies.

Will I get my state pension if I retire abroad? The rules for British expats explained

Where in the world you spend your retirement will affect how much state pension you get. Find out where annual rises are frozen, like Australia, and the countries where you get them automatically.

Meet the ex-baggage handler who vows to build Heathrow's third runway for half the price: Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora interview

At the age of 11, Arora was, in his own words, a 'complete nutter'. He smoked, he gambled and he carried a knife while roaming the streets of Punjab, India, where he grew up.

I work in the UK but live in Italy - what's the best way to transfer earnings and manage my money?

I am British and travel back to Britain regularly, staying for a week or so to do various bits of work before returning to Italy where I write my reports and do other work remotely.

Holidaymakers heading for a winter getaway get more bang for their buck as the pound strengthens against 80% of currencies in the last year

Holidaymakers looking for a winter break will see their money stretch further than it did a year ago against a number of popular currencies.

TONY HETHERINGTON: Debit card chaos with NatWest bank left me penniless in Thailand

The contactless chip on my debit card was not working, so I ordered a replacement. NatWest sent me several cards, none of which worked, so my five-week holiday was a disaster.

The Costa del Sol 'bling king' who splashed out on Rolex watches and fast cars - and the expat investors who lost £6m

We spoke to a number of residents on the Costa del Sol who say Rhys Williams, pictured with wife Lisa (centre) persuaded them to plough money into Dubai-based companies by offering eye-watering returns on their investments. Williams, pictured at a shooting range (top right) lived a gilded lifestyle in a £9,000-a-month gated Spanish villa (right). Adrian Parsons (inset),who invested £450,000, is one of the ex-pats who claim to have been left out of pocket. ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read

I'm a British expat with a foreign wife - can she inherit my pensions if I die while living overseas?

I live abroad with my foreign wife. Will she inherit my UK private and state pensions if I die first? Financial expert Tom Selby, of AJ Bell, replies.

Thousands of expat Barclaycard customers will have accounts closed as credit card giant changes T&Cs in all but 11 countries

Thousands of expats with Barclaycard will see their accounts closed after a change in terms and conditions at the credit card giant, we can reveal.

Get more for your holiday money: The best debit and credit cards to beat overseas fees

Travel money: Best debit and credit cards to use abroad

A holiday is costly enough without the added horror of returning home to find your bank statement littered with extra fees and charges after using your card overseas. Some banks can charge you almost £5 simply for getting £100 of your own money out of a cash machine abroad. But you don't have to pay. We pick the best accounts which offer small or, even better, no fees.

Post Office launches digital passport renewals but it costs 17% more than doing it online yourself

Post Office £90 digital passport renewals cost 17% more than gov.uk

The Post Office has today announced the launch of digital passport renewals service, which includes the Check & Send service, at 725 locations across the UK. The cost of digitally renewing the passport itself is the same at £75.50, but an additional fee of £15.40 applies to cover the cost of in-branch support, bringing the total cost to £90.90.

Elderly UK expats could see pensions stopped under 'no deal' Brexit, government warns

One of a stream of new papers on Brexit preparations says annuities - which people rely on for a regular pension income - are among financial products which could be affected. Lending and deposit services and insurance are among the other services under threat if you are an expat. Meanwhile, UK online shoppers and tourists visiting the EU could face millions of pounds in credit card charges, it has emerged.

Relief for older British expats in the EU! Early Brexit deal looks set to avert threat of frozen state pensions and losing healthcare rights

A joint update on Brexit talks published by the UK and EU indicated a 'convergence' of positions on state pension uprating and healthcare - including protecting the EHIC scheme.

MPs rail against frozen state pension 'injustice' in Commons, and Labour pledges to support 550,000 elderly expats in pending manifesto

Labour is to include a pledge to unfreeze expat state pensions in its election manifesto, but the Tory Government defended existing policy in a House of Commons debate this week.

MORE EXPAT NEWS AND ADVICE

How to get a buy-to-let mortgage for a British property if you have moved overseas

How to get a buy-to-let mortgage if you are a UK expat

Almost five million Britons live or work outside the UK and many of them don't want to give up property ownership in their homeland. But it has got a lot harder to get a mortgage in the UK if you don't live here - even if you're a British expatriate. It's doable, but the number of lenders that offer expat mortgages and buy-to-let loans is limited.

Number of overseas landlords with properties in Britain tumbles - with London seeing the biggest fall, as Brexit and tax hikes bite

The proportion of overseas landlords with properties in Britain has hit a recent low this year as tougher tax measures, political uncertainty and falling house prices in London bite.

British workers encouraged to retire to Thailand after Brexit and snap up a £60k 20-year residency permit - just watch out for your state pension being frozen

With the value of sterling faltering against european currencies, a residency visa for further afield destinations like Thailand could be the answer.

Will Brexit force British expats to return to the UK? We meet the Costa pensioners determined not to let the EU vote ruin their retirement

Costa del Sol pensioners are determined not to let Brexit ruin their retirement

The 400,000 Britons living in Spain are divided over what Brexit means for their futures. Some believe life will go on as usual. Others fear changes to healthcare and pensions falls that could force them to return. So what do those who have stuck it out through turbulence caused by the financial crash think about retiring to a life in the sun now Britain is leaving the EU? Is there a bright future or is a storm brewing?

We retired to Greece but want to move back home because I suffered a stroke. Can the bank really stop us bringing £100k savings back?

Greece capital controls mean expat couple can't buy a home in the UK

When Mr and Mrs R moved to Greece in September 2006, like thousands of Britons they were looking forward to retirement in the sun. What they couldn't have foreseen is the huge financial earthquake which escalated a year later, the aftershocks hitting Greece harder than most other countries across the world.

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Falling pound will hit expat pensioners: Those who get top rate of the state pension risk losing £817 a year

Romantic senior couple seated on the beach and looking away during a picnic

Despite the fact that they were unable to vote in the referendum, the impact of Brexit on expat pensioners is considerable.

HMRC bungled my NI payments then stonewalled for months instead of fixing error, claims angry British expat

Stephen Young says he hit a dead end with HMRC after months of trying to set an NI error straight, and became increasingly worried about what state pension he would get in a few years' time.

ASK STEVE WEBB A PENSION QUESTION

What bereavement payments are widows entitled to? I only received small sums when my husband died - Steve Webb replies

What bereavement payments are widows entitled to? Steve Webb replies

My husband died last October 2017 aged 68. I am 58 so am not in receipt of the state pension yet. I was given a nominal amount of approximately £1,500 from his state pension and £100 per month for six months and I'm told this is it. No more. Can you please help me clarify things, as it seems so unfair.

Puzzled by the state pension maze? It's fiendishly complex so we asked former pensions minister STEVE WEBB to answer your most common queries

Every week, readers flood our inbox with questions about the new state pension. Many say they feel bamboozled by the new system and find it hard to work out what they should be getting.

STEVE WEBB ANSWERS YOUR PENSION QUESTIONS

Has Steve Webb answered YOUR retirement question yet? Read all his previous replies about pensions here

Former Pensions Minister Steve is This is Money's Agony Uncle. Here's where you can check out all his previous columns to see if any involve issues affecting you.

31 shares Has Steve Webb answered YOUR pension question yet? Find out here

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