I started receiving my UK state pension in September so, as required, I informed the SSA using form SSA-308 once I knew the exact amount so that they could reduce my US state pension due to WEP. I sent them the forms (via the FBU in London, as recommended by them) in early August and had confirmation that they were uploaded to the SSA a couple of days later. It told me to allow 60 working days for processing. It's now been 5 months and I'm still getting the benefit with no WEP reduction. The only reason I'm bothered is because it's messing up my UK tax planning. I realise they'll claw back the overpayment when the finally catch up.
Anyone experienced similar delays at the SSA recently?
BTW, I recently signed up for an SSA online account, which you previously couldn't do without a US mailing address. I verified myself with ID.me. Nice.
I realise this thread is a few months old, but it's popped back up with new replies, so thought I'd add my experiences very briefly, as I am still entangled with FBU and SSA almost five years after first receiving monthly SSA payments when I hit age 62. I have put a lengthy thread describing my experiences and lessons learned in the BritshExpats forum, Moving Back to the UK sub-Forum, if any of you are on that site (I have the same username). Briefly, though, below are my experiences and a few things I learned:
I communicated almost entirely with SA in the US (Baltimore?) for quite a while, after receiving written communications in the mail from them. As others have said here, if you live in the UK, it is much more efficient (and cheaper!) going through FBU London. They upload to Baltimore any documents you send to them.
I only have 10 years' contributions, so am subject to WEP. SSA started cutting my SSA payments (WEP) a year early (at age 65), even though I had filled in and returned to them various forms they sent, stating that my UK state pension doesn't kick in until age 66. (Also, according to one FBU staff member I spoke with, SSA knows UK State Pension starts at age 66, but in her words, "They keep doing that" (subtracting WEP deductions a year too early).
It took almost 10 months to get SSA to reimburse all of the WEP deductions, which took me almost to the point that I should have been WEP'ed (last April, 2023). However, since April 2023, they still are not making WEP deductions (similar to Crowman's problem)! I've filled in all the necessary forms and according to FBU, it's just SSA dragging their heels.
A major problem with FBU London is that for about a month now, they no longer answer their phone line. I must have called over 100 times and every time I get to the recorded message "The FBU is unable to take your call" ... sometimes I do get to the point where I am put on hold, then after an hour or so either the phone line goes dead, or I get put through to the same recorded message. You can send emails to FBU but from my experience they are not read carefully and the answer you get may have nothing to do with the question you asked!
Bottom line is that going through FBU is better than dealing in writing with SSA Baltimore, but even FBU has become increasingly inefficient with time. Things take a LONG time to be processed, so get to things as early as possible, and expect and plan for delays..
