If you live outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland and a short list of countries with a UK agreement, your UK State Pension doesn’t go up each year. Choose where you plan to retire to see what that could mean over your retirement.
Retiring somewhere the State Pension is frozen? Henry can help you plan the rest of your retirement income to fill the gap.
Book a free callIllustration only, not a forecast. Based on gov.uk’s list of countries where the State Pension is increased each year (October 2026). If you live in a frozen country, your State Pension stays at the rate you first received there, or the rate when you moved. Increases are not guaranteed and the rules may change. Ignores tax and currency movements.
Where is the UK State Pension increased?
According to gov.uk, the State Pension is normally increased each year if you live in an EEA country (such as Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Cyprus or Malta), Switzerland, Gibraltar, or a country with a UK social security agreement that allows increases: Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey, Kosovo, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia, Turkey and the USA.
Everywhere else – including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the UAE, Thailand and most of Asia – it is frozen. Canada and New Zealand have social security agreements with the UK, but they don’t include annual increases.
What you can do
- Check your State Pension forecast and National Insurance record before you leave.
- Fill gaps with voluntary Class 3 contributions if you qualify – since 6 April 2026, Class 2 is no longer available for time abroad.
- Plan other retirement income – UK pensions and investments – to make up for a frozen State Pension.
Questions about frozen State Pensions
What does “frozen” mean?
Your State Pension stays at the rate you first received in that country, or the rate when you moved there if you were already claiming. It doesn’t get the yearly increases paid in the UK.
Does it go back up if I return to the UK?
Yes. If you move back to the UK, or to a country where increases are paid, you’ll be paid the current weekly rate from then on – but not the increases you missed.
Is the State Pension frozen in Thailand and the UAE?
Yes. Neither country is on the list where annual increases are paid.
Can I still pay National Insurance from abroad?
You may be able to pay voluntary Class 3 contributions if you lived in the UK for 10 consecutive years or have 10 years of contributions. Class 2 is no longer available for time abroad since 6 April 2026.
Source: gov.uk: countries where the State Pension is increased.
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Reviewed by Henry Temple-Baxter, CISI Level 4 qualified · Last updated 10 October 2026. This page is general information, not personal advice.