Canada’s $3,555 Widow Pension Program: What You Need to Know

The Canadian system doesn’t hand the same monthly amount to every widow. The figure is a blend of a few different programs that can overlap, and not everybody can put together—let alone keep—every part. The bulk of the funding comes from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) alongside the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and, for some, the Allowance for the Survivor. Plus, different provinces might throw in their top-ups as well.

Mature Widows and Their Monthly Possibilities

Widows over 65 can tap the biggest pile of benefits:

CPP Survivor’s Pension: The max here is $859.80 a month for people who don’t also claim a monthly Canada Pension from their late spouse.

If you get your own CPP retirement pension as well as the survivor benefits, the most you can get from both combined is $1,449.53 a month after tax. That’s the max.

Old Age Security (OAS): This program sends $734.95 e a c h m o n t h t o p e o p l e a g e d 65 t o 74, a n d$ 808.45 to anyone 75 and older.

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): If you’re a low-income senior and you’re single or widowed, you can get $1,097.75 a month. (The payment starts to drop the more other income you get.)

A widow aged 65 to 74 who qualifies for the maximum from each program can take in around $3, 282 f r o m t h e f e d s . C o m p a n i e s r u n n i n g p e n s i o n p l a n s m a y o f f e r a s m a l l m o n t h l y t o p - u p, a n d s o m e p r o v i n c i a l p r o g r a m s c a n e a s i l y p u s h t h e t o t a l t o j u s t a b o v e$ 3,350.

Help for Widows from 60 to 64

Women in their 60s who have lost a partner see a different package:
CPP Survivor’s Pension: You can get $770.88 monthly as long as you’re under 65. This is a flat-rate piece plus 37.5% of what the late partner earns through its CPP pension.
Allowance for the Survivor: Low-income widows aged 60 to 64 can take in $1,663.81. The payment falls each month if you get any other income, including the CPP Survivor’s Pension.

Even with both pieces, most end up getting under $3,555 in total. Full OAS and GIS benefits don’t kick in until age 65.

Who Qualifies for the Widows’ Benefits

You must meet some very specific rules to qualify for any of the above benefits.

You were legally married to the person who has passed away, or you were living together like a married couple.
Your late partner paid enough into the Canada Pension Plan during their working years.
If you’re applying for the Allowance for Survivor, you need to be between 60 and 64 and your income has to be low.
If you’re applying for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), you need to be getting Old Age Security (OAS) and your income has to be below a set limit.

Also, against a common myth, getting remarried does not change your right to the CPP Survivor Pension.

How to Apply and When You’ll Get Paid

No one sends you the money automatically—you need to ask for it. You apply for the CPP Survivor Pension and the Allowance through Service Canada. Once they have all your papers, it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to process.

For 2025, all the regular payments—CPP, OAS, GIS, and Allowance—will show up on the same set dates: August 27, September 25, October 29, November 26, and December 22.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Benefits

To make sure you get the full amount you’re allowed:

Apply right after your partner passes away.
File your income tax each year, even if you have very little to report.
Set up direct deposit to get your money sooner and safely.
Tell Service Canada if your marital status, income, or address changes.

The “$3,555 widow pension” you’ve heard about isn’t exactly that simple, but Canada really does offer strong support for people who have lost a partner.

Finding out exactly what help is out there—and who can get it—comes before anything else. First, learn about the money and benefits available. Then, check what rules you need to meet. That way, you can grab the support you need as you move into the next part of your life.