Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Confused Canadian]

Sorry for cross posting this, but thought it might apply to both threads....

I just found out today that things have changed...or so it appears. Here's the story I got....

One of our teachers is leaving in the next week or so and went down to our local pension office, with a plane ticketin hand, to fill out the forms as several of the teachers that have left our school have done. All was not well. He was first told that the rules have changed and that he has to file for his pension back home (in Canada...have no idea if this applies to other countries). After a few phone calls from our school by the Korean staff, the story they got is that these were always the rules and that they were bending them, until recently. Now, apparently everybody (at least every Canadian) has to file for their pension money in Canada. If anyone else has info on this, please post here so I can figure out if this is legit, or if our local pension office is just being difficult.

Here's the web site:

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/isp/internat/countries/kor_e.shtml

I've requested information on the procedure for reclaiming your pension money from the Canadian government. I'll post any further info I get here. Again, if anyone has been able to file for your pension here in Korea within the last week, please let me know.


Thanks,

Confused Canadian

[logan2003]

Is this only for uni positions?

[chalkdust_torture]

if I'm moving from one job to another, is there any paperwork I should take care of first???(regarding pension)
I don't want to lose the pension that I've paid up to this point when switching employers.

who has first hand knowledge???

[Confused Canadian]

I contacted HRDC through e-mail and this is the reply I got:

-------Original Text-----

Dear Sir:

Thank you for your e-mail dated May 27, 2003 regarding Korean benefits.

We invite you to visit the following Internet site for information on the
social security agreement between Canada and Korea:
http://www.npc.or.kr/social/index_en.html

Information on lump-sum refunds can be found under the Benefits Application
section (highlighted in purple). Please click on the lump-sum refund
button. See Section 2 for required documentation.

You may submit an application for a benefit or claim under the agreement to
any designated agency in your country (in Canada - Human Resources
Development Canada).

If you submit the application to the agency in your own country, that agency
will send, without delay, all relevant documents to the National Pension
Corporation for processing. Benefits are then paid directly to you. Your
agency will continue to help if any supporting documents are needed or if
complaints arise.

Downloadable applications are available on the above Internet site. Click on
"How to Download the Forms?" (left-hand side in blue). The form you require
is second from the top, "Application for Korean Benefits under the
Korea-Canada Social Security Agreement".

We trust this is the information you require.

To obtain further information about Income Security Programs, please contact
us:

From within Canada or the U.S. toll free:
1-800-277-9914 (English)
1-800-277-9915 (French)
1-800-255-4786 (Teletypewriter/TDD)

From outside of Canada and the U.S. (Toll charges will apply):
(613) 990-2244
You may also contact your Canadian Embassy or Consulate for assistance.


Sincerely,

A. Marek
Service Delivery Agent
[email protected]


HRDC Web site:
http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/isp/common/home.shtml

To help us serve you better, please take a moment to complete a brief survey.
http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/isp/survey/email/feedback_e.shtml


------End of Original Text-----

This seems to be saying that you can still file for your pension in Korea. However, as I posted above, that is not what our local pension office told us. Has anyone filed for their pension in Korea, recently? Please post your successes or failures so we can clear this up for all.

Thanks,

Confused Canadian

[hccb]

Dear Confused Canadian,

Sorry that I can't help you with your original question. Here's my story:

Unfortunately, I waited until I left Korea before I applied and I now wish that I hadn't.

I express mailed the documents to Ottawa on March 5 this year and had hoped to receive my refund by mid-June at the latest. When I called two weeks ago, I was informed that my documents did not reach the office until mid-April!!! What took so long? Security clearance and typical bureaucratic b.s. The man went on to inform me that the whole process takes SIX MONTHS!!! As you can imagine, I was/am choked!

Do your best to apply from Korea. Get a Korean friend/student to help you. Do whatever you can...

Good luck.

[Confused Canadian]

hccb,

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I'm not leaving anytime soon, myself, but I was wondering on behalf of the other teachers at my school. Your predicament is what I was worried about. We had teachers leave at the end of March, who filed in Korea, and should have their money by now (don't know, haven't spoken to them in a while). However, I picture going to HRDC back home and asking for forms to file for my Korean Pension, and having a government worker staring back at me saying, "Huh?".

If anyone else has successfully filed for their Korean Pension here IN Korea in the last month or so, please let us know. Contacting officials on both sides seems to be fruitless, as neither side seems to have a clear understanding of what the other is doing, or what they themselves should be doing.

Confused Canadian

[HamuHamu]

Here's the other question....I have always been told that as Cdns we are entitled to DOUBLE our pension money back. IE/ we get not jsut our contributions, but the employer contributions as well.


Anyone have any info on that?

[schwa]

[Xanadu123]

So I have been back in the states since the end of October and still haven't gotten my pension. Anyone know what to do?

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

I would contact the main pension office in Korea. October? That's a long, long time. I've gotten the pension back twice. It took about 6 weeks max for each one.

[fishy]

Are you guys talking about the Korean teacher's pension plan or Korea's national pension plan? I'm confused.

[tokkibunni8]

[bobbybigfoot]

Please don't bump threads that are 8 years old.

[Skyblue]

[PatrickBateman]

Question...

So, my contract is coming to an end in the spring. I plan on returning home for a month or two and then returning. Is everyone saying that I can't collect my pension during the time I'm home? Also, if I do I have to pay it back upon my return?

(From The US)

Any information on this would be helpful. Thanks!