Death Benefit (Quebec Pension Plan)

Responsibility: Régie des rentes du Québec

Upon your death, if you have contributed to the Quebec Pension Plan, a death benefit may be paid up to a maximum of $2,500.

Who receives the death benefit?
The benefit is paid first to the person or charity that paid your funeral expenses, up to the amount of the expenses or $2,500. In this case, the claim must be submitted with proof of payment within 60 days of death.

After 60 days, if no application has been made, the death benefit may be paid to the heirs. The maximum time limit to apply is five years from the date of death.

Note: The Régie des rentes du Québec does not reimburse expenses related to pre-arranged funeral services. However, it does pay a sum of $2,500 to the heirs who request it. The death benefit is taxable.

The death benefit is an amount paid by the Régie des rentes du Québec in priority to the person or charitable organization that paid the funeral expenses of a deceased person. It is paid only if the deceased had made sufficient contributions to the Quebec Pension Plan.

If no application has been submitted with proof of payment of funeral expenses by the end of the prescribed period, the death benefit may be paid to the heirs. If there are no heirs, it may be paid to either :

  • to the spouse of the deceased
  • the deceased's descendants
  • the ascendants of the deceased.

In addition, if the amount paid to the funeral payor is less than the maximum death benefit, the balance may be paid to the heirs.

BENEFITS / GRANTS

The death benefit consists of a maximum of $2,500, paid in a lump sum.

This amount is taxable and must be reported in the estate's income.

***Restrictions:
When the funeral expenses were paid by a person who is not part of the estate, the estate does not have to add the amount of