Notifying Government of a Death in Canada (CRA, Service Canada, CPP)
Notifying Canadian government of a death involves multiple agencies. This guide identifies the key notifications and how to handle each.
Service Canada Notification of Death — single call covers multiple federal benefits
Most important first step.
Service Canada's Notification of Death simultaneously notifies multiple federal programs of a death. Single phone call or online form covers:
What stops with Service Canada notification
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement
- CPP disability
- Old Age Security (OAS)
- Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
- Allowance for the Survivor
- Employment Insurance (EI)
- Specific other federal benefits
How to notify
Phone:
- English: 1-800-277-9914
- French: 1-800-277-9915
- TTY: 1-800-255-4786
Online: Via My Service Canada Account if executor has access.
In person: Service Canada Centre.
What to have ready
- Death certificate (or Statement of Death from funeral home)
- Deceased's Social Insurance Number
- Your contact information and relationship
Last payment of CPP/OAS
Generally retained by family/estate. The payment for the month of death is kept; future payments don't continue.
See Service Canada notification death for detailed Service Canada process.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) notification
Why notify CRA separately
While Service Canada notification may propagate to CRA, best practice is direct CRA notification:
- Confirm CRA awareness
- Establish executor authority for tax matters
- Specific to tax filing requirements
How to notify
Methods:
- Phone CRA Individual line
- Mail with documentation
- Specific procedural forms
Documentation:
- Death certificate
- Will and probate (if available)
- Executor identification
- Specific to circumstances
What this enables
- CRA stops certain benefits (GST/HST credit, Canada Workers Benefit, etc.) if not already
- Establishes executor authority for tax filings
- Sets up estate for final tax return
- Specific to circumstances
See notifying CRA after a death for detailed process.
Provincial Vital Statistics — death registration
Typically handled by funeral director. Provincial death registration is filed by funeral director on behalf of family.
Resulting documents
- Statement of Death (from funeral director — available immediately)
- Death Certificate (from province — available 2-8 weeks after registration)
Family rarely needs to interact directly with provincial Vital Statistics for registration. Ordering additional Death Certificates is separate (online through provincial portals).
See provincial-specific guides — how to register a death in Ontario, BC, Alberta.
Provincial health insurance
What to do
- Return deceased's health card to provincial health ministry
- Cancel coverage
- Specific provincial procedures
By province
Ontario: Through ServiceOntario.
BC: Through Medical Services Plan office.
Alberta: Through Alberta Health Card services.
Other provinces: Through respective provincial health ministries.
Timing
Generally within first 30 days. Card not actively used can be returned later but better to address promptly.
Provincial vehicle registration
If deceased had registered vehicles in their name:
- Vehicle transfer to estate or beneficiary
- Specific provincial procedures
- Specific to province
- Typically requires probate or letters of administration for transfer
Provincial Ministry of Transportation handles. Specific procedures vary.
Veterans Affairs Canada (if applicable)
For deceased veterans:
- Notify Veterans Affairs Canada
- Possible Funeral and Burial Program benefits
- Possible specific veterans benefits
- Through Last Post Fund for funeral benefits
See veteran funeral benefits Canada.
Indigenous Services Canada (if applicable)
For First Nations members living on reserve:
- Specific Indigenous Services Canada procedures
- Specific to on-reserve assets and estates
- Specific to circumstances
Provincial social assistance (if applicable)
If deceased was receiving provincial social assistance:
- Notify provincial social services
- Coverage stops
- Specific to province
- Potentially application for burial assistance for low-income families
Provincial pension (if applicable)
Specific provincial pensions (where applicable):
- Notify provincial pension administrator
- Potential survivor benefits
- Specific to province and pension plan
Practical timeline
Week 1
- Service Canada Notification of Death (phone or online)
- Funeral director files provincial death registration
- Statement of Death received from funeral director
Weeks 2-4
- Order death certificates from province (online)
- CRA notification with documentation
- Return provincial health card
- Notify employer if applicable
Within first 30 days
- Most government notifications complete
- Specific provincial agencies as applicable
- Specific to circumstances
Ongoing
- Tax filings (April 30 of year following death typically)
- Specific federal program follow-up
- Survivor benefit applications
Application for survivor benefits
Service Canada notification stops the deceased's benefits but doesn't automatically start survivor benefits. Separate applications needed for:
- CPP Survivor's Pension
- CPP Children's Benefit
- OAS Allowance for the Survivor
- CPP Death Benefit
- Veterans Affairs survivor benefits (if applicable)
See government death benefits Canada for full overview.
What we focus on at It's Simple Will
The Life Discovery Kit (post-payment) captures government benefits the deceased was receiving, plus specific federal/provincial entitlements. Helps executors notify relevant agencies promptly.
Related guides
Citations & sources
- [1]Service Canada — Death of a Canadian — Government of Canada
- [2]Canada Revenue Agency — Doing Taxes for Someone Who Died — Canada Revenue Agency
Frequently asked questions
What's Service Canada Notification of Death?
Single notification that simultaneously notifies multiple federal programs (CPP, OAS, GIS, EI, etc.) of a death. By phone (1-800-277-9914 English; 1-800-277-9915 French), online via MSCA, or in person. One call covers multiple federal benefits.
Does Service Canada notify CRA?
Sometimes — information may propagate but typically separate CRA notification needed. Best to confirm with CRA directly through formal notification by executor. CRA needs to know for tax filing purposes.
What about provincial health insurance?
Return the deceased's health card to provincial health ministry. Coverage cancelled. Specific provincial procedures — Ontario through ServiceOntario; BC through Medical Services Plan; specific to province.
When should I notify?
Service Canada within first week (prevents benefit overpayments that need to be returned). CRA can follow at tax filing or earlier. Provincial agencies typically within first 30 days. Funeral director handles death registration with provincial vital statistics.
What about the deceased's last CPP/OAS payment?
Generally retained — payment for the month of death is typically kept by family/estate. Service Canada doesn't claw back the month-of-death payment. Future payments don't continue.
What if the deceased was receiving multiple benefits?
Service Canada notification handles most federal benefits at once. Specific provincial benefits (provincial drug coverage, provincial pension if applicable, social assistance) require separate notification through respective provincial agencies.