How to Apply for the CPP Death Benefit:
A Step-by-Step, Detailed Explanation

People are often surprised and overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork involved in end-of-life arrangements. At KORU Cremation | Burial | Ceremony, we want to do everything we can to help you make this process easier, so we’ve created this step-by-step, in-depth guide to claiming the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) death benefit.

If you’re not already familiar with the CPP death benefit, read our other blog post to learn what it is, how much you can expect to receive, who is eligible, and answers to other frequently asked questions.

If you’re ready to start applying, continue reading below to learn about the process and what you can expect.

When Should You Apply for the CPP Death Benefit?
Using the CPP Death Benefit with KORU Cremation | Burial | Ceremony
Step 1: Gather Necessary Documents and Information
Step 2: Fill Out the Application
Step 3: Receive the Benefit Payment
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the CPP Death Benefit

When Should You Apply for the CPP Death Benefit?

Apply for the CPP death benefit as soon as possible after the death, but after the funeral or end-of-life arrangements have been paid for, as you’ll need to submit an invoice for these expenses as part of your application. If there is an executor named in the will, they should apply for the benefit within 60 days of the date of death.

Using the CPP Death Benefit with KORU Cremation | Burial | Ceremony

If you wish to work with us for end-of-life arrangements and care, the CPP death benefit can be applied to any of our services. We have also specifically designed a streamlined Online Essential Cremation Package compatible with the $2,500 death benefit, for folks who are clear on their choices and are willing to complete basic cremation arrangements on-line with minimal guidance from KORU’s licensed staff. We’re always here to provide guidance or help you navigate death care options; book a call with us if you’d like support or more information.

Step 1: Gather Necessary Documents and Information

In your application, you’ll need to include:

A certified photocopy of the proof of death for the deceased person
An invoice for the funeral or end-of-life arrangements

If you’re a client of KORU’s, we’ll provide both of these for you, and with our complimentary comprehensive executor assistant program with Cadence, you will also receive a pre-populated CPP death benefit application form ready to submit.

If you are not a client of KORU’s, you’ll need to have a lot of information about yourself and the deceased person ready to go to fill out the application form.

Here are some things to be aware of for this step, when you’re filling out the application on your own.

How to Certify a Photocopy

For details on how to certify a photocopy, click here and download the PDF by clicking on “ISP-1730_CPP.”

Photocopies must also meet the following criteria:

They must be readable
All pages of the document must be included
Your Social Insurance Number and the deceased person’s Social Insurance Number must be included or written on the document (be sure to clearly indicate which is which)

What Counts as Proof of Death

To be accepted as proof of death, the document should:

Include the deceased person’s name, date, and place of death
Include the name and/or signature of the person or authority who issued the document
Be on official letterhead or include a seal

The following documents can be submitted as proof of death:

Burial or death certificate, or medical certification of death
A statement signed by a funeral director, doctor, or coroner
A death certificate from another country (if a social security agreement exists between Canada and that country)
A life or group insurance claim accompanied by a statement signed by a doctor
Memorandum of Notification of Death issued by the Chief of National Defense Staff
Notarial copy of Letters of Probate
Official notification from the Public Trustee for the applicable province or territory
Registration of Death
Statement of Verification of Death from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Other Information You Will Need to Apply

To complete the application form, you will also need to have the following information about the deceased person available. If you’re a client of ours, we’ll have pre-populated your application form with this information already:

Social Insurance Number(s)
Date of birth
Date of death
Name(s)
Country of birth
Home address at the time of death
Marital status at the time of death, and name and contact information of the spouse or common-law partner, if applicable
Whether the deceased received or applied for other benefits (CPP, OAS, QPP, and Family Allowance (Baby Bonus) or Canada Child Benefit)
If the deceased person worked or lived in another country, where and when they did so, and whether the applicant has applied for or received benefits from that country

If someone higher on the order of priority list has chosen not to apply for the death benefit, that person will need to complete a section on the form specifying their name, address, and contact information. This is so that Service Canada can contact them to confirm they will not apply.

The applicant will also need to include their name, address, and contact information on the form, as well as their direct deposit information if they don’t wish to receive a cheque.

Step 2: Fill Out the Application

The steps for filling out the application are slightly different depending on whether you submit the form as a paper copy or online. As we mentioned above, if you’re working with KORU Cremation | Burial | Ceremony, we’ll provide you with a partially pre-populated application form as well as support in filling out the remainder of the form if you need it.

If you’re doing it on your own, here is what each process looks like.

Applying Online

Sign into your My Service Canada Account.
Fill out the online CPP Death Benefit Form.
Get certified photocopies of any required documentation, and make sure your Social Insurance Number and the deceased person’s Social Insurance Number are both written or included on all documents (indicate clearly which is which).
Mail your invoice and the certified photocopies to Service Canada or drop them off at a Service Canada office.

Applying with a Paper Form

Access the CPP Death Benefit Form here and download the PDF by clicking on “ISP-1200.” If you have the Adobe Acrobat desktop app, you can fill in the form digitally. Otherwise, print off the form and fill it in by hand.
Note that if you sign the form by hand, you will need a witness to complete a declaration at the bottom of the application.
Get certified photocopies of any required documentation, and make sure your Social Insurance Number and the deceased person’s Social Insurance Number are both written or included on all documents (indicate clearly which is which).
Mail your invoice and the certified photocopies to Service Canada or drop them off at a Service Canada office.

Step 3: Receive the Benefit Payment

Typically, it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks for you to receive your benefit payment, starting from the date that Service Canada receives your completed application. Note that the benefit payment goes directly to you, and not the company who provided the funeral or end-of-life arrangements. If it’s been longer than 12 weeks, you can check your application status by contacting the Canada Pension Plan.

On the application form, there is an option to include your banking details if you’d like to receive a direct deposit. Otherwise, Service Canada will issue a cheque and send it to the applicant’s address that they included on the form.