Income TAX on pension from EU

Double treaty can be useful, you mention EU country (Schengen), in some countries also important if you get pension as being a government employee.

First view is that you should be entitled to lower (or even no tax). Very very much depending of your situation.

Taxes are a good topic, but health care in my view is also a kind ot tax.

For concrete feedback (non committing though_ you have to give some background. (even within the EU or Schengen for that matter) situations can be complicated.

Double treaty can be useful, you mention EU country (Schengen), in some countries also important if you get pension as being a government employee.
First view is that you should be entitled to lower (or even no tax). Very very much depending of your situation.
Taxes are a good topic, but health care in my view is also a kind ot tax.

For concrete feedback (non committing though_ you have to give some background. (even within the EU or Schengen for that matter) situations can be complicated.
-@cdw057

Healthcare might be simpler if in receipt of a government paid pension.    My understanding is that pensioners are entitled to join the national TAJ card system by presenting a completed home country S1 form to the local health authorities here.  As far as I know, it shows one is fully paid up on social security contributions.  Tax is indeed, another matter.

Irrespective of countries, you have to ask your pension authorities.

Example I think is myself, I lived and worked in Netherlands, Luxembourg, again Netherlands,UK, then again Luxembourg and had my own company in Hungary (me and my wife being employees)

Netherlands, many years, Luxembourg 12 years, UK 2.5 years and Hungary 7 years.

Now  live in Turkey even more complicating things, but just assume if I were to live in Hungary it is also complicated. As I understand the authorities of the country where you worked for one year last has to deal with the pension requirements (and for that matter tax and social contributions (please take the latter into account as well)

I am now in semi-retirement and pension would be due in 5 years (some time to go), I hope things will be simpler in the EU (but I am not very optimistic).

Conclusion, even if you have lived and worked in one country only things have to be dealt with, let alone my situation (but not your concern).

Having said that I am happy that on the forum somebody adresses the issue

I hope things will be simpler in the EU (but I am not very optimistic).

Conclusion, even if you have lived and worked in one country only things have to be dealt with, let alone my situation (but not your concern).

Having said that I am happy that on the forum somebody adresses the issue
-@cdw057

I totally agree, it's complicated.    It's even more complicated since Brexit.   My fear is that my pension comes due in about 3 or 4 years time (I will reach 65 in 3 years)  and by then things may change significantly.   I'm hoping the rules won't change for British people.  Stability is what we need in these troubled times.  It really needs streamlining to make it very easy.  One of my friends is trying to claim his UK pension and has quite a lot of trouble as he last paid into the Swedish system.  On the other hand, my sister in the UK was just given the pension without any questions. 

@fluffy2560 Good that you are still young, planning for the future is good. I am worried for my wife (I probably die before pension age), having said that especially the Luxmbourgish system is very generous. I even made a roadplan for retirement (who to contact, what to do). I hope I reach 65 (or in other countries 67 or more).

Dealing with pensions can be, but getting entitlements is another matter.

Germany has 5 social security insurances: Old age pension, helath insurance, long-term care insurance, unemployment insurance and work accident insurance.

With some very minor exceptions, they are paid 50 % by the employee and 50 % by the employer (apart from the accident insurance which is paid 100 % by the emplyoer).

The revenue doesn't go into the general government budget but to special public insurance agencies where it is earmarked for this special purpose.

In the case of pensions, the money that comes in now by the current employees is paid out the next month or so to the current pensioners and the idea is that current employees will be financed by future generations. Now, this system worked well when there was a young population with many kids and young workers and a relatively short life expectancy with a not so long pension duration on average. With the low birth rate which we have since decades and increasing life expectancy there is more and more pressure on the system. Already todday, hundreds of billions have to be given from the federal budget to the pension insurance to keep the system running.

In the case of pensions, the money that comes in now by the current employees is paid out the next month or so to the current pensioners and the idea is that current employees will be financed by future generations. Now, this system worked well when there was a young population with many kids and young workers and a relatively short life expectancy with a not so long pension duration on average. With the low birth rate which we have since decades and increasing life expectancy there is more and more pressure on the system. Already today, hundreds of billions have to be given from the federal budget to the pension insurance to keep the system running.
-@ranaday789

Yes, indeed. I remember discussions about the US pension system and the idea there it was a kind of fund, akin in concept to a sovereign wealth fund, that could be utilised in other ways. Completely wrong of course, like almost everywhere, it's just a redistribution of wealth collected through taxes. So many countries have deficits in their pension funding needs due to varying tax take, bad economics and demographics. 

