Yesterday, I thought I ought to start thinking about some of the technical/bureaucratic issues involved in my pending move to France. So I telephoned the people in Newcastle…I was sent to that many departments, I’m not even sure who they were in the end! Anyway, it’s the Health and Pensions side of things.

They were very pleasant, all of them and I got the information I needed in the end. Well, that’s not strictly true but I have a bit more information now, than before I started.

Apparantly, I do not qualify for the form E106, due to my unemployed status for the past 3 years.It would appear that I am at the mercy of the French authorities on this one, so will have to contact them on my arrival. We’ll see about that! I will do some more delving.

Then onto pensions and NI stuff. I am to be sent a Pensions Forecast application form which I send back completed. From there my pension forecast is calculated and decisions will need to be made as to whether I pay additional NI contributions while I am living in France. Seeing as I am 42 at the moment, I would guess I will be paying the extra, although the amount quoted seems quite reasonable.

It would also appear that if I am working in France, I will be paying into their system and so will qualify for a French pension too….lucky me! Another one to take further I think.

Reading back through this post, I am aware that there are many areas in which I am completely ignorant…but we all have to start somewhere.

Having been reading through the forums for a long time now and becoming familiar with the do’s and dont’s of moving, it is now my turn to put it into practice. My guess is that it is more tricky than I thought…but well, I’m not entirely surprised!

I shall update as and when anything happens.

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