Millions of retirees will receive the next Canada Pension Plan deposit, with CPP payments scheduled for Friday, September 25, according to Service Canada.
The maximum CPP retirement pension for someone starting at age 65 in January 2026 is $1,507.65 per month, while the current average for new age-65 beneficiaries is $877.01 per month.
CPP benefits already in pay received a 2.0% annual cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, applied automatically to every monthly deposit beginning with the January 2026 payment.
Understanding the Canada Pension Plan is important for newcomers, prospective immigrants planning their move to Canada, workers already building careers here, and senior Canadians alike, because CPP reflects the strength of Canada’s social security system and highlights why long-term retirement planning.
This article breaks down the September 25 CPP payment, current maximum and average retirement amounts, upcoming payment dates, and key details retirees should know.
Table of Contents
Current Maximum CPP Payments For 2026
The following amounts use 2026 maximums for new benefits beginning in January 2026 and current averages from more recent beneficiary data, as listed on the official CPP pensions and benefits monthly amounts page.
Actual payments vary based on each individual’s contribution history, pensionable earnings, and the age at which the benefit began.
- Retirement pension (at age 65): $1,507.65 per month maximum, $877.01 per month average for new beneficiaries.
- Disability benefit: $1,741.20 per month maximum, $1,234.68 per month average for new beneficiaries.
- Survivor’s pension (younger than 65): $803.54 per month maximum, $549.62 per month average.
- Survivor’s pension (65 and older): $904.59 per month maximum, $339.36 per month average.
- Children of disabled or deceased contributors (under 18 or full-time students): $307.81 per month.
- Children of disabled or deceased contributors (part-time student aged 18 to 25): $153.91 per month.
- Post-retirement benefit (at age 65): $54.69 per month maximum.
- Death benefit: A one-time base payment of up to $2,500, with an additional $2,500 top-up available when the deceased never received a CPP/QPP retirement, disability, or post-retirement disability benefit and does not leave a spouse or common-law partner eligible for a survivor pension, bringing the maximum to $5,000.
The disability benefit combines a flat-rate portion with an earnings-related component, which is why it exceeds the retirement pension maximum for many recipients.
Survivor pension amounts depend on the deceased contributor’s record and the surviving spouse or partner’s age at the time the benefit begins.
Combined benefits apply when a survivor also collects their own CPP retirement pension, though the total is subject to a separate combined maximum of $1,531.56 per month.
Who Receives CPP Payments On September 25
The federal CPP payment calendar lists retirement, disability, survivor, and children’s benefits on the September 25 schedule, along with post-retirement and post-retirement disability benefits.
Retirement pension recipients form the largest group, consisting of anyone who contributed to CPP during their working career and chose to begin collecting between age 60 and age 70.
- Starting at 60 locks in a permanent 36% reduction calculated at 0.6% for each month before age 65.
- Waiting until 70 secures a permanent 42% increase calculated at 0.7% for each month beyond age 65.
Disability benefit recipients qualify when a severe and prolonged medical condition prevents them from working, with additional medical eligibility criteria required beyond standard CPP contributions.
Survivor pension recipients are the spouses or common-law partners of deceased CPP contributors who applied through Service Canada.
Children’s benefits can cover eligible children under 18 and students aged 18 to 25 attending a recognized school or university full-time or part-time, with part-time students receiving half the full-time flat-rate benefit.
Workers in every province and territory except Quebec contribute to CPP through payroll deductions during their careers.
Quebec workers generally contribute to the Quebec Pension Plan instead, which operates as a parallel program with comparable benefit types.
CPP Contribution Rates And Earnings Ceilings For 2026
Understanding how contributions work helps current workers estimate what their future pension might look like.
The Year’s Basic Exemption remains at $3,500 for 2026, meaning no CPP contributions apply to the first $3,500 of employment income.
The Year’s maximum pensionable earnings sit at $74,600 for 2026, and employees and employers each pay 5.95% on earnings between the basic exemption and that ceiling.
The maximum annual base CPP contribution for an employee or employer in 2026 is $4,230.45 each.
A second contribution tier known as CPP2 applies a 4% rate on earnings between $74,600 and the Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings of $85,000.
