Introduced in 1966, the Canada Pension Plan CPP is a critical pillar of retirement income security for millions of Canadians. If CPP is part of your monthly cash flow, knowing the exact CPP payment dates makes budgeting, cash flow management, and tax planning much easier.
Quick note: Quebec operates a parallel Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) for provincial residents.
CPP Payment Dates 2026: Mark Your Calendar
CPP payments are typically issued on the third-to-last business day of each month, but the most reliable reference is the Government of Canada’s payment calendar.
CPP Payment Dates for 2026
- January 28, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- March 27, 2026
- April 28, 2026
- May 27, 2026
- June 26, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- September 25, 2026
- October 28, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 22, 2026
CPP Payment Dates for 2025
- January 29, 2025
- February 26, 2025
- March 27, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- May 28, 2025
- June 26, 2025
- July 29, 2025
- August 27, 2025
- September 25, 2025
- October 29, 2025
- November 26, 2025
- December 22, 2025
These dates are for recipients who have set up direct deposit. If you receive cheques by mail, delivery may take additional days depending on Canada Post and your location. Check here to see if you are eligible for CPP benefits.
How Much CPP Payment Will You Receive in 2026?
Your specific CPP pension amount is not a fixed number; it depends on three core factors:
- Years of contribution: Length of payment history in the CPP. At least 39 years of maximum contributions are required to receive the full pension amount.
- Average lifetime earnings: Higher salaries result in greater absolute CPP entitlement. However, payments remain capped based on limits, such as the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE)
- Age when benefits start: The earlier recipients begin drawing CPP, the lower their payments will be. Monthly sums increase for each year benefits are deferred past age 65, up to age 70.
For context, the Government of Canada’s CPP payment figures include:
- Maximum monthly CPP retirement pension at age 65 (2026): $1,507.65.
- Average monthly amount for new retirement pension beneficiaries (at 65, July 2025): $848.37
Starting early vs delaying: If you start CPP before 65, your monthly amount is reduced; if you delay after 65 (up to 70), your monthly amount increases.
Use the Canadian Retirement Income Calculator to estimate your personalized CPP entitlement based on actual earnings history, retirement preferences and other supplemental income sources.
How Do You Pay Into the CPP?
Canadians participate in the CPP through automatic contributions made from their employment income. There are two types of CPP contributions: one for employees and one for employers.
Base CPP Contributions
If you are an employee under 70 and earning over $3,500 annually, you must contribute 5.95% of your income to CPP. The 2026 maximum CPP contribution is $4,230.45 for income exceeding the 2026 YMPE of $74,600.
The CPP Enhancement (CPP2)
To help Canadians save more for retirement, the government introduced the CPP enhancement. Starting in 2024, a second, higher earnings ceiling was established, called the Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YAMPE). For 2026, the YAMPE is $85,000.
If you earn between the YMPE ($74,600) and the YAMPE ($85,000), you and your employer will each make additional “CPP2” contributions at a rate of 4.0% on that portion of your earnings. (Source: CRA – Canada Pension Plan Enhancement)
Self-Employed Canadians
Self-employed Canadians contribute both the employer and employee portions when reporting earnings. Salaries below $74,600 are subject to proportional deductions up to the CPP contribution maximums. The 2026 maximum self-employed CPP contribution is $8,460.90. Special rules apply to Quebec residents under QPP requirements.
More details on the latest and historical contribution rates can be found on CRA’s official CPP rates. Understanding CPP contribution guidelines sheds light on eventual benefit calculations while illustrating the direct relationship between costs entering and exiting the system.
Is CPP Taxable in Canada?
Yes, CPP benefits are considered taxable income. While providing a valuable source of retirement income, CPP benefits face the same tax treatment as regular employment earnings. Both provincial and federal governments consider CPP pension income when assessing seniors’ total tax liability. CPP recipients must report gross payments as regular income each year. No special exemptions apply.
