Foreign Pension (Quebec)

Responsibility: Régie des rentes du Québec

In the event of the death of a person receiving a pension from a foreign organization, you must contact the Régie des rentes du Québec for information. The Régie is responsible for social security agreements signed with certain foreign countries.

If you are a surviving spouse, you may be entitled to a surviving spouse's pension, a death benefit or an orphan's pension, if you have a dependent child.

For more information, contact the Régie's Social Security Agreements Office at 1 800 565-7878, ext. 7801 or 514 866-7332, ext. 7801.

A social security agreement signed between Quebec and a foreign country allows Quebec residents and former residents who lived or worked in a country other than Canada to obtain retirement or disability pensions or even benefits for the relatives of a deceased person.

The Bureau des Ententes de Sécurité Sociale (BESS) is responsible for the application of these agreements in two distinct sectors: foreign pensions and the application of Quebec's social security program when a worker is seconded abroad.

SERVICES OFFERED BY THE BESS

Provides information on eligibility requirements;
Advises on the preparation of a pension application;
Provides the required forms;
Intervenes, if necessary, with the country concerned to have the applicant's rights recognized;
Issues certificates of entitlement to Quebec citizens seconded to a country with which there is an agreement.

PENSIONS

The main benefits that can be paid by the countries that have signed social security agreements are retirement, survivor and disability pensions.

The agreements have the effect of :

allow Quebec residents to submit their applications to BESS for benefits payable by the contracting countries;
make workers eligible for benefits under the plans covered by the social security agreements who would not normally be entitled to benefits under the Quebec Pension Plan or the plans of the contracting countries. For this purpose, periods of contribution to both plans are added together. Once eligibility has been established, the calculation of the respective benefits is based on the contributions to the plan of the country that will pay the benefits.

CERTIFICATES OF COVERAGE

This certificate allows a self-employed person who works abroad as well as a worker temporarily assigned abroad and his or her employer to pay contributions only to the various Quebec social security plans (e.g.: contributions to the Quebec Pension Plan).

BENEFITS / SUBSIDIES

The calculation of the foreign pension is generally based on the contributions paid in the country concerned by the worker.

The foreign pension has no impact on the amount of pension that is or will be paid by the Régie des rentes du Québec. However, the pensions that are paid by certain countries may be reduced if a pension from the Quebec Pension Plan is paid.

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