Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
Jan 13th 2013, 5:10 am
#1
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
Can anyone help me with this?
I was born in the UK and lived there 30 years until 10 years ago I moved to New Zealand. I returned to the UK after two years, and talked to the powers that be, and they told me I could have my state pension contributions made in New Zealand transferred to my UK pension "account" so then I had 12 years of contributions to the UK pension scheme.
I made one more year of contributions and then I moved to the US. Since then all my earnings have contributed to their social security system.
I am wondering, is there any way I can have these contributions paid back into my UK pension "account" too?
If so, can I do that only if I move back to the UK or can I do this on a continual basis while I live in the US?
I was born in the UK and lived there 30 years until 10 years ago I moved to New Zealand. I returned to the UK after two years, and talked to the powers that be, and they told me I could have my state pension contributions made in New Zealand transferred to my UK pension "account" so then I had 12 years of contributions to the UK pension scheme.
I made one more year of contributions and then I moved to the US. Since then all my earnings have contributed to their social security system.
I am wondering, is there any way I can have these contributions paid back into my UK pension "account" too?
If so, can I do that only if I move back to the UK or can I do this on a continual basis while I live in the US?
Jan 13th 2013, 5:55 am
#2
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Joined: Jun 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 10,678
Re: Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
Can anyone help me with this?
I was born in the UK and lived there 30 years until 10 years ago I moved to New Zealand. I returned to the UK after two years, and talked to the powers that be, and they told me I could have my state pension contributions made in New Zealand transferred to my UK pension "account" so then I had 12 years of contributions to the UK pension scheme.
I made one more year of contributions and then I moved to the US. Since then all my earnings have contributed to their social security system.
I am wondering, is there any way I can have these contributions paid back into my UK pension "account" too?
If so, can I do that only if I move back to the UK or can I do this on a continual basis while I live in the US?
I was born in the UK and lived there 30 years until 10 years ago I moved to New Zealand. I returned to the UK after two years, and talked to the powers that be, and they told me I could have my state pension contributions made in New Zealand transferred to my UK pension "account" so then I had 12 years of contributions to the UK pension scheme.
I made one more year of contributions and then I moved to the US. Since then all my earnings have contributed to their social security system.
I am wondering, is there any way I can have these contributions paid back into my UK pension "account" too?
If so, can I do that only if I move back to the UK or can I do this on a continual basis while I live in the US?
http://www.ssa.gov/international/Agr...phlets/uk.html
Jan 13th 2013, 2:44 pm
#3
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,754
Re: Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
The US/UK totalization agreement allows you to use contributions in one country to qualify for benefits in the other country if you don't have enough contributions to qualify. But they are not used in calculating the size of the pension.
But there is an easy way to maximize your contributions to both systems. As a US resident you'll be contribution to US SS and as a UK citizen expat you'll probably be able to make voluntary Class 2 NI contributions.
But there is an easy way to maximize your contributions to both systems. As a US resident you'll be contribution to US SS and as a UK citizen expat you'll probably be able to make voluntary Class 2 NI contributions.
Jan 13th 2013, 5:08 pm
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Location: Los Angeles
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Re: Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
And Class 2 contributions are really inexpensive. 2.65 GBP per week. You need to write to HMRC to apply.
Jan 13th 2013, 5:15 pm
#5
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Re: Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
It sounds as if the OP's contributions currently qualify him/her for 13/30ths of the UK pension and that they need to work for a couple of more years to reach the 10 years of contributions to qualify for US SS.
Jan 13th 2013, 6:18 pm
#6
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Re: Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
Yes, as I understand it, ten years is crucial. But it does NOT have to be ten consecutive years.
Last edited by holly_1948; Jan 13th 2013 at 6:38 pm. Reason: typo
Jan 13th 2013, 6:27 pm
#7
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Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,545
Re: Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
I don't think the ten years need to be consecutive. I believe the only qualifications for SS retirement benefit are that you've attained the age of 62 and have forty work credits (you can earn a maximum of four per year.)
Jan 14th 2013, 7:01 pm
#8
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Re: Ex-pat in the USA and Pensions
Sorry if this means the OP will need to delay repatriation for a year or two so as not to lose very roughly 8000 quid a year retirement pension. On top of UK pension.
US Social security is good about responding if one writes to them to ask about the the contribution record status (number of credits).
