Benefits for children under 25
Benefits for children under 25
From: Employment and Social Development Canada
Step 1 Overview
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) children's benefits provide monthly payments to the dependent children of disabled or deceased CPP contributors.
There are 2 types of CPP children's benefits:
- a disabled contributor's child's benefit – a monthly payment for a child of the person receiving a CPP disability benefit or a post-retirement disability benefit
- a surviving child's benefit – a monthly payment for a child of the deceased contributor. For the benefit to be paid, the deceased contributor must have made sufficient contributions to the CPP
A maximum of 2 children's benefits can be paid to a child.
Step 2 Do you qualify
To be eligible, the child must be either:
- under age 18, or
- under age 25 and in full-time or part-time attendance at a recognized school or university
The child must also be:
- the natural child of the contributor
- a child adopted "legally" or "in fact" by the contributor while under the age of 21
- a child "legally" or "in fact" living with and under the contributor’s decision-making responsibility while under the age of 21
A child may be eligible if the parent or guardian:
- is receiving a CPP disability benefit (either the disability benefit or the post-retirement disability benefit)
- has died and met the CPP contributory requirements for a CPP death benefit
If the child is age 18 to 25, the child must be in full-time or part-time attendance at a recognized educational institution in order to receive a children's benefit.
Note: If the disabled contributor is over the age of 65 and the child stops attending school, the child’s eligibility to the disabled contributor’s child’s benefit ends.
The monthly children's benefit is based on a flat rate that is adjusted annually.
Step 3 How much could a child receive
The monthly children's benefit is based on a flat rate that is adjusted annually.
Children aged 18 to 25 and in full-time attendance at a recognized school or university receive the flat rate of $301.77 (2025).
Children aged 18 to 25 and in part-time attendance at a recognized school or university receive half of the flat rate, which is $150.89 (2025).
Consult the table of current Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payment amounts.
Step 4 When to apply
Dependent children, or their parent or guardian, should complete an application when any of the following happens:
- a parent or guardian has applied for a disability benefit (you do not have to wait for the benefit to be approved before applying)
- when a child begins living with a parent or guardian who receives a disability benefit
- a parent or guardian dies
You should apply as soon as possible. If you delay, you might lose benefits. The Canada Pension Plan can only make back payments for up to 12 months (11 months plus the month you apply).
Step 5 Who should complete the application
If you have custody and control of a dependent child of a disabled or deceased contributor and the child is under the age of 18, you should apply for the children's benefit on behalf of the child. However, children under age 18, who are living on their own and capable of managing their own affairs may complete their own application.
Step 6 Apply
Apply for a child under age 18
Child of a disabled contributor:
- complete the Application for Benefits for Under Age 18 Children of a Canada Pension Plan Disabled Contributor (ISP1152), or
- complete section F of the Application for Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits (ISP1151)
- include copies of the required documentation, and
- mail the form to us or drop it off at a Service Canada office
Child of a deceased contributor:
- complete the Application for a Canada Pension Plan Survivor's Pension and Child(ren)'s Benefits (ISP1300)
- include copies of the required documentation, and
- mail the form to us or drop it off at a Service Canada office
Note: Photocopies of documents will be accepted when proof is required. Service Canada may request an original or certified copy at any time.
Apply for a child aged 18 to 25 in full-time or part-time attendance at a recognized school or university
Students aged 18 to 25 who are applying for children's benefit are required to have the Declaration of Attendance at School or University signed by the registrar at the educational institution they are attending or provide proof of enrollment. If the student is no longer in school or their enrollment status changes, they are required to notify us.
Note: Effective January 1, 2025, if you, or anyone else, were receiving Disabled Contributor’s Children’s Benefits, those benefits may continue after the contributor reaches age 65.
Declaration of attendance at school or university
You should have received a Canada Pension Plan Child’s Benefit Application and Declaration for a Student Over 18 years of Age in Attendance at School or University. You are required to complete this document and provide proof of enrolment.
