CPP survivor benefit amount in 2026

CPP survivor benefit amount for 2026

The CPP survivor's pension is a monthly payment to the legal spouse or common-law partner of a contributor who has died. In 2026 the CPP survivor benefit amount is capped at $803.54 a month for survivors under 65 and $904.59 a month for survivors 65 and older.

The averages are well below the maximums. Note that the average for new survivors 65 and older ($339.36) is lower than for survivors under 65 ($549.62), even though the older group has the higher maximum.

How the survivor's pension is calculated

The starting point is the retirement pension the deceased contributor was receiving, or would have received at 65. How much of that you get depends on your age.

Worked example. Suppose the contributor's retirement pension would have been $1,000 a month. A survivor aged 67 with no CPP of their own would receive 60% of it, or $600 a month. A survivor aged 58 would receive 37.5%, or $375, plus the flat-rate portion that Service Canada sets each year. In both cases the result cannot exceed the 2026 maximum for that age group.

How much the deceased paid into CPP, and for how many years, drives the whole calculation. A contributor with short or low-earning work history leaves a smaller survivor's pension, just as their own pension would have been smaller.

Does the survivor's pension change at 65?

Yes. When you turn 65, the formula switches from the under-65 version (flat rate plus 37.5%) to the 65-and-over version (60%, if you have no other CPP benefit). Service Canada recalculates it automatically.

For many people the change coincides with starting their own retirement pension. Once both are in pay, the combined rules below apply, and the total can end up only a little higher than your own pension alone.

Combining the survivor's pension with your own CPP

You cannot receive a full survivor's pension on top of a full retirement or disability pension. When two benefits are combined, only one flat-rate portion is paid, and the total is held to the maximum of the larger benefit.

• Survivor plus retirement pension: the 2026 combined maximum at 65 is $1,531.56, only $23.91 above the $1,507.65 retirement maximum on its own.
• Survivor plus disability benefit: the 2026 combined maximum is $1,756.14, compared with $1,741.20 for disability alone.
• A separated spouse whose CPP credit split request was received and approved in January 2025 or later cannot get a survivor's pension, unless the couple lived together again for 12 months or more immediately before the death.

CPP survivor benefits for children

Children of a deceased contributor may receive a surviving child's benefit, separate from the spouse's pension. In 2026 it is $307.81 a month for each child under 18 or in full-time school, and $153.91 for a part-time student aged 18 to 25.

• The child must be the contributor's natural child, adopted before 21, or a child in their care before 21.
• For children under 18, the benefit goes to the parent or guardian with decision-making responsibility.
• Students aged 18 to 25 receive the money themselves and must confirm school attendance. Evening and online classes count.
• A child can receive at most two children's benefits, for example if both parents were contributors.

CPP survivor benefit payment dates

The survivor's pension and children's benefit follow the regular CPP schedule. The remaining 2026 dates are October 28, November 26 and December 22. The full year is listed on our CPP payment dates page.

The first payment usually takes 6 to 12 weeks from the date Service Canada receives a complete application. Back payments are limited to 12 months: the month you apply plus the 11 months before it. Applying late can therefore cost you money.

How to apply for the CPP survivor's pension

1. Tell Service Canada about the death so the deceased's own CPP and OAS payments stop. Payments issued after the month of death may have to be returned.
2. Gather the deceased's social insurance number, proof of death, your marriage certificate or proof of your common-law relationship, and your own banking details.
3. Apply online through My Service Canada Account, or complete the paper form ISP1300, which covers both the survivor's pension and children's benefits.
4. Apply for the one-time CPP death benefit of up to $2,500 at the same time if you are eligible.
5. If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a reconsideration.

Common-law partners must have lived with the contributor in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. A separated legal spouse can still qualify if the contributor did not have a common-law partner at death. If the deceased received a disability benefit, our CPP disability amount page explains how that record feeds into survivor figures.