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By Jason Heath, CFP on September 24, 2025
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

By Jason Heath, CFP on September 24, 2025
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

A MoneySense reader is not familiar with the Canada Pension Plan death benefit. Here is a primer

Your recent article is the first time I have seen reference to a CPP death benefit of $2,500. Can you explain it, please?

—Sam

The primary purpose of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is to pay a retirement pension to contributors. Employers as well as employed and self-employed Canadians contribute to the CPP and contributors are entitled to begin a CPP retirement pension as early as age 60.

There are several other programs that CPP contributors and family members are eligible for—including the CPP death benefit, Sam.

A Quebec resident may be entitled to Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits. The CPP and QPP plans have coordination agreements since some Canadians contribute to both plans during their........

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