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bank or building society account or by an annual remittance In either case payments can be made directly by the person concerned or through an agent in GB. The Agency will need a completed application form to set up the chosen method of payment. The form is part of the general leaflet on insurance abroad ( to follow)
People who go abroad and do not satisfy the conditions at 1 above can apply to pay voluntary contributions from the outset at either the class 2 or class 3 rate. Class 2 are currently £5.35 a week, class 3 are £5.25. Both give cover for pension purposes but class 2 also covers sickness benefit claims on return to GB.
4. Retirement Pension
RP is currently calculated over a working life of 49 years for a man, 44 for a woman. A man needs 44 qualifying years for a full rate basic pension, a woman needs 39 years. A pension forecast can be provided to persons abroad or to their authorised agent. The Agency needs the full name and National insurance numbers to arrange this, and to give specific advice about the need to pay voluntarily.
5. Widows Benefits
These are calculated at the end of the tax year preceding the death. Payment of voluntary contributions is recommended to ensure the best possible cover.
6. Child Benefit
This is not an insurance based benefit. It is residence based and ordinarily can only be paid abroad for the first 8 weeks of temporary absence. There are currently special arrangements for Hong Kong government employees and I can only suggest an immediate approach to the Child Benefit Centre.
TOTAL. PAGE. 004.
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