Probably the best stable and democratic place to have a pension will be Norway. Their sovereign wealth fund will keep them going for forever. With the current gas price, it's value must be rocketing and easily will eclipse many economies. Worth today perhaps $1.5 trillion, on the tails of the GDP of Canada.

BTW, we've done our part producing kids but we're still not entitled to a free mini-van. I doubt our kids will stay here. They're both saying they want to leave. It means they'll contribute to some other country's pension system.

@fluffy2560 Good that you are still young, planning for the future is good. I am worried for my wife (I probably die before pension age), having said that especially the Luxmbourgish system is very generous. I even made a road plan for retirement (who to contact, what to do). I hope I reach 65 (or in other countries 67 or more).
Dealing with pensions can be, but getting entitlements is another matter.
-@cdw057

The retirement age is more or less the same across the EU (and the UK).  They harmonised it for various reasons like equality.  For some reason, I would  get my state pension at 65+6 months.  Why the 6 months? I've no idea!

My brother made a plan as he knew he was terminally ill but when the time finally came, there were huge gaps in the plan.  Forgotten passwords, missed details etc.  He got perhaps 80% right but the final 20% took several years to deal with.

I'm a relatively new UK Pensioner.  To qualify for a UK state pension you need:

a minimum of 10 years of National Insurance (NI) contributions to get anything at all.

a minimum of 30 years of NI contributions to qualify for the full state pension.

UK state pensions are always covered in the Tax Treaties between the UK and other countries; what this effectively means is that the UK taxman HMRC will always assess your UK State and Government pensions for tax purposes.  Currently, this is largely irrelevant because the full pension is below the UK tax threshold so if this is your only source of UK income, you receive the full amount.  There is a lot more to it than this, if you are affected by UK state pensions, then always take financial advice before you make any life-changing decisions (such as becoming an Expat).

A few further points:

If you or your partner served overseas on behalf of the UK Government, then your partner is credited with NI insurance credits for the full years served overseas.  You do need to apply for those credits and provide evidence of your service.

In general, all UK Government funded pensions are index-linked; there are exceptions to this; this link lists those affected by this rule.

I'm a relatively new UK Pensioner. To qualify for a UK state pension you need:
a minimum of 10 years of National Insurance (NI) contributions to get anything at all.
a minimum of 30 years of NI contributions to qualify for the full state pension.

UK state pensions are always covered in the Tax Treaties between the UK and other countries; what this effectively means is that the UK taxman HMRC will always assess your UK State and Government pensions for tax purposes. Currently, this is largely irrelevant because the full pension is below the UK tax threshold so if this is your only source of UK income, you receive the full amount. There is a lot more to it than this, if you are affected by UK state pensions, then always take financial advice before you make any life-changing decisions (such as becoming an Expat).

A few further points:

If you or your partner served overseas on behalf of the UK Government, then your partner is credited with NI insurance credits for the full years served overseas. You do need to apply for those credits and provide evidence of your service.

In general, all UK Government funded pensions are index-linked; there are exceptions to this; this link lists those affected by this rule.
-@Cynic

What they don't tell you is paying over the 30 years does you no good at all and if still working, you still have to pay as NI is a tax. 

Once you've reached 30 years, you might as well stop paying if you can as it won't change the amount paid out. 

I think 30 years brings about £780 a month, well below the tax threshold.  I think one can pay missed contributions for 6 years. 

It would make sense to let people pay for any missing years as far back as they want as any shortfall may end up forcing some kind of additional social security payout - at least in the UK anyway.

The index linking is a major hot topic and source of contention.  People claiming their pension from places like Canada aren't index linked.  They could end up with almost nothing over the years.

I read somewhere to maintain a similar but lower key pensioners lifestyle, one needs something like 60-70% of your monthly salary at retirement. That could need an awfully big fund to payout for maybe 20+ years.

