Modernizing CPP and OAS document rules

Summary#

This is a proposed set of changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) rules published on October 5, 2024. The changes would let people send electronic or uncertified copies of key documents and let the government rely more on other government data sources when deciding benefit claims. This is a proposal (not final); the government asked for public comments for 30 days.

What it does#

• Lets applicants upload documents through My Service Canada Account (MSCA) instead of only sending original or certified paper copies.
• Allows the Minister to accept information from government data sources (for example, the Social Insurance Registry or Canada Revenue Agency records) to confirm:
  • age and identity,
  • marital status,
  • death.
• Allows uncertified copies of birth, marriage and death certificates to be used in many cases. The Minister can still ask for original or certified documents if there are doubts.
• Removes the rule that a school official must sign a student’s declaration of full-time attendance. Students aged 18 to 25 could instead provide an attestation plus supporting electronic proof from their school.
• Extends the option to accept death information supplied by funeral directors and, for deaths outside Canada, data shared by foreign governments where agreements exist.
• Keeps integrity checks: random audits, compliance reviews, and the right to request originals remain in place.

Who's affected#

• People applying for CPP benefits (retirement, disability, survivor, children’s/orphan’s benefits, pension sharing, credit splitting).
• People applying for OAS benefits (OAS pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), the allowance and allowance for survivors).
• Students aged 18 to 25 claiming CPP children’s benefits.
• Funeral directors and provincial vital-statistics offices (their electronic feeds may be used more often).
• Employment and Social Development Canada and Service Canada staff (changes to processing, forms and training).
• The changes are expected to have no material impact on Canadian small businesses, according to the department.

Why it matters#

• It makes applying for CPP and OAS simpler and faster for many people. Applicants would often avoid the cost, time and travel involved in obtaining certified documents or visiting a Service Canada centre.
• It modernizes the system so more claims can be handled online and automatically through MSCA, which could speed up decisions.
• The government expects administrative costs to implement these changes to be less than $1 million per year, while applicants save fees and time. For context, the CPP death benefit is a one-time payment of up to $2,500.
• The proposal codifies temporary rules used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Integrity safeguards remain: officials can still request originals, and audits and investigations would continue.
• This is a proposed regulation. The rules are not final until the public comment period and any further steps are completed.