MAPPED: The countries where expats still get a state pension increase as 500,000 to miss out on £470 triple lock

Expats are being advised to check their state pension eligibility ahead of next month

Nearly half a million expat state pensioners are set to miss out on a £470 triple lock boost next month.

Under the triple lock system, the state pension will increase by 4.1 per cent in April. However, the Labour government’s ‘frozen pensions policy’ prevents annual increases for retirees in certain countries.

As the deadline looms, we have mapped the countries where expats are still eligible for an annual pension increase.

As William Cooper, Marketing Director at William Russell explains, expats living in countries that have a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK will still see their pension increase annually.

The UK also has a social security agreement with Ireland, which can be considered in certain circumstances.

The countries which the UK has social security agreements outside of the EU are:

For those considering transferring their pension abroad, Cooper says it's essential to explore options like a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS).

A QROPS is a type of pension scheme based outside the UK that meets specific requirements set by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

It allows individuals with UK pension savings to transfer their pensions abroad without incurring an unauthorised tax charge, provided the scheme remains compliant with UK pension rules.

"Always seek guidance from a financial advisor with international expertise to navigate currency fluctuations, tax implications, and local pension regulations," Cooper told GB News.

Before doing anything else, expats must check their state pension eligibility, he says, adding: "Start by logging in to the UK government’s online service to view your National Insurance record. This will show how many qualifying years you have accumulated. Generally, you need at least 10 qualifying years for a minimum state pension, and 35 years for the full amount."

Expats are not the only group set to miss out on the triple lock hike.

Those who have taken career breaks longer than six years could face significant gaps in their National Insurance record.

"Those who have a gap of more than six years in NI contributions... may want to consider filling these gaps in their record now to ensure they are on track to receive the full state pension entitlement at retirement," said Jonathan Watts-Lay, Director at WEALTH at work.