CPP Survivor Benefits: What Your Spouse Actually Gets (2026)

What happens to CPP when a spouse passes away — and how much does the surviving partner actually receive? Most Canadians assume you simply inherit your partner's pension on top of your own. The reality is often a painful surprise. Here's how CPP survivor benefits really work, explained gently and clearly. In this video, Mac breaks down: 🍁 What the CPP survivor's pension is and how it's calculated 🍁 The combined-benefit cap that most couples never see coming 🍁 Why the average survivor receives far less than the maximum (~$320/mo vs $905) 🍁 Why OAS has NO survivor benefit (a major income gap) 🍁 The $2,500 CPP death benefit and children's benefit 🍁 How to apply — and how couples can plan ahead together If you're part of a couple planning retirement in Canada, this is an important and often-overlooked conversation to have together. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 What happens to CPP when a spouse passes 0:30 What the survivor's pension is 2:00 The combined-benefit cap (the big surprise) 4:45 Who gets more, who gets less 6:45 The $2,500 death benefit & children's benefit 8:15 How to apply + planning ahead 9:45 Recap ▶️ RELATED: CPP at 60 vs 65 vs 70 — The Real Math → [   • CPP at 60 vs 65 vs 70: The Real Math (2026)  ] ▶️ RELATED: OAS Explained — Who Qualifies & How Much → [   • OAS Explained: Who Qualifies & How Much Yo...  ] ▶️ RELATED: GIS Explained — The Benefit Many Retirees Miss → [   • GIS Explained: The Benefit Many Canadian R...  ] 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for plain-English Canadian retirement explainers, every Mon/Wed/Fri: [   / @maplefinancewithmac  ] ————————————— 📊 SOURCES (figures as of June 2026): CPP survivor's pension, death benefit & calculation rules — Government of Canada / Service Canada (canada.ca) ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This video is general education only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. CPP survivor benefit calculations are complex and highly individual. Figures are accurate as of June 2026 and change over time. Always confirm your specific situation with Service Canada or a licensed Canadian professional. #CPP #CPPSurvivorBenefits #CanadianRetirement