Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to annually uprate the UK basic state pension to qualifying individuals on the same basis regardless of the state or territory in which they are currently resident; and what reciprocal agreements they have made, if any, with other countries in respect of pension uprating.

UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and up-rated overseas where there is a legal requirement to do so – for example where there is a reciprocal agreement in place that allows for up-rating. The policy on up-rating is longstanding and has been supported by successive Governments for over 70 years. The Government has no plans to change this policy.

The UK has reciprocal social security agreements, which provide State Pension up-rating, with the following authorities:

• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Gibraltar
• Guernsey
• the Isle of Man
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Jersey
• Kosovo
• Mauritius
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• the Philippines
• Serbia
• Turkey
• USA

The UK also has agreements in place with the European Economic Area and Switzerland which provide for State Pension up-rating.