While not mandatory, recipients can request monthly tax withholding from CPP payments via Form ISP3520 to avoid year-end obligations. Without withholding, CPP may significantly increase tax payable, necessitating adjustments to installment amounts to avoid penalties.
What to Do If You Haven’t Received Your CPP Payment
If your 2026 CPP payment fails to materialize as expected, take the following corrective actions:
- Wait 10 business days – allow for potential delays in processing or transfers before reporting issues.
- Contact My Service Canada to inquire about your benefit status and confirm that your personal details are properly on file, including banking information.
- Escalate inquiries regarding other federal benefits, like GST credits, to the Canada Revenue Agency.
- Switch to direct deposit – converting to electronic distribution reduces reliance on physical cheques, which are susceptible to disruptions from Canada Post.
Beyond direct deposits, seniors can opt to receive CPP and other benefits via Electronic transfers that are deposited into debit-like cards usable like cash at retailers and ATMs. Additionally, Local Service Canada Centers can facilitate emergency cheque collection during Canada Post labour actions to ensure continuity of services.
What Happens If You Die Before Collecting Your CPP Payments
The CPP provides financial protection for a contributor’s family in the event of death. The main provisions are the Death Benefit and the Survivor’s Pension.
Lump-sum Death Benefit: A flat rate of $2,500 (basic) plus a possible $2,500 top-up (max $5,000). This covers immediate costs related to death, like funeral arrangements.
Survivor’s Pension: An ongoing income support that assists surviving spouses and dependent children in coping with the loss of income from the family earner’s passing.
The survivor’s pension depends on factors like the survivor’s age and the contributor’s CPP record. Common rules include:
- If the survivor is under 65: typically a flat-rate portion + 37.5% of the contributor’s retirement pension (subject to combining rules)
- If the survivor is 65 or older: up to 60% of the contributor’s retirement pension (subject to combining rules) (canada.ca)
Benefits for Children Under 25: Additional aid for dependent children who lose parents before reaching age 18 (or 25 if still in school). This recognizes the significant burden of families losing a key breadwinner.
Is CPP Payment Enough for Retirement?
While essential, CPP alone provides insufficient income replacement for comfortable retirements. Supplementing with personal savings and other income becomes necessary. With sizable retirement income gaps, additional sources become imperative, for instance:
- Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) – Making regular TFSA contributions invested in growth-oriented assets facilitates accumulating supplementary portfolio income.
- Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) – Maximizing RRSP allowance each year enables savers to lock in tax deductions and compound investment returns to supplement CPP later.
Creating integrated retirement plans that span government pensions, individual savings and investment vehicles, rental income, and other tools provides a prudent strategy.
FAQs about CPP Retirement Pay Dates
When will I receive my first CPP payment?
Your first CPP payment will be received on the payment date following the month after your 60th birthday, assuming your application was approved. If your birthday is September 10, your first payment will arrive at the end of October.
Can I collect CPP if I continue working?
Yes, you can continue receiving full CPP payments even while having employment income before age 65. However, this may require additional contributions, which could raise future CPP entitlement.
Do I pay CPP premiums after 65?
No, CPP contributions stop after age 65, even if you continue employment. At this point, no additional CPP pension accrues through further contributions from either employer or employee.
Can I change my requested CPP start date?
Yes, you can modify your CPP pension start date after applying by contacting Service Canada. However, the revised commencement date cannot be earlier than indicated in your initial application.
The bottom line
With the majority of eligible seniors participating, understanding and optimizing decisions around CPP contributes meaningfully to overall financial well-being long after leaving the workforce. Canadians still have the opportunity to supplement CPP gaps through a long-term commitment to personal savings and investment accounts.
However, for most retirees, CPP forms a core component of a reliable, indexed lifetime income to meet the basic costs of living. Monitoring CPP deposit schedules and maximizing benefits empowers individuals to take control of their financial futures.
