Social security through FBU timeline started

Well, I was asking how long it was taking to get a reply from FBU and just got one. Just over a month with the holidays off isn't bad. Interview early next month.

Interview went well. Nice lady at FBU. Expecting at least a two month wait for processing but had the option of back benefits from date of enquiry. It helps to have all of your recent employment details at hand. They asked everything on the checklist sent with the appointment so don't ignore that.

This is good feedback, thanks for starting the thread.

I’ll be applying myself later this year.

Update for those who may be applying soon. It’s been four months since the interview and I’m still waiting. I’ve emailed the Fbu twice but didn’t get a reply.

Update for those who may be applying soon. It’s been four months since the interview and I’m still waiting. I’ve emailed the Fbu twice but didn’t get a reply.

Do you have an online SS account?  My wife and I do and when it was taking so long for my wife’s application she logged on and could see that it was “in progress”. Eventually she called SS in the USA and talked with an agent who looked at her details and simply apologized for it taking so long but there was nothing amiss in her application. It just takes a very long time.

This is a thread I started detailing the process and timeline she experienced.

Yes, thanks. My account has said it was being processed by the FBU and they would let me know if they needed anything for several months. Just wanted to keep the group updated as to how long it is taking this year.

Thanks for the tip on calling the US. I might try them this week. I can wait the initial 5 months but if something went wrong I would likely have to get a job as I couldn’t go a further 5 months.

Yes, thanks. My account has said it was being processed by the FBU and they would let me know if they needed anything for several months. Just wanted to keep the group updated as to how long it is taking this year.

Thanks for the tip on calling the US. I might try them this week. I can wait the initial 5 months but if something went wrong I would likely have to get a job as I couldn’t go a further 5 months.

I think for sure it is the SSA, not the FBU, that process the application. The FBU hands over the processing once they complete the interview(s) and submit the application.

Fingers crossed…

So I rang the US office today and waited about half an hour to get through. They told me they haven't received anything from the FBI yet.

It was too late to call them today so I will have to try during calling hours next week or else go to London to speak with someone. I'm running out of money fast now. If I work and it goes through I'll lose benefit for that month and be worse off in the long run.

So I rang the US office today and waited about half an hour to get through. They told me they haven't received anything from the FBI yet.

It was too late to call them today so I will have to try during calling hours next week or else go to London to speak with someone. I'm running out of money fast now. If I work and it goes through I'll lose benefit for that month and be worse off in the long run.

Sorry to hear this, best of luck in getting some answers.

Update: I contacted the FBU vía their site in early June and received no reply so I decided to try to get through by phone. After about 45 minutes I finally got through.and explained that it had been 6 months and I could really use a check.

They said they would send my application to Baltimore that day and I should see the back payment in my account within a week or two. About three weeks later I could confirm that it was in Baltimore and it said it would be about 30 days.

This week I finally received a reply to my enquiry to the FBU which just said it’s with Baltimore now.

So if you are planning to apply be aware it could be a long time before you see a check

I finally received a payment!

I phoned the US office a week ago and talked to a very nice and tenacious woman who said that she saw no reason my claim wasn’t approved and promised to track it down internally. The following day the website said it had been approved and the back payment dropped into my account this morning.

So, short timeline is initial request December 2023, interview in February, approval and back payment in August.

I hope you all get a quicker response when it’s your turn.

I finally received a payment!

I phoned the US office a week ago and talked to a very nice and tenacious woman who said that she saw no reason my claim wasn’t approved and promised to track it down internally. The following day the website said it had been approved and the back payment dropped into my account this morning.

So, short timeline is initial request December 2023, interview in February, approval and back payment in August.

I hope you all get a quicker response when it’s your turn.

Great to hear, and thanks for the update.  I will be applying in November this year and if I achieve that sort of response timeline I will be quite pleased as that is similar to what my wife managed in 2020.

Best of luck with that. I need to start on my wife’s application soon.

One more thought on this rainy morning. I got the best response by calling the FBU and the US office. If the FBU recorded message says they are too busy at the moment ignore that and keep ringing. Once you learn all of the prompts it’s not that bad to keep repeating it .