Reaching age 60 or 65 does not normally trigger Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement payments. Even if you have contributed for decades and qualify for a pension, you generally need to choose when you want it to start and submit an application.
In 2026, you must apply to receive the CPP retirement pension. CPP does not normally start automatically when you turn 60 or 65. The main exception is for someone already receiving a CPP disability benefit, which automatically changes to a CPP retirement pension at age 65.
CPP Does Not Automatically Start at 65
Age 65 is the standard CPP starting age, but it is not an automatic payment date. CPP can start anytime from age 60 to 70, and the age you choose affects your monthly amount. Because you control that decision, reaching an eligible age alone does not tell the program when you want your pension to begin.
This also means you should not assume that years of CPP deductions from your paycheques have already enrolled you for retirement payments. Contributions build your entitlement and help determine how much CPP you can receive, but you still normally need to claim the retirement pension. Before applying, you must be at least 60 and have at least one valid CPP contribution.
The Main Exception Is CPP Disability
You do not need to submit a separate CPP retirement application if you are already receiving the CPP disability benefit when you reach 65. In 2026, the CPP disability benefit automatically changes to a CPP retirement pension at age 65. The disability payment ends and the retirement pension takes its place.
That exception is specific enough that we would not use it as a reason to assume other CPP retirement pensions begin automatically. If you are simply approaching retirement and are not receiving CPP disability, plan on submitting an application for the retirement pension yourself.
What Happens If You Do Not Apply for CPP?
Your CPP retirement pension generally remains unclaimed until you apply. Waiting after 65 can increase your eventual monthly pension under the 2026 rules. The increase is 0.7% for each month after 65, up to 42% at age 70. There is no additional age-related increase after 70, so forgetting to apply beyond that point does not keep increasing your pension through deferral.
Applying late does not always mean every missed payment will simply be sent to you. For applications made after age 65, the 2026 rules allow a requested start date as early as 11 months before the month the application is received, but not earlier than the month after your 65th birthday. There are no retroactive retirement-pension payments for a period before age 65. Choosing a retroactive start date can also reduce the increase you earned by deferring CPP, because the pension is treated as having started on that earlier date.
Apply Before the Date You Want CPP to Start
You can apply for CPP up to 12 months before your chosen start date. That gives you time to submit the application before you actually want payments to begin. Applications can usually be completed through My Service Canada Account, although certain situations require a paper application.
We would choose the start date first rather than applying simply because a birthday is approaching. Check your CPP pension estimate and Statement of Contributions, decide when you want to take CPP, and then submit the application. Our step-by-step CPP application guide covers what to do once you are ready to claim it.
Other Questions About Applying for CPP
Does CPP automatically start when you turn 65?
No. Turning 65 does not normally start your CPP retirement pension automatically. You must apply and choose when you want your pension to begin. The main exception is a CPP disability benefit, which automatically converts to a retirement pension at age 65.
Can you apply for CPP before you turn 65?
Yes. CPP can start as early as age 60, and you can apply up to 12 months before your chosen start date. Starting before 65 permanently reduces your monthly pension under the 2026 CPP starting-age rules.
What happens if you forget to apply for CPP at 65?
You do not lose your right to CPP simply because you did not apply at 65. If you apply after 65, you may request a retroactive start date as early as 11 months before the month your application was received, but not earlier than the month after your 65th birthday. Alternatively, delaying CPP can increase your monthly pension until age 70.
Does CPP automatically start at age 70?
No. Age 70 is when the age-related increase for delaying CPP reaches its maximum, but you still need to apply for the retirement pension. There is no additional age-related increase for waiting beyond 70.