The maximum annual CPP2 contribution is $416 for employees and $416 for employers.
Self-employed Canadians pay both sides of the contribution, bringing their maximum base CPP to $8,460.90 and their maximum CPP2 to $832 for 2026.
CPP2 will eventually boost future pension amounts for higher earners, but the full CPP2 benefit will not be available to anyone retiring before the mid-2060s because the enhancement is being phased in over approximately 40 years.
How The Age You Start CPP Changes Your Payment Permanently
The decision of when to begin collecting CPP is one of the most consequential retirement income choices a Canadian worker can make.
There is no single correct answer because the ideal starting age depends entirely on your health, other income sources, and financial goals.
A person whose calculated age-65 pension would be $1,000 per month would receive only $640 per month by starting at age 60 due to the 36% early reduction.
That same person would receive $1,420 per month by deferring until age 70 due to the 42% late-start increase.
Both adjustments are permanent and remain locked in for life once the first payment is issued.
The reduction or increase is not recalculated at age 65 or at any other point, which makes the timing decision particularly important.
Service Canada provides personalized pension estimates at ages 60, 65, and 70 through your My Service Canada Account, allowing you to compare scenarios using your actual contribution history.
How To Apply For CPP Benefits
CPP is not automatic, regardless of your age or how long you contributed during your working years.
You must submit a formal application through Service Canada before any payments begin.
The fastest route is applying online through your My Service Canada Account, which allows digital submission, document uploads, and status tracking.
You can also apply by mailing a completed Application for a Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension using Form ISP-1000 or by visiting a Service Canada centre in person.
Service Canada recommends applying in advance, and you can submit a CPP retirement pension application up to 12 months before your chosen start date.
Online applications currently have an expected processing time of approximately 28 days, while paper applications can take up to 120 days.
For CPP disability benefits, applicants must submit Form ISP-1151 along with supporting medical documentation from their healthcare provider.
Survivor pension applications require Form ISP-1300, and supporting documents such as proof of the contributor’s death and the relationship may be requested.
If you continue working while receiving CPP retirement before age 70, your ongoing contributions generate post-retirement benefits that add a small amount to your monthly pension each January.
The maximum post-retirement benefit for a full year of contributions at the maximum pensionable earnings level is $54.69 per month in 2026.
After age 70, contributions stop regardless of employment status, and no further post-retirement benefits accumulate.
Tax Considerations For CPP Recipients
CPP payments are classified as taxable income by the Canada Revenue Agency.
Service Canada does not automatically withhold income tax from CPP payments unless the recipient specifically requests it.
You can arrange for federal income tax withholding by completing Form ISP3520CPP, by calling Service Canada, or by updating your preferences through your My Service Canada Account.
If CPP is your sole income source, the basic personal amount may shield most or all of it from taxation.
However, recipients with additional income from private pensions, investment returns, or part-time employment often benefit from having tax withheld at source to avoid a balance owing at filing time.
Service Canada issues a T4A(P) tax slip each year showing CPP benefits received and any income tax deducted.
Planning your tax withholding strategy around your total income picture can prevent unwelcome surprises during tax season.
Remaining CPP Payment Dates For 2026
After September 25, three more CPP deposits remain on the 2026 federal benefits payment calendar.
- October 28, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 22, 2026
These dates apply equally to CPP retirement pensions, CPP disability benefits, CPP survivor pensions, CPP children’s benefits, and post-retirement benefits.
Service Canada has not yet published the official 2027 payment calendar as of September 2026.
What To Do If Your Payment Does Not Arrive
Direct-deposit payments are scheduled for September 25, although bank posting times can vary.
Cheque recipients should expect longer delivery times because Service Canada mails cheques during the last three business days of the month.
If your September 25 deposit has not arrived, wait at least five to ten business days before contacting Service Canada.
You can reach Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to report a missing payment or start a payment inquiry.
Before calling, confirm that your direct deposit banking information and mailing address are current through your My Service Canada Account.
Common reasons for delayed or missing payments include outdated banking details, an unresolved overpayment from a previous period, or a processing hold related to documentation.
Protecting Yourself From Benefit Scams
Service Canada will never ask you to provide personal information by phone, text, email, or social media in connection with your CPP deposit.
