Allowance for the Survivor Program
- Important Information for Common-law Partners
- Applying for the Allowance for the survivor
- How your benefits are calculated
- Receiving the Allowance for the survivor
- Renewing your benefits
- Filing your income tax return
- Appealing a decision
- Protecting information about you
- Other public retirement benefits
- More information
Applying for the Allowance for the survivor
1. What is the Allowance for the survivor and how do I apply?
The Allowance for the survivor provides money for low-income seniors who meet the requirements below:
- you are 60 to 64 years old;
- you are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time your Allowance is approved or when you last lived here;
- your spouse or common-law partner has died; and
- you have lived in Canada after reaching age 18 for at least 10 years.
If you have not lived in Canada after reaching age 18 for at least 10 years, but you have lived or worked in a country that has an international social security agreement with Canada, you may still qualify. See International Benefits for more information.
If you meet these conditions, please contact us at 1 800 277-9914. We will send you an application kit for the Allowance for the survivor. Please complete it and return it quickly. If you do not apply right away, you might lose some benefits.
2. What documents will I need to provide?
Depending on your situation, you will have to provide up to four kinds of documents with your application:
- Birth or baptismal certificate -Normally, you have to prove that you are between 60 and 64 years old by submitting a birth or baptismal certificate. You do not have to provide these certificates if you applied for a benefit under the Canada Pension Plan and sent one of these documents at that time. If you cannot obtain either of these certificates, contact us for information about other documents that may be acceptable.
- Marriage certificate or statutory declaration -If you were married, you must provide a marriage certificate. If you lived in a common-law relationship (same sex or opposite sex), you must sign a "statutory declaration" and provide other documentation as proof of your relationship. See below for more details.
- Couples married in Canada -If you don't have your marriage certificate, there are two ways to get it:
- you can get a certificate from the church in which you were married; or
- you can contact the Registrar of Vital Statistics in the capital city of the province or territory in which you were married.
- Couples married outside Canada -If you don't know how to get a copy of your marriage certificate, contact us.
- Common-law relationships -You must provide a statutory declaration that states the dates you and your common-law partner lived together. Contact us for a copy of this form and for help to complete the declaration. When you call, we will also tell you what other documents you will need.
- Citizenship or immigration documents -If you were not born in Canada, you must submit proof of your legal status in Canada such as citizenship or immigration documents. If you have not lived continuously in Canada since age 18, you must submit proof of all the dates you arrived in Canada and when you left. Usually, you can do this with a passport.
- Death certificate -You must send us proof of your spouse or common-law partner's date of death.
The application kit contains more detailed information about these requirements.
How your benefits are calculated
3. How do you calculate my benefits?
We base the Allowance for the survivor for a payment period (July of one year to June of the next) on your previous year's income.
Consult the Old Age Security Payment Rates for current benefit rates and maximum income levels.
4. What is considered to be income?
When applying for the Allowance for the survivor, you must report the following income:
- Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan benefits
- Private pension income and superannuation
- Foreign pension income
- RRSPs that you cashed
- Employment Insurance benefits
- Interest on any savings
- Any capital gains or dividends
- Income from any rental properties
- Any employment income
- Income from other sources such as worker's compensation payments, alimony, etc.
Consult the application form for more details about what to include as income.
5. What happens if my income drops?
In some situations, like when you stop working or when your pension income drops, we can calculate your Allowance for the survivor by estimating your income for this year, instead of using last year's income. If you have a lower income this year for either of these reasons, you should let us know (see Contact Us). Your benefits may increase.
6. What if I remarry or start living in a common-law relationship?
If you remarry, your Allowance for the survivor will end. It will also end if you live in a common-law relationship for at least one year. You must notify us of either of these changes. This can be done by phone (see Contact Us) or in writing (see Regional Offices).
Receiving the Allowance for the survivor
7. When will my Allowance for the survivor begin?
Once your application is approved, your Allowance for the survivor will begin on the month following your 60th birthday, the month after you meet the 10-year residence and income rule, or the month following your spouse or common-law partner's death, whichever is later. If you apply late, you can receive a back payment of up to 11 months, plus the month in which we receive your application. You must renew your benefits each year.
8. Can my benefits stop?
We stop paying the Allowance for the survivor if one of the following things happens:
- your income in the previous year is more than the maximum allowed;
- you are absent from Canada for more than six months;
- you did not reapply by filing a tax return by April 30 or did not submit an application form if you were asked to do so;
- you remarry or live in a common-law relationship for more than 12 months; or
- you die.
9. What happens when I turn 65?
At age 65, most people who receive the Allowance for the survivor will have their benefit automatically changed to the Old Age Security pension. They may then also be able to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Renewing your benefits
10. Does my Allowance for the survivor have to be renewed every year?
Yes. The Allowance for the survivor is based on annual income. Since your annual income can change from year to year, you must renew your Allowance each year.
Most seniors can renew their Allowance automatically simply by filing their tax return by April 30 each year.
If you do not file a tax return, or if we need more information, we will send you a renewal application form in the mail. If you receive a form from us, you must complete and return it as soon as you have all the necessary income information.
Each July, you will receive a letter that tells you the new amount of your monthly payment.
If you do not reapply for the Allowance in the spring, or if your income is now too high to qualify for the Allowance, your payments will stop at the end of June of that year. Your Allowance also stops when you reach 65 and are eligible for Old Age Security.
11. When do payments arrive?
Payments usually arrive in the last three banking days of each month. The payment dates for the year can be found on our web site. If your payment is late by more than a week, or if you lose your payment, please contact us.
12. Can you send the payment to my bank?
Yes. Normally, we deposit Allowance payments directly into bank accounts through our Direct Deposit service. Payment dates are available.