I'm a relatively new UK Pensioner. To qualify for a UK state pension you need:
a minimum of 10 years of National Insurance (NI) contributions to get anything at all.
a minimum of 30 years of NI contributions to qualify for the full state pension.

UK state pensions are always covered in the Tax Treaties between the UK and other countries; what this effectively means is that the UK taxman HMRC will always assess your UK State and Government pensions for tax purposes. Currently, this is largely irrelevant because the full pension is below the UK tax threshold so if this is your only source of UK income, you receive the full amount. There is a lot more to it than this, if you are affected by UK state pensions, then always take financial advice before you make any life-changing decisions (such as becoming an Expat).

A few further points:

If you or your partner served overseas on behalf of the UK Government, then your partner is credited with NI insurance credits for the full years served overseas. You do need to apply for those credits and provide evidence of your service.

In general, all UK Government funded pensions are index-linked; there are exceptions to this; this link lists those affected by this rule.
-@Cynic

What they don't tell you is paying over the 30 years does you no good at all and if still working, you still have to pay as NI is a tax.

Once you've reached 30 years, you might as well stop paying if you can as it won't change the amount paid out.

I think 30 years brings about £780 a month, well below the tax threshold. I think one can pay missed contributions for 6 years.

It would make sense to let people pay for any missing years as far back as they want as any shortfall may end up forcing some kind of additional social security payout - at least in the UK anyway.

The index linking is a major hot topic and source of contention. People claiming their pension from places like Canada aren't index linked. They could end up with almost nothing over the years.

I read somewhere to maintain a similar but lower key pensioners lifestyle, one needs something like 60-70% of your monthly salary at retirement. That could need an awfully big fund to payout for maybe 20+ years.
-@fluffy2560

The UK state pension is by itself not generous in comparison to many other countries; there are however ways to save into additional pension schemes (both private and employer) that give tax benefits that you can if you wish plough back into your pension pot, however, these require UK residency in order to qualify for the tax breaks, so the issues you and I raise are definitely something for all ex-pats to consider if they are planning on returning to the UK at the end of their working life.  The other issue facing many pensioners, I guess everywhere across the world, is housing costs; some (like my wife and I) own their houses outright and effectively live rent-free, but many do not and are paying a lot of rent.  We don't look at it in terms of how much we have to come in every month, but more how much we have we got left at the end, either through luck or good planning, we now have more than we ever had when we were working.

The UK state pension is by itself not generous in comparison to many other countries; there are however ways to save into additional pension schemes (both private and employer) that give tax benefits that you can if you wish plough back into your pension pot, however, these require UK residency in order to qualify for the tax breaks, so the issues you and I raise are definitely something for all ex-pats to consider if they are planning on returning to the UK at the end of their working life. The other issue facing many pensioners, I guess everywhere across the world, is housing costs; some (like my wife and I) own their houses outright and effectively live rent-free, but many do not and are paying a lot of rent. We don't look at it in terms of how much we have to come in every month, but more how much we have we got left at the end, either through luck or good planning, we now have more than we ever had when we were working.
-@Cynic

Yes, indeed, it's like one's personal wealth is a declining balance.   The payout of pensions really just slowing the reduction on the amount left in the pot - especially in difficult times.   My Dad is 98 so he's only looking at maybe 2-3 years optimistically and if he blew 80%, he'd still have plenty to live on before the end.

Housing costs aren't so much an issue over here - lots of family wealth here tied up in inherited property.  There's not much house price inflation, I'm more concerned with potential costs of medical care.  No free prescriptions here and no carers popping into check things over.  Things are  very variably delivered here - my MIL's cataract operations here in HU were not very well done and if anything, her eyesight is only marginally better.  My Dad's  cataract operations  in the UK were a complete success and he can see very nicely now. 

Property is an issue here.  People don't have liquidity to fix up worn out old places or cash in general.  It's fairly typical.  They build houses here in their youth, then do no modernisation or serious maintenance at any time.  So lots of older folk in their sunset years are sitting on houses with 40+ years of decline in them.  It gets to the point where, the value is only in the land.   And then there's the complex webs of ownership and lack of agreement on what to do with the properties.  People have strange ownership arrangements - my neighbour for example owns 1/2 his house and only one of his two sons owns the other 1/2.   Why the sons don't own a 1/4 each I have no idea.