Always use official government portals rather than links in unsolicited messages when checking your payment status or updating account information.
If you receive a suspicious call or message claiming to be from Service Canada, hang up and call the official number directly to verify.
Report suspected scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre so authorities can track emerging patterns and alert other Canadians.
The next CPP deposit after September lands on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
CPP amounts will remain unchanged because the annual indexation holds through December, with the next potential adjustment arriving in January 2027.
That upcoming 2027 increase will be calculated using CPI data from the 12 months ending October 2026 compared to the same period one year earlier, and the exact rate will be confirmed by Service Canada later this year.
Recipients should verify that their direct deposit details and mailing address are current before each payment cycle through My Service Canada Account to avoid any disruptions.
The September 25 CPP deposit reinforces the program’s role as a dependable pillar of financial stability for millions of Canadians.
Whether you rely on CPP as a primary retirement income source, receive disability support during a difficult period, or collect survivor benefits after the loss of a family member, the monthly consistency of this program provides genuine peace of mind.
With the 2.0% annual indexation protecting purchasing power and the CPP enhancement quietly building higher benefits for future generations, the Canada Pension Plan continues adapting to the financial pressures facing Canadian households.
Confirm your deposit on September 25, review your account through My Service Canada Account, and keep your personal records aligned with the official benefit amounts so nothing falls through the cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will my CPP payment increase in January 2027?
Yes, Service Canada will apply an annual indexation increase in January 2027, which will then remain fixed for every monthly CPP deposit through December 2027. CPP benefits in pay only adjust once per year at the start of the calendar year. Maximum amounts for new CPP benefits can shift slightly during the year under the enhancement rules, but that only affects people starting a brand-new benefit.
What happens to my CPP contributions if I pass away before collecting a retirement pension?
Your contributions do not disappear. Eligible survivors can claim multiple CPP benefits from your contribution record. The death benefit provides a one-time base payment of up to $2,500 to your estate. An additional $2,500 top-up may apply when the deceased never received a CPP/QPP retirement, disability, or post-retirement disability benefit and does not leave a spouse or common-law partner eligible for a survivor pension, bringing the maximum death benefit to $5,000. A surviving spouse or common-law partner may also qualify for the CPP survivor’s pension, which pays up to $803.54 per month for recipients younger than 65 or up to $904.59 for those 65 and older. Dependent children under 18 or attending school full-time can receive the children’s benefit of $307.81 per month, while eligible part-time students receive $153.91.
How do I find out my exact CPP retirement pension amount instead of relying on the national average?
Sign into your My Service Canada Account and navigate to the Canada Pension Plan section. Your account displays personalized estimates at ages 60, 65, and 70 based on your actual contribution record, including any dropout provisions that apply to your file. If you are already receiving CPP, the account shows your gross amount, tax deductions, and the net figure deposited each month. This personal estimate is always more accurate than the national average of $877.01 for planning purposes.
Does the September 25 CPP payment apply to people living outside Canada?
In most cases, yes. Service Canada can pay CPP retirement and survivor benefits to recipients living in other countries. Canada maintains social security agreements with more than 60 nations, and these agreements protect benefit entitlements when someone relocates abroad. Recipients living in a country without a social security agreement may still qualify depending on the length of their Canadian contribution history. Contact Service Canada before moving internationally to confirm how your specific CPP benefits will be affected.
Can I increase my CPP pension if I keep working after I start collecting it?
Yes, if you are under 70. When you work while receiving a CPP retirement pension before age 70, your continued contributions generate post-retirement benefits that are added to your monthly pension each January. The maximum post-retirement benefit for a full year of maximum contributions in 2026 is $54.69 per month. From age 65 to 69, contributing is optional and you can elect to stop. Contributions are mandatory between ages 60 and 64 if you are working and receiving CPP. After age 70, all CPP contributions cease regardless of employment status.
Fact-Checked: All CPP payment amounts, contribution rates, earnings ceilings, and 2026 deposit dates in this article were verified against the official Government of Canada CPP pensions and benefits monthly amounts page, the federal benefits payment calendar, and the Maximum benefit amounts and related figures publication as of September 21, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Contact Service Canada or a qualified professional for guidance on your specific pension situation.
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