Quebec Pension (QPP) Payment Dates Nov. 2024
Quebec Pension Plan (QPP,) the equivalent of Canada Pension Plan (CPP), has been in operation since 1966.
However, the two pension plans have different payment dates given that they’re administered by different bodies and for different residents.
This post discusses the QPP payment dates for 2024 and their current status.
You will also learn how the QPP payments are paid, the best time to start receiving the payments, changes to the program and more.
Let’s get started!
Quebec Pension (QPP) Payment Dates 2024
Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) payment dates are paid on the last working day of each month. If the last day falls on a weekend or public holiday, the payments are made a day before the weekend or public holiday.
Accordingly, the following are the QPP payment dates for 2024:
| Payment Month | Payment Date |
| January | January 31, 2024 |
| February | February 29, 2024 |
| March | March 28, 2024 |
| April | April 30, 2024 |
| May | May 31, 2024 |
| June | June 28, 2024 |
| July | July 31, 2024 |
| August | August 30, 2024 |
| September | September 17, 2024 |
| October | October 31, 2024 |
| November | November 29, 2024 |
| December | December 30, 2024 |
Regardless of the method you choose to receive your pension, you should expect your monthly QPP payments within two weeks of the payment date.
If it exceeds two weeks, you should contact Retraite Québec through your My Account or email them at retraitequebec.gouv.gc.ca.
Alternatively, you can call them between
Monday to Friday by 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. using the following telephone numbers:
- Toll‑free: 1 800 463‑5185
- Québec: 418 643‑5185
- Montréal area: 514 873‑2433
How is QPP Paid?
QPP is paid like other government benefits, that’s through direct deposit and cheque deposits.
You decide the method to receive the payments through your Retraite Quebec My Account.
But as you know, direct deposit always comes faster and automatically than cheque deposit. Although Retraite Quebec sometimes delivers cheques within 48 hours before the payment dates.
When to Start Receiving the QPP?
There are many factors to consider when determining when to start receiving QPP.
First, it’s important to understand that you can start receiving QPP when you turn 60 years of age. This is a pre-retirement age.
If you don’t request the QPP payment until the normal retirement age of 65, you will receive your complete entitled pension per month.
But if you start receiving the pension at pre-retirement age, your pension will be reduced by 0.5% to 0.6% each month depending on your maximum pension amount until you reach the normal retirement age.
However, if you delay receiving your QPP from normal retirement age, the pension will increase by 0.7% each month up to 42% at 72
This means that the longer you delay your QPP after your 65th birthday, the higher your pension increases.
That being said, Retraite Quebec has identified five important factors to consider when looking to delay your pension. These are:
1. Income:
This suggests that you should only start receiving the pension when you’re sure that “your financial assets or your pensions are sufficient to meet your needs for the rest of your life.”
2. Health:
If you’re in good health, you can decide to delay your pension. But if you have health challenges or any hereditary predisposition that can limit your life expectancy, consider applying for QPP at an early age.
3. Taxes:
If you start receiving the pension when working, it could increase your marginal tax rate, undermining the importance of the pension.
4. Public programs:
If you intend to receive Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) at the age of 65, you can start receiving QPP at an early age as GIS may offset your QPP amount depending on you and your spousal income.
5. Personal retirement savings:
Finally, if you have sufficient personal savings, you can rely on them during the early days of your retirement instead of receiving the QPP at an early age.
Note: If you’re still not sure of the perfect time to start receiving QPP, contact your financial advisor for customized advice.
What is QPP?
QPP, the abbreviation for Québec Pension Plan, is the mandatory public insurance plan in Quebec that’s accessible to every worker aged 18 and above with over $3,500 annual employment income.
QPP provides financial protection during three major events — retirement, death and disability.
So long as you work in Quebec, you will automatically contribute to QPP and stand the chance to receive monthly payments.
Contributions to QPP are made automatically to Revenu Québec by employees and employers and the contribution limit is adjusted annually.
As an employee, your contribution will be withheld automatically by your employer once you’re 18 years of age or older and make over $3,500 annual employment income.
From January 2019, QPP consists of a basic plan and an additional plan.
- Base plan
This plan is funded by employees and employers and it has an income replacement rate of 33.33% (previously 25%).
