US Social Security for Canadians

Lately, for some reason, I have been receiving questions about Canadian /American tax and retirement questions. For example: 

Have you ever worked in the US for a few years and then moved back home to settle down and create a life? Maybe you were a grad student and had a job while studying or maybe you worked in hi-tech for a couple of years in sunny California. Now it is time to retire and you are thinking, "Hmmm. I paid into US Social Security when I worked there. Maybe I can get some money from them as well as CPP."

Before you get too excited, check out the Social Security Administration's website to see if you qualify.  Here is how it works:

When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn “credits” toward Social Security benefits. The number of credits you need to get retirement benefits depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (usually, this is 10 years of work). If you stop working before you have enough credits to qualify for benefits, the credits will remain on your Social Security record. If you return to work later, more credits may be added. We can’t pay any retirement benefits until you have 40 credits. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/learn.html#h1

This website is very good and will help you make decisions and learn more about your retirement benefits.