Many people are unaware of the Death Benefit available to the estate on behalf of the deceased CPP contributor. Here we will outline information about the Canada Death Benefit to answer the questions we are frequently asked.
The Death Benefit is a one-time lump sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributor.
If an estate exists, the executor named in the will (or one named by the Court) applies for the death benefit within 60 days of the death.
If no estate exists or it is not applied for within 60 days of the death, Death Benefit can be applied for by other persons in the following order of priority:
The deceased is only eligible for the Death Benefit if they:
or
The Death Benefit payment is $2500 as of January 1st 2019.
As Quebec workers pay the QPP, contributions to the CPP can be combined with the QPP contributions to meet eligibility requirements.
To apply for the Canada Death Benefit, simply fill in the Application for a Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit (ISP1200) form, including certified true copies and mail it to the closest Service Canada Center. A list of the addresses are available on the form.
Payment of the Death Benefit can take 6 to 12 weeks from receipt of the application.
It is recommended to wait 12 weeks before inquiring about an application for death benefit that has not been received. If you need to inquire, contact Service Canada at 1800-277-9914 (TTY: 1800-255-4786) 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. local time.
Here is the information you need to know about Survivor Benefits Pension.
The Canada Pension Plan survivor’s pension is paid to the legal spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor.
If you have been widowed more than once, you are only eligible for one (the larger) survivor’s pension.
The amount paid for Survivor Benefits depends on:
Calculations are made to determine how much the pension would have been at age 65. Additional calculations are made based on the survivor’s age.
For more information about the survivor’s pension payment amounts, consult the CPP payment amounts table.
To apply for the Survivor’s Benefit, complete the Canada Pension Plan survivor's pension and children's benefits application (ISP1300) form and mail it to Services Canada.
Survivor’s pension should be applied for as soon as possible following death to avoid loss of benefits. Back payments can only be paid for up to 12 months. Within this window, the survivor’s benefit will begin at the earliest, the month after the contributor’s death.
No, the survivor pension plans continue even if you remarry.
Yes they can be combined into a single payment but with restrictions on the amount that can be paid. For more information on these restrictions, contact your local Canada Services or consult the CPP survivor’s pension website.