Although payment by cheque is still possible, Direct Deposit offers several advantages:
- your deposit will always be on time and you can start using the money and earning interest immediately;
- your payment can never be lost, stolen or damaged; and
- your payment will automatically be deposited into your account if you are ill, on vacation or travelling.
If you wish to sign up for this service, this can be done over the telephone. Be sure to have this information when you call:
Personal Information
- your Social Insurance Number;
- your telephone number, including the area code; and
- your current residential address, including the postal code.
Banking Information
- the name of your bank or financial institution;
- the branch number of the bank; and
- your bank account number.
If you have a chequing account, you can find the banking information at the bottom of your cheque.
13. What happens if I move?
If you are planning to move, you must tell us your new address and postal code as soon as possible. This will allow us to update our records and make sure that your payment gets to you on time. Even if your payments are deposited into your bank account, we still need to know your new address so we can send you important information and your yearly income tax slip. As well, if we need to contact you for additional income information, we will have your new address.
You can notify us of a change of address 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling our automated telephone system at 1 800 277-9914 (also see Contact Us). You will be asked to provide your Social Insurance Number, your new address and postal code and your telephone number. If you are calling on behalf of another person, we are unable to make any changes unless we have written authorization from that person.
You can also notify us in writing. Please refer to the section entitled Regional offices for the mailing address for your region.
14. Can I receive my Allowance outside Canada?
The Government of Canada designed this income support program to assist low-income seniors living in Canada. For this reason, if you spend more than six months in a row outside Canada, we will only pay you for the month you leave, and for six months after that. Then, your payments will stop. For example, if you leave Canada in January, we will send payments until the end of July. After July, the payments will stop. You have an obligation to inform us when you plan to be outside of the country for more than six months.
If you stay outside Canada for longer than six months, you can reapply when you return to live in Canada. Most recipients will receive their cheque in the local currency of their country of residence.
15. Will I get cost-of-living increases?
We will increase your Allowance for the survivor payments to reflect any increases in the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index. We apply any increases every three months-in January, April, July, and October.
The Allowance will not go down if the cost of living falls. A list of the current maximum benefit rates is available for your reference (see Old Age Security Payment Rates).
Filing your income tax return
16. Is my Allowance for the survivor taxable?
No. Your Allowance for the survivor is not considered taxable income. However, you must still report it on your tax return.
Appealing a decision
17. What can I do if I do not agree with a decision affecting my Allowance for the survivor?
If you disagree with a decision that affects your Allowance, you have the right to an explanation. Contact us first and we can explain the reasons for our decision. If you are still not satisfied with our response, you may request a "reconsideration." To do this, you must send a letter to the Regional Director of Income Security Programs within 90 days of receiving notice of our decision. Please refer to the Regional offices web site for the mailing addresses. In your letter, provide the Regional Director with:
- your name;
- your address;
- your Social Insurance Number; and
- your reason(s) for making the appeal.
If you are not satisfied with the Regional Director's response, you can appeal the decision to the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals.
Consult our fact sheet on The Old Age Security Appeals Process for more information.
Protecting information about you
18. How is information about me protected?
Your privacy is protected under two Acts.
The Old Age Security Act and Regulations ensure that only specific agencies authorized by the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada are entitled to review relevant parts of your records. Personal information in your file cannot be given to other agencies or individuals without your consent.
The Access to Information Act also prevents the release of information about you without your consent. However, there are two exceptions: information can be released if it has already been made public or if the release is allowed under the Privacy Act. The government can only use information for the purpose for which it was collected, except to comply with a warrant or subpoena, or to enforce a law.
19. Can I have access to information on my file?
You have the right to review information about you that is kept on file by the Government of Canada. To help citizens get access to information about themselves, the Government has published Info Source: Sources of federal government information. To make a request, you must complete an information request form. These forms and Info Source are available in government offices open to the public, such as a Human Resources Development Canada office. They are also available at public libraries, most rural post offices and in Canadian missions abroad.
Other public retirement benefits
20. What other benefits may I be eligible to receive?
If you made at least one valid contribution to either the Canada Pension Plan or the Quebec Pension Plan, you will be eligible for a retirement pension at age 65. If you have retired or substantially reduced your hours of work, you could qualify for a reduced retirement pension as early as age 60.
Disability benefits and survivor benefits are also available under the Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan 
if sufficient contributions have been made. You must apply to receive any of these benefits.
For more information on the Quebec Pension Plan, visit the Web site of the Régie des rentes du Québec.
You may be entitled to benefits under the Employment Insurance Program or from other federal programs such as War Veterans Allowances from Veterans Affairs Canada.
Your provincial or territorial, and municipal governments may offer income assistance and services to seniors such as housing or health coverage (see Provincial and territorial governments). Please contact these governments directly for more information.
For more information on federal, provincial and territorial programs for seniors, visit the Canadian Seniors Policies and Programs Database Web site.
More Information
For more information about the Old Age Security program and the Canada Pension Plan, please contact us at the telephone numbers below. The calls, which are free of charge, can be made anywhere from Canada and the United States.
For service in English: 1 800 277-9914
For service in French: 1 800 277-9915
If you are hearing or speech-impaired and use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call 1 800 255-4786.
Please have your Social Insurance Number on hand when you call.
Note: This web page provides an overview of the Old Age Security Program and its supplements, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance and Allowance for the survivor. It is intended to give a general description of how the program works, who is eligible and how benefits are determined. It is not possible, in this space, to provide a comprehensive description of all the details of the complex legislation governing this program. In case of disputes, the wording and provisions of theOld Age Security Actand Regulations prevail.
