Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and its integrated social security protocol, provides for UK nationals who worked and accrued state pension entitlements in Belgium before 1 January 2021, but have not reached state pension age, to maintain their state pension rights accrued in Belgium payable on the date they would be eligible for state pension under the Belgian system, including with any indexation increases.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Further to my reply of 9th March 2021 (UIN 162545), State Pension arrangements remain unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU including for UK nationals who have relevant social security contributions in Belgium, as well as other EU member states.
All UK State Pension recipients in the EU will have their State Pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders up to 31 December 2020 and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021. This means that Belgium, and other EU Member States, will reciprocate the position outlined above in relation to pension entitlement in those States.
The Department for Work and Pensions, together with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other departments, are working with the European Union and its Member States to ensure that that the Citizen's Right provisions under the agreements with the EU are implemented on both sides.
The UK Government is not entering any unilateral negotiations with Belgium on State Pensions.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Government's policy is on UK nationals' access to accrued state pension entitlements in the event that a reciprocal bilateral agreement on state pension entitlements is not agreed with Belgium; and which Minister is responsible for that policy.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Further to my reply of 9th March 2021 (UIN 162545), State Pension arrangements remain unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU including for UK nationals who have relevant social security contributions in Belgium, as well as other EU member states.
All UK State Pension recipients in the EU will have their State Pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders up to 31 December 2020 and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021. This means that Belgium, and other EU Member States, will reciprocate the position outlined above in relation to pension entitlement in those States.
The Department for Work and Pensions, together with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other departments, are working with the European Union and its Member States to ensure that that the Citizen's Right provisions under the agreements with the EU are implemented on both sides.
The UK Government is not entering any unilateral negotiations with Belgium on State Pensions.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has entered into negotiations with the Belgian Government to ensure the continued state pension rights of UK nationals who have paid into the Belgian state pension system.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Further to my reply of 9th March 2021 (UIN 162545), State Pension arrangements remain unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU including for UK nationals who have relevant social security contributions in Belgium, as well as other EU member states.
All UK State Pension recipients in the EU will have their State Pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders up to 31 December 2020 and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021. This means that Belgium, and other EU Member States, will reciprocate the position outlined above in relation to pension entitlement in those States.
The Department for Work and Pensions, together with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other departments, are working with the European Union and its Member States to ensure that that the Citizen's Right provisions under the agreements with the EU are implemented on both sides.
The UK Government is not entering any unilateral negotiations with Belgium on State Pensions.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the reciprocal pension rights of UK and Belgian nationals who have yet to reach state retirement age, which were accrued in Belgium or in the UK before the end of the transition period, are the subject of bilateral negotiations towards agreement between the UK and Belgium.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Further to my reply of 9th March 2021 (UIN 162545), State Pension arrangements remain unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU including for UK nationals who have relevant social security contributions in Belgium, as well as other EU member states.
All UK State Pension recipients in the EU will have their State Pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders up to 31 December 2020 and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021. This means that Belgium, and other EU Member States, will reciprocate the position outlined above in relation to pension entitlement in those States.
The Department for Work and Pensions, together with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other departments, are working with the European Union and its Member States to ensure that that the Citizen's Right provisions under the agreements with the EU are implemented on both sides.
The UK Government is not entering any unilateral negotiations with Belgium on State Pensions.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who will be responsible for ensuring that UK nationals do not lose state pension entitlements in the event that no reciprocal bilateral agreements on state pension entitlements are agreed with EU Member States.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
State pension arrangements are unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU.
All individuals can aggregate relevant social security contributions made in EU member states towards meeting the minimum qualifying period for the UK state pension, and all UK state pension recipients in the EU will have their state pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders before 1 January 2021, and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government concluded bilateral agreements with all EU Member States to ensure the continued state pension rights of UK nationals who have paid into EU Member States' pension systems.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
State pension arrangements are unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU.
All individuals can aggregate relevant social security contributions made in EU member states towards meeting the minimum qualifying period for the UK state pension, and all UK state pension recipients in the EU will have their state pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders before 1 January 2021, and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the reciprocal pension rights of UK and EU nationals who have yet to reach state retirement age, which were accrued in an EU Member State or in the UK before the end of the transition period, are now subject to bilateral agreements between the UK and each EU member state.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
State pension arrangements are unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU.
All individuals can aggregate relevant social security contributions made in EU member states towards meeting the minimum qualifying period for the UK state pension, and all UK state pension recipients in the EU will have their state pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders before 1 January 2021, and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and its integrated social security protocol, provides for UK nationals who worked and accrued state pension entitlements in another EU Member State before 1 January 2021, but have not reached state pension age, to maintain their state pension rights accrued in the EU Member State, including with any indexation increases.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
State pension arrangements are unchanged following the UK’s Exit from the EU.
All individuals can aggregate relevant social security contributions made in EU member states towards meeting the minimum qualifying period for the UK state pension, and all UK state pension recipients in the EU will have their state pension paid (including annual increases) in line with rates in the UK. These arrangements have been agreed with the EU and all its member states on a reciprocal basis in the Withdrawal Agreement for those who moved across borders before 1 January 2021, and in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for those who move across borders from 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the oral evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee, by the Permanent Secretary on DWP’s Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 on 21 October 2020, Q96, HC 759 stating that 1,900 women have been identified by her Department as having been underpaid state pensions, what the total lump sum cash amount is that has so far been paid by her Department to those women in respect of those underpayments.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are unable to provide you with the requested data at this time, the Department has plans to publish this data at a later date.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2020 to Question 65109 on State Retirement Pensions: Females, what time limits apply to claiming previously underpaid state pension in cases where a female pensioner is now deceased.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The time limits are set out in The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, regulation 30(6)(a), made pursuant to section 5(1)(q) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. Successive governments have continued this policy.