In this guide:
What to do and when
Contact info
DIY? – Tips for the forms
FAQ about deferring, no response, frozen pensions, changing details, etc.
How BA can help you claim State Pension
Key notes:
• You must be within 4 months of State Pension age (SPA) to claim State Pension.
• You can be paid to a UK or overseas account and choose monthly or quarterly payments.
• If you live abroad part-year, you must pick one country to be paid in.
What to do and when
18 months before SPA
─► Check your NI record: www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record
─► Less than 35 years? You should apply to top-up. Read more or get help now.
─► Fully paid up? Call the IPC to update your address.
6 months before SPA
─► Make sure HMRC has processed any top-up payments (keep receipts/references).
4 months before SPA (you can now claim)
─► You should have received your personalised claim pack from HMRC, including forms IPCBR1NSP and IPC1394 (country-specific).
─► Read the guidance notes, complete both fully and return to the International Pension Centre, or let us get the forms ready for your signature.
─► Haven’t received a pack yet? Contact us now.
After you claim
─► Watch for letters, calls and emails. If IPC asks for ID or extra info, respond promptly.
─► First payment arrives (may be affected by processing time and US bank holidays).
└─► If amount looks low because NI top-ups were late posting to your record, DWP will recalculate and pay arrears after the HMRC updates land.
Missed your claim date?
─► Get in touch and we can review your options. You’ll lose out if you miss more than a year.
─► It can take months to process an application from overseas. You may also want to top-up to increase your State Pension amount, or refund Class 3 overpayments.
└─► If amount looks low because NI top-ups were late posting to your record, DWP will recalculate and pay arrears after the HMRC updates.
Contact Directory
International Pension Centre (IPC) – for claiming from abroad
- Phone (overseas State Pension dept.): +44 (0)191 218 7777 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00 UK time)
- Online enquiry form (email): IPC online enquiry (slower than phone)
- Postal (and courier) address for claims & forms:
The Pension Service 11, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 1LW, UK
Future Pension Centre (FPC) – below SPA, forecast/top-ups questions
- Phone (from outside UK): +44 (0)191 218 3600 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00 UK time)
HMRC — National Insurance enquiries (voluntary NI, CF83, allocations)
- Phone (outside UK): +44 191 203 7010 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00 UK time)
Pension Service (if you’re back in the UK)
- Phone: 0800 731 0469 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00 UK time). If abroad, use IPC above.
It’s fastest to call when agents open the lines at 8am.
Adam, BA
Want to DIY? Some advice for the forms.
Read the guidance notes linked above. This is our advice to help you complete the real forms. Always use the current official documents and your own details. Contact us for help.
(i) International claim form – IPCBR1NSP
Important guidance:
- Vital details: Up-to-date addresses, DOB in dd/mm/yyyy format, NI Number essential, payment start date.
- Previous UK addresses and work history dates: These are generally fine with month/year or your best estimate.
- Work history abroad: Country and employer or self-employment details.
(ii) Tell DWP where to pay your pension – IPC1394 (country-specific)
Important guidance:
- Vital details: Bank details, IBAN, SWIFT/BIC and payment frequency – monthly or quarterly.
Tip: The IPC1394 comes in country-specific versions or a general form if your country isn’t listed. Always use the one that matches where you’ll be paid.
Note about Life Certificates
If DWP sends you a Life Certificate, it’s a prove-you-are-alive check for people paid overseas. You must sign in front of an approved witness, show ID, and post it back within the deadline (usually within 16 weeks of the letter date) to avoid suspension. The letter includes the return address. Do not email it unless the letter explicitly allows.
*British Abroad can connect you with an approved witness.
FAQ
1) Can I defer my State Pension payments to get more later?
Yes, and your pension rises ~1% for every 9 weeks deferred (~5.8% a year).
When you do claim, the extra gets paid with your pension and usually increases annually if you live in a country where uprating applies (Q6.
2) I’m late. Can I backdate my claim?
You can ask DWP to backdate up to 12 months, but not before the day you first became entitled (your State Pension age). Any backdated amount is paid as arrears (no interest). If you delay more than 12 months, you’re treated as deferring instead. Contact us for advice.
3) I paid voluntary NI to fill gaps but my award looks too low.
This usually means HMRC hasn’t yet allocated your payment to your NI record. When it lands, DWP recalculates and pays arrears. Keep your proof of payment and, if needed, ring HMRC to check allocation, then the IPC once HMRC confirm.
4) I haven’t had any response after I tried to claim State Pension.
It’s normal for overseas claims to take a while. If you’ve claimed and heard nothing after a reasonable wait (or you’ve hit SPA with no award letter), call the IPC with your NI number and claim details; they can confirm receipt and push along requests for any missing info.
5) Do I need to prove I’m alive so my payments don’t stop?
DWP sometimes sends a Life Certificate to overseas pensioners. Sign it in front of an approved witness, show ID, and post it back to the address on the letter within the stated deadline (often 16 weeks). If your payment stops because a certificate didn’t arrive, ring IPC; payments are reinstated when you confirm and return the form.
6) Will my pension rise with inflation where I live?
Uprated countries: You’ll get the annual increases (same as UK with triple-lock)
Includes EU, Switzerland, Gibraltar + countries with uprating agreements (e.g., USA, Philippines, Israel, Jamaica, Turkey).
Frozen countries: No annual rise (your pension stays at the claimed amount while you reside abroad)
Includes Thailand, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and many others.
If you later move to an uprating country or back to the UK, your pension jumps to the current rate at that time (no back-payment of missed rises).
7) I live part-year overseas – can I be paid in two countries?
No. You must choose one country for payment.
8) How often can I be paid?
Every 4 or 13 weeks.
9) How do I change my details?
If you have a Government Gateway account already, check your address here.
Call the International Pension Centre. Changes should also be made and confirmed by phone or post.
10) What if my payment is late?
If the due week includes a US federal holiday, it can be a day late. Otherwise call your bank first, then the IPC if still missing.
How we can help you claim State Pension
- Pension Readiness Review: free consultation to assess your forecast, record, and
- Boost your pension income: discuss a top-up plan if needed.
- Claims Service: signature-ready forms, documents check and continued support. (Optional courier service included).
- Sanity-Check: reviews to make sure nothing obvious will bounce or delay your claim.
What we don’t do
- We can’t phone HMRC to chase case-specific updates. You’ll need to do the security call but we’ll give you the numbers and references.
- We don’t receive any documents or payments from HMRC.