Applying for German pension from USA
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 72
Applying for German pension from USA
I know there have been a few threads about receiving UK pension in the US but wonder if anyone has tried applying for a German pension. From what I can understand I can apply through the social security office here but when I called they didn't have a clue. I've found form SSA-2490 but am unsure if this is the correct one. Anybody had experience with this? I've been in contact with my ex in Germany who is trying to help but there must be a simple way of doing this???
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Athens GA
Posts: 2,132
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
I know there have been a few threads about receiving UK pension in the US but wonder if anyone has tried applying for a German pension. From what I can understand I can apply through the social security office here but when I called they didn't have a clue. I've found form SSA-2490 but am unsure if this is the correct one. Anybody had experience with this? I've been in contact with my ex in Germany who is trying to help but there must be a simple way of doing this???
German Missions in the United States - Pensions from Germany
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 72
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
Thanks, I found this but it seems I still have to go through SS here, or at least get stuff certified through them. Just wondered if there's anyone here who has gone through this procedure.
#4
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
Looking at the link supplied by MidAtlantic, you apply to Germany via the forms cited there. They will undoubtedly ask you about your pension status in any foreign countries, as do the UK forms. It is usually all done via the country to which you are applying for the specific pension.
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 72
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
Okay, but looking at this site more closely, following:
If you live in one of the Member states of the European Community/European Economic Area or in Chile, Israel, Japan, in the successions states of Jugoslavia, Canada/Québec, Corea, Croatia, Morocco, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia or in the USA,it is advisable to make your application for a pension at the insurance institute of your country of residence like it is custom there.
So, all I really wanted to know if anybody has done this.
Thanks.
If you live in one of the Member states of the European Community/European Economic Area or in Chile, Israel, Japan, in the successions states of Jugoslavia, Canada/Québec, Corea, Croatia, Morocco, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia or in the USA,it is advisable to make your application for a pension at the insurance institute of your country of residence like it is custom there.
So, all I really wanted to know if anybody has done this.
Thanks.
#6
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
Okay, but looking at this site more closely, following:
If you live in one of the Member states of the European Community/European Economic Area or in Chile, Israel, Japan, in the successions states of Jugoslavia, Canada/Québec, Corea, Croatia, Morocco, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia or in the USA,it is advisable to make your application for a pension at the insurance institute of your country of residence like it is custom there.
So, all I really wanted to know if anybody has done this.
Thanks.
If you live in one of the Member states of the European Community/European Economic Area or in Chile, Israel, Japan, in the successions states of Jugoslavia, Canada/Québec, Corea, Croatia, Morocco, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia or in the USA,it is advisable to make your application for a pension at the insurance institute of your country of residence like it is custom there.
So, all I really wanted to know if anybody has done this.
Thanks.
German Missions in the United States - Pension - Contacts
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 25
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
#8
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
Okay, but looking at this site more closely, following:
If you live in one of the Member states of the European Community/European Economic Area or in Chile, Israel, Japan, in the successions states of Jugoslavia, Canada/Québec, Corea, Croatia, Morocco, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia or in the USA,it is advisable to make your application for a pension at the insurance institute of your country of residence like it is custom there.
So, all I really wanted to know if anybody has done this.
Thanks.
If you live in one of the Member states of the European Community/European Economic Area or in Chile, Israel, Japan, in the successions states of Jugoslavia, Canada/Québec, Corea, Croatia, Morocco, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia or in the USA,it is advisable to make your application for a pension at the insurance institute of your country of residence like it is custom there.
So, all I really wanted to know if anybody has done this.
Thanks.
However if you have sufficient contributions to claim a pension in both/ each country then you are almost certainly better off claiming a pension directly in each country than applying to have your contributions aggregated into one pension paid in your country of residence.
Last edited by Pulaski; Sep 10th 2017 at 2:18 am.
#9
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 72
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
I have enough credits for pensions in both countries. Even the pension office in Germany said that I should be able to apply over here through SSA (without having to aggregate the contributions, i.e. separate pensions from both Germany and USA) but SSA in US is not always willing to do it because it means work for them.
I've got a phone number in Germany I'm trying to get through to but it's always busy. Will keep trying but, failing that, will send an email direct to the German pension office. I have to talk to/have email from them since I have a couple of complications. Will update as soon as I have a resolution for anybody who will be going through the same thing.
I did research this before posting and have talked to my ex in Germany who has just done this. Just wanted to know if anybody else had tried it from over here.
I've got a phone number in Germany I'm trying to get through to but it's always busy. Will keep trying but, failing that, will send an email direct to the German pension office. I have to talk to/have email from them since I have a couple of complications. Will update as soon as I have a resolution for anybody who will be going through the same thing.
I did research this before posting and have talked to my ex in Germany who has just done this. Just wanted to know if anybody else had tried it from over here.
#10
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 72
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
At last I've sent off my application for my German pension. Instead of putting the entire lengthy experience here, if anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer them. By the way, I found it impossible to make an appointment with Social Security here (have been trying since last October) and calling them was useless as well since nobody had a clue.
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,013
Re: Applying for German pension from USA
I know there have been a few threads about receiving UK pension in the US but wonder if anyone has tried applying for a German pension. From what I can understand I can apply through the social security office here but when I called they didn't have a clue. I've found form SSA-2490 but am unsure if this is the correct one. Anybody had experience with this? I've been in contact with my ex in Germany who is trying to help but there must be a simple way of doing this???