Canada’s social security system offers a wide range of financial benefits, managed both federally and provincially, to support its citizens.
One key program is the Québec Pension Plan (QPP), which provides essential financial support for people living in Québec. This plan helps with retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for those who have worked and contributed to the QPP. The main types of benefits include:
- Retirement Pension
- Disability Pension
- Survivor Benefits
In this article, we’ll explore how the Québec Pension Plan works and how you can qualify for a retirement pension that lasts for your lifetime. The last QPP payment was issued on March 28, 2024, and the next one is set for April 30, 2024.
What is the Québec Pension Plan (QPP)?
The Québec Pension Plan (QPP) is a mandatory public insurance plan for anyone working in Québec who is 18 or older and makes more than $3,500 a year. Its main goal is to offer financial protection to people working or who have worked in Québec, as well as their families, in case they retire, face a disability, or pass away.
- The QPP offers a retirement pension to contributors starting at age 60. However, if you choose to start collecting the pension before you turn 65, the amount will be reduced.
- How much you receive depends on how much you contributed to the QPP, how long you contributed, and when you decide to start getting the pension.
Who is Eligible for QPP?
Eligibility for the Québec Pension Plan (QPP) depends on a few key factors, including your age, income, job type, and whether you’re dealing with a disability.
- Age and Income: If you’re 18 or older and earn more than $3,500 annually from your job, you’re automatically covered by the QPP. It’s a mandatory insurance plan for workers in this income bracket.
- Employment Status: Whether you’re a paid worker, self-employed, or working in public or private sectors—including municipal or university jobs—you’re included. As long as you’re working in Québec and earning above the minimum, you’ll need to contribute to the QPP.
- Retirement Pension: You need to have worked for at least a year to qualify for a retirement pension. You can start receiving this pension as early as age 60, though the amount will be smaller compared to starting at age 65. Even if you keep working, you can still receive your pension.
- Disability Pension: To qualify for a disability pension, you must be under 65, have a disability confirmed by Retraite Québec’s medical experts, and have made enough contributions to the QPP. Also, to get the disability pension, your earnings must be under $1,680 a month.
If you’ve worked in other parts of Canada, we’ll also take into account your contributions to the Canada Pension Plan when figuring out your retirement pension amount.
What are the QPP Payment Dates?
Your pension will generally be paid on the last working day of the month. You can find the payment dates for the upcoming months below.
| Month | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| April | 30 April 2024 |
| May | 31 May 2024 |
| June | 28 June 2024 |
| July | 31 July 2024 |
| August | 30 August 2024 |
| September | 27 September 2024 |
| October | 31 October 2024 |
| November | 29 November 2024 |
| December | 30 December 2024 |
When Should You Apply for QPP?
You can start applying for the Québec Pension Plan (QPP) as early as 60. However, if you decide to start receiving your pension before you turn 65, you’ll get a lower monthly amount. This happens because your pension will be paid out for a longer time if you begin it earlier.
On the flip side, if you wait to start your pension until after age 65, you’ll get a bigger monthly payment. This approach encourages people to keep working longer, which means they contribute more to the plan and receive payments for a shorter period.
How Much is the Québec Pension Plan (QPP)?
Starting January 1, 2024, the Québec Pension Plan (QPP) got a boost with new maximum monthly amounts. These updates are based on the average of the highest earnings over the past five years. This also includes payments from any additional benefits under the plan.
Retirement Pension
We’ve updated the retirement pension amounts for various ages. If you choose to wait before starting your pension, you’ll now receive more generous benefits.
| Age at which pension starts | Percentage of maximum pension | Maximum monthly pension amount (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 64% | $873.34 |
| 65 | 100% | $1364.60 |
| 72 | 158.8% | $2166.98 |
Disability Benefits
Disability benefits come in different types based on the recipient’s age and other factors. Here’s a quick overview of the main categories:
| Disability benefit type | Maximum monthly amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Disability pension for persons aged 18 to 59 | $1606.75 |
| Disability pension for persons aged 60 to 65 | $583.29 |
| Additional amount for disability for retirement pension beneficiaries | $583.29 |
| Pension for a disabled contributor’s child | $93.39 |
Survivors’ Benefits
Survivors’ benefits have been updated. The amount you get now depends on your age, if you have a disability, and whether you have any children who rely on you.
| Survivor’s situation | Maximum monthly benefit amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Orphan’s pension | $294.12 |
| Surviving spouse under age 45, not disabled, no dependents | $668.91 |
| Surviving spouse under age 45, not disabled, with dependents | $1061.12 |
| Surviving spouse under age 45, disabled, with or without dependents | $1102.80 |
| Surviving spouse between ages 45 and 64 | $1102.80 |
| Surviving spouse age 65 or over | $822.14 |
Québec Pension Plan (QPP) Contribution Overview for 2024
Contribution Limits
In 2024, the basic exemption for the Québec Pension Plan (QPP) is set at $3,500. The maximum amount of earnings you can contribute to is $68,500, and there’s an extra limit of $73,200 for additional contributions.
Contribution Rates
- For Employers and Employees: Both share the cost equally. If your earnings fall between $3,500 and $68,500, you’ll contribute 10.8% to the base plan and 2% to the additional plan. For earnings between $68,500 and $73,200, the rate for the additional plan goes up to 8%.
- For Self-Employed Individuals: You cover both the employer’s and employee’s portions, which means you’ll pay double the rates listed above.
Maximum Contributions
- For Employees and Employers:
- On earnings up to $65,000 (within the standard limit), you’ll contribute $3,510 to the base plan (5.4%) and $650 to the additional plan (1%).
- For earnings between $68,500 and $73,200, you’ll pay $188 (4%) to the additional plan.
- For Self-Employed Individuals:
- On earnings up to $65,000, you’ll pay $7,020 to the base plan (10.8%) and $1,300 to the additional plan (2%).
- For the extra $4,700, you’ll contribute $376 (8%) to the additional plan.
Indexation Rate
Starting January 1, 2024, QPP benefits will be adjusted by 4.4% to keep up with the cost of living and ensure your benefits maintain their purchasing power.
How to Apply for QPP
Applying for your Québec Pension Plan (QPP) retirement pension is a step you need to take yourself—it doesn’t start automatically. To ensure your pension payments begin when you want, it’s best to apply 1 to 3 months before your desired start date.
- Create an Account: Go to the Retraite Québec website and set up your online account.
- Fill Out the Form: Complete the online application form for the QPP benefits you’re seeking.
- Submit Documents: Provide any required documents to support your application.
- Review and Submit: Double-check your application for accuracy before sending it in.
- Track Your Application: After submission, you can monitor the status of your application online.
For the most up-to-date instructions and details, visit the Retraite Québec website.