Qualifying for Benefits
 

To qualify for a benefit under most pension programmes, you normally must have contributed to the programme, or lived in the country, for a minimum period of time.

For example, to qualify for a Trinidad and Tobago Retirement Pension, you normally must have contributed to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago for at least 750 weeks (approximately 15 years). To qualify for a Canadian Old Age Security Pension in Canada, you normally must have lived in this country for at least 10 years after age 18. You normally need 20 years of residence in Canada after age 18 to receive an Old Age Security Pension outside Canada.

The Trinidad and Tobago/Canada Agreement on Social Security can help you meet such qualifying conditions.

Under the Agreement, to determine if you qualify for a benefit, Trinidad and Tobago will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after April 10, 1972, as if they were periods of contribution to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago. Likewise, Canada will consider periods during which you contributed to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago as if they were periods of residence in Canada and periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan.

If you qualify for a benefit from Trinidad and Tobago or Canada or both countries, under the Agreement, each country will pay a benefit based solely on your periods of contribution/residence under the pension programme of that country.

If you want to apply for a benefit from Trinidad and Tobago or Canada under the Agreement, or if you have any questions, see below for full contact information.