Jon

@HMRC Admin 8 Response thank you very much for your response which seems to be the best i've seen. Unfortunately I have applied for an A1 and been denied it. I have had an S1 for the last few years and I am now without medical cover in Spain. However I will take your advice and mail the address you have given. Your online system is NOT fit for purpose and really appears as though the person who designed it didn't have any idea about S1 holders like myself. Thank you for your help.

Thank you for not answering my question although I have now at last received a reply to my application.

Thank you for your reply. I have already done this and allegedly I should be able to get an update on the 15th. Thats roughly ten weeks after I applied. The certificate advises to apply six weeks before expiry to ensure that the certificate is renewed before its expiry. Will you now be amending that advice as this is the second year where you haven't been able to fulfill that timeframe. For future reference how far in advance do you suggest applying?

For the second year in a row I have applied for an S1 renewal within the time frame stated on the expiring certificate. My S1's expire on December 22nd. And, for the second year in a row I am left without an up to date certificate as my application is still in progress. This is pretty poor but indicative of the state Britain finds itself in now. How do I go about chasing up this application please? What number would I use to speak to a human - your phone system kept telling me to be patient when my application had been overlooked (confirmed by your agents) last year. Fortunately I am in the UK at the moment but I am returning home in the new year and would like to sort out my Social Security car in Spain when I go back. Many thanks!

Has anyone successfully renewed their S1? I went a few weeks earlier this year without healthcare cover in Spain due to HMRC delays in issuing my current certificate and I would like to avoid a similar situation again when my current one runs out in December. Whoever designed this form sounds like they didn't really give any thought to the users that may apply for a renewable S1. I can see this potentially being the sort of thing where you need to get MP's and the press involved if the people running these forums are not correct and we don't get our S1's renewed.