UK state pension and USA social security
Oct 22nd 2015, 4:13 pm
#947
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,965
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
been using them since they came out.
ETA: Deleted a bit of my own message. These stamps are very useful to keep at home as you can put international outgoing mail in your mailbox and not have to take it to the post office.
ETA: Deleted a bit of my own message. These stamps are very useful to keep at home as you can put international outgoing mail in your mailbox and not have to take it to the post office.
Last edited by lansbury; Oct 22nd 2015 at 4:50 pm.
Oct 22nd 2015, 5:59 pm
#948
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2014
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 94
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Thanks every one for your valuable input. It is Woverhampton where the Claim form goes to. I sent mine regular mail , no problems. as Lansbury points out, it doesn't have a street address. Wondering if there is any one in Wolverhampton to sign for the mail, if sent registered or certified delivery? Yes, mail to HMRC can be sent certified. However, that is not the right place to send the claim form. Nun, my brother has indeed filed form 5403. It takes about 3 months to get a response from HMRC! By the way, calling the hotline (NI dept at HMRC) is a nightmare. You can stay on the phone for as long as 30 minutes and still no one answers. Just the recording to wait further!!
Oct 22nd 2015, 6:13 pm
#950
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2014
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 94
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Where do you buy them and how much do they cost? Will they work for large envelops such as the Claim form Package? That costs over $6 regular mail.
Oct 22nd 2015, 6:19 pm
#951
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2014
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 94
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Longbenton? Is this an HMRC office? If so, what Dept and what's the tel #? I have in the past called an HMRC # to inquire about my Tax status and had no problem connecting with an agent on the other end. It is the NI Dept telephone # (so called hotline), where no one answers. Apparently, they have numerous calls waiting all the time, no matter what time of day you call.
Oct 22nd 2015, 6:47 pm
#952
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2014
Location: Anchorage, AK, USA
Posts: 1,347
Oct 22nd 2015, 7:01 pm
#953
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,965
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Mrs L puts more than one on if necessary. Never had a letter come back yet. Not sure I would do that if the postage is around the $6 UK2US1979 mentions, and of course doesn't help if you want to send registered.
Last edited by lansbury; Oct 22nd 2015 at 7:39 pm. Reason: spelling
Oct 22nd 2015, 7:47 pm
#955
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,425
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
I have to stock up after work tonight
10 for $12 or 4 for $4.80
https://store.usps.com/store/browse/...uctId=S_116944
Last edited by mrken30; Oct 22nd 2015 at 7:52 pm.
Oct 23rd 2015, 4:10 pm
#956
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 92
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
If it is just over the weight limit and your not sure you can always add a regular USA forever stamp which is cheaper then doubling up on the forever overseas stamp.
Oct 23rd 2015, 11:08 pm
#957
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2014
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 94
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
browsing the old emails from DWP, I found this: Might be of help to others in future.: <.....Sending correspondence by any courier service use the address below: Kidderminster MOUUnit 1Easter ParkKidderminsterDY11 7AR sending correspondance by Airmail, 1st Class and Registered post use the address below : The Pension Service 11Mail Handling Site AWolverhamptonWV98 1LWYours Sincerely >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It seems Registered Mail can be sent at the Wolverhampton address. That might halp in locating the package? Isn't a signature required for the receipt of Registered mail on the other end? Furthermore, it seems the other address accepts mail by courier service. EXPENSIVE. BTW, where is Kidderminster?
Last edited by UK2US1979; Oct 23rd 2015 at 11:09 pm. Reason: spelling error
Oct 24th 2015, 7:57 pm
#959
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Nov 26th 2015, 2:16 am
#960
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
also remember that any part of your UK SS that is due to NICs not connected with employment should not be included in the WEP calculation. For example I have 27 years of voluntary NICs and 3 years of credits for when I was at sixth form college. None of these contribution are connected with non-SS wages so I am not going to include my UK SS in any WEP calculations. It turns out that that is actually irrelevant for me becuase I work for a state that does not participate in SS so I have a non-SS wage state pension that will cause my SS from previous jobs to be WEPed to the max.
I am presently applying for SS benefits in the US. I have many years of voluntary NICs in the UK, but the SS are insisting on including all my NICs in my WEP calculation! I am very interested when you say that voluntary contributions do not count in the WEP. Do you have chapter and verse on that? I think they would listen to me if I could cite an SSA, or other official US Govt, document that says it.
Any information you could give would be helpful.
Thank you.
