Social Security

Certificates of Coverage & Voluntary Contributions

Social Security costs in foreign countries can be expensive for the employee and employer. Individuals subject to the social security regime of a foreign country for temporary periods may not even be entitled to claim benefits. Canada, Quebec and the United States have concluded Social Security Agreements to address some of these issues. Detaching employees by virtue of these agreements is a good way to reduce costs when sending employees to work in another country temporarily due to the comparatively low cost of the social charges in North America.

If you are doing business in a country that has not concluded a social security agreement but want to maintain coverage in Quebec or Canada for your employees, it is possible to make voluntary contributions into the Quebec Pension Plan or the Canada Pension Plan.

We can assist you in the planning and administrative responsibilities relating to your social security obligations at home and abroad, including:

• analysing the facts to determine if you can detach your employees;
• assisting in determining which employees qualify to be detached;
• determination of whether employees should be detached from Canada or Quebec;
• determination of which social charges you are exempt from paying;
• assistance with foreign Certificates of Coverage or European A1;
• assisting independent contractors in completing a request for a Certificate of Coverage;
• providing assistance to the employer in completing requests for Certificates of Coverage for their employees;
• retroactive requests;
• determination of exemption for Employment Insurance contributions for employees working temporarily in the US or Canada;
• determining your eligibility to make a voluntary contribution request.