Kindertransport and the State Pension

You can apply to have your UK insurance record for years before 1948 removed from your pension record if this will make you eligible for a higher German state pension.

In the early 1990s Germany changed their pension laws to give Kindertransportees a German state pension. However, for many Kindertransportees their new German state pension was affected by their UK insurance record for years before 1948.

Since 2008, you can have these years removed if this will make you eligible for a higher German state pension.

Eligibility

You might be eligible if all of these apply:

  • you came to the UK before June 1940 as part of the Kindertransport
  • you paid into UK State Pension insurance before 1948
  • your entitlement to a German state pension was reduced or lost by the UK State Pension insurance paid before 6 April 1948

Ask the International Pension Centre to amend your UK State Pension insurance if you think you may be eligible. This will not affect the UK State Pension you get.

Surviving wives or husbands might also be able to benefit if the Kindertransportee has died. Children could benefit, depending on how long ago their parent died.

How to apply

Contact the International Pension Centre if you think you may be eligible.

The Pension Service 11
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LW

International Pension Centre
Telephone: 0191 2187777
Find out about call charges

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