Guernsey - Pensions and benefits

If you have lived or worked in Guernsey and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Guernsey and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Guernsey or Canada, or both.

The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Jersey and Guernsey came into force on January 1, 1994.

What benefits are available

If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan and the pension program of Guernsey, or if you lived in Canada and Guernsey, this agreement may help you qualify for:

• Canadian old age and disability benefits
• Guernsey old age and disability benefits

If you are the widow, widower or child of a person who contributed to the pension programs of both countries, this agreement may help you qualify for:

• Canadian survivor benefits
• Guernsey survivor benefits

You may qualify for benefits from Canada or Guernsey, or both. However, under the Agreement, the benefit paid by each country will be based solely on your creditable periods under that country's pension program. In other words, Canada will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your periods that are creditable under Canada's pension program, and Guernsey will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Guernsey's pension program.

Am I eligible to receive a benefit

Canadian benefit

The Canadian pension programs included in the Agreement are the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security program.

If you do not qualify for a Canada Pension Plan benefit, based on your contributions to the CPP, Canada will consider periods credited under the pension program of Guernsey as periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan.

If you do not qualify for an Old Age Security pension based on your years of residence in Canada, Canada will consider periods credited under the pension program of Guernsey and periods during which you resided in Guernsey after the age of 18 as periods of residence in Canada.

Guernsey benefits

The pension program of Guernsey is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in Guernsey.

To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Guernsey, you normally must have contributed to Guernsey's pension program for a minimum period.

If you have not contributed to the program for the minimum period, to qualify for a Guernsey old age pension under the Agreement, Guernsey will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after the age of 18 as credited periods under the pension program of Guernsey. To determine eligibility for Guernsey disability and survivor benefits, Guernsey will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as credited periods under the pension program of Guernsey.

How do I apply

Print and complete one of the following application forms:

If you live in Canada

If you live in Canada and want to apply for Canadian benefits, see Pensions in Canada.

If you live in Canada and want to apply for Guernsey benefits:

• Foreign Benefits under an Agreement on Social Security, Interim Application for (ISP5005)

Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a Service Canada Centre, or mail it to:

International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB  T5J 2G4
Canada

If you live in Guernsey

If you live in Guernsey and want to apply for Canadian benefits :

• Jersey, Guernsey/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivor Benefits (ISP5054-JRS/GNS)
• Jersey, Guernsey/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Child's Benefits (ISP5055-JRS/GNS)
• Jersey, Guernsey/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-JRS/GNS)

Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in Guernsey, or mail it to:

International Operations
Service Canada
PO. Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB  T5J 2G4
Canada

Guernsey's social security website

• Social Social Security Department of Guernsey

Resources

• Agreement on social security between Canada and Jersey and Guernsey
• A general overview of Jersey and Guernsey’s social security system is available on the United States Social Security Administration website.
• The Living abroad website provides information and access to programs and services for Canadians living abroad
• For more information on contributing to the Canada Pension Plan while working abroad, contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or visit the CRA website