UK state pension and USA social security
#211
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
So in the years that I worked in the UK I had nothing to do with America. It was only after I finished work that I married and became a Resident Alien in the US. I understand that I will have to pay US taxes on my UK Pension but I still don't understand why my US SS is subject being WEPd.
When SSA calculates your SS it assumes that you have worked your entire life paying FICA and calculates an average annual wage. If you are low waged a larger multiplier is used to calculate SS than if you were high waged. But if you actually also have non-SS wages that produce a pension the WEP corrects the higher than appropriate SS you would have received.......anyway that's the logic whether or not you agree with it.
#212
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,153
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
I'm dreading talking to SS as I predict I'm going to come away more confused than I started.
I worked in the UK for 13 years as a British citizen before then moving to the US as a Resident Alien and then worked an additional 13 years.
So in the years that I worked in the UK I had nothing to do with America. It was only after I finished work that I married and became a Resident Alien in the US. I understand that I will have to pay US taxes on my UK Pension but I still don't understand why my US SS is subject being WEPd.
I worked in the UK for 13 years as a British citizen before then moving to the US as a Resident Alien and then worked an additional 13 years.
So in the years that I worked in the UK I had nothing to do with America. It was only after I finished work that I married and became a Resident Alien in the US. I understand that I will have to pay US taxes on my UK Pension but I still don't understand why my US SS is subject being WEPd.
A foreign pension earned while not paying into SS falls into that category. You may be like myself, who worked for 15 years in the UK and earned both a private pension and OAP without paying into SS, then I moved to the US and worked 23 years, paying into SS.
#213
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 92
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
I'm dreading talking to SS as I predict I'm going to come away more confused than I started.
I worked in the UK for 13 years as a British citizen before then moving to the US as a Resident Alien and then worked an additional 13 years.
So in the years that I worked in the UK I had nothing to do with America. It was only after I finished work that I married and became a Resident Alien in the US. I understand that I will have to pay US taxes on my UK Pension but I still don't understand why my US SS is subject being WEPd.
I worked in the UK for 13 years as a British citizen before then moving to the US as a Resident Alien and then worked an additional 13 years.
So in the years that I worked in the UK I had nothing to do with America. It was only after I finished work that I married and became a Resident Alien in the US. I understand that I will have to pay US taxes on my UK Pension but I still don't understand why my US SS is subject being WEPd.
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, very few of us understand the reason (or agree) why we have to loose part of our US SS due to working in the UK and qualifying for a UK pension prior to coming to the USA. I should also add that (in my experience) the SS employee's on the other end of the phone help line don't understand it as well as you would think. It is only from the help on this forum that it is gradually coming clearer to me.
I'm still not 100% certain whether the wep kicks in when I start claiming my UK pension or whether it is triggered when I claim my US SS. As I mentioned in an earlier post we will hang in there until next year when I will have my 30 years SS vested but doing this prevents my wife from claiming 60% of my UK pension until that time.
#214
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 12
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
After reading different responses from people and then re-reading them I'm trying to make sense of all this mish mash and its SLOWLY taking time to sort out and sink in I have come to conclusion that when I am 66 I can claim 50% of my spouses SS but I will be WEPd on that 50% based on my UK Pension. From my calculations I will be better off not claiming at 62 and waiting for 66. I will still have to talk to SS to confirm,
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
#215
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 92
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
After reading different responses from people and then re-reading them I'm trying to make sense of all this mish mash and its SLOWLY taking time to sort out and sink in I have come to conclusion that when I am 66 I can claim 50% of my spouses SS but I will be WEPd on that 50% based on my UK Pension. From my calculations I will be better off not claiming at 62 and waiting for 66. I will still have to talk to SS to confirm,
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
#217
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,569
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
Her British record includes six years voluntary Class 2 NICs. She obviously should have done more, just that we didn't really figure out the voluntary system till she was about retirement age ....
Not sure of the exact logic as to whether, over a lifetime, you gain or lose by taking one or other, or both, early or late, though. And of course, most people don't know how long they will live so that is the ultimate unknown in this calculation.
