Canada Pension Plan

Death and Survivor Benefits

Are you a survivor of someone who was contributing to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP)? If so, you or another family member may qualify for monthly survivor benefits or a one-time death benefit. As a surviving spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child of someone who worked and paid into the CPP, you may be eligible to receive these payments.

A boy is running towards an elderly couple sitting on a blanket in the grass.

What is the CPP Death Benefit?

The CPP Death Benefit is a one-time payment made to the estate or survivors of a deceased eligible contributor. Designed to help ease the financial burden following the loss of a loved one, this flat-rate payment is up to $2,500.

What are CPP Survivor Benefits?

The CPP Survivor’s Pension provides a monthly payment to the surviving legal spouse or common-law partner of the deceased contributor. The amount paid depends on how long and how much the deceased contributed to the CPP, the survivor’s age, and whether the survivor receives other CPP benefits.

Additionally, the CPP Children’s Benefit provides monthly payments to dependent children of the deceased.

Who qualifies for benefits?

  • A surviving legal spouse or common-law partner of the deceased contributor.
  • Dependent children of the deceased who are:
  • Under age 18, or
  • Between ages 18 and 25 and attending a recognized school or university full-time.
  • The executor of the estate, the person who paid for the funeral, or next-of-kin applying for the one-time Death Benefit.

What steps should survivors take?

While funeral directors often report a death to the government, surviving family members or estate executors should apply for benefits as soon as possible. You can apply for CPP benefits online through a personal My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or by submitting a paper application by mail.

How do I contact Service Canada?

If you need to report a death, ask questions about qualifying criteria, or check the status of an application, you can contact Service Canada toll-free at 1-800-277-9914 (TTY: 1-800-255-4786).

Additional information and online applications are available at canada.ca/cpp.