Do you qualify
The information provided below should be used as a guideline. We encourage you to apply and allow a Service Canada representative to determine if you are eligible.
Do you qualify for the Allowance for the Survivor
You may be able to get the Allowance for the Survivor benefit if:
- your spouse or common-law partner has died and since their death you have not remarried or entered into a common-law relationship
- you are 60 to 64 years of age
- you are a Canadian Citizen or a legal resident
- you have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
- your annual income is less than $30,216
- you are not currently under a sponsorship agreement
Check the maximum annual income threshold.
If you have not resided in Canada for at least 10 years since you turned 18, but you have resided or worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, you may still be eligible for a partial benefit.
Effective October 1, 2025, individuals under a sponsorship agreement are not able to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor benefits for the entire length of their sponsorship agreement. Additionally, the length of Parent and Grandparent (PGP) sponsorship agreements have been extended from 10 to 20 years in all provinces except Quebec.
Other circumstances
If you are an immigrant who is sponsored
If you are a sponsored immigrant you can apply and have your benefit approved however, you will not receive a payment for the Allowance for the Survivor while you are sponsored unless your sponsor:
- is deceased
- is imprisoned for more than 6 months
- has been convicted of an offence against the sponsored individual
- declares personal bankruptcy
If you are an immigrant who is not sponsored
If you are an immigrant who is not sponsored, you may be eligible to receive the Allowance for the Survivor based on the number of years you have resided in Canada after age 18.
If you have lived in Canada for fewer than 10 years since you turned 18, but you have lived or worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, you may be eligible for a partial benefit.
Your Allowance for the Survivor entitlement will gradually increase with every year that you continue to reside in Canada until you have reached 10 years of residence.
If you are in jail
If you are in jail in a Federal institution, you can apply for the Allowance for the Survivor however, you cannot receive a payment until you are released.
Retirement hub
Explore our new retirement planning tool to find out about public pensions, when to collect them and tips to consider for your retirement income.