Retirement is the period of life where people put less time into work, some opting out completely and others continuing on a casual basis. It is the time to reap the rewards you earned during your main working years, whether that is through savings or a government pension plan.
Similar to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) provides those eligible with a retirement pension. This additional income stream is meant to help supplement any work pensions and personal savings that you have during your older years.
Key Takeaways
1. The Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) is a public program that requires mandatory contributions from Quebec workers.
2. QPP payments are issued monthly, near the end of each month.
3. To be eligible for QPP payments, you must have made sufficient contributions to the QPP.
4. You claim QPP payments during retirement (age 60 and up), if you have a disability, or if your spouse has passed away.
What Is QPP?
The Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) is a program administered by Retraite Quebec. It is similar to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which is run federally. Instead of making contributions to the CPP, Quebec workers make contributions to the QPP. This money is held in a massive pension fund which the government uses to pay current pensioners.
Because of the fund’s size, it accrues substantial interest. The government also invests this money to help it grow to the necessary size to support the retirement of the current workforce. If you are eligible, you can claim your QPP payments whether or not you still reside in the province. The QPP is designed to work alongside federal retirement benefits, so many Quebec retirees receive it on top of their Old Age Security pension.
When Are The QPP Payment Dates For 2026?
While most pension benefits are issued monthly, the exact day differs each year. For 2026, the QPP payment dates are as follows.
| Month | 2026 QPP Payment Date |
|---|---|
| January | Friday, January 30, 2026 |
| February | Friday, February 27, 2026 |
| March | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
| April | Thursday, April 30, 2026 |
| May | Friday, May 29, 2026 |
| June | Tuesday, June 30, 2026 |
| July | Friday, July 31, 2026 |
| August | Monday, August 31, 2026 |
| September | Tuesday, September 29, 2026 |
| October | Friday, October 30, 2026 |
| November | Monday, November 30, 2026 |
| December | Wednesday, December 30, 2026 |
You can also see the 2026 payment dates at a glance on the calendar below.
2026 QPP Payment Dates Calendar
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
How Much Can You Get Under The QPP?
The amount you receive is based on your employment earnings and the age when you apply for the pension. That said, these are the maximum amounts you can receive.
| Type Of QPP Benefit | Maximum Pension (Monthly) |
|---|---|
| Death benefit | $2,500 (single payment) |
| Retirement at age 65 | $1,507.65 |
| Retirement at age 60 | $964.90 |
| Retirement at age 72 | $2,394.15 |
| Disability pension (age 60 to 65) | $610.43 |
| Spousal survivor over age 65 | $881.48 |
The figure most people plan around is the maximum retirement pension at age 65.
For more info, visit RetraiteQuebec.
Are You Eligible For QPP Payments?
To be eligible for QPP payments, you need to have contributed sufficiently to the Quebec Pension Plan for at least a year. Workers outside Quebec contribute to the CPP instead, which sets its own CPP eligibility requirements.
Contributions are made to the QPP when you are over 18 and earning an income over $3,500. Anyone earning less than $3,500 is exempt from contributions.
When Can You Claim QPP Payments?
You can apply for QPP once you have reached the age of 60. However, to get the full QPP amount, you will need to wait until you are 65.
- Applying before 65. Those who apply earlier will receive a reduced amount, of 0.5% to 0.6% for each month before you turn 65.
- Applying after 65. If you apply after 65, your pension amount will increase by 0.7% for each month that passes until you are 70.
Can You Claim QPP While Working?
Even if you continue to work after retirement, you can claim the value of the pension while you work and continue to contribute.
Provided you paid into the QPP during your career, you can begin to receive benefits at the age of 60, though most choose age 65.
How Much Do You Have To Contribute To QPP?
The QPP contribution rate is 12.6% for earnings up to $74,600. This amount includes both the basic plan (10.6%) and the additional plan (2%). The contributions are equally split between you and your employer.
| QPP Contribution | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contribution rate | 12.6% |
| Maximum contribution as an employee (for earnings up to $74,600) | $4,479.30 |
| Maximum contribution for each employee (for earnings up to $74,600) as an employer | $4,479.30 |
The Additional Plan
In January 2019, the Government of Quebec made some changes to the QPP to help provide additional financial security for retirees. The change includes an “additional plan” where additional contributions are made.
