Hello,
I am a Canadian, but found myself working the last years of my working life in the USA. If I work for 4 more years I will have 10 years into SS & eligible for a pension at age 66. I am wondering how/where I can find out what the estimated pension would be. I tried the calculator on the SS site, but it is hard to work, as it assumes you have been working for 40+ years, and I couldn't input just the years I had worked. Thanks, Gail

Hi Gail,

Well, I have good news and maybe some not so good news for you. The not so good news is that if you do earn enough quarters to qualify for US Social Security, your benefit amount will likely be reduced if you also receive a benefit from the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP). This is due to the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). For more information on WEP, refer to the following pamphlet: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf.

The good news is that the maximization software available on this website for a $40 subscription fee is capable of estimating your US Social Security benefit amount, whether or not WEP is involved in your case. Among it's many other capabilities, the software will permit you to enter your expected future earnings, and will account for any reduction resulting from WEP if you expect to also be receiving a CPP or QPP pension.

Best, Jerry