The UK state pension is by itself not generous in comparison to many other countries; there are however ways to save into additional pension schemes (both private and employer) that give tax benefits that you can if you wish plough back into your pension pot, however, these require UK residency in order to qualify for the tax breaks, so the issues you and I raise are definitely something for all ex-pats to consider if they are planning on returning to the UK at the end of their working life. The other issue facing many pensioners, I guess everywhere across the world, is housing costs; some (like my wife and I) own their houses outright and effectively live rent-free, but many do not and are paying a lot of rent. We don't look at it in terms of how much we have to come in every month, but more how much we have we got left at the end, either through luck or good planning, we now have more than we ever had when we were working.
-@Cynic

Yes, indeed, it's like one's personal wealth is a declining balance. The payout of pensions really just slowing the reduction on the amount left in the pot - especially in difficult times. My Dad is 98 so he's only looking at maybe 2-3 years optimistically and if he blew 80%, he'd still have plenty to live on before the end.

Housing costs aren't so much an issue over here - lots of family wealth here tied up in inherited property. There's not much house price inflation, I'm more concerned with potential costs of medical care. No free prescriptions here and no carers popping into check things over. Things are very variably delivered here - my MIL's cataract operations here in HU were not very well done and if anything, her eyesight is only marginally better. My Dad's cataract operations in the UK were a complete success and he can see very nicely now.

Property is an issue here. People don't have liquidity to fix up worn out old places or cash in general. It's fairly typical. They build houses here in their youth, then do no modernisation or serious maintenance at any time. So lots of older folk in their sunset years are sitting on houses with 40+ years of decline in them. It gets to the point where, the value is only in the land. And then there's the complex webs of ownership and lack of agreement on what to do with the properties. People have strange ownership arrangements - my neighbour for example owns 1/2 his house and only one of his two sons owns the other 1/2. Why the sons don't own a 1/4 each I have no idea.
-@fluffy2560

When we decided not to return to the Netherlands at the time of our retirement, we began a process of looking at the current house and taking stock of what we needed to do now so as to future-proof/secure our house as much as we could. We're just coming to the end of our house upgrade, the outside is just about done (a few fence panels to replace); we were surprised when the council decided to replace our road surface and pavements - it was really adding icing to our cake. The house was already insulated and double glazed, but I never understood that double glazing by itself is not the whole answer to retaining the heat in your house; there are also issues around (very topical atm) keeping the heat out and providing adequate ventilation even when all the doors and windows are closed. So, all the windows and doors have the latest security locks/bolts as recommended by the Police and we've replaced all the doors and windows with A+ units and the environmental performance is palpable.

We're going to have to replace the heating boiler in the next year, but it's difficult to know what to choose atm.

I suspect that tax incentives are going to become more politically popular as politicians look for ways to offset the cost of power generation.  There were already schemes for geo-thermal systems, but it's all a bit new for me.

...The house was already insulated and double glazed, but I never understood that double glazing by itself is not the whole answer to retaining the heat in your house; there are also issues around (very topical atm) keeping the heat out and providing adequate ventilation even when all the doors and windows are closed. So, all the windows and doors have the latest security locks/bolts as recommended by the Police and we've replaced all the doors and windows with A+ units and the environmental performance is palpable.

We're going to have to replace the heating boiler in the next year, but it's difficult to know what to choose atm.

I suspect that tax incentives are going to become more politically popular as politicians look for ways to offset the cost of power generation. There were already schemes for geo-thermal systems, but it's all a bit new for me.
-@Cynic

Yes, the link between gas prices and electricity is a hot topic.  They will have to stop that link.  However I'm hearing price cap on a per therm value, not bills entirely and based on something like £2.5K per average household.  Almost the same as the plans here.

We also had some discussions with the police and they told us that in this village they never attended burglaries where there are window shutters.  So we have electric window shutters everywhere, bars on some windows and remotely monitored security cameras activated by motion and a burglar alarm which sends e-mail if there are unusual events.   Usually the dog and cat causes the most activation events.  Of course the dog barks if anyone goes past so even more working alarms.  The cat does nothing. Our shutters are also insulated and we have triple glazing.  It's pretty secure in my mind but burglars here are very inventive.  Where there's a will etc.   The cameras and shutters are likely to put off all but the most determined burglars.  They'll never know if the cameras are working or not. 