With the additional plan, the retirement pension will increase based on the years contributed to the additional plan. Where the old QPP replaced 25% of your income, with the additional plan, retirees can expect an income replacement rate of 33.33%.
The contribution rate for this plan is 2% and is equally funded through individuals and their employers based in Quebec. If you are self-employed, you will have to pay both the employer and employee amount.
How Do I Apply For QPP Payments?
The application process for QPP payments is straightforward, requiring five steps as follows:
- Authentication. You need to access My Account to apply for QPP. To create a My Account, you will need a clicSEQUR account.
- Estimation. Complete an online application and the website will calculate the estimated amount of your pension. While it is not a fixed amount, it does provide a reasonable idea of what to expect.
- Submission. Once you complete your application and review its contents, submit it for review to the pension program officials.
- Confirmation. Check the status of your application in My Account.
- Tracking. To keep tabs on the progress of your application, navigate to your account online and review the status.
Because your pension is taxable, it is worth planning ahead for the tax considerations that apply to seniors before your payments begin.
Types Of Financial Coverage QPP Offers
QPP is a pension plan that is available to people and families who made sufficient contributions to the plan. There are different types of benefits, including the following.
Retirement
A retirement pension is calculated based on the income you have earned since your 18th birthday. It also varies based on the age you start claiming the pension. The earliest you can claim your pension is 60, the latest is 72, while the standard age is 65. The later you apply for the QPP, the more money you will receive each month.
Disability
Those who have not reached retirement age may be eligible for a disability pension if they have a permanent and severe disability. The medical professionals working for the government must sign off on the diagnosis. Additionally, you must have contributed a sufficient amount to the pension. The contribution amount depends on your contributory period, which is the time between your 18th birthday and the day you become disabled.
Under this benefit, you can also get additional support if you have a child under the age of 18. Whether or not your child is employed, you can receive extra support.
Death
The death benefit from the QPP can result in a one-time maximum payment of $2,500 to an individual or charitable organization that paid for the funeral expenses. If the funeral costs were less than $2,500, the heirs of the estate will receive the remaining funds. An application and proof of payment are required to receive the QPP death benefit. Retraite Quebec publishes the full list of accepted expenses.
Survivors
Surviving spouses of individuals who significantly contributed to the Quebec Pension Plan are eligible to receive a basic income each month, for life, as long as Retraite Quebec recognizes the living spouse as the surviving spouse of the deceased. The regulations account for marriages, civil unions, and common-law relationships. There are special rules for those who are legally separated, or when the death occurs within the first year of marriage.
Under this benefit, the surviving spouse can receive a monthly benefit. The amount is based on age, and whether or not you have children or a disability.
What Changes Are Taking Place To The QPP In 2026?
The QPP recently changed to allow residents aged 65 and up who received a disability pension between the ages of 60 and 65 to now receive 100% of their retirement pension. This effectively eliminates the reduction in pension that resulted from the previous disability benefit.
That said, the rest of the QPP rules remain the same. Beneficiaries of a retirement pension who have already received a disability pension are not required to take any additional steps.
Final Thoughts
The Quebec Pension Plan allows those who worked in the province, and made sufficient contributions, to reap the benefits during their golden years. Regardless of whether you choose to retire in Quebec or elsewhere, provided you contributed to the plan, you are eligible for the pension.
If you are beginning to plan for retirement, or are approaching the age of 60, it is important to plan for how the pension income will impact your finances. Provided you account for any possible tax burden, the money can allow you to enjoy retirement however you choose. Keep in mind that your QPP is only one piece of your retirement income, and it stacks with federal support like the Guaranteed Income Supplement for lower-income seniors.
QPP FAQs
References
- Retraite Quebec. (2026). Quebec Pension Plan: Retirement pension, amounts, and payment dates. https://www.retraitequebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/
- Retraite Quebec. (2026). Contributions to the Quebec Pension Plan. https://www.retraitequebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/
