Canadian immigration friends, please take note! Recently, there have been reports that the Canadian federal government plans to track the departure records of Canadian citizens traveling to the United States and will not issue benefits to those who have been away for too long. This has caused concern among elderly immigrants who frequently return to Hong Kong and China each year. In response, Employment and Social Development Canada confirmed in a written reply to relevant inquiries that seniors aged 65 or older who have resided in Canada for at least 20 years after the age of 18 can still receive the Old Age Security (OAS) pension even if they leave Canada for more than 6 months.
Immigrating to Canada Offers Comprehensive Social Welfare
Canada possesses a comprehensive social welfare system. The Old Age Security pension consists of two parts: the basic pension and the supplement. The former is a minimum guarantee—seniors aged 65 or older who are citizens or permanent residents and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after the age of 18 are eligible to receive it. Those who have resided in Canada for 40 years are entitled to the full basic pension, while those who have not met this requirement will receive a pro-rated pension based on their years of residence (e.g., those who have lived there for 30 years can receive three-quarters of the full basic pension). The supplement is determined based on the senior's annual income and marital status. The basic pension combined with the supplement often exceeds one thousand dollars and serves as an important source of income for many seniors.
Immigrants with 20 Years of Residency Can Still Receive Old Age Security Pension After Being Away for More Than 6 Months
Recently, reports indicated that the Canadian federal government plans to track the departure records of Canadian citizens traveling to the United States and will not issue benefits to those who have been away for too long, which caused concern among some elderly immigrants. Employment and Social Development Canada has confirmed that seniors aged 65 or older who have resided in Canada for at least 20 years after the age of 18 can still receive the Old Age Security pension even if they leave Canada for more than 6 months, or even if they settle in another country and do not return to Canada. For seniors who meet the age requirement but not the residency duration requirement, if they plan to be away for more than 6 months, they must notify Service Canada and re-apply for the pension upon returning to Canada; failure to declare this will result in the need to repay any overpaid funds.
Friendly Reminder from Worldway Immigration Experts: Immigrating to Canada allows you to enjoy comprehensive and sound social welfare, including the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance, the Canada Pension Plan, the Old Age Security pension, and various other government benefits and subsidies. Canada's welfare policy is superior, flexible, and human-centric; immigrant friends who qualify for benefits should truthfully declare their status to the authorities. As a leading institution in the immigration industry with 18 years of experience, Worldway has a comprehensive settlement and landing service team that provides professional and attentive service, attending to every minor detail throughout the client's immigration process to Canada. More Consultation Hotline:400-138-2929
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