Could Canadians Lose Their U.S. Social Security?!

A new Bill (H.R. 1547) proposes to eliminate Social Security benefits for non-U.S. citizens. We discuss the ramifications for Canadians who have worked in the U.S., who may be impacted, and potential planning strategies.

[Chris-jgw]

Thanks for posting this Bryan!
Seems like being a non-citizen is getting riskier…even if this Bill is likely to fail.

[martin-]

I wouldn’t be shocked if this passes. As someone who just renounced my US status and who turns 62 this year, I am part of the cohort of people affected by this. We are not voters so there is no incentive for politicians not to pass this. Given that SS is underfunded, going after non citizens is low hanging fruit with no electoral repercussions…

[jimbo]

I’m sure Canada would implement a counter penalty for all the Americans who had CPP contributions taken off their pay while working in Canada. Canada could take that money and use it to top up Canadians who lost their SS pensions.

[CaptainCanuck]

My wife and I have lived in the US as Canadians with LPRs for 27 years. I became a US Citizen last month however my wife is (will remain) a Canadian citizen. While I understand that if this bill were to pass the >10 years she has contributed into SS may be compromised if we were to return to Canada (and mine, as a US (and Canadian) Citizen) would not (is that a safe assumption?), would her additional entitlement to spousal benefits as the spouse of a US Citizen also be compromised? I realize that it may be too early in the legislative process to address such a specific scenario, it is nonetheless one that interests me. Thank you for posting this interesting content and keeping us (clients as well as non-clients) informed!

[pinkbass]

There is the US Canada tax treaty which is what you were showing on the screen. That is why the benefits are pd out to all those countries mentioned. I doubt that they could over rule that Treaty when we are already being pd out. I was told it DOES NOT MATTER if we live in Canada and am no longer a green card holder. There are lots of ppl being pd that live here. You can’t keep the green card and live here indefinitely. In order to become a citizen you have rules about moving back to where you came fr and staying there for a number of yrs it’s not that easy. Plus then filing the US inc taxes. Then you could move back and claim them as foreign taxes. Plus only pay 15%. All this talk has come up not bc of ppl that have legitimately earned their SS but no longer live in the US, but bc of the hysteria and racism of ppl crying about illegals. Which we are NOT. It took me over 3 yrs to get them to do my claim just bc they didn’t. They left it. If you send it in fr Canada they just don’t process it. Good luck. It was agonizing.

[Alex-heve]

How about spousal benefits for non-usa citizen spouse? The earner of benefits is US citizen.