News & Updates
Changes to Canada Pension Plan: new benefits for children, enhanced survivor support
February 12, 2025
The federal government has published an order in council proclaiming amendments affecting the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) in force as of Jan. 1, 2025.
The amendments, to the Canada Pension Plan Act and Canada Pension Plan Regulations, are the last remaining changes implemented through the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, as recommended by the federal, provincial and territorial finance ministers via the 2022–2024 CPP triennial review. Some of the key features include:
- Death benefit top-up: Increasing the death benefit from $2,500 to $5,000 in cases where the deceased contributor was not paid a retirement pension or disability benefits, and no survivor’s pension is payable in respect of their contributions.
- New child’s benefit: The amendments create a new child’s benefit for dependent children of disabled or deceased contributors, who are aged 18 to 24 and in school part-time, payable at half the rate available to full-time students.
- Disabled contributor’s child’s benefit: The amendments allow for a disabled contributor’s child benefit to be extended when the child’s disabled parent reaches age 65, even though the contributor’s disability benefit ceases.
- Survivor’s pension: The amendments preclude entitlement to the survivor’s pension in cases where a person has received a division of unadjusted pensionable earnings in respect of their deceased separated spouse
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