We will accept the following as proof of enrolment:
- an official proof of enrolment document from your on-line student account, or
- an electronic attestation from a school official, such as an email, confirming that you are in full-time or part-time attendance
The attestation must be a written statement or declaration that includes:
- your name
- your student ID
- your program of study
- information about your school (name and address)
- start and end dates for the semester, term or school year, and
- enrolment status for the semester, term or school year (full-time or part-time)
If you are a full-time student and applying for the first time, there are 2 ways to apply:
- online using My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or
- using a paper application
If you are a part-time student and applying for the first time, you must apply using the paper application.
Apply online
- Sign in to your My Service Canada Account (MSCA) and complete the online Canada Pension Plan Children’s Benefit application
- Upload your signed Declaration of Attendance at School or University or a proof of enrolment
Apply using a paper application
- Complete the Canada Pension Plan Child’s Benefit Application and Declaration for a student over 18 years of age in Attendance at School or University (ISP1402)
- Include copies of the required documentation, and
- Mail the forms to us or drop them off at a Service Canada office
If you are a dependent child aged 18 to 25, and in full-time or part-time attendance at a school or university, you should apply for the children's benefit yourself.
Renewing benefits for a child aged 18 to 25 who is attending a recognized school or university
Full-time Students
If you are a full-time student aged 18 to 25 there are 2 ways to renew your benefits:
- online using My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or
- by paper application
To renew your benefits online, you must:
- sign in to your My Service Canada Account (MSCA) and complete the online Declaration of Attendance at School or University, and
- upload your proof of enrolment
Part-time Students
If you are a part-time student aged 18 to 25 you must renew your benefits using the paper form.
To renew your benefits using a paper form, you must:
- complete the Canada Pension Plan Child’s Benefit Application and Declaration for a student over 18 years of age in Attendance at School or University (ISP1402)
- include your proof of enrolment, and
- mail the form to us or drop it off at a Service Canada office
School attendance for child aged 18 to 25
If you are age 18 to 25, you must be attending school full-time or part-time at a recognized educational institution in order to receive a children's benefit.
Recognized school or university
We define recognized educational institutions as:
- schools
- colleges
- universities
- other educational institutions
That provide training or instruction of an:
- educational
- professional
- vocational
- technical nature
The institution must also be recognized by the province in which it is located.
Attending school outside Canada
The school must be recognized by the CPP, and you must continue to meet all eligibility requirements.
Attending school at multiple institutions
If you are taking courses at more than one educational institution, the course hours may add up to full-time attendance. Each situation is considered. Contact Service Canada for details.
Taking evening classes
The amount and duration of classes determine full-time or part-time school attendance, not whether the classes are taken during the day or evening. Evening classes and daytime classes have the same value when determining school attendance.
Taking virtual or off-site classes
It is possible to be considered a full-time or part-time student without being physically present at the institution. Documentation requirements are different for students taking correspondence classes. To obtain information on documentation necessary to satisfy the requirements to be eligible for a child's benefit, please contact Service Canada.
Completing prerequisites to complete a program
Students who have obtained a diploma or degree may have to take additional classes. Students may also need to take a class or multiple classes to complete the requirements of a certificate, diploma or degree. Those students can be considered in full-time attendance if it is proven that the class is a prerequisite or a requirement to complete their program.
Vacation
The children's benefit is paid during normal school vacations, but will stop if the child has not sent us a signed school attendance form when the child returns to school following vacation.
You must complete the declaration form when you first apply for the benefit, at the beginning of every school year, and when you return to school after taking a break from your studies.
We may also ask you to renew your benefits at the beginning of each semester if you are:
- on a semester system
- if your attendance starts in the middle of the traditional school year
The Canada Pension Plan Child’s Benefit Application and Declaration for a student over 18 years of age in Attendance at School or University (ISP1402) must be completed each year or semester and signed by both the child and a school official.
