The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) survivor’s pension is a monthly payment for the spouse or common-law partner of someone who paid into the CPP and has died. The children can get a monthly benefit, and the estate can get a one-time death benefit. None of these start on their own: someone has to apply.
How much the survivor’s pension pays
The amount depends on how much the person who died paid into the CPP, and on your age. It goes up each January.
| Benefit (2026) | Average for new recipients | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor’s pension, under 65 | $555.70 a month | $803.54 a month |
| Survivor’s pension, 65 and over | $339.36 a month | $904.59 a month |
| Children’s benefit, per child (under 18, or 18 to 25 in school full time) | $307.81 a month | $307.81 a month |
| Children’s benefit, per child (18 to 25 in school part time) | $153.91 a month | $153.91 a month |
| Survivor’s pension combined with your own retirement pension (at 65) | $1,103.97 a month | $1,531.56 a month |
| Survivor’s pension combined with your own disability benefit | $1,335.78 a month | $1,756.14 a month |
| Death benefit (one time) | One-time payment | $2,500, or $5,000 with the top-up |
How it’s worked out
- 65 and over: you get 60% of the CPP retirement pension of the person who died. If your spouse was getting $1,000 a month from CPP, you’d get about $600 a month.
- Under 65: you get a flat amount plus 37.5% of your spouse’s retirement pension.
- If you have your own CPP pension: the two are combined, but the total can’t go over the combined maximum in the table. If both include a flat amount, you only get the larger one.
The survivor’s pension is taxable. Tax isn’t taken off automatically, but you can ask Service Canada to deduct it each month.
Who qualifies
- You were legally married to the person who died, or lived with them in a common-law relationship for at least 1 year.
- They paid into the CPP long enough. Service Canada checks this when you apply.
- If you were separated but still legally married, you may qualify if they had no common-law partner when they died.
- If you split CPP credits with them after separating and the split was approved in January 2025 or later, you can’t get a survivor’s pension from them, unless you got back together and lived together for at least 12 months right before the death.
Your pension keeps going if you remarry. The children’s benefit is for the children of the person who died who are under 18, or 18 to 25 and in school full or part time. If the person who died paid into the Quebec Pension Plan instead, contact Retraite Québec.
How to apply
Apply as soon as you can after the death. CPP can only pay back up to 12 months (11 months plus the month you apply), so waiting can cost you money.
- Tell Service Canada about the death so the person’s own payments stop. This avoids an overpayment the estate would have to pay back.
- Apply for the survivor’s pension online in My Service Canada Account, or on paper with form ISP-1300 and copies of the documents it asks for. The same form covers the children’s benefit.
- The executor should apply for the death benefit within 60 days of the death, on form ISP-1200 or online.
- For children 18 to 25 in school, the student fills in form ISP-1402 every school year or term. Their payments go to them directly.
Your first payment usually takes about 6 to 12 weeks from when Service Canada gets your complete application.
Who gets the death benefit
The death benefit goes to the estate first. If there’s no executor, it can go to whoever paid for the funeral, then the surviving spouse or partner, then the next of kin. The basic amount is $2,500.
A second $2,500 top-up is paid for deaths since January 1, 2025, but only if the person never got a CPP retirement pension or disability benefit, and left no spouse or partner who qualifies for the survivor’s pension.
What changed in 2026
- A 2.0% increase. CPP payments went up 2.0% in January 2026. The next increase is due in January 2027.
- Recent rule changes still apply. Since 2025, the death benefit can be doubled with the top-up, part-time students 18 to 25 can get half the children’s benefit, and a credit split approved from January 2025 ends a separated spouse’s right to a survivor’s pension.
Payment late, missing or different?
Payments can take a few days to arrive, and cheques take longer than direct deposit. Service Canada asks you to wait 5 to 10 business days before you call. Check your payments in My Service Canada Account, then call 1-800-277-9914 (TTY 1-800-255-4786), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time. From outside Canada and the US, call collect at 1-613-957-1954.
Common reasons a payment is different: your own CPP pension started and the combined limit applies, you turned 65 and the calculation changed, you changed address or bank without updating it, or a student’s benefit stopped because the school form wasn’t sent in.
Watch for scams. Service Canada never charges a fee to get a survivor’s pension or death benefit, and never asks for payment by gift card, Bitcoin or wire transfer. Report scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Other help you might be missing
- Allowance for the Survivor: if you’re 60 to 64 with a low income and haven’t remarried, this monthly payment can be much larger than the CPP survivor’s pension.
- Guaranteed Income Supplement: at 65 and over, your GIS may go up if your household income dropped after the death. Tell Service Canada about the change.
- Canada Child Benefit: if you’re now raising children alone, update your marital status with the CRA so your payments are based on your new situation.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: a tax-free payment four times a year for people with low or modest incomes.
- Federal public service, Armed Forces and RCMP pensions: if your spouse had one of these pensions, you may also get a survivor allowance from their plan.
Common questions
Do I lose the CPP survivor’s pension if I remarry?
No. The CPP survivor’s pension continues even if you remarry or start a new common-law relationship.
How long does the CPP survivor’s pension take?
About 6 to 12 weeks from when Service Canada gets your complete application. Back payments can cover up to 12 months, so apply soon.
Can I get a survivor’s pension and my own CPP?
Yes. They’re combined into one payment, up to a combined maximum of $1,531.56 a month in 2026 for a retirement pension at 65.
Who can apply for the CPP death benefit?
The executor of the estate should apply within 60 days. If there’s no will or executor, the person who paid for the funeral, the spouse or partner, or the next of kin may apply.
Is the CPP survivor’s pension taxable?
Yes. Tax isn’t taken off automatically, so ask Service Canada to deduct tax each month if you’d rather not owe at tax time.