The base plan contribution limit for 2024 is 10.80% for both employees and employers. The rate is divided equally between employees and employers.
This contribution limit applies to $3,500 to $68,500, which is the maximum pensionable earnings for employees in 2024.
- Additional plan
The additional plan is also funded by employees and employers with an 8.33% income replacement rate.
The 2024 additional contribution limit is 2.00% for both employees and employers. This rate is also divided equally for both employees and employers and it increases gradually from 2019 to 2025.
Who is Eligible for QPP?
There are two different eligibility criteria for QPP — contribution and pension eligibility.
The contribution eligibility is as follows:
- You should work in Quebec for at least a year
- You’re 18 years of age or older
- Your annual employment income is above $3,500
The pension eligibility is as follows:
- You worked in Quebec and contributed to QPP
- You’re 60 years of age or older
How Much Does QPP Pay in 2024?
The amount of QPP you receive per month depends on many factors.
First, the amount is determined based on the age you start receiving the pension. Recall that:
- Receiving the pension at pre-retirement age will reduce your payment.
- Receiving the pension on your 65th birthday will provide your complete entitled payments.
- Delaying the pension after your 65th birthday will increase your payments.
Secondly, the amount you contributed to QPP since your 18th birthday also determines your monthly pension. The pensionable earnings start at $3,500 up to the annual pensionable earnings ($68,500 in 2024).
To find out your entitled QPP payment, request your Statement of Participation under your Retraite Québec My Account. Through the Statement of Participation, you will find information on:
- Your employment earnings
- Estimate of your QPP benefits
What is the Maximum QPP Benefit for 2024?
The maximum QPP benefits refer to the maximum amount you will receive monthly when you start receiving the pension.
The maximum amounts are calculated based on the age you start receiving the pension with early payments having a lower rate and delay payments having a higher rate.
That being said, below are the maximum monthly QPP amounts for those who start receiving the pension in 2024:
| Age | QPP Rate | QPP Maximum Monthly Amount |
| 60 | 64% | $873.34 |
| 61 | 71.20% | $971.59 |
| 62 | 78.40% | $1069.85 |
| 63 | 85.60% | $1168.10 |
| 64 | 92.80% | $1266.35 |
| 65 | 100% | $1364.60 |
| 66 | 108.40% | $1479.22 |
| 67 | 116.80% | $1593.85 |
| 68 | 125.20% | $1708.48 |
| 69 | 133.60% | $1823.11 |
| 70 | 142% | $1937.73 |
| 71 | 150.4% | $2052.36 |
| 72 or over | 158.8% | $2166.98 |
Is QPP Taxable?
Short answer, yes. QPP is considered a taxable income and you must report it when filing your taxes.
How much you’re taxed will depend on your pensionable earnings and income from other sources.
To reduce your QPP taxes, you should share your pension with your spouse so long as you’re both above the age of 60.
If you and your spouse contributed to QPP, you both must first start receiving the pension before you can share it.
Click here for more information and guidance on how to share your pension with your spouse.
Benefits Under QPP
As noted earlier, QPP provides benefits in the event of retirement, disability or death. This means that benefits may be administered to the contributor or family.
Below is a breakdown of the benefits under the QPP base plan:
| Retirement benefits | Disability benefits | Death benefits |
| •retirement •retirement pension •retirement pension supplement | •disability pension •pension for a disabled person’s child •additional disability amount for a QPP recipient | •death benefit •surviving spouse’s pension •orphan’s pension |
You will get the following pensions and benefits increases under the QPP additional plan:
| Retirement pension increases | Disability pension increase | Death benefit increase |
| •retirement pension •retirement pension supplement | •disability pension | •surviving spouse’s pensions |
QPP Financial Protection for Those Working Abroad
If you’re working abroad, you and your family may get a retirement, disability, surviving spouse’s or orphan’s pension from the country you’re working in if you meet the following eligibility:
- You’re a resident of Québec.
- The country you’re working in has signed a social security agreement with Québec.
That being said, you need to obtain the certificate of coverage for work abroad from the Quebec Bureau des ententes de sécurité sociale (BESS) if you’re working abroad.
For more information, visit this page.
QPP Contribution Limit 2024
Annually, Retraite Quebec sets maximum pensionable earnings and maximum contribution limits for employees and employers.
The following are the maximum QPP limits for 2024:
| Maximum pensionable earnings* | $68,500 |
| Basic exemption | $3,500 |
| Employee’s contribution rate | 6.40% |
| Employer’s contribution rate | 6.40% |
| Employee’s maximum contribution | $4348 |
| Employer’s maximum contribution | $4348 |
*This refers to the maximum salary or wages your employer can withhold in a year.
The contribution rate consists of the base contribution rate and the initial additional contribution rate.
For 2024, the base contribution rate is 5.40% and the initial additional contribution rate is 1.00% for employers and employees. The rate base rate is 10.8% and the additional rate is 2% for self-employed.
Note:
• You will begin contributing to QPP a month after your 18th
• You will stop contributing to QPP once you retire or start receiving a disability pension
QPP Contribution Exemption
QPP contribution exemption refers to the maximum annual amount your employer is expected to exempt from your pensionable salary or wages.
The contribution exemption is determined annually. For 2024, the annual exemption amount is $3,500.
That being said, your contribution exemption is also calculated depending on whether you work under continuous employment or non-continuous employment.
Irrespective of your employment type, the maximum contribution exemption remains the same.
Quebec Pension (QPP) Payment Increase 2024
The QPP payment is adjusted annually to reflect the current level of inflation.
In 2023, the payment increased by 6.5%, which is considered the highest in almost 4 decades.
Retraite Québec adjusts the QPP rate by factoring the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the current year to determine the payment increase for the following year.
Aside the regular annual increase, there’s no additional increase annouced for the 2024 QPP payments yet.
However, Qubec has made some major changes to the QPP program in 2023 which were implemented on January 1, 2024. Continue reading to learn more.
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What are the Changes to QPP in 2024?
Quebec has made three major changes to the QPP program which take effect on January 1, 2024.
These changes seek to increase the financial security of Québecers and favour job retention of people aged 65 and above.
Below is a brief look at the changes:
1. QPP recipients who are still working at the age of 65 or above to stop contributing to the program
The previous law required every working Quebec resident to contribute to QPP irrespective of whether they’re receiving their pension.
But starting January 1, 2024, QPP recipients aged 65 or above can stop contributing to the program while working.
However, it’s advantageous to continue contributing to the plan while working as that would increase your retirement supplement.
2. Change to maximum pension application age from 70 to 72
Before now, you could apply for QPP at the normal retirement age of 65 or delay it to the age of 70 when you will receive the maximum pension amount.
However, the maximum pension application age changes to 72 effective January 1, 2024. This means that you can delay your pension up to the age of 72, increasing your payments.
3. New calculation to protect the pension amount after age 65
As discussed earlier, the QPP amount is calculated based on the year a person started contributing to the program after their 18th birthday and their pensionable income.
The calculation period is longer which is used to lower a person’s pension amount, especially for those with lower or no earnings after the age of 65.
But starting January 1, 2024, those with lower or no earnings after the age of 65 will no longer have their pension reduced.
This will particularly favour those who want to work part-time after the age of 65 and those looking to further delay their pensions.
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How to Apply for QPP
For the contributory part of the program, you don’t need to apply. Your employer will automatically withhold your contributions and send them to Revenue Quebec on your behalf.
However, you need to apply when you want to start receiving the pension.
Before you apply for the pension, ensure you reach the minimum age of 60, and know the implications of receiving the pension early as explained above.
If you are ready to start receiving QPP, you should file an application for your pension with Retraite Québec.
It’s recommended that you apply for the pension three months before the month you wish to start receiving it. Although you can apply 12 months before the month you wish to start receiving the payments.
Additional Retirement Income For Quebec Seniors
According to Retraite Québec, “your retirement pension under the QPP is not affected by other income you might receive in retirement.“. This means that you can claim as many benefits as you’re eligible for to improve your income.
Below are the three major additional benefits you may be entitled to:
Old Age Security (OAS)
As the first universal pension in Canada, Old Age Security (OAS) is a federally funded basic pension administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to eligible Canadians regardless of their work status.
How much OAS you get depends on your age and maximum annual income in the previous year as expressed below:
| Age | 2022 maximum annual income | Maximum monthly amount (January to March 2024) |
| 65 to 74 | $142,609 | $713.34 |
| 75 and over | $148,179 | $784.67 |
To receive OAS, you must:
- Have a legal Canadian status
- Reside in Canada for 10 years or higher since you turned 18
- Be 65 years of age or older
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is another federally funded benefit administered by the CRA to help reduce poverty among Canadian seniors.
