This page provides useful links, firstly for benefits from the UK government and, secondly the Spanish authorities. (Scroll further down the page for the link to more information about possible Spanish benefits).

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: 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.

Even if you do not meet the mininum number of years worked for a pension in either country, by combining years worked across Spain and Britain (and any other EU/EEA country) you could find you are entitled to something after all and meet the minimum threshold, according to the Social Security and Pensions agreement between countries. See the links in the paragraph above.

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. Click here for more information on Spanish benefits you may be entitled to.

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.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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).