Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 13304943)

The big question I have is - ONCE you go through the hoops of setting up login.gov, is that 'it' as far as verification goes, or, do they have additional verification steps during the actual application process? I plan to find out today as I'm going to submit my application!

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 13304943)

...
The big question I have is - ONCE you go through the hoops of setting up login.gov, is that 'it' as far as verification goes, or, do they have additional verification steps during the actual application process? I plan to find out today as I'm going to submit my application!

Originally Posted by Pierre_Tete (Post 13304941)

If your application is straightforward - in other words you are claiming based solely on your SSA contribution record and not your spouse - the process starts entirely online via your SSA account login. But be aware, if mine and my wife's recent experience is typical, the application will get stuck at 'Step 2' in the the review process. My application said to should take 30 days. After 60 days it was still in phase 2 so I called and they then proceeded to move on to the next step. Wife was similar, but with some more complexity. Basically, it looks like they will not proceed to finalize your claim until you follow up with a phone call. Maybe this is part of their process to weed out fraudulent claims?

Originally Posted by Pierre_Tete (Post 13304946)

And to expand on my previous response, if you get stuck at Stage 2 review and you need to call SSA, there will be questions at that time to verify you. Basic stuff like place and date of birth, mother and father's names, mother's maiden name. They might require you to produce documents in person. Last year during my wife's application for Medicare we were both given an appointment at the local SSA office to show our passports or naturalization certificates in person. So when we applied for Social Security they already had copies of those on file so no office visit was necessary.

Originally Posted by durham_lad (Post 13304955)

I would go ahead and make the application online, you can always cancel or delay the start date. When you make the online application it will tell you what other documents if any you need. For example we needed to provide proof of citizenship including our US passport and Naturalization certificate.

Originally Posted by durham_lad (Post 13304955)

I would go ahead and make the application online, you can always cancel or delay the start date. When you make the online application it will tell you what other documents if any you need. For example we needed to provide proof of citizenship including our US passport and Naturalization certificate.

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 13304965)

OK - "Job Done"! I visited ssa.gov, clicked on the 'apply now' button, logged in using my existing 'login.gov' account, and stepped through the entire process in about 30 minutes. No request for additional documents, no mention of any 'Step 2' or 'stage 2 review'. The 30 minutes included taking screen shots and creating a 'word' document of the entire process, in case of issues. I did get an annoying 'time-out' during the process, and it wouldn't let me resume the first time, but I waited 5 minutes and tried again, and completed the process. Early in the process you get a 're-entry' number, which you need in order to resume an incomplete session - make sure you note it down! I needed my citizenship date, and my bank account details; other than that, nothing - wasn't even asked for passport or drivers license info.





My process ended with this screen:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...701af38735.png
No mention of 'next steps, step 2, stage 2, phase 2, etc.

How did your 'step 2' issues arise - during the initial application process, or at some later date?

So - the big recommendation would seem to be - make sure you set up a login.gov account asap, because that's where the complications lie.


Do you (or did you) already have a login.gov (or id.me) account? And - to address an issue raised by others - since you now reside in the UK, are you able to login using the login.gov (or id.me) account from UK; do you encounter any 2-factor issues?

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 13304965)

No mention of 'next steps, step 2, stage 2, phase 2, etc.
How did your 'step 2' issues arise - during the initial application process, or at some later date?

Originally Posted by Pierre_Tete (Post 13304972)

You will likely get an email saying that your application has been accepted. My confirmation email actually gave a specific SSA office and its phone number.

Originally Posted by Pierre_Tete (Post 13304972)

Log in to your SSA account once a week. It should show a progress bar for your application with 3 steps. It should get to Step 2 pretty quickly and will likely say there is a 30 day processing time from there. This is where mine got stuck (and my wife's SS and Medicare applications too). After 60 days with no further progress I called. On the national 800 number the callback feature typically tells you the wait time (2-3 hours seems typical). I called the local office number from my earlier email. They had a callback too, but with no indication how long. In fact they called back a whole day later when I wasn't expecting it so I had to go through the process a second time, with another 24 hour turnaround.

Originally Posted by durham_lad (Post 13304973)

While living in the UK both myself and my wife created ourid.me accounts to access our SS online accounts from the UK. It required for the last step a video appointment to answer some questions and hold up our US passports and SS cards.
...

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter (Post 13304969)

I have anId.me account, and there are multiple 2f options, but they can use the more basic text a code to a phone method, and UK phone numbers work fine.
...

Originally Posted by Glasgow Girl (Post 13305191)

you could look at filing before you leave and then immediately suspend your SS.

Originally Posted by ckusa (Post 13305177)

Quick question (apologies if answered elsewhere): Mrs CKUSA is currently in the US (Resident Alien with GC) and should be able to claim SS. Moving back permanently to the UK later in the year - should she start the process now while in the US, or wait until in the UK?

Originally Posted by Glasgow Girl (Post 13305191)

Probably easier to apply, dot the i’s, cross the t’s and resolve any issues while in the US, but I don’t know that for a fact. If you are at full retirement age, you could look at filing before you leave and then immediately suspend your SS. That would get the process started while here but enable you to defer benefits until you are ready to take them. The best of both worlds.

Originally Posted by Pierre_Tete (Post 13305203)

"File and suspend" is no-longer an option. That was eliminated about a decade ago. You file when you are ready to claim benefits. But yes, the OP should get setup with login.gov or ID.me access their SSA account.

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter (Post 13304922)

I don't think you can start verification until you want to start drawing benefits, can you?

I see this bill in the Senate about raising benefits,

https://www.help.senate.gov/dem/news...ocial-security

But I don't see one regarding citizenship.