Bulgaria - Pensions and benefits

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

The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Bulgaria came into force on March 1, 2014.

Available benefits

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

Canadian old age and disability benefits
Bulgarian old age and disability benefits

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

Canadian survivor benefits
Bulgarian survivor benefits

You may qualify for a Canadian or a Bulgarian 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 Bulgaria will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Bulgaria'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 your periods credited under the Bulgarian pension program 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 Bulgarian pension program 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.

Bulgarian benefits

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

To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Bulgaria, you normally must have contributed to the program for a minimum number of years.

If you have not contributed to the program for the minimum period to qualify for a Bulgarian old age benefit under the Agreement, Bulgaria will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after the age of 18 as creditable periods under the pension program of Bulgaria. To determine eligibility for Bulgarian invalidity benefits, Bulgaria will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as creditable periods under the Bulgarian social security program. To determine eligibility for Bulgarian survivor benefits, the deceased’s periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan, and in certain cases periods of residence in Canada, will be considered as creditable periods under the Bulgarian social security program.

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 Bulgarian benefits:

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 Bulgaria

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

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

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

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