If the child leaves school and then later returns to school full time or part-time, the child must complete a new Canada Pension Plan Child’s Benefit Application and Declaration for a student over 18 years of age in Attendance at School or University (ISP1402).
Step 7 After you apply
Your first payment
Children of disabled CPP contributors:
- the month the contributor's disability benefit starts
- the month after the child is born or becomes the contributor's child, or
- 12 months before the application was received, including the month it was received
Children of deceased CPP contributors:
- the month after the contributor's death
- the month after the child is born or becomes the contributor's child, or
- 12 months before the application was received, including the month it was received
Who receives the payment
Children of disabled CPP contributors:
The benefit is paid on behalf of the child to the disabled contributor, if:
- the disabled contributor lives with and has decision-making responsibility of the child
- the child lives with the disabled contributor; and
- the child is under age 18
If the child lives apart from the disabled contributor, the person or agency that has decision making responsibility and care of the child may receive the disabled contributor’s child benefit on behalf of the child.
Children of deceased CPP contributors:
The benefit is paid on behalf of the child to the person or agency that lives with and has care of the child. However, in some cases, a children's benefit can be paid directly to children under age 18 who have applied and are capable of managing their own affairs.
Children aged 18 to 25 in full-time attendance at a recognized school or university:
The benefit is paid directly to the child.
When the benefit could stop
The benefit will stop:
- the month after the child turns 18, or, if between the ages of 18 to 25, is no longer in full-time or part-time attendance at a school or university
- the month after the child turns 25
- the month after a child is no longer living with or in the care of the parent or guardian receiving a disability benefit
- the month after the child dies
If your situation changes
You must notify Service Canada if:
- you stop attending school (for children 18 to 25 years old)
- your enrollment status changes (for children 18 to 25 years old)
- your relationship to the contributor ends or changes
- your decision-making responsibility and parenting time a dependent child starts, changes, or ends, and/or
- you change your name, address or bank account for direct deposit.
Remember, if you receive payments you are not entitled to, you will have to pay them back.
When a child reaches 18
Children are eligible for benefits from age 18 until age 25, as long as they remain in full-time or part-time attendance at a school or university.
Please refer to the section on how to apply for a child aged 18 to 25 in full-time or part-time attendance at a recognized school or university.
When a child works in the summer
Eligibility for the children's benefit is not affected by working in the summer.
When a child gets married
Benefits are not affected if the child marries, as long as all eligibility requirements continue to be met.
Converting a disabled contributor's child's benefit into a surviving child's benefit
Your eligibility for the disabled contributor's children's benefit would end the month of your parent's death. However, you could then be eligible for the children's benefit as the child of a deceased CPP contributor.
If you are aged 18 to 25 and receiving the benefit, we convert it to a surviving child's benefit automatically when we are notified of the contributor's death. However, an application for the surviving child's benefit must be made for children under the age of 18.
Absences from school
You must notify Service Canada should you interrupt, terminate or reduce your attendance at school or university. Please notify Service Canada when you have any absences to determine what may be required to continue receiving your benefits.
Note: Make sure to document the duration and reasons for absences during your current or past academic year on the Canada Pension Plan Child’s Benefit Application and Declaration for a student over 18 years of age in Attendance at School or University (ISP1402).
For extended absence periods, you will require an illness certificate (ISP-1403).
Circumstances where absences would require an illness certificate
Absences that occur during the school year
Illness certificates can cover temporary breaks in attendance, starting after the beginning of the school year and ending before its scheduled completion. A new declaration of attendance must be provided to confirm continuation of full-time or part-time studies.
Absences that last until the end of a school year
Illness certificates can cover the period up to the scheduled end of the school year.
Absences that extend into the following school year
Illness certificates can cover a period that extends into the next school year. A new declaration of attendance form must be provided to confirm continuation of full-time or part-time studies.
Page details
- Date modified: