European pensions rights when retiring abroad

European pensions rights when retiring abroad
By Euronews
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In this edition, we have a question from Charlotte, in Marseille:

“I am a Belgian citizen and I currently reside in France. However, during my whole life career I also worked in Spain, France and Belgium. I should retire in two years. How will my pension be calculated?”

The answer is brought to us by Vassela Stoyanova, Communication Officer at Europe Direct:

“As you have worked in several EU countries, you may have accumulated pension rights in each of them. When the time comes for you to claim your pension, you normally have to apply in the country where you are living or in the country where you last worked.

That country is then responsible for processing your claim and bringing together records of your pension contributions from all the countries you have worked in.

If you’ve never worked in the country where you now live, you should apply to the relevant authority in the last country where you worked. Your application will then be processed there.

You can only apply for your pension from the country where you now live once you have reached the legal retirement age in that country. If you have pension rights from other countries, you will only receive that part of your pension once you have reached the legal retirement age in those countries.

You should apply for your pension at least six months before you retire because receiving your pension from several countries can be a lengthy procedure.”

For more information about the EU, call 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or check out the website: europa.eu/youreurope

If you would also like to ask a question on U-talk, click on the button below.

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