You would be better off consulting this page

https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/overview

I got mine back within a week

Its not mandatory, but highly recommended. I converted mine and submitted my paperwork on 1st March this year, and was completed back by 29th and back in the UK, than all we had to do was take a print out of the following after submission: Date Of Acknowledgment 01-MAR-2016 Registration Status at Mi...