What UK Benefits Are Expat Pensioners Entitled To In Spain?

Expat Tips Published: 26 November 2014 11:46 CET Updated: 13 February 2026 11:46 CET

If you are a British pensioner living in Spain – or planning your retirement here – it is essential to know which UK benefits you can keep, which are uprated each year, and which will stop once you move abroad permanently. The rules are different for contributory benefits like the State Pension, non‑contributory disability benefits, and income‑related support such as Pension Credit.

This 2026 guide explains the main UK benefits that expat pensioners in Spain may be entitled to, how to claim them, and where the limits are.

1. UK State Pension When Living In Spain

Moving to Spain does not, by itself, stop you receiving your UK State Pension. As long as you have built up enough qualifying National Insurance contributions, you can claim your pension from Spain and have it paid directly into a Spanish bank account in pounds or euros.

Because Spain is covered by the UK’s social security coordination arrangements, your UK State Pension continues to be uprated every year while you live here, in line with UK rules. You are not “frozen” as you would be in some other countries outside Europe.

How To Claim Your UK State Pension From Spain

If you have only ever worked in the UK, your State Pension is paid by the UK and administered by the International Pension Centre (IPC). You can usually choose to receive your pension every 4 or 13 weeks, paid into a UK or overseas bank account.

To claim or notify the UK that you are moving to Spain, you should contact the International Pension Centre via the online enquiry form, by phone or by post using the latest contact details on GOV.UK, as telephone numbers and postal addresses can change over time.

If you have paid contributions in Spain as well as the UK, the Spanish social security office (INSS) will normally coordinate your claim with the UK and any other EU or EEA countries where you have worked.

Buying Extra National Insurance Years

Some expats can improve their UK State Pension by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions for missing years, but the rules and costs are tightening. There are strict deadlines for backdating gaps and access to the cheaper contribution classes is being restricted, so it is important to check the latest rules if you are considering topping up.

2. Over‑80 Pension (Category D State Pension)

The “Over‑80” pension (Category D) is a top‑up for people aged 80 or over who receive a low UK State Pension or no State Pension at all. It is a separate, non‑contributory category of State Pension that can be paid to people living in Spain, as long as you meet the residence and entitlement conditions.

To qualify, you usually need to:

Be aged 80 or over.
Have a low or no UK State Pension under your own National Insurance record.
Meet the UK residence or connection rules for this benefit.

The Over‑80 pension is only available to those who reached State Pension age under the old basic State Pension system. Anyone reaching State Pension age under the new State Pension rules (for men and women reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016) cannot normally claim this top‑up. Current weekly amounts and thresholds change with each tax year, so you should always check the latest figures.

3. Bereavement Benefits For UK Expats In Spain

If your husband, wife or civil partner dies while you are living in Spain, you may be entitled to UK bereavement benefits, depending on your age, residence and your partner’s National Insurance record. The main benefit is the Bereavement Support Payment (BSP), which replaced older widow’s and widower’s benefits.

Bereavement Support Payment

Bereavement Support Payment is a time‑limited benefit paid as an initial lump sum plus monthly payments for up to 18 months. There is a “higher” and “lower” rate, and what you receive depends on your circumstances and the National Insurance contributions of the person who died.

To qualify, you generally must:

Have been married to, or in a civil partnership with, the deceased at the time of their death.
Be under State Pension age when they died.
Meet residence rules and live in a country where BSP can be paid – Spain is one of the eligible countries.

BSP can usually be paid into a bank account in Spain. Exact rates, age limits and contribution rules are updated regularly, so you should check current eligibility and payment amounts on GOV.UK before applying.

4. Disability‑Related Benefits And Industrial Injuries

Some disability and carer‑related UK benefits are only payable abroad in limited circumstances, while others, such as Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, may remain payable if you move to Spain.

Personal Independence Payment, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance

Benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance are generally designed to support people living in the UK. In many cases they stop if you move abroad permanently, although there can be exceptions where you are abroad only temporarily or where social security coordination rules apply in specific situations.

Because the exportability rules are complex and subject to change, pensioners with these benefits should always check current guidance before moving to Spain and notify the relevant UK department to avoid overpayments or benefit suspensions.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is a payment for people who become disabled due to an accident at work or an approved industrial disease. IIDB is one of the UK benefits that can normally be exported to Spain if you move here permanently.

Key points include:

Your level of disablement must be assessed by an approved medical adviser.
The amount you receive each week depends on your assessed percentage of disablement.
Current weekly payment bands are reviewed and adjusted from time to time.

If you think you may qualify, you will need to complete the relevant IIDB claim form for accidents or for prescribed diseases, and you can contact the appropriate UK benefit centre for help with your claim and to confirm payment arrangements to a Spanish bank account.

5. Income‑Related Benefits: Pension Credit And Others

Income‑related benefits are treated very differently from contributory pensions. Most of them are not payable if you move abroad on a long‑term basis, and moving permanently to Spain will usually bring these payments to an end.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is an income‑related benefit for older people in the UK whose income is below a set level. It tops up weekly income and can also unlock other help, such as support with housing costs or health costs in the UK.

If you move abroad permanently to Spain, Pension Credit will normally stop. In some very limited circumstances – for example, a temporary absence for medical treatment funded by the NHS – Pension Credit may continue for a short period, but this does not cover a permanent retirement move. If you already receive Pension Credit and are planning to move to Spain, you must inform the Pension Service before you go.

Other Income‑Related Benefits

Many other income‑related UK benefits, such as Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, are also not generally payable to people who live abroad on a permanent basis. Retired expats in Spain usually rely on contributory pensions and any private pension or investment income, rather than UK income‑related benefits.

6. Healthcare And UK Benefits – Why Private Cover Still Matters

Most UK pensioners who are lawfully resident in Spain can access public healthcare under reciprocal arrangements, often using an S1 form so that the UK reimburses Spain for their treatment. However, state systems can involve waiting lists, language barriers and more limited choice of specialists or hospitals than many expats are used to.

For that reason, a large number of British retirees in Spain choose to add private health insurance on top of their statutory entitlement. This gives you faster access to diagnosis and treatment, a wider choice of doctors and clinics, and the comfort of English‑speaking support when you need it most.

Private Healthcare in Spain

Although most pensioners qualify for state healthcare in Spain under reciprocal agreements, many expats choose to take out extra private medical insurance with companies such as ourselves, HealthPlan Spain.

There are many advantages to doing so which include: