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The Allowance For The Survivor (AFS) Program

The Allowance for the Survivor (AFS) program is a financial assistance program offered by the Government of Canada. It helps surviving spouses or common-law partners of Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributors. The purpose of the AFS program is to provide a monthly benefit to the surviving spouse or common-law partner. This is to help them meet their financial needs after the death of their partner. Throughout this text, the term spouse will refer to spouse or common-law partner.

The AFS program is administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). To be eligible for the AFS program, the surviving spouse must meet certain eligibility criteria, including being the legal spouse of the deceased CPP contributor at the time of their death, and not being eligible for a higher pension from the CPP survivor’s pension or from their own CPP retirement pension.

Canada Pension Plan & AFS Program Payment Dates

  • January 27, 2023
  • February 24, 2023
  • March 29, 2023
  • April 26, 2023
  • May 29, 2023
  • June 28, 2023
  • July 27, 2023
  • August 29, 2023
  • September 27, 2023
  • October 27, 2023
  • November 28, 2023
  • December 20, 2023

How To Apply For The Allowance For The Survivor Program?

To apply for the AFS program, the surviving spouse must complete an application form. They will also need to provide proof of their relationship to the deceased CPP contributor. Plus, AFS will require proof of their income and assets. The application process can be done online or by mail.

The amount of the AFS benefit is based on the CPP contributions made by the deceased contributor during their lifetime. The benefit is calculated as a percentage of the deceased’s CPP retirement pension. The percentage depends on the age of the surviving spouse or common-law partner at the time of their partner’s death.

For surviving spouses who are 60 years of age or older at the time of their partner’s death, the AFS benefit is equal to 60% of the deceased’s CPP retirement pension. For surviving spouses who are under 60 years of age at the time of their partner’s death, the AFS benefit is equal to 37.5% of the deceased’s CPP retirement pension.

Can I Combine The AFS With Other Programs?

In addition to the AFS benefit, surviving spouses may also be eligible for the CPP survivor’s pension. The CPP survivor’s pension is a separate benefit from the AFS program. That one is based on the contributions made by the deceased contributor and the surviving spouse to the CPP.

The CPP survivor’s pension is available to surviving spouses who are at least 60 years of age. The need not to be receiving a CPP retirement pension based on their own contributions. The amount of the CPP survivor’s pension is calculated as a percentage of the deceased’s CPP retirement pension. Again the percentage depends on the age of the surviving spouse at the time they start receiving the benefit.

Surviving spouses who are 60 years of age or older at the time they start receiving the CPP survivor’s pension are eligible for a benefit equal to 60% of the deceased’s CPP retirement pension. Surviving spouses who are under that age start receiving the CPP survivor’s pension are eligible for a benefit equal to 37.5% of the deceased’s CPP retirement pension.

The AFS program and the CPP survivor’s pension are both designed to help surviving spouses meet their financial needs. The AFS program provides a monthly benefit to the surviving spouse to help them meet their immediate needs. The CPP survivor’s pension provides a longer-term financial support.

Am I Eligible For The AFS And CPP Programs?

Eligibility for the AFS program and the CPP survivor’s pension is based on the contributions made by the deceased contributor and the surviving spouse to the CPP. To be eligible for either benefit, the deceased contributor must have made sufficient contributions to the CPP during their working years, and the surviving spouse must have also made contributions to the CPP, either as a contributor or as a survivor of a contributor.

In addition to the Allowance For The Survivor program and the CPP survivor’s pension, surviving spouses may also be eligible for other financial assistance programs offered by the Government of Canada, such as the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). These programs are designed to provide additional financial support to seniors and may be available to surviving spouses who are 60 years of age or older and who meet the eligibility criteria.

The AFS program and the CPP survivor’s pension are important resources for surviving spouses who are facing financial challenges after the death of their partner. These programs provide a much-needed source of income and financial support to help surviving spouses meet their immediate and long-term financial needs. If you are a surviving spouse of a CPP contributor and are facing financial challenges, it is important to explore all available options and to seek out the financial assistance and support that is available to you.