What government benefits does a surviving spouse get in Canada?
By Krystian Urbanski, CIM, CIWM, FCSI, PFP · Chief Retirement Strategist, RetirementIQUpdated · 3 min read
A surviving spouse or common-law partner may receive a CPP survivor’s pension (up to $803.54 a month under 65 and $904.59 at 65 and over, for new benefits in 2026), a one-time $2,500 CPP death benefit paid to the estate or a family member, and, at 60 to 64 with low income, the Allowance for the Survivor. None of these start automatically; you must apply.
CPP survivor’s pension
If your late spouse or common-law partner contributed enough to CPP, you can receive a monthly survivor’s pension for life. The amount depends on their contributions and your age:
- Under 65: a flat-rate portion plus 37.5% of your partner’s retirement pension, up to $803.54 a month in 2026.
- 65 and over: generally 60% of your partner’s retirement pension, up to $904.59 a month in 2026.
If you also receive your own CPP retirement pension, the two are combined but capped, so you may not receive the full survivor’s amount. The combined maximum for someone retiring at 65 in 2026 is $1,531.56 a month.
CPP death benefit
A one-time payment of $2,500 is paid to the estate, or if there is no will or executor, to the person who paid the funeral expenses, the surviving spouse or the next of kin.
OAS and the Allowance for the Survivor
OAS stops at death; there is no OAS survivor’s pension. But a widow or widower aged 60 to 64 with low income may qualify for the Allowance for the Survivor (up to $1,726.18 a month, October to December 2026). From 65, they receive their own OAS and possibly the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Workplace pensions and other benefits
Many workplace pensions pay a survivor pension, often 60% or more, if it was elected at retirement. Check also for group life insurance, employer death benefits and, for veterans, Veterans Affairs survivor benefits.
Maria, 67, was receiving $700 a month of her own CPP when her husband, who received $1,300, died. Her survivor’s pension would be 60% of $1,300, or $780, but because she already receives her own CPP, the combined-benefit rules reduce it; her total CPP rises, but by less than $780.
What to do next
- Apply for the CPP survivor’s pension and death benefit (one application can cover both).
- Contact your late spouse’s employer pension and any insurers.
- Tell Service Canada and the CRA about the death; the executor files the final return.
- Review your own budget with the Budget Planner.
Free tools that help
Related questions
How long does it take to get the CPP survivor’s pension?
Processing can take several weeks, and payments can be backdated for up to 12 months, so apply as soon as you can.
Do I lose the survivor’s pension if I remarry?
No. Since 1987 the CPP survivor’s pension continues if you remarry or enter a new common-law relationship.
Is the CPP death benefit taxable?
Yes. It is taxable, usually to the estate, or to the person who receives it if there is no estate.
Have a question we have not answered?
Send it in. The most common questions become new answers here and notes in Sunday Coffee with Krystian, the weekly email for Canadian retirees.