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Canada Pension Plan (CPP): payment dates and applying

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked

Short answer

You can start your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension any time from age 60 to 70 if you have made at least one CPP contribution. You must apply, ideally online through My Service Canada Account, up to 12 months before you want it to start. Starting before 65 lowers the monthly amount; waiting past 65 raises it.

Who handles it

Service Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada)

Handles it everywhere in Canada except Quebec (Retraite Québec).

Next payment

Then and .

Covers the CPP retirement pension and the CPP disability, children's and survivor benefits.

Source: canada.cachecked

Every benefit's payment dates

Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

Who can apply

  • You qualify for a CPP retirement pension if you are at least 60 and have made at least one valid CPP contribution, from work in Canada or from credits shared with you after a divorce or separation.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • The standard start age is 65, but you can start as early as 60 or as late as 70. There is no gain in waiting past 70.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Steps

  1. CPP does not start on its own: you must apply. Most people apply online in My Service Canada Account. Apply early, up to 12 months before the date you want your pension to start.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

What you need

  • Have your social insurance number and your bank details for direct deposit. If you lived or worked in another country, have that country's insurance number and dates. For the child rearing provision, have each child's name, SIN and date of birth.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

How much you get

  • If you start before 65, your pension drops by 0.6% for each month early, so starting at 60 means 36% less each month for life.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • If you start after 65, your pension rises by 0.7% for each month you wait, up to 42% more at age 70.

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  • The maximum CPP pension starting at 65 is $1,507.65 a month (January 2026 rate). The average for October to December 2026 is $858.34 a month. Your amount depends on your earnings and contributions.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

How long it takes

  • Service Canada says to allow 28 days for an online application and 120 days for a paper application sent by mail. Missing documents make it take longer.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Where to go

  • If you only worked in Quebec, or worked in Quebec and now live there, your pension comes from the Québec Pension Plan, so contact Retraite Québec instead.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Good to know

  • Working does not reduce your CPP pension. If you are under 70 and still paying into the CPP, you also earn a post-retirement benefit that is added the next year.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Questions people ask

What is the maximum CPP payment in 2026?

The maximum CPP retirement pension for someone starting at 65 is $1,507.65 a month, the January 2026 figure. The average at 65 is $858.34 a month (July 2026). Most people get less than the maximum.

Source: canada.cachecked #

How long does a CPP application take?

Allow about 28 days if you apply online and 120 days if you apply by mail. Service Canada sends a decision letter by mail with your monthly amount and first payment date.

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Can I keep working while I get CPP?

Yes. If you are under 70, working and still contributing, each year of contributions adds a post-retirement benefit to your income for life. You can stop these contributions at 65; they end at 70.

Source: canada.cachecked #

Can I get CPP backdated?

Only if you apply after 65. You can ask for a start date up to 11 months before the month your application arrived, but not earlier than the month after your 65th birthday.

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Is the CPP pension taxable?

Yes. The CPP retirement pension is taxable income. Once you qualify, it is paid every month for the rest of your life.

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Where it works differently

Service Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada) handles it everywhere else.

Province or territoryWho handles itOfficial linkGood to know
QuebecRetraite QuébecApply for your QPP retirement pensionchecked People who worked in Québec get the Québec Pension Plan from Retraite Québec instead of the CPP.

Where to go in person

Places in the biggest cities, from open data. Check the official link for hours and what each office offers before you go.

Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Canada Pension Plan (CPP): payment dates and applying", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/cpp