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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people living in Australia are earning credits towards British contributory benefits; [137613] (2) how many people retired in each of the past five years with part of their pension coming from credits earned while in Australia; and what was the average amount of pension earned by these credits. [137610] Mr. Rooker: People cannot earn credits while they are resident in Australia. Under the terms of the Social Security Agreement with Australia, when someone who is permanently resident in the United Kingdom claims Retirement Pension, previous residence in Australia can be treated as periods during which Class 3 contributions have been paid. We estimate that an average of about 1,000 pensioners have benefited from these provisions each year during the last five years. The estimated average basic pension enhancement under the Agreement was around £15 a week over this period. Source: Pensions Strategy Computer System

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

356 c529W;356 c528-9W; 137613;137610

Session

1999-00

Subjects

British nationality Australia Pensioners Overseas residence Reciprocal arrangements Social security Social security benefits State retirement pensions National insurance credits

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk