Should I take CPP at 60, 65 or 70?
You can start your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension at any age from 60 to 70. The standard age is 65. Start sooner and each payment is smaller for life. Start later and each payment is larger for life.
The numbers
These figures come from the Government of Canada's page When to start your retirement pension, checked on October 3, 2026.
| When you start | Change to each payment |
|---|---|
| Before 65 | 0.6% less for each month early (7.2% a year) |
| At 60 | 36% less, the largest reduction |
| At 65 | No change |
| After 65 | 0.7% more for each month you wait (8.4% a year) |
| At 70 | 42% more, the largest increase |
There is no gain from waiting past 70.
An example
Suppose your CPP estimate at 65 is $1,000 a month, in today's dollars.
- Start at 60: $1,000 less 36% is $640 a month.
- Start at 65: $1,000 a month.
- Start at 70: $1,000 plus 42% is $1,420 a month.
Starting at 60 pays less each month, but pays for five more years than starting at 65. Starting at 70 pays the most each month, but you go without CPP through your 60s.
If you live in Quebec
Quebec has its own plan, the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), in place of CPP. It works the same way, with two differences. These figures come from Retraite Québec's page Calculation of your retirement pension, checked on October 11, 2026.
- Before 65, each month early takes off between 0.5% and 0.6%, depending on the size of your pension. The largest pension loses 0.6% a month, as with CPP, and a smaller one loses less. At 60 that is 30% to 36% less.
- After 65, each month you wait adds 0.7%, as with CPP, but the increase runs to 72, where it reaches 58.8%.
Your QPP estimate is on your Statement of Participation from Retraite Québec.
What the choice depends on
There is no single right age. These are the things that usually matter:
- Your other income before 65. A bridge benefit from your pension plan is meant to cover the years before CPP and OAS start.
- How long you expect to collect. A larger payment is worth more the longer it is paid.
- Whether you will keep working. Your CPP estimate at 65 usually assumes you keep contributing until 65. If you stop work sooner, the amount can be lower than the estimate.
- Tax and other benefits. These depend on your whole income and are not covered here.
Where to find your own estimate
Your CPP estimate is in your My Service Canada Account. It is based on your own contributions, which makes it a better starting point than any average.