Am I too old?

[homegirl]

I moved to SA 30 years ago and shortly after that got divorced. I wanted to return home, but thought it unfair to seperate my kids from their father. My children are all grown now and two have moved to London, the third is leaving for London in a few months and wants me to go with her.
I would love to go as I want to be near my kids, but I am worried that I won't be able to get work. I am 55 years old and have my own business. I can do any office work, but am I too old to find a job and what will happen in 10 or 20 years when I am too old to work?

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by homegirl

I moved to SA 30 years ago and shortly after that got divorced. I wanted to return home, but thought it unfair to seperate my kids from their father. My children are all grown now and two have moved to London, the third is leaving for London in a few months and wants me to go with her.
I would love to go as I want to be near my kids, but I am worried that I won't be able to get work. I am 55 years old and have my own business. I can do any office work, but am I too old to find a job and what will happen in 10 or 20 years when I am too old to work?

Hi & welcome
Well, I guess one of the problems also may be that you won't qualify for a state pension on the UK .... will you have a private one?

I presume you can't transfer your own business to the UK then?

I also have no idea how you stand with health care now, as you have presumably made no contricutions to the system. Are you still a UK citizen?

[homegirl]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Hi & welcome
Well, I guess one of the problems also may be that you won't qualify for a state pension on the UK .... will you have a private one?

I presume you can't transfer your own business to the UK then?

I also have no idea how you stand with health care now, as you have presumably made no contricutions to the system. Are you still a UK citizen?

Hi Stravinsky
Yes I am still a British citizen, I have a retirement annuity in SA, however the exchange rate is usually around 14 rands to 1 pound (when I first arrived the exchange rate was 1 for 1 ), I can't transfer my business to the UK. I have heard that one can make a lump sum payment toward a state pension in UK, but I am not sure if this is an option for me. I have made no contributions to healthcare in the UK, so I don't know what would happen if I became ill.

[gul]

Originally Posted by homegirl

I moved to SA 30 years ago and shortly after that got divorced. I wanted to return home, but thought it unfair to seperate my kids from their father. My children are all grown now and two have moved to London, the third is leaving for London in a few months and wants me to go with her.
I would love to go as I want to be near my kids, but I am worried that I won't be able to get work. I am 55 years old and have my own business. I can do any office work, but am I too old to find a job and what will happen in 10 or 20 years when I am too old to work?

you are not too old.your aim is correct.it depend upon luck and oppertunity.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by homegirl

Hi Stravinsky
Yes I am still a British citizen, I have a retirement annuity in SA, however the exchange rate is usually around 14 rands to 1 pound (when I first arrived the exchange rate was 1 for 1 ), I can't transfer my business to the UK. I have heard that one can make a lump sum payment toward a state pension in UK, but I am not sure if this is an option for me. I have made no contributions to healthcare in the UK, so I don't know what would happen if I became ill.

You can make voluntary contribuions for sure. I think now you need to make 30 years for a full pension and I seem to remember voluntary would be about £350 a year (I was going to do 3 years but decided it wasn't worth it.

Having said that the maths doesn't add up there, a full pension for so little.

I think you need to google the Department of Work and Pensions
On that site you should be able to suss out where you will stand

[homegirl]

Thank you, I will try googling the site to find out more.

[homegirl]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

You can make voluntary contribuions for sure. I think now you need to make 30 years for a full pension and I seem to remember voluntary would be about £350 a year (I was going to do 3 years but decided it wasn't worth it.

Having said that the maths doesn't add up there, a full pension for so little.

I think you need to google the Department of Work and Pensions
On that site you should be able to suss out where you will stand

phew! I have been searching the site of the Department of Work and Pensions and can't find the answer to my question. Do you any suggestions on what I should type in the search field?

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by homegirl

phew! I have been searching the site of the Department of Work and Pensions and can't find the answer to my question. Do you any suggestions on what I should type in the search field?

Mmm
Let me have a look

[Stravinsky]

Well I found this
DWP - Search Results

But not hugely useful
I think you are going to have to use the "contact" button to ask them specifically

[homegirl]

Yes, I will have to as I really can't find what I am looking for. Thank you for trying to find it for me