Survivor Benefits

Listed below are government agencies which provide various forms of survivor benefits to the estates of qualifying individuals following a death:

Canada Pension Plan (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions.html)

It is important to apply for Canada Pension Plan benefits when your parent, spouse, or common-law partner dies. If you don’t, you may lose benefits you are entitled to receive.

• Allowance for the Survivor: Provides a monthly non-taxable benefit to low-income widowed spouses who are not yet eligible for the Old Age Security pension.

• Death benefit: Provides a one-time payment to (or on behalf of) the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor.

• Survivor's pension: Offers a monthly pension paid to the survivors of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor.

• International benefits: Provides survivor benefits to eligible individuals who have lived or worked in another country.

• Children's benefit: A monthly benefit for dependent children (under age 18 or between 18 and 25 and attending school) of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor.

Veterans Affairs Canada (www.veterans.gc.ca)

• Veterans Affairs Canada - Death Benefit: Offers a lump sum when a Canadian Forces member dies in the line of duty.

• Canadian Forces Income Support: The Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) is a tax-free monthly benefit to help low-income CAF Veterans, survivors, and dependent children.

• Funeral and Burial Assistance: The Last Post Fund Corporation (LPF) has been mandated to deliver the program on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), providing an honourable funeral and burial, including a military style grave marker, to eligible ex-service persons. Visit LPF's website for details.

• Benefits for Survivors (of Disability Pension Recipients): A survivor's pension will be paid to the survivor of a disability pensioner beginning one year from the time of death. The pensioner's benefits continue in full for the first year.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (www.wsib.on.ca)

Family members who depended on the earnings of someone who has died will receive survivor benefits. Check the WSIB web site for more information.

• Funeral and Transport Costs: WSIB will pay reasonable funeral and burial expenses which may include transport costs if the survivors live a considerable distance from the place of death.

• Bereavement Counselling: WSIB offers surviving spouses and children supportive counselling by an experienced professional, within the first year following the worker’s death.

• Payments to Survivors: WSIB pays survivors and/ or dependent children a lump sum and a continuing monthly payment, based on certain criteria.