Benefits You May Be Eligible to Receive

Service Canada

Benefits after a Death

When your parent, spouse or common-law partner dies you may be eligible for these following benefits:

• Allowance for the Survivor

The Allowance for the Survivor is a benefit available to people who have a low income, who are living in Canada, and whose spouse or common-law partner is deceased.

To be eligible you need to meet ALL of the following needs:

• you are aged 60 to 64 (includes the month of your 65th birthday);
• you are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident;
• you reside in Canada and have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of
• your spouse or common-law partner has died and you have not remarried or entered into a common-law relationship;
• your annual income is less than the maximum annual income (showing your income tax)

Death Benefit

Provides a one-time payment to (or on behalf of) the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor.

If an estate exists, the executor named in the will or the administrator named by the Court to administer the estate applies for the death benefit. The executor should apply for the benefit within 60 days of the date of death

If no estate exists or if the executor has not applied for the death benefit, payment may be made to other persons who apply for the benefit in the following order of priority:

• the person or institution that has paid for or that is responsible for paying for the funeral expenses of the deceased;
• the surviving spouse or common-law partner of the deceased; or
• the next-of-kin of the deceased

The amount of the death benefit depends on how much and how long your loved one contributed to CPP.  Average amount was $2,280.52 and the max was 2,500.

Application for a Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit and mail/send to Service Canada or contact them at 1-800-277-9914.

3) Survivor’s Pension

Paid to the person who, at time of death, is the legal spouse or common-law of the deceased contributor to CPP.

To apply go to Service Canada and get application Canada Pension Plan Survivor’s Pension and Children’s Benefits Application form

• International Benefits

Eligible individuals who have lived or worked in Canada and in another country.

• Children’s Benefits

 The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) children's benefits provide monthly payments to the dependent children of disabled or deceased CPP contributors.

The child must be either:

• under age 18
• Between the ages of 18 and 25 and in full-time attendance at a recognized school or university.

There are two types of Canada Pension Plan (CPP) children's benefits:

• A disabled contributor's child benefit for the child of a person receiving a CPP disability benefit – a monthly payment for a natural or adopted child or a child who is in the care and custody of the person receiving a CPP disability benefit.
• A surviving child's benefit for the child of a deceased contributor – a monthly payment for a natural or adopted child or a child who was in the care and custody of the contributor at the time of death. For the benefit to be paid, the deceased contributor must have made sufficient contributions to the CPP.

A maximum of two benefits can be paid to a child.

• Veteran’s Affair Canada- Death Benefit

Offers a lump sum when a Canadian Forces member dies in the line of duty.

• Compensation Benefits

If your loved one’s life was taken at work- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) 1-800-387-0750

Managing Personal Finances

If you are acting as an executor, you are responsible for your loved ones finances. If your loved one has a lawyer, he/she is able to help. This would include property deeds, mortgage payments, etc.

Debts to be managed

Credit Cards

Loan Payments

Utility Bills

Other unpaid bills