#218
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 92
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Hi Robin,
When your wife claimed her UK state pension were there any requirements on the form for her to notify any other country where she was making national pension contributions? If not then it appears it is ok to claim the UK pension prior to claiming the US SS without incurring any wep or such like situations until claiming US SS.
A Question for others:
I also have 6 years of voluntary class 2 NIC's (made up the last 6 years by sending a check for approx. 850 GBP's) plus 14 years working years in the UK which equals 20 years vested. Reading other posts is the six year NIC voluntary paid up situation included in the declaration to the US for wep purposes or just the 14 years?
When your wife claimed her UK state pension were there any requirements on the form for her to notify any other country where she was making national pension contributions? If not then it appears it is ok to claim the UK pension prior to claiming the US SS without incurring any wep or such like situations until claiming US SS.
A Question for others:
I also have 6 years of voluntary class 2 NIC's (made up the last 6 years by sending a check for approx. 850 GBP's) plus 14 years working years in the UK which equals 20 years vested. Reading other posts is the six year NIC voluntary paid up situation included in the declaration to the US for wep purposes or just the 14 years?
Last edited by Westham; Feb 7th 2014 at 2:05 pm. Reason: added a question
#219
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,569
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Hi Robin,
When your wife claimed her UK state pension were there any requirements on the form for her to notify any other country where she was making national pension contributions? If not then it appears it is ok to claim the UK pension prior to claiming the US SS without incurring any wep or such like situations until claiming US SS.
When your wife claimed her UK state pension were there any requirements on the form for her to notify any other country where she was making national pension contributions? If not then it appears it is ok to claim the UK pension prior to claiming the US SS without incurring any wep or such like situations until claiming US SS.
I don't see how you can incur WEP when you are not claiming yet.
#220
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
After reading different responses from people and then re-reading them I'm trying to make sense of all this mish mash and its SLOWLY taking time to sort out and sink in I have come to conclusion that when I am 66 I can claim 50% of my spouses SS but I will be WEPd on that 50% based on my UK Pension. From my calculations I will be better off not claiming at 62 and waiting for 66. I will still have to talk to SS to confirm,
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
#221
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
I have claimed my UK State pension, but have not claimed SS yet. Claiming my UK pension did not trigger anything. WEP comes into play when you claim SS, providing you has less than 30 years contributions into it.
#222
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Yup, that's me you're talking about. 28 years this year, hope I can chalk up one more before my job goes away!
#223
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
After reading different responses from people and then re-reading them I'm trying to make sense of all this mish mash and its SLOWLY taking time to sort out and sink in I have come to conclusion that when I am 66 I can claim 50% of my spouses SS but I will be WEPd on that 50% based on my UK Pension. From my calculations I will be better off not claiming at 62 and waiting for 66. I will still have to talk to SS to confirm,
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
The question now is when I claim my UK Pension at 62 what if anything will that trigger? I don't see how it will trigger anything as I will not be claiming any SS benefits. But I have this sneaky feeling its not going to be that easy. I am going to the UK for 3 months in a few weeks and going to try and sort it out. But does anyone know if I apply for the UK Pension what that will trigger?
#224
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, very few of us understand the reason (or agree) why we have to loose part of our US SS due to working in the UK and qualifying for a UK pension prior to coming to the USA. I should also add that (in my experience) the SS employee's on the other end of the phone help line don't understand it as well as you would think. It is only from the help on this forum that it is gradually coming clearer to me.
I'm still not 100% certain whether the wep kicks in when I start claiming my UK pension or whether it is triggered when I claim my US SS. As I mentioned in an earlier post we will hang in there until next year when I will have my 30 years SS vested but doing this prevents my wife from claiming 60% of my UK pension until that time.
I'm still not 100% certain whether the wep kicks in when I start claiming my UK pension or whether it is triggered when I claim my US SS. As I mentioned in an earlier post we will hang in there until next year when I will have my 30 years SS vested but doing this prevents my wife from claiming 60% of my UK pension until that time.
#225
Re: UK state pension and USA social security
SS has told me that that part of my UK pension subject to their scrutiny is the employment part, 'with earnings not covered by SS.' How absurd! At that time we weren't US citizens working for a US company overseas. We were all born UK citizens and earned our UK pensions in our country of residence before emigrating.