FSAC Provides Letters to Send to MP for CPP Benefit
Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit
Many Canadian families rely on the Death Benefit to assist with paying funeral and cemetery costs at the time of need. It allows them to give a final tribute that celebrates and honours the deceased in a way that is fitting for that individual, their family and their cultural and religious beliefs. The current maximum death benefit rate of $2,500* does not even come close to meeting end of life expenses.
Restore the 1997 CPP Death Benefit rate to $3,580.00
Apply an annual index to the CPP Death Benefit to keep pace with inflation and;
Provide a mechanism for Canadians to assign the CPP Death Benefit to licensed funeral service providers to offset funeral expenses and reduce unnecessary administration costs.
A recent poll conducted by the Funeral Service Association of Canada found that the average cost of a funeral service was $6,000. The average cost is inclusive of fulfilling basic legal requirements upon death and services related to conducting bereavement rights and ceremonies befitting to an individuals cultural and religious beliefs. The cost does not include other provisions such as a casket, cemetery lot, crematorium fee, urn, or other items depending upon the services requested.
Supporting dignified funeral services for Canadians - the CPP death benefit has lost 37.8% of its value over the past two decades.
