Q&A: Draw CPP now?
She is already receiving the CPP survivor's benefit. Now she wonders if she should apply for her retirement pension when she turns 60.
Question: I am a 59-year-old widow getting CPP from my husband's pension. I am wondering if I should take my pension at 60 or wait until later. I am getting so many conflicting suggestions from "non experts" that I am very confused. Can you help me? Thank you. – Petra C. Gordon Pape answers: You are probably getting conflicting answers because there are several variables involved here. For example, when you start to draw your own CPP benefit, your survivor benefit will be reduced. You cannot receive a full survivor's pension plus a full personal CPP retirement pension. You can find out more on that subject at www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/isp/cpp/survivor.shtml. Also, if you are not working now you are not accumulating additional CPP benefits and you may end up reducing your entitlement as a result. I suggest you contact your local CPP office and ask for a meeting to discuss the situation. Do you have a money question you'd like to ask Gordon Pape? Please visit this page to find out how. Then check our website every week to see if it was chosen for a response. Sorry, we cannot send personal answers. Copyright © 2009 Gordon Pape Enterprises Ltd.
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