The United Kingdom and Canada have a social security agreement that allows individuals who have lived or worked in both countries to receive benefits from the respective government. This agreement is beneficial for those who have immigrated to either country or have spent time working in both.
Under this agreement, individuals can have their social security contributions from both the UK and Canada combined to determine their eligibility for benefits. This means that if someone has worked in both countries, their eligible time will be counted towards their pension benefits.
The agreement also covers disability and survivor benefits. If someone becomes disabled and is unable to work, they can receive benefits from both countries if they have lived or worked in both. Similarly, if a spouse or dependent of someone who has lived or worked in both countries passes away, they may be eligible for survivor benefits from both countries.
It is important to note that while the agreement covers social security benefits, it does not cover healthcare benefits. In Canada, healthcare is covered under the public healthcare system, while in the UK, it is covered under the National Health Service. Individuals will need to meet the eligibility requirements for healthcare benefits in each country separately.
To be eligible for benefits under the social security agreement between the UK and Canada, individuals must meet certain criteria. They must have lived or worked in both countries, and have contributed to the social security system in both countries for a certain length of time. The amount of time required to be eligible for benefits will vary depending on the specific benefit being applied for.
Overall, the social security agreement between the UK and Canada is beneficial for those who have lived or worked in both countries. It allows for contributions to be combined to determine eligibility for benefits and ensures that individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to. However, it is important to note that healthcare benefits are not covered under this agreement, and individuals will need to meet the eligibility requirements for healthcare benefits in each country separately.