Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marathontestdrive]

I didn't apply for it before I left... LONG story...

anyhow I am Canadian and I have it confirmed from the pension board that I have about 1 million won sitting there... now just HOW to get it??

I called the KOREAN CONSULATE and they are useless... the canadian gov't is even MORE USELESS saying that its not possible.

when i know it is. people get it confirmed before they leave, and in a few weeks get the cash upon arriving in Canada.
i just need to know the process when applying from abroad rather than in person in Korea.

[marathontestdrive]

no one has any idea about this?

[schwa]

You need to go here: www.servicecanada.gc.ca

Search on pension then international benefits. I dont see a Korea-specific form but there are phone numbers you can call.

Dont expect to get your cash in as timely a manner had you applied from Korea. I've heard of it taking over a year in some cases.

[schwa]

Others in the same boat might be interested to know they have up to 5 years to apply.

I was also a bit startled to learn that once youve paid into the Korean plan for 10 years youre "locked in" ie no lump-sum refund. That will affect me in the not too distant future. Gonna have to chew on that one.

[marathontestdrive]

i guess i should have figured there is a pension topic but applying in korea is relatively easy.. once you talk on the phone to the nimrods in ottawa you're in the ADVANCED level of the videogame.

One lady said it would take A MONTH to mail me the form, another said he would look into it, and the third insisted my application would be refused (by whom, I have no idea).

I will call again. I AM sure its possible to get it.. it's just finding the path though. These people all claim they don't know much about it but once they decided on an answer they swore up and down that they were right. I hope person #4 has some answers. I don't mind waiting, if need be, though a year is WAYYYYY too long. iN THE pension topic, big mac said it might take that long to get the cash.

And when I asked them why it would take a month for the form, she said she has to first request it (again, from whom I don't know grr) and they insisted "because WE'RE BUSY".

lol right im busy too. if i ever see a dime of this money after all the grief i have been through, it would be a miracle.

[yingwenlaoshi]

I'll bet you could even collect here in Korea. Before you even finish your contract. I think I remember someone saying on this board that they got it before they left.

[marathontestdrive]

u bet i could, now do you?

lol dude.. of course i could.. but as i said, i am already in canada now. hence the seperate pension topic... this is a trickier ballgame than applying in korea.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[ttompatz]

Application for Korean Benefits under the Agreement
Lump-sum refund:
http://www.nps.or.kr/jsppage/english/agreement/agreement_02_01_03.jsp#btn05

[Big Mac]

It is possible to do this, but be prepared to wait at least a year to get your money. The department responsible for this is the international benefits office at HRDC (Human Resources Development Canada). If you call the main government help line in Ottawa they will be able to get you the number for this office.

I went through the same headache as you, and finally got someone from that office to send me the form. It took me a long time to get them to understand what I wanted and to confirm that I could do it. I think the key words "lump sum refund" and "social security agreement between Korea and Canada" is what finally got them to understand.

I sent the form in and then was told that the department was understaffed and that it would take a year for them to even look at my application. By that time I was back in Korea, so I never did get my money. Next time I will apply in Korea before leaving.

I hope that helps. Oh, complaining to your MP about this doesn't help speed things up. I tried that.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[marathontestdrive]

Is it really MY problem that the department is understaffed?
How can they even say it is going to take a YEAR to EVEN LOOK AT THE APPLICATION with a straight face? Are they kidding me??!!

Like, I dunno what's happening with this country (Canada) but that's beyond ridiculous. Ridiculous would be if it took longer than 8 weeks to even begin processing the application.


I am going to give Korea another call, and cut out the middle man as someone else suggested. The problem with that is getting someone on the phone who can sufficiently understand you and not just speak english well. One guy said I would need to get a nry to do notary public to confirm my identity and then get that notarized at the Korean Consulate, but the counsulate in Canada (Toronto) said no one really ever comes in to do that. I don't want to pay for a notary to do that and then find out it wasn't done right. Hopefully, i can find a path to bypass that. It would be really sweet to get that money by Xmas.

If that fails I guess I might fill out the form in Canada as well.. at least I MAY be more prone to getting the money back though by then it's too late for what I need it for.

[pocariboy73]

[marathontestdrive]

i read sumthing to that effect as well, yes.

is it true? maybe. then again maybe you can clear out your account before then. if you still work in korea after 10 yrs, maybe you will get the new money back lump sum as well.

[ttompatz]