I am a US Citizen who also lived in Canada for 27 years. I am 69 years old and am collecting both Social Security and CPP. My husband is a Canadian Citizen (62 years old) and worked in Canada for 37 years. He is working in the US now on a Green Card and has been paying social security (maximum payments for 6 1/2 years.) We are considering moving back to Canada but do not know how this will affect his government pension earnings (Social Security and CPP). We understand that CPP will top up his pension from Canada from his US earnings to make him whole there, but do not know if he will qualify for any Social Security. He needs 3 years for CPP and will still have 3 1/2 years of "quarters" left in the US system if we were to leave tomorrow. Question: from a Social Security perspective is there any advantage to remain in the US

Hi,

First off just to clarify, I have no expertise with regard to the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP). Therefore, I can only address the U.S. Social Security program considerations. Furthermore, I'm unable to address any tax considerations that might be involved if you move to Canada.

It sounds like your husband would likely qualify for a totalization benefit from U.S. Social Security. A totalization benefit is one based on a combination of work credits from the U.S. and from a foreign country, which in your husband's case would obviously be Canada. And, moving to Canada would have no bearing on either your husband's eligibility for a U.S. totalization benefit nor his benefit rate.

For more information on the Social Security totalization agreement between the U.S. and Canada, refer to the following Social Security website: https://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/canada.html.

Best, Jerry