Larry I’ve been working in the USA since 2009 however until 2014 (obtained green card then citizenships) I was on a VISA so only contributing to social security since then.
I believe I paid CPP during the VISA years.
I had worked in Canada all of my adult life till 2009 approx 33 years.
My wife opted to take her CPP at age 60 as she had cancer.
She collected the small CPP pension and only worked for a couple months part time while we lived in Texas.
She was too sick to be able to work anyway for the last few years.
I was told she was not eligible for the social security death benefit and for any disability benefit.
She passed last summer and I collect a small survivors pension about $480 CAD per mos.
I have not collected or applied for my own CPP I turn 65 in December this year.
I too have recently been diagnosed with cancer so although I was not intending to retire until my full retirement age 66.5 years that’s still about 2 years from todays date.
I’m beginning treatment so until that’s under control I will continue to work taking time off for treatment.
What is my best option to get as much Social Security, CPP and Canadian Old Age security?
While hopefully retiring early next year or the year after that, or what options can you suggest?
Your help with these questions would be very helpful. Thanks

Regards Denis

Hi Denis. I'm sorry for your loss. My expertise is limited to the U.S. Social Security program, so I can't give you any advice regarding your options for collecting benefits from Canada.

If you have fewer than 40 quarters (QC) of U.S. Social Security coverage, then it sounds like the only U.S. Social Security benefit for which you may qualify is a totalization benefit. Totalization benefits are based on combined work credits from the U.S. and certain other countries, including Canada.

If you're unable to work do to your illness, then you should probably consider filing for disability totalization benefits. Disability benefits aren't reduced for age, so if you qualify for them you would likely want to start drawing them as soon as possible.

If you haven't stopped working, or if your illness isn't severe enough to qualify you for disability benefits, then you could apply for regular retirement totalization benefits. However, there is a limit on how much you can earn and collect retirement benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA) (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html), and your benefit rate would be reduced for age if you start drawing prior to FRA. Basically, your FRA benefit rate would be reduced by 5/9ths of 1% for each month that you start drawing retirement benefits prior to the month you reach FRA.

Alternatively, you could wait up until age 70 to start drawing your U.S. retirement benefits, in which case you'd increase your benefit rate by 2/3rds of 1% for each month that you wait past FRA to start collecting. For example, if your FRA is 66 & 1/2 and if you wait until age 70 to start collecting retirement benefits, your rate at age 70 would be 28% higher than it would be if you start drawing at FRA.

If you can't qualify for disability benefits, then you'll need to decide for yourself when you feel it would be best to start drawing your retirement benefits. I can tell you that any benefits you collect from Canada won't affect your U.S. Social Security benefits unless you have at least 40 U.S. QCs and you qualify for regular (i.e. non-totalization) Social Security retirement or disability benefits.

Best, Jerry