CPP Payment Dates 2026 — Full Schedule
CPP payments are deposited on the third-to-last business day of each month. Service Canada processes all payments automatically — if you have direct deposit set up, funds arrive on these exact dates:
| Month | Payment Date | Days Until Payment |
|---|---|---|
| January | January 29, 2026 | — |
| February | February 26, 2026 | — |
| March | March 27, 2026 | — |
| April | April 28, 2026 | — |
| May | May 27, 2026 | — |
| June | June 26, 2026 | — |
| July | July 29, 2026 | — |
| August | August 27, 2026 | — |
| September | September 25, 2026 | — |
| October | October 29, 2026 | — |
| November | November 26, 2026 | — |
| December | December 22, 2026 | — |
Pro Tip: Set Up Direct Deposit
Payments arrive same-day with direct deposit. Without it, cheques may take 5–10 business days to arrive. Set up direct deposit through My Service Canada Account at canada.ca.
CPP Maximum Monthly Amounts for 2026
Your actual CPP payment depends on how much you contributed during your working years and when you start collecting. Here are the 2026 maximum amounts:
| CPP Benefit Type | Maximum Monthly (2026) | Average Monthly (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement pension (age 65) | $1,433.00 | ~$815 |
| Retirement pension (age 60, early) | $1,002.10 | ~$570 |
| Retirement pension (age 70, delayed) | $2,034.86 | ~$1,156 |
| Post-retirement benefit | $40.25/month max | Varies |
| Disability benefit | $1,673.24 | ~$1,100 |
| Survivor's pension (under 65) | $739.31 | ~$500 |
| Survivor's pension (65+) | $859.80 | ~$300 |
| Death benefit (one-time) | $2,500 | $2,500 |
Important: Very few Canadians receive the maximum CPP — you'd need to have earned the Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE) every year from age 18 to 65 and contributed the maximum each year. The average Canadian receives about 57% of the maximum.
Should You Take CPP at 60, 65, or 70?
This is one of the most important retirement decisions you'll make. Here's the math:
| Start Age | Adjustment | Monthly (on $815 avg) | Break-Even Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 (early) | −36% (0.6% × 60 months) | $522/month | 74.4 |
| 65 (standard) | No adjustment | $815/month | — |
| 70 (delayed) | +42% (0.7% × 60 months) | $1,157/month | ~73.9 |
The General Rule of Thumb:
- Take CPP early (age 60–64) if you have a serious health condition, you need the income now, or you have other savings to supplement
- Take CPP at 65 if you're in average health and unsure — the breakeven point is around 75
- Delay to 70 if you're in good health, still working, or want to maximize lifetime income — the 42% boost is significant
CPP Enhancement: The Second Pension
Since 2019, the federal government has been phasing in CPP Enhancement — a second, additional pension on top of the base CPP. If you've worked since 2019, you're building two CPP pensions:
- Base CPP — replaces 25% of average career earnings (up to YMPE)
- Enhanced CPP — adds up to 8.33% more replacement of earnings above the YMPE threshold
By the time workers who started contributing in 2019 retire, CPP will replace up to 33.33% of average career earnings — a significant increase from the old 25%.
How to Check Your Estimated CPP Amount
You can check your projected CPP retirement pension in minutes:
- Sign in to My Service Canada Account at canada.ca
- Click on "Canada Pension Plan" under Benefits
- Click "View Statement of Contributions"
- Your estimated benefit at age 60, 65, and 70 is shown
CPP and Taxes
CPP payments are taxable income — they are added to your other income and taxed at your marginal rate. However, unlike RRSP withdrawals, there is no withholding tax automatically deducted. You can request voluntary tax withholding through Service Canada to avoid a tax bill in April.
Also Collecting OAS?
Most Canadians collecting CPP also receive Old Age Security (OAS). OAS has different payment dates and its own set of rules. See our OAS Payment Dates 2026 guide for the full schedule.
Estimate Your Retirement Income
Use our free CPP & OAS Estimator to see your projected government retirement income:
Disclaimer: CPP amounts and dates are subject to change by Service Canada. Always verify current payment dates at canada.ca. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.