Hello Larry,
I worked in the US for 9 years as a teacher and have 40 Medicare credits but only 36 SS credits (taught one year in CA). I am moving permanently back to the US soon. I receive a Canadian teacher pension and will also get CPP in two years. I don’t plan to work more than small part time hours at the most in the US if at all. Would it be better for me to top up to the 40 SS credits and be subject to WEP or stay at 36 credits and get prorated SS payments with totalization. Thank you for your help.

Hi. That's a great question, but unfortunately I can't answer it. If you get to 40 quarters (QC) of U.S. coverage, then it sounds like the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) would lower the Social Security retirement benefit amount that you'd otherwise receive. WEP doesn't apply when you receive a U.S. totalization benefit, but the benefit calculation formula for totalization benefits is different than the one used for regular Social Security retirement benefits.

Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) handles WEP calculations so it could help you calculate your benefit rate if get to 40 QCs, but there are too many variables involved to be able to include a totalization benefit calculator in the software. The formula used to calculate totalization benefits is explained in the following section of Social Security's operations manual if you'd like to try doing a calculation manually: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0201701200. Otherwise, you might want to try calling the U.S. Social Security office that's nearest to your Canadian residence address to discuss your situation with them (https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp).

Best, Jerry