QUESTION: My wife is doing a post-doct on a J1 scholar in xxxxxxxx, and I recently moved from canada to the US 3 months ago under a J2 visa. I just got a job working at a hospital down here, and noticed that I'm getting charged for social security. Looking into it furthur I think I find that I have to pay it while I'm here. Can I get a refund when I move back to canada cause if I can't claim the service I don't understand why I would have to pay into it.
_____________________________________________________
david ingram replies:
If you only earn $4,000 in one year, you might nitt get a pension. If you earn $4,000 or more this year and over $2,000 next year, you 'will' get a retirement pension from the US in the future.
Read ON:
QUESTION:
Hi David,
I have been working in USA for last 10 years under TN visa and have been paying FICA etc in US but have not filed return to Canada until 2006.
Can I benefit from all the FICA payments later or should I find a way/if there is any way to transfer it to Canadian retirement?
Thanks
__________________________________________________________________________
david ingram replies:
Answered many times - just last week in fact, and reproduced here with a slight improvement suggested by Andrew Nelson
-----------------------
QUESTION: My apologies if this questions have asked many times before.I coudnt not find right and easy answer for this.
I am a Canadian citizen working in USA under TN visa for last 2 yrs. I wonder what will happen for social security tax i pay in USA.Does it goes to Canadian social security.Is it possible to get refund ?
Thanks in advance.
__________________________________________________________
david ingram replies;
The US Canada Social security Totalization Agreement means that you will be able to collect Social Security from the US when you retire whether you have 1 year ( technically 6 quarters which can be earned from July to June which is one year but if you started working on Jan 1, you would need to work 1 year and another $2,000 or so to qualify. Fir 2007, you need $1,000 of earnings to qualify for one qhuarter.)
The actual agreement in all its glory CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/canada.html
AND IS REPRODUCED HERE:
