Canada Pension Plan - Death Benefit

Provides a one-time, lump-sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased CPP contributor.

If an estate exists, the executor named in the will or the administrator named by the Court to administer the estate applies for the death benefit.

If no estate exists or if the executor has not applied for the death benefit, payment may be made to other persons who apply for the benefit in the following order of priority:

• the person or institution that has paid for or that is responsible for paying for the funeral expenses of the deceased
• the surviving spouse or common-law partner of the deceased
• the next-of-kin of the deceased