CPP DEATH BENEFIT
In 1998, the CPP Death Benefit was reduced from $3,580 to $2,500, losing over 51% of its value due to inflation. This amount does not cover the costs of a dignified funeral today.
TAKE ACTION!
WRITE TO YOUR PROVINCIAL & FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES!
FSAC IS CONCERNED WITH THE CURRENT CAP ON THE CANADA PENSION PLAN DEATH BENEFIT, LEFT UNCHANGED SINCE 1998.
IN 1998, THE MAXIMUM CPP DEATH BENEFIT WAS REDUCED FROM $3,580 TO $2,500
IT HAS BEEN FIXED AT $2,500 FOR OVER TWO DECADES, WITHOUT ANY INFLATIONARY INCREASE.
THE REDUCED BENEFIT PREDOMINANTLY IMPACTS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS.
Plan to meet with a provincial or federal representative (elected or candidate)? Want to raise their awareness to this situation? FSAC gathered key points for discussion.
TAKE ACTION AND WRITE TO YOUR PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES!
Using the Push Politics Tool you can send letters of concern to your provincial and federal representatives (elected or candidate). All you need to do is enter your postal code and basic contact information to send a letter on behalf of the profession to your provincial and federal representatives.
This tool is important for the funeral service profession because the saying “all politics is local” continues to be true and it could ensure we are successful in raising awareness of this issue. Your political representatives need to know their constituents have concerns with this issue.
Click on the button below to access the tool.
When prompted, enter your address or postal code. The system will upload the names and contact information of your provincial and federal representatives (elected or candidates). Simply fill in the blanks!
Through your support, the funeral service profession hopes to restore the 1997 CPP Death Benefit rate to $3,580.00, to apply an annual index to the CPP Death Benefit to keep pace with inflation, and to 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.
Push Politics is easy and effective! Don’t hesitate – write your provincial and federal representatives now!
FSAC MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
The CPP Death Benefit was reduced from $3,580 to $2,500 in 1998, losing over 51% of its value due to inflation. This amount does not cover the costs of a dignified funeral today. FSAC is interacting with key players and requesting that the CPP Death Benefit be restored to it's previous amount and an annual index be applied in order to keep pace with inflation. FSAC is also requesting for Canadian families to be able to assign the CPP Death Benefit to licensed funeral service providers.
The Eligible Funeral Arrangements are also being discussed with Members of Parliament. FSAC is asking for these amounts to increase to $25,000 for funeral services and $30,000 for cemetery services.
You can read more about these recommendations and the progress made on these topics below:
FSAC Meets with MP Corey Tochor
April 30, 2021
Allan Cole, Janet Ricciuti, Faye Doucette and Jeff Weafermet met with Corey Tochor, MLA for Saskatoon-University, Saskatchewan to discuss the CPP Death Benefit and Eligible Funeral Arrangements.
FSAC Meets with MP Ryan Turnbull
March 18, 2021
Allan Cole, Phil Fredette, and Diane Hull, together with Randy Ling of Mount Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery met with Ryan Turnbull, Liberal MP for Whitby, Ontario and Member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities to discuss the CPP Death Benefit and Eligible Funeral Arrangements.
FSAC Meets with MP Jamie Schmale
FSAC met with Jamie Schmale, MP and member of HUMA - the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. We had a wonderful discussion about the potential to restore the CPP death benefit to the 1997 amount and the CRA ceilings on Eligible Funeral Arrangements and felt that Mr. Schmale was supportive of our discussions.
March 2, 2021
FSAC Meets with MP Wayne Long
February 9, 2021
Allan Cole and Bruce Hogg, together with Stephen MacMackin of Brenan's Funeral Home, and Nancy Matthews of Castle Funeral Home and as President of the New Brunswick Funeral Directors & Embalmers Association met with Wayne Long, Liberal MP for Saint-John - Rothesay, New Brunswick and Member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities to discuss the CPP Death Benefit and Eligible Funeral Arrangements.
FSAC Meets with MP Scott Duvall
November 12, 2020
FSAC Board of Directors and members met with the Scott Duvall, MP for Hamilton Mountain, ON and NDP Critic for Seniors. Together, we discussed how increases to the CPP Death Benefit would support low-income seniors in Canada.
FSAC Meets with MP Sean Casey
November 13, 2020
FSAC Board of Directors and members met with Sean Casey, MP for Charlottetown, PEI, and Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Together, we discussed how increases to the CPP Death Benefit would support low-income seniors in Canada.
FSAC Meets with MP Rosemarie Falk
November 12, 2020
FSAC Board of Directors and members met with and Rosemarie Falk, MP for Battlefords – Lloydminster, SK, Shadow Minister for Seniors and Member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development, and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. As a group, we discussed how the CPP Death Benefit can be updated to support low-income seniors in Canada.
FSAC Submits Pre-Budget Considerations in Advance of the Upcoming Federal Budget
February 2021
FSAC wrote to the Federal Government ahead of the Federal Budget with five key recommendations:
- Que le gouvernement rétablisse le taux de la prestation de décès du Régime de pensions du Canada de 1997 au montant de 3 580 $.
- Que le gouvernement applique un indice annuel à la prestation de décès du RPC afin de suivre le rythme de l'inflation.
- Que le gouvernement fournisse un mécanisme permettant aux Canadiens de céder la prestation de décès du RPC à des fournisseurs de services funéraires autorisés afin de compenser les dépenses et de réduire les coûts administratifs inutiles.
- That the Government increase the EFA limits to the amount of $25,000 for funeral services and $30,000 for cemetery services.
- That the Government amend section 148.1 of the Income Tax Act, in respect to the EFAs, to include an automatic annual indexation that would take effect every year based on the previous year’s Consumer Price Index.