The boiler is a difficult one.  As you might know, temperatures can get extreme here in winter, like -20C for a few weeks in the absolute worst winters.  The usual recommendation here is to have two sources of heat - like gas and electric or wood and gas or electric and wood - so if one is not working, the other can be used.  But we've got gas central heating (needs power for the pump), wood burner (as absolute fall back if no electricity) and air source heat pump.   Out of all of them, probably the air source heat pump is the most efficient.  And it doubles as air conditioning as well - it's just the same system operating in reverse.  Relatively cheap here but not necessarily in the UK.   If I was building a new or holiday house, I'd probably use air source heat pump instead of gas but that's quite a biased opinion recently because of Putin's war.   

....
The boiler is a difficult one. As you might know, temperatures can get extreme here in winter, like -20C for a few weeks in the absolute worst winters. The usual recommendation here is to have two sources of heat - like gas and electric or wood and gas or electric and wood - so if one is not working, the other can be used. But we've got gas central heating (needs power for the pump), wood burner (as absolute fall back if no electricity) and air source heat pump. Out of all of them, probably the air source heat pump is the most efficient. And it doubles as air conditioning as well - it's just the same system operating in reverse. Relatively cheap here but not necessarily in the UK. If I was building a new or holiday house, I'd probably use air source heat pump instead of gas but that's quite a biased opinion recently because of Putin's war.
-@fluffy2560

Doesn't get that cold here, the coldest is around about 0C in January and February.  What will be interesting is the thermal values in the house from the new windows.  Thanks for the thoughts on the heating; no wood burning here (no chimney) and councils are reluctant to grant planning permission on environmental grounds.  The air pumps are a relatively new thing here, British Gas is offering a £5,000 government subsidy, interest-free 5-year payment plans and a 20-year warranty, probably worth following up on.

....
Doesn't get that cold here, the coldest is around about 0C in January and February. What will be interesting is the thermal values in the house from the new windows. Thanks for the thoughts on the heating; no wood burning here (no chimney) and councils are reluctant to grant planning permission on environmental grounds. The air pumps are a relatively new thing here, British Gas is offering a £5,000 government subsidy, interest-free 5-year payment plans and a 20-year warranty, probably worth following up on.
-@Cynic

If it doesn't get that cold, air source heat pumps are workable. Ours will work down to -15C which seems to be common for most of them. Ground source can go lower. Wood is OK for the "shoulders" of the season (as it was described to us). We keep maybe 1.5 tonnes of wood available. It would be enough for perhaps 2-3 weeks burning 24x7.

£5K subsidy sounds good but perhaps overpriced stuff anyway. I heard from a relative they were paying £25K to go for a heat pump which seems rather a lot to me but it might have been a ground sourced one.

I cannot remember the heat values of our windows but they were low and we did take it into account. The insulation on our house is over specified. I think at the time, the minimum was 8or 10cm for externally clad insulation and we had 12cm. It might be 15cm by now. I know it was creeping up.  Everything is insulated to the nth degree, but as we were refurbishing, it didn't make much difference to the build cost. 

We installed conduits for solar panels for electricity so we could have panels and a battery system. We looked at heating water for solar and found we had no space for the water tank. So we gave that up.  We could do solar panels for electricity. It's become a very popular choice here now because of Putin but the waiting list is a year.  Maybe the situation will have resolved itself or at least be better by then.

@fluffy2560 We bought our house 8 years ago and had triple glazing and floor heating (and some solar panels as well (amazing at the time)). Still things tend to need replacement or repair at times and (amongst other things I started to worry because things are becoming too old). Having said that over the years our energy bill was low, very low, I have no clue how long floor heating will last (15/20 or even more years?) but I can imagine the cost in renewing. We did replace the boiler and set us back for EUR 3500, also replace the machine cleans calcium (other EUR 3000). Having said that money well spent (combining properly solar, gas, water)

As for crime/burglary at the start we had a Belgian Bouvier and German Shepard (the Bouvier died quite some years ago) but I am sure that interested burglars have recognized better to mess with the German Shepard (I personally do not believe in cameras, just cut electricity at midnight, battery will go and it is safe to go in (if battery at all)

In our street there were a few dogs, but I am sure ours was the most impressive. (Burglars are business man, why to take risk where there are elderly people to take especially if they go to home countries and leaving their house largely unattended?)

