Canada Pension Plan (CPP) - Benefits and Provisions

As a result of your contributions to the Canada Pension Plan and your employer's matching contributions, the Canada Pension Plan may provide the benefits outlined below.

You must apply for all benefits in writing. Canada Pension Plan will determine if you are eligible for the benefit.

1. Retirement Pension

As little as one valid contribution to the Plan creates entitlement to a Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension available as early as age 60.

2. Survivor Benefits, which include:

• Lump Sum Death Benefit to the estate of the contributor. Where there is no will or estate, it may be payable to the person(s) responsible for funeral costs, the survivor or the next of kin in that order;
• Monthly Survivor's Benefit to the eligible spouse or common-law partner even if the survivor remarries;
• Monthly benefit for children under age 18 or between 18 and 25 and in full-time attendance at a recognized institution.

3. Disability Benefits, which include:

• Monthly Disability Benefit to eligible contributors;
• Monthly Contributor's Child's Benefits to children under age 18 or between ages 18 and 25 and in full-time attendance at a recognized institution.

The Canada Pension Plan may provide for the following:

4. Pension Sharing

Couples (married or common-law partners) in an ongoing relationship may voluntarily share their Canada Pension Plan retirement pensions.

5. Credit Splitting

Canada Pension Plan credits may be divided by divorced, separated couples or former common-law partners. Credits are divided for each year the couple lived together. Pension credits are used to establish eligibility for Canada Pension Plan benefits and to calculate the amount of benefits. Contributors may obtain a credit split even if they have remarried.

6. Social Security Agreements

Canada has social security agreements with many countries to help people qualify for benefits from either country. An agreement may allow periods of contribution to the other country's social security system (or, in some cases, periods of residence abroad) to be added to periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan in order to meet minimum qualifying conditions.

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