Transferring pension from France to UK

BossArky

Hi, perhaps someone here has experience that may help me.

Folling University I worked in France for 18 months, then moved to work with a different company in the UK 3 months ago.

I want to transfer my pension from the French social security to the UK one. I just rang the French CRAV (people who deal with pensions in France, got the number from my French companies HR) and they asked my age (23) and how long I was in France (18 months)... and then told me that I cannot transfer the pension. When I asked why they said "its the law".

They didn't speak English, and my French isn't exactly fluent so perhaps I missed something in translation. Does anyone know anything about this situation? Thanks.

Alun

When you left your employment in France you should have got an E104 form stating that you had paid in to the scheme there for the time period you were there. This then entitles you to the equivalent benefits in the EU state you are moving to. Eventually when you reach 65, or whatever the retirement age is then!, you just claim your state pension in the country you retire in. If you move again to another EU country in the menatime, you just get another E104. It used to be that you would have had to claim your individual little bits of pension in all the countries you had lived in, but that changed a few years ago.

That's the theory anyway. Getting an E104 off the Dutch authorities when I left there to move to ireland was like getting blood out of a stone.

See http://www.oasis.gov.ie/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/moving_to_ireland_and_your_social_security_entitlements.html for more info. Good Luck!

BossArky

Thanks Alun, I'm trying to get a copy of that E104. Apparently I can claim a tiny pension from France when I eventually retire, due to working there those 18 months.