Funny though, neighbours were inclined to look at our dog a nuisance, over time they appreciated her has some type of alarm system at night.

We are getting off topic........... I've started a new thread

We are getting off topic........... I've started a new thread
-@SimCityAT

Gone here

For my housing, I bought in 2016 in Bp and I can honestly say the price doubled. This is great, right?

Sure, but the value of the forint has halved. The value has really gone nowhere, but there is joy in owning your own place.

I will want to sell in the next few years, I don't see the forint jumping back in value any time soon, especially since O1G is still not interested in anything more than gestures towards the EU Rule of Law in order to get those billions of EU funds. I understand he's proposed some oversight, but the EU is looking for actions, not words, as they've been burned repeatedly by this government and have no trust nor patience with Hungary anymore.  My decision will be to rent it out or to sell outright and knowing that maintenance issues are on the way and inevitable, I will likely sell and hope for my financial best.

@Vicces1 I bought and sold in EURO, it still doubled, the EURO is not as it was, but that is me being impacted (Dutch). By the way we came to Hungary in 2014 and I believe HUF was 300 or so if I recall (just above I think). A good thing in Hungary is (after 5 years) there is no CGT.

I had my experience with renting out in Netherlands (NIGHTMARE), just selling is (in my view) probably best.

Since leaving my job (8 years ago) i have been lucky, very lucky (property increasing, the odd consultancy job). Overall waiting for the property prices (not paying rent just to pay (expensive I have to say maintenance) has treated us well.

Some pluses and minuses with properties, but over the last years, very very good. Where I live now (in Turkey) also in EUROs things are going well as far as I see, I really think about selling again (taxes within one year are a concern though).

I see some reports of people renting on a German pension (sad, very sad).

With finances you have to be lucky, so with health (genes I think (I smoke, drink and I am over 60)), hapiness.. (partially dependent on health and fianances I think)

Bottom line coming back to the topic, having a property in Hungary for the last 7/8 years, nothing to complain.

...I don't see the forint jumping back in value any time soon, especially since O1G is still not interested in anything more than gestures towards the EU Rule of Law in order to get those billions of EU funds. I understand he's proposed some oversight, but the EU is looking for actions, not words, as they've been burned repeatedly by this government and have no trust nor patience with Hungary anymore. My decision will be to rent it out or to sell outright and knowing that maintenance issues are on the way and inevitable, I will likely sell and hope for my financial best.
-@Vicces1

It's not just the EU.

The fantastic progress ZE and the UKR Army has made in UKR these past days is going to come back and bite O1G on his rear end for his PU support.  Another Mohacs.  It looks like PU is on the run and any failed leader in RU is going to find himself/herself on the sharp end of being deposed.  The rest of them won't tolerate failure.  I think PU might fall out of a window sometime soon or will be permanently on holiday in Siberia.   

In the end RU should be pulling all the way out but I expect it will take them at least a year to get out of the country as they'll dilly dally and make up excuses.  If the Kerch bridge is destroyed, then they'll have to give up Crimea too.  UKR is going to be rebuilding for 20 years or more. 

What it means for O1G is that he's not going to get a slice of that UKR rebuilding action - maybe the O1G can refurbish some toilets at Kyiv railway station just as a token or perhaps sweep up in some decimated towns.  But the big expensive stuff, like major infrastructure repair and modernisation, no way HU is going to be in on the UKR version of the Marshall Plan.  All the rest of the Allies will get their slices of those Russian reparations, but Hungary, no way

Where I am a bit worried (not speaking Hungarian) is that as per EU rules the authorities where you worked last for a year have to arrange and co-ordinate pensions, me living and working in The Netherlands, Luxembourg, The Netherlands again,then UK, Luxembourg again, HUNGARY makes me worried.

I will see , still 5 years to go, but getting my pension properly ....

