by Anura Guruge

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Given that I am in self-imposed, financial exile I do not have to deal with U.K. Government that often. But each time I do, I come away feeling SO privileged and honored! At least in my case, they treat you with such courtesy, respect and PROMPTNESS.

This last interaction was a classic case in point. I was entitled, JUST, to a UK State Pension (even under the new guidelines) because I did work in the U.K. (and pay a fair amount of tax) for 10 years, 5 months and 2 weeks — 10 years being the minimum.

I had been idly looking at the UK Pension stuff for a couple of years and earlier this year decide to make my move,

They have, understandably, strict rules as to when you can apply. You can apply any time after you turn 65, but you can’t apply too soon. The earliest I could apply was May 4.

Can’t apply online. It has to be by mail because they would like you to enclose some original documents — at a minimum a original payslip or pension slip from a UK company with your UK insurance number on it. I had a few since I do also get a UK company pension — though that barely covers my wine.

I finally got all my duck in order, after multiple trips to banks, and on May 1, 2018 mailed it — USPS International First Class. That gave me some rudimentary tracking once it got to the UK.

This Monday, May 21, 2018, I got the above letter telling me that I will indeed get a miniscule State Pension.

So, May 1 to May 21. Less than 3-weeks in TOTAL and that involving two (2) air mail letters.

Per my tracking ‘they’ got my letter May 8, 2018.

This decision letter is dated May 10, 2018!

2-days. TWO-DAYS.

Brilliant.

I am so happy.

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by Anura Guruge