Poland - Pensions and benefits
If you have lived or worked in Poland and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Poland and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Poland or Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Poland came into force on October 1, 2009.
Available benefits
If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan and the Polish pension program, or if you lived in Canada and Poland, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian old age and disability benefits
- Polish 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
- Polish survivor benefits
You may qualify for a Canadian or a Polish 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 Poland will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Poland'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 of contribution to the Polish 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 Polish 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.
Polish benefits
The pension program of Poland is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in Poland.
To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Poland, 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 Polish old age or survivor benefit under the Agreement, Poland 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 Poland. To determine eligibility to a Polish disability benefit, Poland will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as periods credited under the Polish pension program.
If you are a Canadian citizen, under the Agreement you can receive a Polish benefit while residing in Canada.
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 Polish benefits:
- Poland/Canada Agreement – Application for Polish retirement pension (CAN-PL 1)
- Poland/Canada Agreement – Application for Polish inability to work pension (CAN-PL 1 (D))
- Poland/Canada Agreement – Application for Polish survivor’s pension (CAN-PL 2)
- Poland/Canada Agreement – Application for Polish burial allowance (CAN-PL 6)
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 Poland
If you live in Poland and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
- Poland/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivor Benefits (ISP5054-POL)
- Poland/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Child's Benefits (ISP5055-POL)
- Poland/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-POL)
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in Poland, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB T5J 2G4
Canada
Poland’s social security websites
Resources
- Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Poland
- General overview of Poland’s social security system
- Information on 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 Government of Canada and the Republic of Poland 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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