Collecting SS - CCP - OAS

Currently, I am collecting SS and living in US . Worked and lived in Canada earning and paying 12 yrs into CCP . Since I have 17 years of qualifying amts of SS earnings, the WEP would be activated - due to the less than 30 yrs of qualified SS earnings? - correct me if I am wrong please. I've done the calculations and it seems there is no real benefit to apply for CCP as the total amt dispensed to me is about the same - the difference would be the money would come from both US and Canada. Do I really need to apply for CCP? or, should I? It seems like a lot of trouble for the same amt of money.
Also, can I apply for OAS a not CCP? I have read that OAS is not inclued in the WEP - correct?

Thanks

WEP NEVER takes more than you get from other source, so it would be silly to forego CPP. You will get more combined than by itself. If its any help, you will only have to pay tax in the country where you live on SS CPP and OAS combined.

OAS does not impact SS. You will of course only get partial OAS because you did not spend 40 adult years in Canada.
Remember that you also have to report any foreign pension income you will get to include in WEP.

And, yes, as it stands now, the 30 yrs has to be in US to eliminate WEP. (some are currently appealing this, and some have been able to get US/canada history to add up to 30) but this is rare.

Thank you for replying. Can you tell me does OAS apply to WEP? This is a confusing subject for me and I do appreciate your input.

I misread your answer and I now see you responded about OAS. Thanks again.

Can anyone elaborate on the idea of combining CCP and SS to equal 30 years worth of SS and avoid the WEP. Has there been any success in this regard?

Thanks

Go the Keats Border Guide forum site.

This requires a court case, and is rarely successful.
And it's not combining SS and CPP, it is combining US work history and Cdn work history to come up with 30 years of substantive earnings.

Thank You. This is very helpful. I ordered the book.

oas and soc sec

Do I have to apply for at he same time or can i take
oas at 65 and soc sec at 70? live in US and qualify for both

You can take each separately. OAS, you dont really have a choice. CPP can be taken anytime aftera certain age, as can SS. At some point it becomes pointless to delay CPP and SS.

Thank you for your reply. I started to take CPP at age 60, plan to apply for OAS at 65 and SS a bit later.