# Retired pensioner in the UK, relocating to the U.S.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 26, 2016, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642 "2016-12-26T11:30:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642/1 "2016-12-26T11:30:46Z")

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If a retired pensioner in the UK relocates to the U.S., can he continue to get his pension?

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642/2 "2016-12-26T11:47:38Z")

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> [@panache45](#):
>
> If a retired pensioner in the UK relocates to the U.S., can he continue to get his pension?

If you mean his Sate Pension, he will still get it but without any further annual increases. A private pension would be unaffected.

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**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642/3 "2016-12-26T11:57:59Z")

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If they’ve paid at least 30 years of full NI contributions then, as best I understand, they are entitled to the full state pension - regardless of where they are. If their NI contributions fall short of the 30 years then the pension is apportioned.

I don’t know about the point made above.

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642/4 "2016-12-26T12:37:20Z")

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It’s all explained [here.](https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad/how-to-claim)

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**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642/5 "2016-12-26T15:52:56Z")

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> [@bob\_2](#):
>
> If you mean his Sate Pension, he will still get it but without any further annual increases.

He will get increases in the US because there is a social security agreement between US and U.K.

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**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-pensioner-in-the-uk-relocating-to-the-u-s/775642/6 "2016-12-27T14:59:31Z")

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Retired and moving to the USA?

You paid for your NHS. You wont get it free in USA.

Anyways you cannot just stay in another country for ever. You need to qualify to stay in the USA.

A country is for its citizens not anyone else who fancies they might move in. Thats why there are immigration laws. Unless you are fleeing persecution which as UK citizen will not be entertained.