The Québec Pension Plan (QPP) [Régime de rentes du Québec, or RRQ] is the public pension for people who worked in Québec. It pays a retirement pension, a disability pension and benefits for survivors. Retraite Québec deposits QPP payments on the last working day of each month, which is a few days later than the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
How much you’ll get
Your QPP pension depends on how much you earned and contributed since age 18, and on the age when you start it. Most people get less than the maximum. These are Retraite Québec’s maximum amounts for 2026:
| QPP benefit | Maximum in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Retirement pension, starting at 60 | $964.90 a month |
| Retirement pension, starting at 65 | $1,507.65 a month |
| Retirement pension, starting at 72 | $2,394.15 a month |
| Disability pension, age 18 to 59 | $1,737.67 a month |
| Disability pension, age 60 to 64 (paid with your retirement pension) | $610.43 a month |
| Pension for a disabled contributor’s child | $97.74 a month |
| Orphan’s pension | $307.81 a month |
| Death benefit | $2,500 (one payment) |
The surviving spouse’s pension depends on the survivor’s age and situation. These 2026 maximums apply when the person who died was not yet receiving a retirement pension:
| Surviving spouse | Maximum in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Under 45, not disabled, no dependent children | $719.50 a month |
| Under 45, not disabled, with dependent children | $1,129.95 a month |
| Under 45 and disabled | $1,173.58 a month |
| Age 45 to 64 | $1,173.58 a month |
| 65 or over | $881.48 a month |
If you also get your own QPP retirement or disability pension, Retraite Québec pays both in one “combined pension”. A legal maximum applies, so the survivor part can be smaller than the table shows.
Example: waiting past 65. Your pension grows by 8.4% for each year you wait after 65, up to age 72. If your pension would be $1,000 a month at 65, starting it at 70 would give you about $1,420 a month (42% more), plus the yearly cost-of-living increases.
Example: starting early. If you start between 60 and 65, you get a smaller pension for life. At 60, the maximum pension for 2026 is $964.90 a month, which is 64% of the $1,507.65 maximum at 65.
The disability pension has a flat part ($610.43 a month in 2026) plus a part based on your past earnings. It is taxable, and Retraite Québec doesn’t deduct tax from it unless you ask for source deductions. The death benefit is also taxable and is counted as income of the estate.
Who qualifies
Retirement pension
- You worked in Québec and contributed to the QPP. You contribute in any year you earn more than $3,500 from work.
- You are at least 60. The pension can’t start before 60.
- If you also paid into the CPP, Retraite Québec counts those contributions when it decides whether you qualify and how much you get.
Disability pension
- You are under 66 when you apply, and Retraite Québec’s medical advisers find you disabled before 65.
- Your condition is severe and permanent, and it stops you from doing any kind of work full time. If you are 60 to 65, it can be enough that you can’t do your usual job.
- You earn less than $1,882 a month before tax (2026 limit).
- You contributed enough. Before 60, that means in 2 of the last 3 years, 5 of the last 10 years, or half of the years since you turned 18 (at least 2 years). From 60 to 65, it means 3 of the last 6 years.
- You don’t get a CPP retirement pension, and you aren’t entitled to a full income replacement indemnity from the CNESST. If a car accident caused your disability, contact the SAAQ. If it was a work accident, contact the CNESST.
Survivors
- You were married to or in a civil union with the person who died, and not legally separated. Or you were their de facto (common-law) spouse and lived together for at least 3 years, or 1 year if you had or adopted a child together.
- The person who died contributed enough to the QPP.
- You keep the pension even if you remarry later.
The death benefit goes to the person or charity that paid the funeral expenses, or to the heirs. Whoever paid the funeral has priority for the first 60 days after the death.
How to apply
- Log in to My Account at Retraite Québec and look at your Statement of Participation. It shows your estimated pension. Retraite Québec’s CompuPension tool lets you compare different starting ages.
- Pick your start date. You can apply up to 12 months before you want your first payment.