As the name implies, GIS is an additional payment to OAS pension recipients who have little or no income.
How much GIS you get depends on your income in the previous year and marital status as shown below:
| Benefits | 2022 maximum annual income | Maximum monthly amount(January to March 2024) |
| Single person | $21,624 | $1,057.01 |
| Spouse of a non-pensioner | $51,840 | $1,065.47 |
| Spouse of a pensioner | $28,560 | $641.35 |
| Spouse of an Allowance recipient | $39,984 | $641.35 |
| Allowance | $39,984 | $1,354.69 |
| Allowance for the Survivor | $29,112 | $1,614.89 |
To qualify for GIS, you must:
Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor
The federal government also administers allowances to eligible low-income seniors between the ages of 60 to 64.
You or your spouse may be eligible for Allowance if you receive or are entitled to receive OAS and GIS.
The Allowance for the Survivor is administered to widowed seniors. How much a person gets depends on their income and marital status.
To qualify for the Allowance for the Survivor, you must:
- Have a legal Canadian status
- Have resided in Canada for a minimum of 10 years since you turned 18
- Be 60 to 64 years of age
- Have an annual income within the annual threshold
Note: To receive any of the above OAS benefits, you must file a written application six months before the date you wish to start receiving the benefit.
Relate Posts:
• Québec Family Allowance Payment Dates
• Carbon Tax Rebate (CAIP) Payment Dates and Benefits
• Canada Fed Deposit: What it Means & Payment Dates
FAQs on Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) Payment Dates
What day of the month is Quebec pension paid?
Quebec pension can be paid on any day that falls as the last working day of the month. If the payment falls under a weekend or public holiday, it will be administered a day before the weekend or holiday.
How many days are QPP payments processed?
Retraite Quebec didn’t specify the processing duration of the QPP payments. However, the payments are usually processed within two weeks of the payment dates.
How much does QPP pay per month?
The amount QPP pays per month varies per recipient. Generally, the amount a person receives per month depends on the age they start receiving the benefits and the amount they contributed to the QPP program.
Accordingly, the maximum 2024 QPP amount per month for people aged 60 is $873.34. People aged 65 will receive $1364.60 and those aged 72+ will receive the maximum monthly pay of $2166.98.
At what age does QPP start?
QPP normally starts at the age of 65. But you can start receiving the pension at the pre-retirement age of 60 when the pension will be at a lower rate.
Should I take my Quebec pension at 60?
You can take your Quebec pension at the pre-retirement age of 60 due to your circumstances but it’s not advisable. The earlier you start receiving your pension, the lower your monthly payments will be.
Do you get QPP back?
If your employer withheld more than the annual pensionable earnings for QPP contribution, you will be refunded the excess contributions when you file your provincial income tax return for the year.
Can you get QPP if you never worked?
That’s not possible. QPP is a contributory program that functions based on employees’ and employers’ contributions. So the amount of QPP you get depends on how much you contributed to the program and how long you have contributed since you turned 18.
Can I work and receive QPP?
Yes, you can work and receive a QPP pension. However, you’re expected to keep contributing to the program so long as you’re working.
But starting January 1, 2024, those aged 65 and above can stop contributing to QPP while working.
At what age do you stop contributing to QPP?
Starting January 1, 2024, you will automatically stop contributing to QPP when you turn 72.
Do you pay QPP after retirement?
If you retire before the maximum QPP contribution age of 72, you can stop contributing to QPP. You will automatically stop contributing to QPP at the age of 72
Do you receive both CPP and QPP?
No, you can only receive one of them depending on your residence. You will receive CPP if you work elsewhere in Canada besides Quebec.
But if you work only in Quebec, you will receive QPP irrespective of the province you currently reside in.
Both programs have sharing agreements that make it possible to roll out your benefits into one program taking into account your contributions in CPP and QPP.
So if you live outside Quebec when applying for your pension, you will apply for CPP and have your QPP pension paid jointly with your CPP. But if you are living in Quebec, you will apply for QPP and have your CPP pension paid jointly with QPP.
