Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security

Almost all of today’s seniors receive income from Canada’s public pensions: the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS). Together, the CPP and OAS provide a modest base upon which Canadians can build their retirement income. Basic financial support is also available to survivors and to people who become too disabled to work and their children.

On behalf of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), Service Canada delivers over $62 billion in benefits annually to millions of Canadians.

As the federal focal point for policy design and research related to Canada’s public pensions, HRSDC:

• ensures the long-term sustainability and relevance of CPP and OAS;
• provides a balanced and flexible retirement income system, responding to the diverse and changing needs of Canadians; and
• partners with and engages third parties to increase awareness of CPP and OAS benefits.

HRSDC also negotiates international social security agreements, which help people qualify for benefits from Canada or abroad.

Our programs

• Old Age Security (OAS)
  The OAS pension is available to most Canadians when they reach the age of 65. OAS provides additional benefits to eligible low-income seniors:
  • Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) – for OAS pensioners
  • Allowance – for 60- to 64-year-old spouses or common-law partners of pensioners
  • Allowance for the survivor – for 60- to 64-year-old widowed spouses or common-law partners
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
  The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides contributors and their families with retirement, disability, survivor, death and children’s benefits.
  • The CPP retirement pension is a monthly payment available to CPP contributors as early as 60 years of age.
  • The disability benefit is a monthly benefit available to qualified CPP contributors and their dependent children.
  • Survivor benefits are paid to a deceased contributor’s estate, surviving spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. Benefits include:
    • The death benefit – a one-time payment to, or on behalf of, the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor;
    • The survivor's pension – a monthly pension paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor; and
    • The children's benefit – a monthly benefit for dependent children of a deceased contributor.

Related information

• International benefits
  If you have lived or worked in another country, or you are the surviving spouse or common-law partner of someone who has lived or worked in another country, you may be eligible for benefits from Canada or from the other country under a social security agreement.
• Retirement Income System
  To help you better plan, it's important to understand the various parts of Canada’s retirement income system. This system consists of three pillars:
  • First Pillar – Old Age Security 
  • Second Pillar – Canada Pension Plan
  • Third Pillar – Private Pensions and Savings