Guide to Agreement
Introduction
With effect from
February 1, 1999,
1.What is the
It is an arrangement between the Government of Grenada, Carriacou &
Petite Martinique and the Government of Canada to allow persons who have
worked and lived in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique and persons
who have lived and worked in Canada to qualify for pensions from either
Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique or Canada or from Grenada
Carriacou and Petite Martinique and Canada.
2. What is the purpose of the agreement?
The purpose of the Agreement is to protect the benefit rights of persons
who would have lived and worked in
The laws of
In addition, the Agreement will also ensure continuity of social
security protection when someone is sent from one country to the other
in the course of his/her employment.
3. What benefits are offered under the Agreement?
The agreement covers the following branches of Social Security.
4. How does a person
qualify for the Canada Old Age Security Pension?
A person may qualify for an old age security pension if he/she: has
reached age 65, and has resided in Canada for at least one year since
reaching age 18, and was a Canadian citizen or legal resident of Canada
at the time of his/her departure, and has resided in Canada and
contributed to the National Insurance of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite
Martinique for a total of at least 20 years since reaching age 18.
Additionally, a person is not required to have worked in
5. How does a person
claim the Canada Old Age Security Pension?
If a person is 64 years of age and has resided in Canada for at least
one year since reaching age 18, or was a Canadian citizen or legal
resident of Canada at the time of departure, or has resided in Canada
and has made a total of 20 years contribution to NIS of Grenada,
Carriacou and Petite Martinique since reaching age 18, then the persons
should submit an application for Old Age Security Pension.
6. Where can I receive the claim form?
Claim forms are available free of charge from the National Insurance,
Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique or from the International
Operations, Income Security Program, Human Resources Development Canada,
Ottawa, Ontario Canada KIA 0L4.
7. How does a person qualify for a Canadian Pension Plan Retirement
Pension?
A person may qualify for a Canada Pension Plan Retirement pension if
he/she:
- has made
contributions to the Canada Pension Plan since January, 1966
- has reached
age 60 but has not yet reached age 65, and
- is no longer
contributing to the
- National
Insurance of
- he/she is
still contributing to the Canada Pension Plan but has substantially
ceased working (i.e. if when the pension begins, the annual rate of
earnings from employment or self-employment does not exceed the
annual amount of the maximum retirement pension payable to person
whose pension begins at age 65)
- has reached
age 65 (regardless of whether he/she is still working)
8. How does a person qualify for a Canada Pension Plan disability
pension if
A person may qualify for a Canada Pension Plan disability pension if
he/she:
- has become
disabled, and
- has not yet
reached age 65, and
- has made
contributions to the
- has
contributions to the
- has
contributed to Canada Pension plan or the National Insurance of
Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique during four of the six
years immediately prior to his/her disablement
A person can only claim this benefit if the person”s disability is of an
indefinite duration or is likely to result in death or if the person
cannot regularly pursue any substantial gainful occupation.
9. Can a disabled persons children claim disability pension?
Yes, if a person qualifies for a disability and he/she has dependent
children (including adopted children) in his/her care, the child may
qualify for a disabled contributors” child benefit if he/she is:
- under age 18
- between the
ages of 18 and 25 in full-time attendance at school or university
10. How does a person qualify for a Canada Pension Plan surviving
spouses pension?
A person may qualify for a Canada Pension Plan surviving spouse”s
pension if his/her spouse:
- is deceased,
and
- had made
contributions to the Canada Pension Plan since 1966
- had
contributed to the Canada Pension Plan or the National Insurance of
Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique for a minimum period (which
can vary between three and ten years, depending on the spouse”s age
at the time of death) and if he/she
- had reached
age 35 at the time of the spouse”s death or
- had not
reached age 35 at the time of but -is disabled -was caring for a
dependent child (including an adopted child) at the time of .the
spouse”s death
Surviving spouse”s pensions are payable under the same conditions to
widows and widowers and in common-law relationships. Pensions are
payable even if the person remarries.
11. How does a person qualify for an orphan”s benefit under the Canada
Pension Plan Orphans Benefit?
A dependent child (including an adopted child) of a deceased person may
qualify for an Orphans benefit if he/she is:
- under age 18,
or
- between the
ages of 18 and 25 and in full time attendance at school or
university, and if the deceased parent:
- had made
contributions to the Canada Pension Plan since January, 1966, and
- had
contributed to the Canada Pension Plan or the National Insurance of
12. Who qualifies for a Canadian Pension Plan Death Benefit?
A single-payment death benefit may be paid to the estate of a deceased
person or, the absence of an estate to the person responsible for the
funeral expenses, the surviving spouse or the next of kin, if the
deceased person:
- had made
contributions to the Canada Pension Plan anytime since the start of
the plan in January, 1966 and
- had contributed to the Canada Pension Plan or the National Insurance of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique for a minimum period (which can vary between three and ten years depending on the contributor”s age at the time of death)