Do you have a financial anxiety, dilemma, or quandary? Reach out to Jessie Hewitson, a seasoned money journalist and editor, and now the dedicated financial agony aunt for The i Paper. Jessie is here to tackle readers’ questions while collaborating with top experts in the financial field (many of whom charge significant fees) to provide the best advice possible. She combines this professional insight with her own life experiences, which include navigating her own financial missteps. Feel free to email your questions to [email protected], with ‘Ask Jessie’ in the subject line, and she will get started on your inquiry.
A reader named Jodie Mac writes…
I am 71 years old, currently residing in Ecuador, and I have never applied for my UK state pension. I have undergone a name and gender change, yet my passport still reflects my previous name and gender, and it has expired. What steps do I need to follow in order to access my UK state pension?
Jessie responds…
After our initial email exchange, you shared your remarkable journey. You served in the British Army, participated in the Gulf War, then relocated to the US. Following your gender reassignment surgery in Thailand in 2000, you worked as a nurse for the Red Cross in Africa for six years before settling in Ecuador with your long-term partner.
Your situation underscores the complexities involved in managing finances after a gender transition. You are entitled to a state pension, possess an Armed Forces pension, and have a private pension with Legal & General (L&G). However, you will need to navigate a considerable amount of paperwork and demonstrate patience to gain access to these funds.
You mentioned that you have attempted to apply for your L&G pension multiple times but faced rejections. A primary concern is the lack of documentation proving your residency in the UK, compounded by your expired passport. Therefore, reapplying for a valid passport should be your initial priority. Once you have secured this, along with your gender recognition certificate and name change documentation, you should be positioned for a successful application.
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To address your passport situation, you will need to initiate a new application. Download the appropriate form and ensure to complete Section 2 accurately, detailing your new name and gender. Since you are currently abroad, you will need to mail the completed forms along with a certified copy (or the original) of your gender recognition certificate and your name change documentation. Fortunately, established procedures exist to assist you, so this should not be overly challenging.
I consulted with Jamie Lowe, the director of True Self Wealth—which is the first financial advice practice in the UK run by and for the trans community—and shared your correspondence with him. Jamie pointed out that your Armed Forces pension operates as a defined benefit scheme, meaning it is supported by a collective pool of funds wherein each participant is entitled to a specific portion annually. Delaying your claim could result in a significant loss of benefits, unlike a defined contribution scheme, which accumulates until withdrawal.
Therefore, it is crucial not to postpone your claim any longer. You will need to complete two forms available on the UK Government’s website and submit them to Veterans UK, a ministry under the Defence Department. The AFPS Form 14 provides a forecast of your pension, indicating the amount you are entitled to. Once you have this, you can send it along with AFPS Form 8, which is necessary for claiming your “preserved pension,” owed to you after leaving the service.
As Jamie advises, “Unfortunately, arranging these payments may take some time, and while you might not receive an uplift or back pay, it is worth inquiring.” For your state pension, your first step should be to email the International Pension Centre, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that manages pensions for expatriates. This process too is likely to be slow, and you will need to submit the same documentation as for your passport.
The positive news is that since you have not yet claimed your state pension, it may have automatically deferred, thus increasing your eventual payout. The DWP typically adds 5.8% for each year that you do not claim, making it worthwhile to check into this.
Regarding your L&G pension, Jamie emphasizes that every pension provider has a specific protocol for updating names and gender. You will need to reach out to them directly, but the process should generally mirror what I’ve outlined above.
I’ve reviewed the Government’s guidance on these matters, and it states that any officials assisting you must handle your case with sensitivity and professionalism. While it may be a considerable administrative burden, I hope it remains a manageable task. From what you’ve shared, it seems you are thriving in Ecuador, and despite occasional rudeness from tourists, the local community has been supportive of you. I admire your adventurous spirit, as my own travels have become quite suburban, navigating between north London and central London feels like a journey. I’m glad to have your permission to share your story, which reflects your pride in your new life. I truly hope this marks the final step in your transition, and with some persistence in completing forms and gathering documents, I’m confident you will succeed.
