I have a Hungarian national who has been in the UK since 2004 to work and became 60 in June of this year. Previously, she tells me she has 34 years of employment in Hungary and contributing to their equivalent NI scheme.

She has been awarded a SRP of £2.21.

She also tells me that she informed the Pension Service of her Hungarian employment record. She also visited Hungary in August to make a claim but was told by the Hungarian authorities she needed to claim in the UK.

I have phoned the Pension Service and was promised a call back from a EEA pension specialist but lo and behold this has not happened.

At the moment I'm just trying to get to the bottom of whether her Hungarian contributions should be or will be added to her UK pension. She's reluctant to claim PC instead as she wants to continue working so will be no better off.

Can anyone advice what I need to be asking the Pension Service?

Hello, I have a Hungarian client who sent me advice on this query, I don't know much about it but hope it is some help for you:

"She should claim in Hungary,and her pension is should be calculated from her Hungarian employment and from her UK employment as well.The calculation is very difficult,i don't remember exactly.But there is a Hungarian man I know,who has history of employment in Germany,he also was working for many years back home,and 4 years over here.With my help he got statements from all of his previous employers,I got a special form (it was E35 or something like) for him.My friend went back to the Hungarian Pension Office,and he is getting pension calculated from all of his previous jobs in his whole life. So i think she should try it back home,she can't be rejected.I don't know how could it happen,especially if she has 34 years of employment in Hungary before she came here??!!!But so much of hungarian burocracy...
I hope I helped a bit. "
Katerina
Newry and Mourne District Council