Delays At The SSA?

I haven't looked at your figures in detail but if it's anything like my situation - they reduce the amount you should be paid because of WEP, then reduce it further to recoup the money they've overpaid (spread over 28 months in my case) but of course there's COLA, which increases it.  Hopefully this will all be consigned to the dustbin once Joey Biden gets his pen out.

Exactly. I would have understood it if they said "You should have received $697. You will in future receive [for example] $610" - as you say, reduce to the correct amount, and ten reduce further to recoup the overpayments.

But my "new" payments will still be MORE than they said I should have been paid. (Should have been paid $697; will in future be paid $737). COLA doesn't explain it.

I emailed another request for an update on my SS application which is still under review by an agent in London since November 12. I also called them to confirm their opening hours for receiving phone calls and it is the same as reported earlier in this thread by @Dunroving

We are going away for a few days tomorrow but will start calling them the week after since my application was to start receiving benefits when I turn 70 in February.

They are only contactable by phone on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 9:30 and 1pm.
Their direct phone number is 020 7891 3926.

I went to apply online this morning... Even the website has opening hours!! Never seen that one before. LOL.


Please try again later during our regular service hours (Eastern Time):

Monday - Friday
5:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Saturday
5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sunday
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

It is now over 70 days of being in step 2 of my application waiting for an agent in London. I’ve sent multiple emails to them and no reply. Their phone lines are only open 09:30 to 1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but I tried today to call them. The message when I call is that their lines are now open, transferring you now, followed by a message that our lines are all busy, call again later then the line is dropped. Not even a call waiting list or offer to call me back.

I’ve tried calling 20 times so far today….

It is now over 70 days of being in step 2 of my application waiting for an agent in London. I’ve sent multiple emails to them and no reply. Their phone lines are only open 09:30 to 1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but I tried today to call them. The message when I call is that their lines are now open, transferring you now, followed by a message that our lines are all busy, call again later then the line is dropped. Not even a call waiting list or offer to call me back.

I’ve tried calling 20 times so far today….

It looks like the timescales are similar (maybe worse) to when I requested mine back in 2019: request by email in August, phone call response in early December to arrange an interview, telephone interview in late January.  Admittedly, I didn't have an online account at the time so was doing everything by email to the FBU.

Unfortunately, I don't think that calling the FBU - with the associated frustration it adds - is going to help you.  It'll take as long as it takes, as they say.  I can only surmise that they're pretty understaffed at the FBU.

It looks like the timescales are similar (maybe worse) to when I requested mine back in 2019: request by email in August, phone call response in early December to arrange an interview, telephone interview in late January.  Admittedly, I didn't have an online account at the time so was doing everything by email to the FBU.

Unfortunately, I don't think that calling the FBU - with the associated frustration it adds - is going to help you.  It'll take as long as it takes, as they say.  I can only surmise that they're pretty understaffed at the FBU.

Yeah, coming to that conclusion myself, but thought I’d give it a shot. Their website says they service 44,000 US citizens and I’m sure they are hopelessly understaffed. I have a monthly reminder to send them another email as their automated response says I should get a response within 10 days.

Be aware that the current administration is trying to seriously reduce the number of government employees.  Your waits may be longer than anyone had previously planned.

[In the last few days the Orange One sent out a message to all federal employees offering them a separation package of 8 months' salary if they agree to resign  by next week. With the fine print being that their managers can require them to stay working as needed. Since the President doesn't have the authority to actually do that, employees who accept the offer are most likely going to get stiffed. But in the meantime it is not really out of the realm of likelihood that government offices are going to be in total chaos. Fair warning.]

Be aware that the current administration is trying to seriously reduce the number of government employees.  Your waits may be longer than anyone had previously planned.

[In the last few days the Orange One sent out a message to all federal employees offering them a separation package of 8 months' salary if they agree to resign  by next week. With the fine print being that their managers can require them to stay working as needed. Since the President doesn't have the authority to actually do that, employees who accept the offer are most likely going to get stiffed. But in the meantime it is not really out of the realm of likelihood that government offices are going to be in total chaos. Fair warning.]

Yeah, I saw that.

SHOCK!!

I just received a response from the FBU, (today is Saturday) although I’m not sure I believe it just yet as I just logged onto my SSA account and the status still says it is being reviewed by an agent in London but I am definitely feeling more hopeful.

Thank you for contacting the Federal Benefits Unit at US Embassy London.

Thank you for alerting us as per your email. We have transferred the case for processing in the United States, if we need anything further from you we will let you know.


MHU
*****

Saturday?  Are you a little previous?

Saturday?  Are you a little previous?

I most certainly am!!

I think I'm cracking up.

I know the feeling.  Glad you at least received a response from the FBU.  Print it and frame it!

On the positive side, now that WEP is gone, the process should be a lot simpler and they can work through the cases faster. I'd guess they have a big backlog but it should improve.

On the positive side, now that WEP is gone, the process should be a lot simpler and they can work through the cases faster. I'd guess they have a big backlog but it should improve.

Exactly.  At this stage of review when my wife applied in 2021 she had a phone call from the FBU asking details about her UK pensions so they could determine how much WEP to apply.  For me it looks like no review on UK pensions is necessary now so they have kicked it back to the US for processing.

We have the telephone interview for my wife’s spousal benefit this week. I keep telling her to apply and then just forget about it for a few months unless we hear something.

An easy question for those that have done the spousal benefit- is it the primary ( me, US)or the spouse (UK) that is actually applying? The responses I have received to my inquiries so far are confusing and don’t seem to match the questions I asked.