Applying for SS in the U.K.

I am “trying” to  apply at the FBU at the London US embassy for Social Security benefits, which I’m eligible for in full in 3 weeks. HMRC sent me a form to send to FBU back in February, when I started receiving U.K. state pension. I filled it out and mailed it. In April I contacted them via email. They sent a return questionnaire which was quite brief. I sent the information back. I have heard nothing since. I did resend the information and request but have never had any kind of acknowledgement. I have tried phoning during their limited phone hours, but can never get through. I will be subject to some degree of WEP.
Is this “non response”normal, and can anyone suggest anything else I can do?
Clare

When my wife filed for SS a couple of years ago through online email to the FBU it took 6 weeks to even get a reply from them. When she filled in the form after her OAP started and sent it in she heard nothing from them but her SS was reduced by WEP,  it just happened that her monthly payments dropped so it all went through with no feedback at all.

Good luck. (I’ll be going through the same process myself in a year’s time except I am already receiving private UK pensions plus OAP so it should be a 1 step process.)

I first contacted the FBU, via their web form, in late July 2019 - 3 months before I was ready to take my SS benefit.  I received a reply in early December 2019.  And there was absolute silence in between.  I doubt things have got any quicker since.  Getting through on the phone can be difficult - I recommend 10am sharp on a Monday.

Edit: sorry they're closed on Monday.  Try Tuesday.

When my wife filed for SS a couple of years ago through online email to the FBU it took 6 weeks to even get a reply from them. When she filled in the form after her OAP started and sent it in she heard nothing from them but her SS was reduced by WEP,  it just happened that her monthly payments dropped so it all went through with no feedback at all.

Good luck. (I’ll be going through the same process myself in a year’s time except I am already receiving private UK pensions plus OAP so it should be a 1 step process.)

I went through the on line request form and it worked a treat - one subsequent phone interview about 8 weeks later and then a paper form to acknowledge and then wait for the folks in the US (Baltimore I think) to get their act together and process the claim - payments started about 4 months later (including a back payment). Same process then with my wife - easy and efficient - the FBU in London are always so helpful.

When I retire to the UK I will lose my green card as I never became a US citizen despite being here 30 years.   

Am I still entitled to claim US Social Security (USSS) from the UK after I lose my green card having been employed for 30 years in the US and paying into USSS.

I plan to retire at 60 and if eligible begin collecting USSS at 62.

When I retire to the UK I will lose my green card as I never became a US citizen despite being here 30 years.   

Am I still entitled to claim US Social Security (USSS) from the UK after I lose my green card having been employed for 30 years in the US and paying into USSS.

I plan to retire at 60 and if eligible begin collecting USSS at 62.

Yes, you'll still be able to claim US Social Security.

Yes, you'll still be able to claim US Social Security.

Definitely, we retired and moved back to the USA. My wife is receiving her SS direct into our UK bank. I will apply in a couple of years through the same route.

We found it easiest for her to apply through the US Embassy which has a Federal Benefits Unit to handle stuff like that.

When I retire to the UK I will lose my green card as I never became a US citizen despite being here 30 years.   

Am I still entitled to claim US Social Security (USSS) from the UK after I lose my green card having been employed for 30 years in the US and paying into USSS.

I plan to retire at 60 and if eligible begin collecting USSS at 62.

Well before abandoning a long-term green card you'd want to read about US expatriation tax. From a tax perspective, you'd remain a US person until you file IRS Form I-407.

Update: I finally got an email from FBU giving me a phone appointment in mid September, which is six weeks after I was eligible for SS, so it seems it will be quite late that I start receiving my benefits. I assume they will be back dated.
They did say that my husband should attend this phone appointment. He has never worked or lived in the US and does not have a SS number so why would he be eligible for anything? We married in 2012 which is when I left the US. Does anyone know why they asked for him to be present?

Update: I finally got an email from FBU giving me a phone appointment in mid September, which is six weeks after I was eligible for SS, so it seems it will be quite late that I start receiving my benefits. I assume they will be back dated.
They did say that my husband should attend this phone appointment. He has never worked or lived in the US and does not have a SS number so why would he be eligible for anything? We married in 2012 which is when I left the US. Does anyone know why they asked for him to be present?

With my wife, she applied through the FBU with an email in April of the year, phone interview 6 weeks later, and didn’t get her first payment from SS until December (paid into our UK bank) and it was back dated to April.

I’m pretty sure that as your husband he will be entitled to survivor benefits, even though he doesn’t have a SSN or have lived in the USA so well worth worth him getting onto the record. To benefit of course he will have to outlive you.

I'm 60 next week, and i recently got a letter in the post from US social security, advising me that from the age of 62 i'm entitled to $xxx USD a month!!!  I am shocked that I'm entitled to ANYTHING to be honest.  If i hadn't received this letter i would never have even tried to claim or apply for SS.

I'm 60 next week, and i recently got a letter in the post from US social security, advising me that from the age of 62 i'm entitled to $xxx USD a month!!!  I am shocked that I'm entitled to ANYTHING to be honest.  If i hadn't received this letter i would never have even tried to claim or apply for SS.

Congratulations.

Keep the letter safe, better still scan it onto a file on your computer and when you are 62 you can apply online through the FBU.

I'm 60 next week, and i recently got a letter in the post from US social security, advising me that from the age of 62 i'm entitled to $xxx USD a month!!!  I am shocked that I'm entitled to ANYTHING to be honest.  If i hadn't received this letter i would never have even tried to claim or apply for SS.

Hurrah! 

Keep the letter safe, better still scan it onto a file on your computer and when you are 62 you can apply online through the FBU.

What's the FBU?

Federal Benefits Unit