In 2025, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Survivor Benefit has received a significant boost, offering increased monthly support to eligible survivors. This reflects a commitment to helping widows, widowers, and common‑law partners cope with rising living expenses.
Key Figures: What’s New in 2025
| Survivor Category | 2024 Monthly Max | 2025 Monthly Max | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 65 or older | $751.76 | $842.62 | +$90.86 |
| Under 65, disabled or with children | $707.95 | $793.34 | +$85.39 |
- Survivors 65 or older can now receive up to $842.62/month, up from $751.76, marking approximately a 12% increase.
- Survivors under 65 who are disabled or raising dependent children see increases to $793.34/month from $707.95 .
These include both the flat-rate and contributory components, and adjustments are applied automatically starting January 2025 .
How Survivor Benefits Are Calculated
- Age 65 or older: You receive 60 % of the contributor’s hypothetical retirement pension (if not receiving other CPP benefits) .
- Under age 65: You get a flat-rate amount plus 37.5 % of the contributor’s retirement pension
- Maximums are indexed to inflation and enhanced components post‑2019 are included .
Other CPP Benefits Worth Noting
- The maximum survivor’s pension for those under 65 is $770.88/month, and for those 65 or older, $859.80/month (as of January 2025) .
- The one‑time CPP death benefit remains $2,500, potentially topping up to $5,000 if the deceased contributor never collected CPP and left no other survivors .
- Dependent children benefits are fixed at $301.77/month in 2025 .
- Annual indexing in 2025 is around 2.7 %, applied to survivor pensions as well.
Application & Eligibility Details
- Eligibility includes being the legal spouse or common‑law partner, surviving spouse, or, for younger survivors, being disabled or raising dependent children .
- No reapplication is needed if already receiving the benefit—increases apply automatically starting January 2025 .
- For new applicants, apply via My Service Canada Account or by mail with supporting documents (death certificate, proof of relationship, SIN, banking info) .
The 2025 CPP Survivor Benefit increase brings meaningful relief to survivors: up to $842.62/month for those aged 65+, and $793.34/month for younger disabled survivors or those with children.
These automatic enhancements reflect ongoing indexing to inflation and policy updates. Whether you’re already receiving benefits or planning to apply, being aware of these changes ensures you’re getting the support you deserve.
Do I need to apply again to get the 2025 increase?
How is the survivor’s benefit calculated?
Age 65+: You receive 60 % of the deceased contributor’s retirement pension.
Under 65: You get a flat rate plus 37.5 % of their retirement pension