Social Security & Pensions Abroad: What Property Buyers Need to Know
- International Property Alerts
- October 2, 2025
When buying property overseas, it’s not just about location and lifestyle. If you plan to retire or live abroad, you also need to think about how your pension or social security benefits will be affected.
Can You Receive Your Pension Abroad?
UK State Pension: You can get it overseas, but whether it goes up each year depends on where you live.
- If you live in the EU, Switzerland, Gibraltar, or countries with an uprating agreement, your pension will rise annually.
- If not (for example in Australia, Canada, or South Africa), your pension may be “frozen” at the rate you first receive it.
US Social Security: Payments are usually made worldwide (except a few countries like Cuba or North Korea).
What Are Social Security Agreements?
Many countries have deals, called totalisation or social security agreements, which:
Stop you from paying contributions in two countries at once
Let you combine years worked in different countries so you qualify for a pension
For example, the US and UK both have agreements with many countries in Europe.
Tax on Pensions Abroad
Some pensions are taxed in your home country, some in your new country, and some in both — unless a Double Taxation Treaty exists.
Example: UK pensioners in Spain pay tax on their pension in Spain, but the UK doesn’t tax it as well.
Example: US citizens still pay US tax on pensions, but local rules may reduce or remove tax abroad.
Healthcare and Benefits
In the EU, UK pensioners can often use the S1 scheme for healthcare.
Outside the EU, you’ll likely need private health insurance.
Extra UK benefits, like Pension Credit, usually stop if you move abroad.
What This Means for Buyers
Before buying property abroad, check:
✔️ Can you get your pension in your chosen country?
✔️ Will it increase each year or be frozen?
✔️ Is there a tax treaty so you don’t pay twice?
✔️ Do you need private health insurance?
✔️ Will your work abroad count towards your pension years?
Key Takeaway
Your overseas home is only part of the plan — your income security matters too. Social security, pensions, and healthcare rules change when you move abroad, so always check before you buy.
👉 At International Property Alerts, we help you look at the bigger picture — property, lifestyle, and long-term financial planning.
📧 elly@internationalpropertyalerts.com
🌐 www.internationalpropertyalerts.com
📱 WhatsApp: +44 7796 174253
About International Property Alerts
International Property Alerts is a premier global platform connecting real estate investors with handpicked opportunities in emerging and lifestyle-driven markets. Through curated listings, expert guidance, and market insights, we help buyers make confident property decisions worldwide.
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