The CPP retirement plan is a monthly benefit designed to replace approximately 25% of the average person’s lifetime pre-retirement employment earnings up a maximum of $1,134.17 per month (2018).

The CPP retirement pension operates in every province and territory in Canada except Quebec.  The province of Quebec administers its own program called Quebec Pension Plan (QPP).

The CPP retirement pension plan is intended to be only one part of your retirement plan.  Other sources of retirement income can include: Canada’s Old Age Security program, private pension plans and investments.

Every person in Canada aged 18 and over who works and earns over $3,500.00 per year must contribute to CPP or QPP.

You do not contribute to CPP while receiving a Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit or during periods that you have no earnings.

Periods when you had low or 0 earnings may affect your benefits.  CPP calculations take into account, both how much and how long you contributed.

As of 2012, if you are receiving your CPP retirement pension and you are working and contributing to CPP, your contributions will not be included in your contributory period.  Instead they will count toward your post-retirement benefits.

You can visit the Service Canada website to view or print a copy of your CPP Statement of Contributions through My Service Canada Account.

You can also phone 1-800-277-9914 and request a copy of your CPP Statement of Earnings be mailed to you.  TTY phone number is 1-800-255-4786.

What if I lived or worked in another country?

If you lived or worked in another country, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in another country, you may be eligible for benefits from Canada and abroad.

Visit the International Benefits section on the Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension website to find a list of social security agreements that Canada has with other countries.

At what age can I receive benefits?

The earliest you can receive payments from your CPP retirement pension is at age 60.  How old you are when you choose to begin payments has a major effect on the payments you will get for the rest of your life.

You do not have to stop working to receive your CPP retirement pension.

If you start receiving your pension before age 65 CPP reduces your pension amount by a set percentage for each month that you take it before age 65.  This adjustment is permanent.  Your monthly pension will not increase when you turn 65.

If you start receiving your CPP pension at age 65 you will get the full pension amount you are eligible to receive.

How do I apply for my pension plan payments?

You should apply for your CPP pension plan payments at least six months before you want your pension to begin.

You can complete the online application form and submit it electronically.  At the end of the application process, you will be asked to print and sign a signature page and post mail it to Service Canada.

You can also print the form, complete it by hand, and then return it to Service Canada by mail.

What if I apply late?

If you want your pension payments to start from age 60 to 64 you should apply at least six months in advance, as there is no retroactive payments for retirement pension before age 65.

If you apply after age 65, Service Canada can only pay retroactive payments of the CPP retirement pension for up to 12 months, but no earlier than the month following your 65th birthday.

Canada Pension Plan Retirement Website: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/services/pensions/cpp/retirement/index.shtml

If you need help applying for CPP retirement plan, please click on the link.

Disclaimer information: http://www.thecdlc.ca/education/help-for-workers/disclaimer/

The information on CPP retirement benefits has been taken from the Government of Canada website.