Ireland - Pensions and benefits
If you have lived or worked in Ireland and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Ireland and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Ireland or Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Ireland came into force on January 1, 1992.
Available benefits
If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan and the Irish pension program, or if you lived in Canada and Ireland, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian old age and disability benefits
- Irish 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
- Irish survivor benefits
You may qualify for a Canadian or an Irish 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 Ireland will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Ireland's pension program.
Eligibility
Canadian benefits
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 of contribution to the pension program of Ireland 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 during which you resided in Ireland 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.
Irish benefits
The pension program of Ireland is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in Ireland.
To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Ireland, 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, to qualify for Irish old age, disability and survivor benefits under the Agreement, Ireland will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after the age of 18 as periods of contribution to the pension program of Ireland. To determine eligibility for an Irish death grant, Ireland will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan from October 1, 1970, and periods of residence in Canada from that same date and after the age of 18 as periods of contribution to the pension program of Ireland.
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 Public pensions.
If you live in Canada and want to apply for Irish benefits:
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 250
Fredericton NB E3B 4Z6
Canada
If you live in Ireland
If you live in Ireland and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
- Ireland/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivor Benefits (ISP5054-IRL)
- Ireland/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-IRL)
- Ireland/Canada Agreement – Application for CPP Child’s Benefits (ISP5055-IRL)
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in Ireland, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 250
Fredericton NB E3B 4Z6
Canada
Ireland’s social security
Resources
- Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Ireland
- General overview of Ireland’s social security system
- Information and access to programs and services for Canadians living abroad
- Information on contributing to the Canada Pension Plan while working abroad and contact information for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Note: The Agreement
This page contains general information on the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Ireland and may not describe all the provisions that apply to your situation. If you have any questions, please contact us. In the case of a discrepancy between this page and the Agreement, the wording and provisions of the Agreement will prevail.
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