Retired and Moving Back to Canada after 35 years.

[Lindsee]

My parents have been permanent resident aliens (green Cards) in the US for 35 years.Now they need assissted living and are coming back to Canada to live closer to family. They are 86 and 81 years old. For many years they have not had to file income tax in the US because of their low income level. They also have not filed in Canada for most of that time because of their low income. Will they be able to collect their US social security and their CPP ? I need to have some idea of their income when they get here in order arange housing for them. Any help or directions would be so appreciated !
Thanks
Lindsee

[Steven]

I'd suggest they file for citizenship in case they need to claim on Medicare (if they come back to Canada their LPR status will eventually become invalid). They can take the oath in Canada if they need to come back soon. There are no downsides to it because their income is so low (unless they have an estate large enough to be hit with estate tax, but that sounds unlikely).

You need to find out whether or not they ever did contribute to social security and CPP and for how many years. There is a "totalization" agreement between Canada and the US, the idea being that the years contributed in either country are totalled, so that usually means you get a higher benefit as a result (as opposed to claiming separately).

Presumably they get a social security statement every year, so that will indicate what their contributions to social security are.

Have a look at: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/isp/cpp/cpptoc.shtml and www.ssa.gov and do a search for the details on the totalization agreement for more information.