Barbados - Pensions and benefits

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

The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Barbados came into force on January 1, 1986.

Available benefits

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

Canadian old age and disability benefits
Barbadian 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
Barbadian survivor benefits

You may qualify for a Canadian or a Barbadian benefit, 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 Barbados will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Barbados's pension program.

Eligibility

Canadian benefits

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

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

If you do not qualify for an Old Age Security pension because you have not lived in Canada for the minimum number of years, Canada will consider periods of contribution to the pension program of Barbados after the age of 18 as periods of residence in Canada.

Note: Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) contributors

The Government of Canada's international social security agreements cover Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan benefits only. If you contribute or have contributed to the QPP but not to the CPP, please consult the Quebec Pension Plan.

Barbadian benefits

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

To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Barbados, you normally must have contributed to the program for a minimum number of weeks. If you have not contributed to the program for the minimum period, Barbados will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as periods of contribution to the pension program of Barbados.

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, consult the Pensions in Canada.

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

Barbados/Canada Agreement - Application for Barbadian Benefits (CAN-BAR 1)

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

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

If you live in Barbados

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

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

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

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