A special case and nobody can give a concrete reply unfortunately, still I am entitiled, but whoever deals with it will have a challenge. (likely Hungary by it seems, but they will not be happy with so many countries)

Interesting, but also worrying, duties of pension authorities notably (as per EU rules).

I am afraid I have to appoint somebody to represent me (which is a shame).

Where I am a bit worried (not speaking Hungarian) is that as per EU rules the authorities where you worked last for a year have to arrange and co-ordinate pensions, me living and working in The Netherlands, Luxembourg, The Netherlands again,then UK, Luxembourg again, HUNGARY makes me worried.
I will see , still 5 years to go, but getting my pension properly ....
A special case and nobody can give a concrete reply unfortunately, still I am entitiled, but whoever deals with it will have a challenge. (likely Hungary by it seems, but they will not be happy with so many countries)

Interesting, but also worrying, duties of pension authorities notably (as per EU rules).
I am afraid I have to appoint somebody to represent me (which is a shame).
-@cdw057

They should have the capability to pay into any bank account so perhaps the consolidation is at your bank account rather than anything you need to coordinate with them.  They should only need your bank account details.  Just my speculation.

@fluffy2560 My worry is not so much about the payment, it is more the co-ordination, as per EU rules the country where you had a contract last has to deal with it (in my case Hungary).

My fear is I have to chase and hire somebody to support me.

The private pensions are no problem I think, there is just to contact them (or somehow they contact me) and there will be directly payment. (taxes remain a concern (is it a pension or some savings to be drawn upon), can be interesting interpretation.

As for the official pensions, I really trust Hungarian authorities on my behalf (not living there) to chase eg the UK at the time being EU, Luxembourg and Netherlands I think I have to do some things myself as well. I have rights and had official jobs, there are EU rules, but I am afraid in how far they are interested. In Hungary I also have some rights (having said that I paid me and my wife minimum salary), but Hungary should be fine. Just the co-ordination is a concern. Just assuming I am still alive by 65 (my wife I am convinced she will not get pensions automatically, you have to ask for it).

It is not so easy. If somebody says just wait and you get your pension, I do not believe it.

As a side not, countries (the official pay-out (not private)) have different rules.

In Luxembourg you file a joint tax-filing and after death wife gets 90% of pension (positive adjusted for inflation every year), Netherlands your wife will get nothing, UK I am not positive, but I will have to ask, Hungary not too much anyhow but an additional EUR 100 pm is good to chase.

Bottom line I am afraid pensions in EU (or ex EU) will not go automatically.

OK my wife is younger then me, but what would happen if I die at 65 and she would have been 70 (would be difficult, very difficult). Not honest, those who ask will get I am sure, but who do not??

The plastic bag tax in Hungary at about 5 euro cent was a deal breaker for me ! now im looking at Portugal insteed ^^

The plastic bag tax in Hungary at about 5 euro cent was a deal breaker for me ! now im looking at Portugal instead ^^
-@pokoto

You can offset it.

Use these 5ct bags as cheap rubbish sacks for your kitchen bin.

There's another tip. 

If you have a dog, you can collect their waste output deposited outside in the street or parks using the free bread and fruit bags from your local supermarket.  Just remember to wear some gloves or use another bag (or more than one) as a glove.

You will find they are putting this charge on plastic bags all over Europe. 5 cents is nothing, it should be 50 cents. Austria has banned the sale of them.

You will find they are putting this charge on plastic bags all over Europe. 5 cents is nothing, it should be 50 cents. Austria has banned the sale of them.
-@SimCityAT

It's going that way here too.  Aldi (cum Hofer) has paper bags. 

One of the worst thing things are plastic bottles. While walking the dog, I see these thrown away in the forest.

Why people haven't got the decency to take their rubbish home, I do not know.

I've got some plastic ground sheets and some woven (plastic) garden chairs. Exposure to UV breaks down this material into little flakes.  You only find out they've fallen to bits when you touch them and they disintegrate. They are impossible to tidy up as it turns into a powder. I don't think they are decomposing per se, I think it's just reverting to microplastics in the environment. We have a a grudge against Jysk (a chain store) about those garden chairs as they are not that old and they are not recoverable so we need new ones. I'm not buying anything like that again that's not made of metal or wood. No plastic sheeting or sacks or non UV resistant materials.

Guess we're off topic (again)