- Apply online in My Account. Have your children’s dates of birth (if you have children) and your banking information for direct deposit. If you are 65 or older, you can ask for a pension that starts in the past (a retroactive pension).
- Watch for the decision. Retraite Québec answers online applications within 5 days and paper forms within 50 days.
You can cancel within six months after the first payment. After that, your choice is final.
If you already get a QPP disability pension, you don’t need to apply for the retirement pension. It starts on its own at 60, and at 65 your disability pension ends and your retirement pension is no longer reduced.
For a disability pension, follow the steps on Retraite Québec’s “Application for Disability Benefits” page. If you are approved, there is a waiting period: the first payment usually comes in the fourth month after the month you were found to be disabled.
For a surviving spouse’s pension, apply as soon as you can. It starts the month after the death, but it can only be paid back 12 months.
The QPP doesn’t apply for Old Age Security for you. That is a separate federal application at 65.
What changed in 2026
- QPP pensions went up 2.0% on January 1, 2026, to match the cost of living.
- The maximum retirement pension at 65 is $1,507.65 a month in 2026, up from $1,433.00 in 2025. The maximums include the “additional plan”, which has been paying higher pensions to people who worked since 2019.
- For workers, the maximum pensionable earnings rose to $74,600 (from $71,300 in 2025). Additional contributions apply on earnings up to $85,000 (from $81,200).
- The base-plan contribution rate for employees went down to 5.3% in 2026, from 5.4% in 2025. Employers pay the same rate.
QPP pensions are indexed every January, so expect new amounts again in January 2027.
Payment late, missing or different?
QPP arrives on the last working day of the month. If friends on CPP were paid earlier, that’s normal: the two plans use different dates. The calendar at the top of this page shows each QPP date.
If the money isn’t in your account on the payment date:
- Check My Account at Retraite Québec for the amount and date of your payment.
- Check with your bank, especially if you recently changed accounts. Cheques by mail take longer, and Retraite Québec suggests direct deposit to avoid postal delays.
- Call Retraite Québec about the QPP, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: 418 643-5185 (Québec area), 514 873-2433 (Montréal area) or 1 800 463-5185 (toll-free).
Common reasons a payment changes or stops:
- Address or bank change that wasn’t sent to Retraite Québec. You can update both in My Account.
- Turning 65: a disability pension ends and your retirement pension takes over.
- Going back to work: earnings over the limit can end a disability pension. Tell Retraite Québec early to avoid having to repay an overpayment.
Watch out for scams. Retraite Québec doesn’t ask for personal information by email or text, and its notifications don’t contain links or attachments. When it calls, it uses 1 866 873-2113, and staff will never pressure you for personal details. No government office will ask you for a fee, gift cards or your passwords. If a message seems odd, hang up and call one of the numbers above yourself.
Other help you might be missing
- Old Age Security: a federal pension from 65. You must apply for it separately from the QPP.
- Guaranteed Income Supplement: extra monthly money for OAS pensioners with a low income.
- The Allowance: for people 60 to 64 whose spouse gets the GIS.
- Quebec Solidarity Tax Credit: a refundable credit for low- and middle-income households. You claim it on your Québec tax return.
- Quebec Shelter Allowance: up to $170 a month for people 50 and over who spend a large share of their income on housing.
- Canada Disability Benefit: a federal monthly benefit for working-age adults with a disability. It’s worth checking if you get the QPP disability pension.
Common questions
Why is my QPP paid later than CPP?
The QPP is paid on the last working day of the month. The CPP is paid a few business days earlier. They are separate plans with separate calendars.
How much QPP will I get at 65?
It depends on your work history. The most anyone can get at 65 in 2026 is $1,507.65 a month. Your Statement of Participation in My Account shows your own estimate.
Can I stop my QPP pension after it starts?
Yes, but only within six months after your first payment. After that, Retraite Québec can’t change your starting age.
Who gets the $2,500 QPP death benefit?
It goes to the person or charity that paid the funeral, or to the heirs. The contributor must have paid enough into the QPP. The benefit is up to $2,500, it’s paid by cheque, and it is taxable income of the estate.