Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 29 June (HL1002), whether they have had any engagement with the government of Canada on a reciprocal social security agreement; and if so, what discussions they have had with that government on the subject.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The UK Government responded to a request for a reciprocal social security agreement from the Canadian Government in March 2021.
The Government has also recently received a letter from the Government of Canada on negotiating a reciprocal social security agreement. The Department for Work and Pensions plans to respond to this request in due course.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support UK pensioners in Commonwealth countries.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions, and we continue to up-rate it abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so – for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for up-rating.
People move abroad for many reasons and it is their own choice to do so. There is information available in leaflets and on GOV.UK on how to claim State Pension from overseas and on what the effect of going abroad will be on entitlement to the UK State Pension.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the government of Canada about a reciprocal social security agreement between the UK and Canada; and what response, if any, they received.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
There are two separate social security arrangements in place between the UK and Canada, made in 1995 and 1998. The UK Government is not intending to change the social security relationship with Canada.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any requests from Commonwealth countries to discuss reciprocal pension agreements in the last two years; and if so, which countries have made such requests.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Department received a request from Canada in November 2020 to conclude a reciprocal agreement to state pension up-rating.