If the death occurred in Canada

In most cases, Service Canada does not require proof of death to cancel OAS and CPP benefits. In situations where proof of the date of death is required, Service Canada will notify the estate or the person responsible for handling the deceased’s affairs.

If the death occurred outside Canada

Service Canada requires proof of the beneficiary’s date of death to cancel OAS and CPP benefits.

The following are common documents that will be accepted as proof of the date of death:

• official death certificate issued under the authority of some level of government (domestic or foreign) where the death occurred
• a document issued by a level of domestic or foreign government (federal, provincial, state, territorial, municipal, etc.) indicating the date of death (for example, Japanese Family Register, Portuguese Cédula Pessoal, etc.)
• funeral home burial or death certificate issued:
  • in accordance with the custom of any religious denomination by an ordained religious leader; or
  • by the funeral director; or
  • by any person who is authorized to issue such documents through the funeral home (this may vary from province to province)
• medical certificate of death issued by the attending doctor or coroner
• statement by a doctor last in attendance, a coroner or a funeral director using stationery with the appropriate identifying letterhead
• registration of death under a provincial or territorial authority
• certification of death by social security authorities in another country where an international agreement on social security exists with that country
• memorandum of Notification of Death issued by the Chief of National Defence Staff, Department of National Defence Canada, where the death of a member of the Canadian Forces occurs outside Canada
• statement of Verification of Death from the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada written on the letterhead of the Department
• official notification from the Administrator of the Estate appointed by a court
• certified (by notary public) copy of the Letters of Probate
• life or group insurance claim provided it includes a statement signed by a medical doctor
• an official notification written on the letterhead of a Provincial Public Trustee or Administrator of Estates

To be acceptable as a proof of death, a document must:

• be an original or certified copy;
• be on official letterhead or contain a seal;
• be dated, readable and not altered; and
• contain the following information:
  • the name of the deceased individual;
  • the date and place of death; and
  • the name and signature of a person authorized to issue the document.

Please contact Service Canada pension call centre if you need to verify that a document is acceptable as proof of the date of death.

Repayment method for payments received by direct deposit

If the beneficiary received payments by direct deposit, please have the bank return any payments deposited after the date of death to the originator, or send a cheque to pension processing office in Canadian funds made payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

Repayment method for payments received by cheque

If the beneficiary received payments by cheque, please return any cheques received after the month of death to:

• Cheque Redemption Control Directorate
  Returned Cheques
  PO Box 2000
  Matane QC  G4W 4N5

Please make sure to include the name and address of the estate or the person responsible for handling the deceased’s affairs (if known).

If the beneficiary’s death occurred outside Canada, we require proof of the date of death (if not already submitted).