Pension boost for WW2 refugees

World War II refuges who escaped the Nazis from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia as children are to now receive a pension boost.

Between December 1938 and May 1940, some 10,000 mostly Jewish 'Kindertransport' refugees came to the UK, with some returning to Europe after the war, some remaining in the UK and some heading to Canada and the US.

In the 1990s, the German state pension system was opened up to the 'Kindertransport' enabling those without German insurance contributions to 'buy in' to the German system.
However, those refugees working in the UK before 1948 saw their entitlements cut due European pension rules.

The UK Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) is now bringing changes to the upcoming pensions bill, wiping out their pre-1948 credits from their national insurance records, so their German pensions are boosted.

Pensions minister Mike O'Brien said: "We can help the 'Kindertransport' through a relatively simple change to UK pensions law which will enable the German authorities to pay out higher pensions.

"It's right we help this group of people. Many of them lost members of their family in the Jewish holocaust. They survived because they were sent to Britain as children. They stayed and worked here. A legal restriction has prevented them claiming the money due to them from the German government.

"After detailed negotiations over several months with the German government we have now found a way forward."

He added, removing some of their UK National Insurance contributions will not affect the entitlement of Kindertransport refuges in the UK.

Hermann Hirschberger, a leading campaigner on the issue, said: "I am very optimistic that after many years of struggle, the legal jungle stopping full pension payments for a number of ex-refugees is being resolved. Justice will prevail."

The DWP has details of many of the people affected by amendments to the pensions bill and will be writing to them shortly.

However, anyone who thinks they might benefit should contact the DWP International Pension Centre on 0191 218 7777.