When I moved to the US I continued to make contributions to the UK State Pension to ensure I received the maximum amount, the US Social Security Administration reduce the Social Security Pension if you receive a foreign pension. When I came to claim the UK State Pension they informed me I had a full pension then told me I had a shortfall and had to make a catch up contribution. My UK State Pension combined with my reduced US Social Security Pension amounts to roughly what my full US Social Security Pension would be if I had always worked and contributed in the US which is considerably more than the maximum UK State Pension. My wife also receives a UK State Pension and half my US Social Security Pension as a spousal benefit, I learnt you have to really learn and understand the Government policies they certainly don't make it easy on both sides of the pond.
