Pensions

[stevewool]

My wife will be eligible for the new flat-rate pension. One of the reasons we delayed relocating to the Philippines was to be sure she completed the minimum 10 years contributions of NI

Under the current scheme pension was paid even for a few years contributions.
Say 5 years contribution would earn 5/30 th's of the full pension

Under the new scheme anything below 10 years contributions doesn't count and is 'lost'.

(Well, unless the proposed 7 year period gets voted in quickly)

So what Ems pays in contributions she will never ever see it then if we are planing on going in the next 5 years or sooner, that would have given her just over the 7 years

[Terpe]

So what Ems pays in contributions she will never ever see it then if we are planing on going in the next 5 years or sooner, that would have given her just over the 7 years

Basically Steve that's correct.....unless the new-scheme would get changed to say 5 years.
The minimum eligibility hasn't yet been fixed as far I understand it so currently remains at 10 years.

Maybe others reading this thread have more up-to-date information of this issue.

I think the new pension comes into force on 6 April 2016.

As I say, currently the criteria states 10 qualifying years as eligibility.

The payment stands at not less than £148.40 per week