- Home » Expat News » UK DWP letting Brit expats in Cyprus down on required S1 certificates
UK DWP Letting Brit Expats In Cyprus Down On Required S1 Certificates
Published: | 5 Aug at 6 PM |
Want to get involved?
Become a
Featured Expatand take our interview.
Become a
Local Expertand contribute articles.
Get in
touchtoday!
British pensioners in Cyprus are jumping through hoops to re-register with the island’s new GESY health service.
Until now, British recipients of the UK’s state pension were entitled by means of a reciprocal agreement to Cyprus NHS care. The new Cypriot General Healthcare System (GESY), is its replacement, but Britain’s Department of Work and Pensions is making the already complicated task far harder for many. For the majority of UK expats on the island, their local surgery will be willing to help with explaining the documentation necessary, but copies of the required S1 certificate can only be had from the UK DWP..
Applicants who called the DWP were assured the certificates would be forwarded within three to four weeks of the request. One British retiree, having not received the certificate after three months, called again only to be told that she would soon receive the required documentation. To date, it seems another phone call to the DWP is called for and, in the meantime, the annoyed expat has written to the UK’s Minister of Work and Pensions giving her opinion of the service in spite of the fact she expects no reply.
The new GESY system is being introduced in two stages, the first having started in March this year and now in use. It covers out-of-hospital care, with all pensioners contributing 1.7 per cent of their income, with the second stage due next March and covering in-hospital care at an increased contribution of 2.65 per cent. By the beginning of June 2020, the service will be fully operational and will include A&E and ambulance services, in-patient services, palliative care, preventative dental care, home visits, medical rehab, nursing and midwifery. For the general population, annual charges won’t exceed €150, with children and low-income pensioners contributing half that amount.
Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...
Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!
RECENT NEWS
What Is A Bakfiets And Why Does Your Family Need One?
In this article, Jaime Silva, the founder of BOAH Bikes, talks about the role of the cargo bikes in the lives of many ... Read more
Increase Your Mortgage To Buy A Horse
No, the title isn't a mistake. Egle Kemezyte, from Mister Mortgage, overviews the primary reasons why people opt to incr... Read more
5 Quirky Things You Should Know About Dutch Culture
Tulips. Clogs. Windmills. Giant wheels of Gouda cheese. Tulip farmers in clogs holding giant wheels of Gouda cheese posi... Read more
Should You Buy Or Rent A Home In The Netherlands?
When you first move to a new country, usually you will start with renting a house. After some time, you might want to co... Read more
The Changes To Non-compete Laws In The Netherlands From 2025
The non-competition clause is often a standard part of most Dutch employment contracts. However, a new bill has been pa... Read more
Why You Need A Dutch Bank Account As An International Student
Are you an international student who is planning to do an exchange or enrol in a degree programme in the Netherlands? AB... Read more