In case you think it's easy to get Canadian Benefits...

Yeah maybe. I wasn't planning on getting much so I'm not going to sweat it for another 10 years or so......

Here is a recent article that is relevant to those living in Mexico too.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/collecting-cpp-and-oas-while-living-in-the-us/ar-AAnZdYH?li=AAgh0dA

That article is incorrect based on the new information that I bolded and underlined.
If you only had to live 20 years in Canada after your 18th birthday, then I would be collecting the full OAS... and we know that's not true.

It doesn't say "full" OAS. It says to qualify for OAS you need a minimum of 20 years after your 18th birthday. Less than that, you don't qualify and get nada.......

True, it doesn't say "full" OAS but the information is ambiguous and misleading and I would have expected better from a certified financial analyst. He has only told part of the story.

ferret wrote:True, it doesn't say "full" OAS but the information is ambiguous and misleading and I would have expected better from a certified financial analyst. He has only told part of the story.

I disagree. I had no problem reading the information correctly. And when you apply, the form is quite clear about the residency requirements.

CanuckBob wrote:...I just declared non-residency starting in 2016 so I will only qualify for 35/40ths...

You sure, Bob? When I got my non-residency letter from CRA they back-dated to the date I left Canada.

Axixic wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:...I just declared non-residency starting in 2016 so I will only qualify for 35/40ths...

You sure, Bob? When I got my non-residency letter from CRA they back-dated to the date I left Canada.

I had the same experience.

Bob: You and I are lunching at the same place today. Let's sit down and talk about the documents you may need 12 or 15 years in the future to qualify you for the OAS. What works today may not work then. A non-resident tax agreement with CRA is not going to work with Service Canada requirements for OAS benefits. I know!

Axixic wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:...I just declared non-residency starting in 2016 so I will only qualify for 35/40ths...

You sure, Bob? When I got my non-residency letter from CRA they back-dated to the date I left Canada.

As far as they know, I left Canada on January 1, 2016 and that is what the letter says.

CanuckBob wrote:

Axixic wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:...I just declared non-residency starting in 2016 so I will only qualify for 35/40ths...

You sure, Bob? When I got my non-residency letter from CRA they back-dated to the date I left Canada.

As far as they know, I left Canada on January 1, 2016 and that is what the letter says.

For proof of the date you left Canada for OAS that is not enough. That letter only states that for tax purposes you are considered a non resident as of that date. It does not prove you left Canada on that date. Service Canada will be asking for proof of the date you left Canada for you to qualify for OAS.

So what would that proof be?

CanuckBob wrote:So what would that proof be?

copies of:
Airline tickets
boarding passes
bus tickets
train tickets
passport pages showing arrival in another country
letters from friends confirming arrival in a foreign country

My recommendation is that copies be made of everything and certified by a local lawyer and then kept in a safe place until they are needed.

DaveP wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:So what would that proof be?

copies of:
Airline tickets
boarding passes
bus tickets
train tickets
passport pages showing arrival in another country
letters from friends confirming arrival in a foreign country

My recommendation is that copies be made of everything and certified by a local lawyer and then kept in a safe place until they are needed.

When going out of country, I always use my VISA card at the airport (or duty free if land crossing...), and use it a couple of times enroute and at the final destination.  Easy to show bank statements if required...

They are much more efficient than that. That is why I had to fill out the consent form for them to contact Customs and Immigration. Customs and Immigration have the record of every entry and exit that you made to Canada and they will use that information to do the calculation. It doesn't matter what you personally provide to prove anything. Customs and Immigration has the last word.

Well that is actually good for me because I don't have anything other than my passport. I suppose we also have our employment records as we worked up until we left Canada.

It will be good for me too. Cut and dried information. My official non residency letter is from 1998... but we came to Mexico permanently from May 1st of 1996.

Ferret: I think you applied after many years here in Mexico. If you had applied attaching some of the documents I have suggested your wait for OAS benefits would have been much shorter. In several occasions where I have helped people with this situation the  first things they have asked for have been those documents.

I am not sure what the reference to C&I means. They can at the present only track people leaving Canada if they depart via the USA and that database has only been in effect for 2 or 3 years. Yes, they can track people entering CAnada but what does that prove

Until they can get airline lists of departing passengers their records have to be suspect.
My comments are based on helping a number of people as a aprt to my tax business and up to now the documents I have mentioned are the first to be requested.

My concern is for peoiple to know what documents are going to help them and to know to keep them.

Absolutely keep all information.
Just saying what was requested of me and why.

We don't have any of the documents you have suggested Dave other than our old passports. I would never have thought to keep old airline tickets or boarding passes.

I wouldn't sweat it Bob. I honestly think that Customs and Immigration has been tracking people and their whereabouts for a very long time. They obviously don't just give out that information freely because I had to sign a detailed consent form for the OAS to contact them.
Why don't you call the OAS number and ask them for yourself.

Since I won't be applying for 11 years or so I will probably wait another 10 years before I start asking questions again. Today's info probably won't even be relevant then.