It seems that there is considerable controversy about British state pensions for expats. To ensure you get a fair deal, you can join a group to lobby for “parity, not charity”. You could start with the britishpensions.com site, which is the home of the Canadian Alliance of British Pensioners. Alternatively, the British Australian Pensioner Association (BAPA) has an excellent website and offers an opportunity to sign up to the Yahoo egroup, British Expat Pensioners (BEP), where members discuss issues relating to pensions. Even if you’re not in Australia, this site is well worth a look as it contains useful links to related sites and other pensioner associations worldwide. Make your voice heard!

James Nelson F.F.A.
Vice President
British Australian Pensioner Association
55 Whittinghams Way
Leongatha South
3953 Victoria
Australia
www.britishpensions.org.au

Useful pension addresses:

Department for Work and Pensions

The Rt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Department for Work and Pensions
Caxton House
Tothill Street
LONDON
SW1H 9DA

Steve Webb MP
Minister of State for Pensions
same address as above.
Email both via the DWP website: www.dwp.gov.uk/contact/

DWP Overseas Branch:

Department for Work and Pensions
Pensions & Overseas Benefits Directorate
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE98 1BA
(Quote your National Insurance number)
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

Important: Please note that you will need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions direct if you wish to cancel a deceased relative’s pension. We have no official standing whatsoever and can’t do it on your behalf.

Your Member of Parliament can be found by consulting the UK Parliament website:
List of MPs by constituency

Labour Party:

The Labour Party
Eldon House
Regent Centre
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
NE3 3PW

Website: www.labour.org.uk
Contact: www.labour.org.uk/contact

Conservative Party:

Correspondence
Conservative Campaign Headquarters
30 Millbank
LONDON
SW1P 4DP
Website: www.conservatives.com
Contact: www.conservatives.com/Information/Contact_Us.aspx

Liberal Democrats:

Liberal Democrats
4 Cowley Street
LONDON
SW1P 3NB
Website: www.libdems.org.uk
Contact: www.libdems.org.uk/contact.aspx

National Pensioners Convention:

Dot Gibson
General Secretary
National Pensioners Convention
19-23 Ironmonger Row
LONDON
EC1V 3QN
Website: www.npcuk.org
Email:

Web-based information regarding social security rights within the European Union:

European Commission: Co-ordination of EU Member States’ social security schemes