If you are a British pensioner, you will still be able to receive your pension in Spain as well as benefits like winter fuel payment and free healthcare in Spain. Make sure you talk to the Department of Work and Pensions before you move to make sure that you receive all of the benefits you are entitled to. You will need form E121 to register for free healthcare in Spain.

Once you have moved to Spain, you need to take this form to your local INSS (social security) office along with your NIE number, Certificado de Registro (formerly called the Residencia) and your padron (Certificado de Empadronamiento). You will then be given a temporary card, to enable you to register for healthcare with a local doctor, and then a plastic card will be sent to you.

Other groups of people moving to Spain may be eligible for having certain types of benefits transferred to Spain. You must check with the Department of Work and Pensions before you move to find out what you are entitled to, because your UK contributions may entitle you to free healthcare in Spain for two years.

Once you are living in Spain permanently, you will be able to take advantage of benefits in Spain, like free health care, if you are:

• employed
• self-employed
• a student studying in Spain
• a civil servant or in the military

If you are employed in Spain, your employer should register you into the Spanish social security system and a percentage of your pay, and a contribution from your employer, will go towards social security payments.

Paying social security contributions will entitle you to many benefits including:

• unemployment benefit
• maternity benefit
• sick pay
• injury
• pensions
• healthcare
• invalidity
• death benefits

You may have to work a certain number of months before you are eligible for benefits in Spain and make sure that your employer does register you and not just pay you cash in hand to avoid social security contributions.

If you are self-employed, you should register for social security payments to take advantage of free health care. You can choose to pay the minimum contribution or a higher rate and this payment will cover both you and your family for free health care in Spain. A gestor can help you register your business and register you with social security  and fill in the appropriate paperwork. Spain is a country of red tape and bureaucracy, so it is worth hiring a gestor to help you.

Once you are registered in the social security system, you will be sent a health card which you can then register with a clinic to receive free medical treatment. The Spanish healthcare system is the seventh best healthcare system in the world. Hospitals are modern and well-equipped and waiting lists are shorter than in many countries. British people will be impressed with the Spanish system when comparing it to the NHS.

If you do not qualify for free healthcare, make sure that you take out private health insurance to cover you and your family.

This article is no substitute for getting advice fro a professional. You must get good advice about pensions, benefits, tax and your finances before considering moving to Spain.