Lion in Winter

Understood. Thank you for the info.

Lion in Winter

So I went to look for the online form, but all I see is this generic email query form. Do I just send that in and wait for them to call?

https://uk.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen...email_enquiry/

Second, slightly odd question. OH has a massive anxiety condition and talking to the government is a big trigger. Will they agree to talk to me about his SS, rather than him?

durham_lad

Yes, it is a free form email where you give your personal details including SSN stating that you wish to apply for SS. She received a phone call from them about 6 weeks later.

I doubt very much that they will discuss his SS with you.

Lion in Winter

Ok, thank you.

And I suspected as much. Do they make an appointment to call or just call out of the blue?

durham_lad

As I recall they just call out of the blue. We were hiking on a sea cliff top close by a railway line when the first call came in, just as a long freight train was passing. She then made an appointment for a more detailed interview and we were home for that one.

Lion in Winter

Got it, thank you. We'll try to stay away from cliffs.

spouse of scouse

It does seem possible for your OH to appoint you as his representative, which would allow you to communicate with SS on his behalf. There's a different form for appointment as a representative payee, which of course is N/A for you and your OH.
From my understanding, your OH needs to apply, as the claimant, to appoint you as his 'non-attorney' representative. Looking at the 'non-attorney' required qualifications, you'd have no problem with being deemed qualified (unless you've murdered someone and haven't told me) Info and links below, which appear to be written guidance for SS staff. I hope it helps a bit.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0203910020#a
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0203910040

Lion in Winter

Thank you! I will definitely check this out. I don't remember killing anyone so should be ok there. It makes him sound a bit incompetent, but it's a physiological reaction. He's 6'4" so it's no joke if he hits the floor

spouse of scouse

Especially if he falls on the cat!
The brain is the boss, and an incredibly complex one at that. If we actually had a say in how it worked, we'd all be insufferably perfect little robots.

Helen1964

Brilliant advice from Pulaski as usual. But I think there’s one tiny typo: you must be outside the UK (not the US) to make the additional contributions, no?

durham_lad

My wife and I made our voluntary contributions after returning to England.

dunroving

I think that may apply to the Class 2 vs Class 3 thing. If you are working in the US, you can pay Class 2 NICs. If you are living in the UK, there are restrictions on whether you can pay Class 2 NICs. Interestingly, if you work as an examiner, exam question writer, or exam invigilator (even for just a few hours i the year), you can pay Class 2. It's not too difficult to get work as an exam invigilator, so definitely worth considering. I managed to pay Class 2 NICs for two years after I retired, even though I only examined a couple of PhD vivas, and worked a handful of days as exam invigilator at the local university.

It's possible that after you return to the UK, you could pay retrospective Class 2 NICs for the years you were working in the US. However, when I tried to do this, I was told it had to be Class 3. I still think that may have been an error, but at the time I was so snowed under with work I just didn't have the energy or time to chase it up. Definitely worth asking the question to HMRC.

morpeth

Yes it is over 45 hours in a month, there are also rules if one owns a business or officer/director of a business.

Chelseagal

Hi, I am currently a resident of the US and am moving back to the UK in August. I have just been approved for survivor benefits from my late husband. I plan on renouncing my green card. I have been told to continue receiving survivor benefits I have to return to the US every 6 months or I will lose it. I have given my notice in and work and sold my house no I don’t know what to do. I cannot travel back every 6 months. Getting conflicting answers when I call social security. Is anyone getting survivor benefits in the UK? I am worried sick over this as it will be my only income. Thank you

dunroving

First of all, I'm not in your situation, so can only look for relative information and can't offer real-life experience of what happens.

BUT ...I can sympathise with the often confusing search for correct information. Have you read document EN-05-10137, titled Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States? I can see sections that reflect what you are saying (e.g., p. 3, "If you are not a U.S. citizen or you do not meet one of the conditions for continued payments, we will stop your payments after you have been outside the U.S. for 6 full calendar months." Also, on p. 4, "If you are receiving your payments as a dependent or survivor, you must also meet the conditions listed in this publication under the section “Additional residency requirements for dependents and survivors.”

So, it looks like you have to check on two things: (a) whether you would normally be eligible for continued SS payments (e.g., being a UK citizen usually meets that requirement), and (b) whether you meet the "additional residency requirements for ... survivors". In the section on p. 9, it says, "However, the U.S. residency requirement does not apply if you meet any of the following conditions: [third bullet] You are a citizen of a country listed under number 3 in the section titled “Conditions for payments to continue while you are outside the United States” in this publication. [fourth bullet, on p.9/p.10] You are a resident of a country (other than Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, or Switzerland) listed in the section titled “Countries that have social security agreements with the United States.”.

The UK is listed as one of the countries in both the former (p. 5) and the latter (p. 10) countries.

So, it looks hopeful, but please do your own reading of this document and wait for helpful advice from anyone who knows from experience (although, "old" experience doesn't always apply to current regulations). I just know that when you are in the middle of something like this, it helps if someone else looks fr an answer because they are not in such a panicked state.

Good luck.