- The estate keeps the CPP and OAS payments for the month of death, but payments issued after that month must be returned.
- The executor or administrator applies for the CPP death benefit of up to $5,000, ideally within 60 days of the death.
- ServiceOntario must be told to cancel the driver's licence, OHIP card, outdoors card and accessible parking permit, and the permit goes back within 30 days.
After a death, an estate trustee faces a long list of calls and letters to government offices. Some are urgent because money keeps arriving that has to be returned, and others protect the deceased from identity fraud.
This checklist groups the notifications by who needs to hear from you: federal offices, Ontario offices, and the benefit programs where money may be owed or claimed. Details can vary with the deceased's situation, so a lawyer can confirm anything that does not fit.
Start with Service Canada and the CRA
To cancel Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits, call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 with the deceased's Social Insurance Number, or write to a Service Canada office.
The estate keeps the OAS and CPP payments for the month of death. Any payments issued after that month must be returned. Reporting the death promptly helps limit what has to be paid back.
Contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as soon as possible to avoid having to repay benefits. The CRA is also the office you will deal with later for the tax clearance certificate before any distribution to beneficiaries.
Other federal notifications
- Passport: return a valid passport to the Passport Program with a copy of the death certificate.
- Mail: contact Canada Post to forward the deceased's mail.
- Credit bureaus: notify Equifax and TransUnion of the death to guard against identity fraud.
- Social Insurance Number: if the death happened in a Canadian province, the provincial vital statistics agency automatically notifies the SIN program. If the death happened in a territory or outside Canada, the family or estate must inform the SIN Program yourself.
Notify ServiceOntario
ServiceOntario must be notified to cancel the deceased's driver's licence, accessible parking permit, Ontario health (OHIP) card and outdoors card. The executor or their lawyer also contacts the CPP and OAS/GIS programs about cancelling benefits and any survivor benefits.
A deceased person's accessible parking permit must be returned to ServiceOntario within 30 days. A driver's licence fee refund is claimed at a ServiceOntario centre using the Application for Refund of Driver's Licence Fee.
If the deceased owned a vehicle, transferring it to a beneficiary can be exempt from retail sales tax if supporting estate documents are provided. Jointly registered vehicles have their own rules depending on whether the owners were legally married spouses or not. Confirm current steps with ServiceOntario.
ODSP and the CPP death benefit
If the deceased received Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits and was a single recipient, ODSP pays the final month for full shelter and basic needs, less any overpayment recovery. If a spouse has died, the deceased spouse's 50% share of a split overpayment may be recovered from the estate's assets.
The CPP death benefit is a basic amount of $2,500 plus a possible top-up of $2,500, for a maximum of $5,000. The executor named in the will, or the administrator appointed by the court, applies, and should do so within 60 days of the date of death.
To be eligible, the deceased must have contributed to the CPP for at least one-third of the calendar years in their base CPP contributory period (but no less than three calendar years), or for at least 10 calendar years.
If there is no estate, or the executor has not applied, the benefit can be claimed in this order of priority: the person or institution that paid or is responsible for paying the funeral expenses, then the surviving spouse or common-law partner, then the next of kin.
| Program | Key point |
|---|---|
| CPP and OAS | Estate keeps the month of death; later payments returned |
| Accessible parking permit | Return to ServiceOntario within 30 days |
| CPP death benefit | Up to $5,000; apply within 60 days |
What to do next
- Order several copies of the death certificate, since many offices ask for one.
- Call Service Canada and the CRA right away.
- Contact ServiceOntario about the licence, OHIP card, outdoors card and parking permit.
- Return the passport, arrange mail forwarding and alert Equifax and TransUnion.
- Apply for the CPP death benefit within 60 days.
- Keep a record of every call, letter and payment received or returned.
If benefits were overpaid, a vehicle is involved, or the deceased received ODSP, a lawyer can help you sort out what the estate owes before you distribute anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can the estate keep CPP and OAS paid after death?
The estate keeps the payments for the month of death. All payments issued after that month must be returned. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to cancel the benefits.
Do I need to tell the SIN program about the death?
If the death occurred in a Canadian province, the provincial vital statistics agency automatically notifies the SIN program. If the death occurred in a territory or outside Canada, the family or estate must inform the SIN Program.
Who can claim the CPP death benefit if there is no executor?
If there is no estate or the executor has not applied, it can be claimed by the person or institution responsible for the funeral expenses, then the surviving spouse or common-law partner, then the next of kin.
How do I protect against identity fraud?
The Government of Canada advises notifying the two credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, of the death. Returning the passport and forwarding the mail also helps.
Sources
- Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), s. 159 — Justice Laws (federal)
- Canada.ca – CPP death benefit — canada.ca
- Canada.ca – Cancel CPP and OAS benefits after a death — canada.ca
- Canada.ca – What to do when someone dies: Notify of a death — canada.ca
- Ontario.ca – Guide to programs and services for seniors: End of life — ontario.ca
- Ontario.ca – What to do when someone dies — ontario.ca
- Ontario.ca – ODSP Policy Directive 7.2: Death of a recipient — ontario.ca
- Ontario.ca – Retail Sales Tax: Specified Vehicles — ontario.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
This is a wills & estates question
Start a file online — flat, published fees, reviewed by a licensed lawyer before a dollar is owed.