The Regulations Amending the Canada Pension Plan Regulations (SOR/2025-230) introduce changes to the application process for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits by updating evidentiary requirements for age, identity, marital status, and death. These amendments are part of ongoing efforts by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to improve benefits administration and expand the use of digital technology for applicants, reflecting shifts in service delivery that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The regulations codify interim measures previously adopted to address the challenges of submitting original or certified documents during periods when in-person services were limited, and enable broader use of electronic submissions through the My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

The amendments to the CPP Regulations allow the Minister to determine an applicant’s age and identity using a birth certificate, a copy of the birth certificate, or an act of birth. If there are reasonable grounds to doubt the validity of the document, the Minister may request the original or a certified copy. Where these documents are unavailable, age and identity may be verified through alternative information, including data from Statistics Canada or the Canada Employment Insurance Commission.

The amendments clarify documentation requirements for marital status when applying for benefit programs that depend on spousal information, including CPP pension sharing, credit splitting, and survivor benefits. Applicants can provide a copy or electronic copy of their marriage certificate or act of marriage. If there is doubt about the validity of the document, the Minister can request the original or a certified copy. Similar provisions apply for verifying death in support of survivor and death benefits, with third-party sources, including provincial vital statistics registries, funeral directors, or foreign governments in the case of deaths outside Canada, now authorized for verification.

The regulatory changes also align with broader modernization initiatives by enabling electronic submissions through MSCA. Previously, applicants were required to submit original or certified documents by mail or in person, which limited digital adoption. The amendments allow applicants to provide supporting documentation in electronic form, improving accessibility and efficiency. This modernization particularly benefits applicants seeking CPP retirement, disability, survivor, and children’s benefits, as well as OAS pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement, allowance, and allowance for the survivor.

These amendments reflect a response to the predigital limitations of earlier CPP and OAS regulations, which required original or certified documents for all submissions. They codify temporary measures implemented during the pandemic to ensure continuity in benefits delivery, while creating a permanent framework for digital evidence submission.

Canada (230/2025) December 9, 2025
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