1. Learn about the survivor’s pension

If your spouse or common-law partner paid enough into the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), you may be able to get a survivor’s pension after they die.

If you were separated but not divorced when they died, you may still be able to get the survivor's pension if:

• your former spouse did not have a common-law partner when they died, and
• you either:
  • did not get a CPP credit split, or
  • you were approved for a CPP credit split before January 1, 2025.

You can collect only one survivor's pension. If you have more than one spouse who's died, you get the survivor's pension that's larger.

Once you start getting a survivor's pension, you continue to get it even if you marry again.

How much you can get

If you're not getting any other CPP pensions or benefits, the amount of your survivor's pension is in the chart below.

If your spouse or common-law partner was not getting a CPP retirement pension when they died, the amount of their pension is set as if they died at 65. This is based on how much and how long they paid into the CPP.

If you’re getting other CPP benefits

Your survivor's pension is added to what you're already getting from CPP, up to a maximum amount.

Make sure to apply

You must apply to get the survivor's pension. You can apply:

• using your My Service Canada Account, or
• by filling out the CPP survivor’s pension form. Mail it and any supporting documents to a Service Canada office or take them to the office in person.

You can apply as soon as your spouse or common-law partner dies. The earliest you can start getting payments is the month after your spouse or common-law partner dies.

The CPP will give you back pay for payments that you missed if you apply later. But only up to 12 months. Apply as soon as you can so you do not lose any benefits.

CPP enhancement amount

You get a higher amount of survivor's pension if:

• you started getting it in 2019 or later, and
• your spouse or common-law partner paid into the enhanced CPP.