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Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security
Service Canada
Almost all of today’s seniors receive income from Canada’s Public Pensions. Basic financial support is also available to survivors and to people who become too disabled to work and their children. These pensions and benefits are delivered through the Old Age Security (OAS) program and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
Together, the OAS and CPP provide a modest base upon which Canadians can build their retirement income.
Current features
- Bill C-36, which makes changes to the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security program, was passed on May 3, 2007. Read more about Bill C-36.
- Payment rates for the Old Age Security program and the Canada Pension Plan.
Our programs
- Old Age Security (OAS)
The OAS pension is available to most Canadians starting at the age of 65. OAS provides additional benefits to eligible low-income seniors:- Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) – for OAS pensioners
- Allowance – for 60 to 64 year-old spouses or common-law partners of pensioners who receive GIS
- Allowance for the survivor – for 60 to 64 year-old widowed spouses or common-law partners
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides contributors and their families with retirement, disability, survivor, death and children’s benefits.- The retirement pension is a monthly payment available to CPP contributors as early as 60 years of age.
- The disability benefit is a monthly benefit available to qualified CPP contributors and their dependent children.
- Survivor benefits are paid to a deceased contributor’s estate, surviving spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. Benefits include:
- The death benefit – a one-time payment to, or on behalf of, the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor;
- The survivor's pension – a monthly pension paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor; and
- The children's benefit – a monthly benefit for dependent children of a deceased contributor.
- International benefits
If you have lived or worked in another country, or you are the surviving spouse or common-law partner of someone who has lived or worked in another country, you may be eligible for benefits from Canada or from the other country under a social security agreement.
