Ask a Planner

By Jason Heath, CFP on June 25, 2025
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

By Jason Heath, CFP on June 25, 2025
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

A MoneySense reader asks about survivor benefits for spouses. Here’s how defined benefit and CPP survivor payments work in Canada.

When my husband dies, do I still receive his or a portion of his pension, and if so, how do I find out what it is?

–Donna

Pensions can make up a significant portion of a someone’s income in retirement. As a result, it is important to understand what happens if a spouse—or a parent—passes away.

Defined benefit (DB) pensions paid to retired employees often have a survivor component. Federal and provincial legislation may require a so-called joint and survivor benefit, typically 60% of the original pension.

Some plans allow different survivor percentages ranging from 0% to 100%. A spouse or common-law partner may need to sign a waiver for the pensioner to elect a lower survivor benefit.

If a plan member dies before retirement or before their pension begins, a surviving spouse is generally entitled to receive a monthly benefit or potentially a lump-sum commuted value that is based on the payout today required to produce the future pension benefit. Again, rules vary from pension to pension.

Some plans allow a pensioner to select a guarantee period of, say, five years, 10........

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