Dear Editor,
In her recent article (‘Alive and Living’, Algarve Resident July 9 edition), Margaret Brown related her need, being 80, to prove she was alive, for continuing receipt of her pension.
While I can understand the reasons, I wonder if it has been thought out? Let us say Margaret Brown lives just north, of say, São Brás and only drives locally and cannot get to Portimão?
For pensioners living in, say, the Alentejo or in a county further from a consul, it is even more difficult. A re-think? Perhaps the new consul would want to comment.
There are other changes which affect many more. The EC has changed the administration for health care for EU citizens living in other EU countries; especially if you are over 65.
You now need an E121/S1 but to get this, you must phone, individually, a UK call centre. They will normally keep you on hold (cost me 12 Euros.)
You take that form (and queue) to your local Portuguese social service office and after much bureaucracy, you get a white card; and 12 months later, you do exactly the same!
This allows you, with a medical card, to get health care. Some Health Centres do not ask for it, but as luck has it, we use the remarkably strict, bureaucratic one. You then need a European health card.
At the moment, I cannot get any information, despite emails, to whether you need this card for the UK, as the UK does not provide medical care as of right for overseas based citizens.
Full details of how to apply are available from the consul/website. If you are wise, you will not use the Iberian Benefits Service.
The consulate service advice is to always get an E121/S1. I suspect this applies to all EC/EAA consulates.
This is an EC change and will most likely affect any over 65 at least from any EC/EAA country resident in Portugal.
It is wise to check, even if you are under 65. You might be caught out at the wrong time.
Of course, it would be much better if HM gov. produced a leaflet setting all this out and provided one simple online application for both.
However, bureaucrats are not known for customer service or thinking.
D. Taylor-Smith
Algarve
