OAS Guides

Eligibility checks

Can I get the CPP death benefit?

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The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) death benefit is a one-time payment of $2,500 after the death of someone who paid into the CPP. For deaths on or after January 1, 2025, a top-up of $2,500 may be added. This check tells you who can apply and which amount may apply.

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Did the person who died pay into the CPP?

CPP contributions are taken from pay for work in Canada outside Quebec. Work only in Quebec counts for the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), not CPP.

Which of these describes you?

The executor is the person named in the will to settle the estate.

Which of these describes you?

When did the person die?

Did the person ever receive a CPP or QPP retirement pension or disability pension?

Did the person leave a spouse or common-law partner who can get a CPP survivor's pension?

Our survivor's pension check can help you answer this.

We cannot tell from your answers

Ask Retraite Québec about the QPP death benefit.

Why

Work in Quebec counts for the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), not CPP. The QPP has its own death benefit, run by Retraite Québec.

What to do next

  1. Read our Quebec Pension Plan guide.
  2. Call Retraite Québec. The number is in our Quebec Pension Plan guide.
  3. If the person also worked in another province, even for a short time, run this check again and answer Yes.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

The CPP death benefit is likely not payable.

Why

The CPP death benefit is paid when the person who died paid into the CPP.

What to do next

  1. If a spouse or partner aged 60 to 64 survives them, check the Allowance for the Survivor. It does not depend on work.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 if you are not sure.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Their contribution record decides this.

Why

The death benefit depends on the person having paid into the CPP. Almost everyone who worked for pay in Canada outside Quebec paid into it.

What to do next

  1. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914. Have their Social Insurance Number and date of death ready.
  2. The executor should apply within 60 days of the death. Service Canada checks the record.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

The executor should apply.

Why

When there is an executor, the executor applies for the CPP death benefit for the estate. Other people can apply only when there is no executor.

What to do next

  1. Tell the executor about the death benefit. They should apply within 60 days of the death with form ISP1200.
  2. Share this check with them so they can see which amount may apply.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Someone else likely needs to apply.

Why

When there is no executor, the person who paid for the funeral, the surviving spouse or partner, or the next of kin can apply.

What to do next

  1. Tell the family about the death benefit so the right person can apply.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to ask who can apply in your situation.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely eligible

The CPP death benefit of $2,500 likely applies.

Why

The person paid into the CPP, and you are likely able to apply. The death benefit is a one-time payment of $2,500. The $2,500 top-up applies only for deaths on or after January 1, 2025, when the person never received a CPP or QPP retirement or disability pension and has no spouse or partner who can get a survivor's pension.

What to do next

  1. Apply within 60 days of the death with form ISP1200.
  2. Processing takes about 6 to 12 weeks.
  3. If a spouse or partner survives them, they should also apply for the CPP survivor's pension. Back payments for it are limited to 12 months.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely eligible

The death benefit and the top-up may apply: up to $5,000.

Why

The person paid into the CPP, died on or after January 1, 2025, never received a CPP or QPP retirement or disability pension, and has no spouse or partner who can get a survivor's pension. In that case, a $2,500 top-up may be added to the $2,500 death benefit, for a maximum of $5,000.

What to do next

  1. Apply within 60 days of the death with form ISP1200.
  2. Processing takes about 6 to 12 weeks.
  3. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 with questions.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

The $2,500 death benefit likely applies. The top-up depends on your answers.

Why

For deaths on or after January 1, 2025, a $2,500 top-up may be added, for a maximum of $5,000. It applies only if the person never received a CPP or QPP retirement or disability pension, and has no spouse or partner who can get a survivor's pension.

What to do next

  1. Apply within 60 days of the death with form ISP1200. Service Canada checks the record and decides whether the top-up applies.
  2. If there is a spouse or partner, use our survivor's pension check to see whether they may qualify.
  3. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 with questions.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Where these rules come from

  1. CPP death benefit (Government of Canada)
  2. Canada Pension Plan: Pensions and benefits monthly amounts (Government of Canada)
  3. CPP survivor's pension (Government of Canada)
  4. Contact Canada Pension Plan (Government of Canada)

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