LeavingLondon

Hi, we naturalized last year but hadn’t got round to updating our social security before the offices closed due to Covid. Is that a problem?

Olly_

Not right now but I would try and find time to do it when things return to normal.

civilservant

Agree with the above. Nothing to panic about right now but needs to be taken care of a few months after SSA reopens. Don't go straight away, the lines will be a disaster!

LeavingLondon

Thanks!

Nutmegger

It took me about twenty years to get round to advising the SS admin, and it was not a problem!

Pulaski

I was reading down the posts and about to say that it took me about 12 years, but you've got me beat!

durham_lad

I didn’t know we were supposed to tell social security. It has been 22 years since we naturalized, maybe we should get around to doing so. Next time we go to London we’ll set up appointments at the FBU in the US Embassy. We need to see someone at the FBU anyway for Medicare and SS benefits.

Nutmegger

It may be different for you in the U.K., but once I’d advised the SSA, all the social security stuff could be done online. (That was what made me sit up and take notice!)

durham_lad

I have only been in the UK since 2016. I signed up online for SS well before I retired in 2010 as part of planning for my retirement. I honestly didn’t know that informing SS was a thing. I got my US passport same day as I Naturalized as the ceremony took place in the same building as the passport office.

livinginnyc

As others have said, doubt it will be a huge issue! I believe the only real reason why they need to know is to avoid any issues with e-verify down the line. I'm unaware its a requirement, just highly recommended.

I did mine pre-covid, and found the process to be super quick - even with lines in lower Manhattan. I just took my SSN & (U.S) Passport, and about 40 seconds later they updated everything. Just to note they will issue you a new SSN card (which means I now have 3), and SFAIK it doesn't count towards your life time limit on how many replacement cards you can request. HTH!

LeavingLondon

This is what I received in the packet after naturalization:

Update Your Social Security Record You will need to visit Social Security so they can update your Social Security record. Wait at least 10 days after your ceremony before doing so and be prepared to show them your Certificate of Naturalization or your U.S. passport. It is important that your Social Security record is accurate because you will need your Social Security Number (SSN) to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, and receive other government services. When you are hired for a job, your employer can enter your SSN into a U.S. Department of Homeland Security web-based system, E-Verify, to determine your eligibility to work in the United States. If your record has not been updated, this may impact the information your employer receives about your work eligibility. To find your Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov.

Nutmegger

I meant being currently in the U.K. — what I was trying to say is that what you describe needing to do in London can be done online here, apart from the in person visit with regard to advising that one had become a citizen. I also applied for the passport immediately, but learned about advising the SSA from BE a couple of decades later!

tht

I have not done mine yet... Oath was last summer. My plan was DMV when I have to renew in May 2021 and then SS afterwards.

durham_lad

I applied online for Medicare and someone from the FBU called me last week. She had my record up on her computer, asked some questions and said my card would be issued in the next few weeks but that at some point they needed to see my passport and I could send it in to them in a few weeks or months, no rush. I told her that we had cancelled a trip to London but planned to visit once we felt safe to travel and asked if we both could come in and have them update our record since my wife will be 65 in November.

Better late than never I guess I obviously should have done it 22 years ago.

Nutmegger

Gotcha! I discovered what I had to do before making the application and thus avoided that step!