Which British welfare benefits am I entitled to?
This page provides useful links to information on benefits from the UK government for residents of Spain. (In addition, scroll further down the page for a link to more information about possible Spanish benefits which many British residents may be entitled to.)
UK statutory support if you live in Spain
If you are living in Spain, even if you have registered as a Spanish resident, you can find details of UK benefits you may be entitled to and how to apply at the following website links from the British government. Most often, benefits people in Spain receive from the UK are state pensions and allowances for an illness, disability or a carer (but not UK jobseekers benefit or income support/universal credit).
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain
https://www.gov.uk/uk-benefits-abroad
https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad
British State Pension
If you have lived and worked in the UK or a spouse has, you may be entitled to a British state pension (link to UK government site).
Combining years worked in the UK with years worked in Spain to improve your pension or reach the threshold for a basic pension: If you have paid in contributions to the Spanish social security system (usually through working in Spain) as well as the UK when you lived there, you can still (even if you move to Spain after 1st January 2021) apply to have the years combined to possibly improve the level of Spanish state pension you can get. If you live in Spain you do this through the Spanish social security offices once you are ready to retire. (If you are now living back in the UK you apply through the UK authorities). The UK and Spanish authorities then talk to each other to work out what your pension should be.
UK benefits for a disability or carer support
If you (or a parent or spouse) moved to live in Spain before 31st December 2020 you could still be entitled to one of the following UK allowances (among others) if you have a particular illness or disability, even if you are resident in Spain:
- Attendance Allowance or Carers’ Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance care component
- Personal Independence Payment living component
If you are under state pension age you may be entitled to Bereavement benefit from the UK if you live in Spain; contact the UK’s International Pension Centre for advice
Please use the above UK government website links at the top of this page to find out more about which UK benefits you may be entitled to based on your personal circumstances.
If you need extra help understanding or more support applying for UK or Spanish benefits or Spanish government services, please see this list of possible contacts. (Add in your town or village on the next page to filter results to organisations near you).
Spanish statutory support
Some people may be entitled to Spanish government benefits or support as residents, even if they are UK citizens. Click here for more detailed information on this subject.
Please note that applying for benefits from either the UK or Spain is not an immediate process. It is recommended to apply as soon as possible, even if you are unsure about your long-term residency plans in Spain, as any other emergency help you receive could only be limited for a short period of time.
If you need extra help understanding or more support applying for UK or Spanish benefits or Spanish government services, please see this list of possible contacts. (Add in your town or village on the next page to filter results to organisations near you).
Benefits if you are returning to the UK to live
If you are planning to return to live permanently in the UK you may also be entitled to benefits and help on return. For an overview of what the process might be see this link:
http://heathrowtravelcare.co.uk/what-we-do/returning-to-the-uk-from-abroad/
If you require more specific help about entitlement to UK benefits if you return to live in the UK, we suggest you contact the Citizens’ Advice Bureau nearest to where you plan to live or plan to travel back to.
On this site you can search specific questions or find your nearest office. (Please note that a Citizens’ Advice Bureau in the UK cannot normally offer detailed advice if you plan to stay living in Spain).
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