Federal · Apply for benefits · Difficulty: Moderate

Apply for the CPP Survivor's Pension

A monthly pension paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor. Apply promptly: retroactive payments are limited.

Who usually needs this

  • Surviving spouse
  • Common-law partner

When to review

First month

Documents commonly needed

  • Death certificate
  • Marriage certificate or proof of common-law relationship
  • SINs (reference only)

Life Steward does not collect or store these documents.

Common issues

  • Retroactive payments are generally limited to 12 months, so delay costs money.
  • Combined benefit rules apply if the survivor already receives CPP.

Official sources

Last reviewed 2026-07-10

The Life Steward Resource Centre is provided for general information and navigation only. It is not legal, tax, financial, insurance, medical, or professional advice. Confirm current requirements and deadlines with the appropriate organization or professional before acting.