As of the 1st of November 2006 the Agreement between the Republic of Latvia and Canada regarding cooperation within the field of social security has come into effect.
For the Republic of Latvia, the Agreement regulates a person’s social insurance, if the person goes to work to Canada, the right to old age pension, disability pension and survivor`s pension, as well as the right to social security benefit.
For Canada, the Agreement regulates a person’s social insurance, if the person goes to work to the Republic of Latvia, granting of pension (Old age pension of Canada, Retirement pension of Canada Pension Plan) and particular benefits (Survivor’s benefit of Canada Pension Plan, Disability benefit of Canada Pension Plan and Children’s allowance of Canada Pension Plan).
The Agreement’s biggest influence is upon the pension sector.
Entitlement to receive a Canadian pension for persons living in Latvia
In case a resident of Latvia has been permanently residing or has earned income in Canada, the Agreement entitles this person to request Canadian social security services from Canada.
It has to be taken into account that entitlement to receive Canadian old age pension depends on the age of the person and the length of residence in Canada. For entitlement to receive any of the benefits (pension) prescribed in Canada Pension Plan there is a mandatory prerequisite – payments in the plan from the income of an employed or a self-employed person since the establishment of the plan in January 1966.
In case the person’s minimum residence period in Canada or the payment period is less than the one prescribed in national legislation of Canada, when establishing entitlement to receive a pension, Canada can use the insurance periods in Latvia approved by the competent institution of Latvia.
In order to receive Canadian pension or benefit, a person residing in Latvia must turn to the State Social Insurance Agency (hereinafter referred to as the SSIA) to submit a request form for granting of Canadian services (forms are available in the SSIA’s website: www.vsaa.gov.lv). The SSIA will send the filled-in form and documents necessary for granting a pension to the competent institution of Canada for reviewing.
Additional information on the rights to Canadian services can be found on the website of the competent institution of Canada: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/cgi-bin/search/eforms/index.cgi?app=lst&grp=ibc&ln=eng.
Entitlement to receive a Latvian pension for persons living in Canada
In case a resident of Canada has accumulated work and equivalent insurance periods in Latvia, the Agreement entitles this person to require an old age and disability pension from Latvia, taking into account the necessary length of insurance, age and other provisions prescribed by the laws and regulations of Latvia.
A disabled family member (a child), who is a survivor, can be entitled to receive a survivor’s pension of Latvia for the insurance period accumulated by the deceased in Latvia.
In case the insurance period in Latvia is not long enough for entitlement to receive a pension of Latvia, periods of Canada approved by the competent institution of Canada must be taken into account when establishing the entitlement.
Old age pension and disability pension of Latvia is not granted, if the person’s accumulated insurance period in Latvia is less than a year.
In order to receive a pension of Latvia, a person residing in Canada must turn to the competent institution of Canada and fill in a request for a pension, attaching the documents certifying work and equivalent insurance periods in Latvia, as well as other documents required for granting the particular type of pension. The request and documents received will be forwarded to the SSIA for reviewing.