Everything about calling BT Pension Scheme from abroad
What BTPS member services handle
The BT Pension Scheme is a defined benefit pension scheme for employees, former employees and dependants of BT Group and some of its associated companies, and says it pays pensions to 200,000 pensioners. Its member services team answers 0800 731 1919 on weekdays between 8.30am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. The same team takes calls to report a member's death: BTPS says it helps to have the member's BTPS membership number or National Insurance number to hand, and you can also report a death through an online form.
Your BTPS pension paid abroad
BTPS pays pensions on the last working day of the month, in arrears. If you live abroad, it can pay into your overseas account, in sterling or in the local currency, although there may be extra bank charges, and payments to overseas accounts may arrive up to 5 working days after the payment date. To set this up you fill in the international payment form for your country, issued by BTPS's international payment provider, Convera. The form defaults to the local currency, so change it if you want sterling. You sign a printed copy and can scan or photograph it and email it to member@btps.co.uk.
Keeping in touch after a move
BTPS asks pensioners to tell it about a new address, contact details or bank account, and says these can be updated on the member portal, where the change takes effect immediately. From time to time it asks pensioners to prove their identity with a copy of a passport or photo driving licence, a check it calls attestation. BTPS warns that if it loses contact because you have not told it you have moved, it may have to suspend your pension.
Calling BTPS from abroad
0800 731 1919 is a UK freephone number, which BTPS gives for calls from within the UK. For callers overseas it prints an ordinary number, +44 20 3023 3420. BTPS gives its opening hours without a time zone.
What Losali does with this line
Losali is an independent dialler that works in a web browser. Your call travels over the internet and Losali's telecom carrier connects it to 0800 731 1919 in the UK, so all you need is a data connection. There is no app to install and no UK SIM card to buy. Minutes are prepaid and there is no subscription.
- Your BTPS membership number or National Insurance number.
- Your new address and overseas bank details, if you are moving.
- For a death: the member's membership or National Insurance number.
- The opening hours: weekdays, 8.30am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.
Other ways in
Members can register for the BTPS member portal to see their pension information and receive letters online, which BTPS recommends if you are planning to live abroad. You can email member@btps.co.uk or write to BT Pension Scheme, Sunderland, SR43 4AD.
What kind of number is this?
Freephone 0800 / 0808. Free to call from inside the UK. Losali shows the price before the call starts.