How Many Years Do You Have to Work in Canada to Collect a Pension?
There is no minimum number of years a citizen must work to collect benefits under the Canada Pension Plan. To collect a pension, Canadians must have worked at some point during their adult lives and made at least one contribution to the system.
The number of years worked and the amount earned affect how much Canadians receive in retirement. In 2013, the minimum payment for a pensioner at age 65 was $596.66 per month, and the maximum was $1,012.50.
Pension recipients must be at least 60 years old. They may continue to work after pension benefits begin but must continue paying into the system as long as they are working. Pension benefits last for as long as the recipient lives, and the Canadian government makes cost-of-living adjustments to the benefit amounts each year.
