Thanks for expanding on what I had posted in this thread. Personally, I've a few years to wait until I reach 65 or 67 (God willing?), or whatever age my state pension would become available to me. So, I haven't looked into the state pension payments to expat oldtimers residing in the PRC in detail. Another reason, a minor one in my case why I haven't done so is that my contributions have been made over a much shorter period back in Blighty, which would mean my pension would be less than 1/2 what most UK citizens could get back home.

At present I receive a superannuated teachers' pension here in the PRC. At first I was told I could only get monthly payments into a BOC account here. But now, after complaining and protracted unpleasantness over bungling re SPPA and their appointed bank, Citibank , I was offered annual payments in arrears, which I have gladly accepted. That means that my relatively young Chinese wife will be able to get that too after my death, albeit at 60% of what I receive. It's very good that unlike the state pension, those payments aren't frozen. I also receive another occupational pension annually into my BOC account, since I became 50, that one annually, also not frozen. The SPPA at first wouldn't budge....... some progress, pilgrim's progress perhaps!