CPP Survivor's Pension: How Much You Can Receive and How to Apply After a Spouse's Death

What This Is and Who Administers It

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) survivor's pension is a monthly payment paid to the legal spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor. The program is administered by Employment and Social Development Canada through Service Canada.

Eligibility

To qualify for the survivor's pension, you must either:

be legally married to a deceased CPP contributor
be the common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor

Under CPP legislation, a common-law partner is a person of either sex who has lived with you in a conjugal relationship for at least 1 year.

If you are a separated legal spouse and the deceased had no common-law partner, you may qualify.

If you received a CPP credit split

You are not eligible if you are a separated legal spouse whose CPP credit split request was received and approved in January 2025 or later, for the same deceased contributor.

However, you may still be eligible if you reunited with your separated legal spouse and lived together for 12 months or more immediately before their death.

If you previously remarried

The rule was changed in 1987. If you previously lost a CPP survivor's benefit because you remarried, contact the Canada Pension Plan to find out if you are now eligible.

If you are widowed more than once

Only one survivor's pension, the larger one, will be paid.

If you remarry

Your pension will continue even if you remarry.

Other CPP benefits

You may also be eligible for the CPP death benefit and benefits for children under 25.

How Much You Could Receive

The amount depends on:

whether you are younger or older than age 65
how much, and for how long, the deceased contributor paid into the CPP

The CPP first calculates the retirement pension of the deceased, or what it would have been if the deceased had been age 65 at the time of death. A further calculation is then done based on the survivor's age at the time of the contributor's death.

Age 65 or older

You will receive 60% of the contributor's retirement pension, if you are not receiving other CPP benefits.

Under age 65

You will receive a flat rate portion and 37.5% of the contributor's retirement pension, if you are not receiving other CPP benefits.

Combining the survivor's pension with other CPP benefits

If you already receive a CPP retirement pension or disability pension, the survivor's pension will be combined into a single monthly payment. However, you cannot receive a full survivor's pension while also receiving a full retirement pension or disability pension. The combined benefit is not necessarily the sum of the two separate benefits.

The following restrictions apply if you are eligible for more than one CPP benefit:

The most payable to a person eligible for both the disability pension and the survivor's pension is the maximum disability pension (which is more than the maximum survivor's pension).
The most payable to a person eligible for the retirement pension and the survivor's pension is the maximum retirement pension (which is more than the maximum survivor's pension).
When combining multiple benefits with a flat-rate component, only one flat-rate (the largest) is provided.
When combining multiple benefits, the total combined CPP benefits are adjusted based on the survivor's age and other benefits received.

CPP enhancement

The CPP enhancement component of your survivor's, retirement and/or disability pensions will be added to the base component of your combined benefit. The enhanced component is not subject to the above maximums.

Consult the table of current CPP payment amounts.

When to Apply

Apply as soon as possible after the contributor's death. If you delay, you may lose benefits. The CPP can only make back payments for up to 12 months (11 months plus the month you apply).

Who Should Complete the Application

As the survivor, you are responsible for applying for your monthly pension. If you are incapable of applying, a representative such as a trustee may apply for you. A registered trustee, guardian, or other legal representative may act on a client's behalf in person, by mail or by phone, but not online.

How to Apply

Apply online

Apply
Complete the online CPP Survivor's Pension form
Upload supporting documents, if any

Note: The CPP program reserves the right to request supporting documents. Copies are acceptable when documents are requested; however, Service Canada may ask for an original or certified copy at any time.

Apply by mail

Using a paper application:

Complete the Canada Pension Plan survivor's pension and children's benefits application form (ISP1300)
Include copies of documents, if any
Mail the form and documents to Service Canada, indicating both the deceased contributor's Social Insurance Number and your own on all documents

Providing your email address

You can provide your email address when you apply. Service Canada may email you with information or ask you to call if you cannot be reached by phone. Service Canada will not ask you to send information such as SIN, banking, or other personal details by email.

After You Apply

Your first payment

The survivor's pension starts at the earliest the month after the contributor's death. It takes approximately 6 to 12 weeks to receive your first payment from the date Service Canada receives your completed application.

Review your application status

If more than 12 weeks have passed and you want to find out the status, contact the Canada Pension Plan.

If you disagree with a decision

You may request a reconsideration of any decision that affects your eligibility or the amount of your CPP benefit.

Official Sources

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-survivor-pension.html