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You can start the CPP retirement pension at any age from 60 to 70. Every month before 65 cuts the pension by 0.6%, up to 36% at age 60. Every month after 65 adds 0.7%, up to 42% at age 70. The 2026 maximum at 65 is $1,507.65 a month, and the average for new beneficiaries at 65 was $858.34 in July 2026.
How much does the CPP pension change if I start at 60, 65 or 70?
The Canada.ca page on when to start your CPP retirement pension sets the adjustments: a 0.6% cut for each month you start before your 65th birthday and a 0.7% increase for each month after it. Nobody can start before 60, and waiting past 70 gives no extra. The table applies those percentages to the 2026 maximum of $1,507.65. These dollar figures are our calculation, not figures printed by the government, and most people receive less than the maximum.
| Start age | Adjustment | Monthly pension at the 2026 maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 36% lower | $964.90 |
| 62 | 21.6% lower | $1,182.00 |
| 65 | None | $1,507.65 |
| 67 | 16.8% higher | $1,760.94 |
| 70 | 42% higher | $2,140.86 |
How is the CPP retirement pension calculated?
The Canada.ca page on how much you could receive names three factors: the age you start, how much and for how long you contributed, and your average earnings over your working life. There is no single formula on the page, but it lists protections for low-earning years.
- You can leave out up to 8 of your lowest-earning years when the base part of the pension is worked out, and the enhanced part uses your best 40 years.
- Months when you received a CPP disability pension are excluded, and the child-rearing provision can help if you earned little while raising young children.
- If you keep working after 65 before you start the pension, those earnings can replace lower-earning years, but only when that raises the pension.
- After a separation or divorce, CPP credits can be split between spouses or common-law partners.
The Canada.ca page on your statement of contributions explains how to see your record in My Service Canada Account (View my contributions) or by mail. Compare it with your T4 slips. If a year is missing or wrong, contact CPP, because errors can affect your future pension. Employees can send T4 copies or a signed employer letter, and self-employed people their T1 return and Notice of Assessment.
Why do most people get less than the maximum?
The $1,507.65 maximum applies to benefits that begin in January 2026 and assumes top contributions for a long working life. The average new pension at 65 is far lower at $858.34. Contributions are 5.95% of earnings between the $3,500 basic exemption and the $74,600 earnings ceiling in 2026, so anyone who earned below that ceiling, took time out, or came to Canada later builds a smaller pension. The 2026 maximum employee contribution is $4,230.45, plus 4% on earnings between $74,600 and $85,000 (up to $416.00) under the second additional plan, CPP2. For the 2027 contribution ceilings, see our article on the 2027 CPP ceilings and maximum contribution.
How and when do I apply for CPP?
The Canada.ca page on applying for the CPP retirement pension says you can apply up to 12 months before the month you want the pension to start. You need to be at least 60 and have made at least one valid contribution, as the CPP eligibility page explains.
| Step | What to do | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Check your record | Check your statement of contributions against your T4 slips | Before applying |
| Apply online | Use My Service Canada Account | Up to 12 months before your start date; decision mailed within 28 days |
| Apply on paper | Form ISP-1000 (required if you live outside Canada) | Decision mailed within 120 days |
| Have ready | Social Insurance Number and direct deposit details | At application |
| Late application | You can ask for a start date up to 11 months before the month the application arrived, but not earlier than the month after your 65th birthday | Only if you apply after 65 |
Payments are monthly, and the amount goes up each January if the cost of living rises. Tax is not automatically taken off CPP payments in Canada. You can ask for monthly deductions. Details are on the Canada.ca page on receiving your benefits.
Can I work while I collect CPP, and what is the post-retirement benefit?
Working does not reduce the pension. If you are under 70, still working and still contributing, each year of contributions earns a post-retirement benefit, paid on top of the pension. Under the Canada.ca eligibility page for the benefit, contributions are mandatory from age 60 to 65 for people drawing the pension (outside Quebec) and optional from 65 to 70. To stop contributing at 65 or later, an employee files form CPT30 with the employer and the CRA.
Each year of contributions adds a small separate amount. The Canada.ca page on the benefit amount puts the maximum at 2.5% (1/40th) of the maximum pension, because it comes from one year of contributions. For 2026 at age 65 that is $54.69 a month at most, and the average for new beneficiaries is $26.25. The Canada.ca pages I read do not say whether CPP2 earnings feed into this benefit, so check the Canada Revenue Agency page on CPP contribution rates and maximums before assuming either way.
What does starting early or late look like for one person?
Take a worker whose pension would be $900 a month at 65. This is a made-up case to show the arithmetic, using the percentages above. Starting at 60 gives $576 a month, 36% less. Starting at 70 gives $1,278 a month, 42% more. Between 60 and 65 the early starter collects $576 for 60 months, which is $34,560. After 65 the person who waited receives $324 a month more ($900 minus $576), so it takes about 107 months, close to 9 years, for the waiting strategy to catch up in total dollars. That is roughly age 74, before tax and before cost-of-living increases. Health, other income, tax brackets and a spouse’s pension all change the picture, which is why the CRA and Service Canada pages describe the choice rather than recommend an age. You can test your own numbers in our CPP calculator.
What could change?
The 2027 maximum pension has not been published yet (checked 31 October 2026). The page that lists monthly amounts, CPP pensions and benefits monthly amounts, shows the 2026 figures. Old Age Security has its own deferral rules, covered in our article on OAS pension amounts and deferral, and our 2026 versus 2027 tax numbers page tracks what has been published for next year.
Where does this information come from?
Figures and rules come from the Canada.ca pages on when to start the CPP retirement pension, how much you could receive, applying, the CPP monthly amounts table, the post-retirement benefit and the CRA page on CPP contribution rates and maximums, all read on 31 October 2026. Checked on 31 October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, we collect information from open sources, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the earliest age I can start the CPP retirement pension?
You can start the CPP retirement pension at 60 if you have made at least one valid CPP contribution. Starting at 60 reduces the pension by 0.6% for every month before your 65th birthday, which adds up to a permanent 36% reduction.
How much does CPP go up if I wait until 70?
The pension rises 0.7% for each month you wait after 65, to a maximum of 42% at age 70. Waiting beyond 70 gives no further increase, so there is no reason to delay the application past that age.
What is the maximum CPP retirement pension in 2026?
The maximum CPP retirement pension at 65 is $1,507.65 a month for benefits beginning in January 2026, according to Canada.ca. The average for new beneficiaries at 65 was $858.34 in July 2026, so most people receive well below the maximum.
How far ahead can I apply for CPP?
You can apply up to 12 months before the month you want the pension to begin. Online applications through My Service Canada Account get a decision by mail within 28 days, and paper applications within 120 days.
Can I keep working after I start my CPP pension?
Yes, working does not reduce the pension. If you are under 70 and still contributing, you earn a post-retirement benefit. The 2026 maximum at 65 is $54.69 a month, and contributions are required from 60 to 65 and optional from 65 to 70.
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