State Pension - Yearly Average of 48

Grey123

Trying to plan what state pension I will get.

I lived and worked in Canada for 10 years. Will these years count? Either way I will have the 10 years.

But I am worried that they will count as 0 for my average making it very hard to get any where close to the 48 week average which is what I understand you need for max state pension.

I already have 5 years during college where I averaged about 20 contributions a year. From what I understand if I never worked during college the average would just start after. Or if I was on the dole I would get contributions?

Is there any allowance for being in education?

coylemj

The averaging system may have been dropped by the time you get to pension age. I'm not asking to say how old you are but if you're more than 5 years from pension age, I'd say there's a fair chance that the averaging system won't be an option for you by then.

Can you do any better with the total contributions approach (TCA)? That counts your total contributions and compares that number to the maximum reckonable record of 40 years (2,080) contributions, you geta a pro rata pension i.e. 30 years gets you a 75% pension.

Mrs OBumble

I would be very surprised if there's not a pension bilateral agreement with Canada. That is what will determine if your contributions there count.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120956296#Comment_120956296

Yep and by the magic of Google:

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-international/ireland.html

Grey123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120956102#Comment_120956102

Ya the total seems a better option. Should be able to get there by early 60s.

I image a lot of people in college would struggle to get up to 48 average. Mine isn't helped by someone who payed me cash in hand, told me he was putting it through the books but only put me down for a few weeks in the year.

Grey123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120956966#Comment_120956966

Thanks. Is it best to leave this stuff til retirement or get them converted in advance (if that's even possible).

coylemj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120957256#Comment_120957256

I don't think you can get foreign contributions 'converted'. When you're applying for the Irish pension, you can give details of contributions made in other countries. The form contains sections where you can enter details of your employment in other countries - when you worked there, your local social security number etc.

Take a look at the form (SPC1) used to apply for the contributory state pension, there's a link to it at the foot of this webpage. Question 20 contains fields where you can enter details of your employment in up to three other countries.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/e6f908-state-pension-contributory/