Here’s the Average CPP Benefit at Age 60, 65 and 70

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Written by Aditya Raghunath at The Motley Fool Canada

The CPP, or Canada Pension Plan, is a retirement program launched back in 1965. It initially aimed to replace 25% of your pre-retirement income, providing Canadian residents with a stable source of recurring cash flows. Then, Canada launched something known as the CPP enhancement in 2019, where you can increase your contribution toward your retirement account and benefit from a higher payout.

The average age to start withdrawing the CPP is 65. However, you can choose to start the payments at the age of 60 or delay them until you are 70 years old. If you begin CPP payments early, the payout reduces by 0.6% each month. It suggests the CPP will fall by 36% over the course of five years. Alternatively, the payment rises by 0.7% for each month you delay the CPP after the age of 65, increasing total payouts by a maximum of 42%.

The maximum CPP payout for a 65-year-old in 2023 is $1,306.57 per month, while the average payment is much lower at $760.07. So, for a 70-year-old, the average CPP payment will increase to $1,079 in 2023, and it will fall to $486.44 for those withdrawing it at 60.

We can see that just depending on the CPP payment is not sufficient to lead a comfortable life in retirement. You need to supplement your pension payouts with income streams such as fixed-income securities and dividend stocks.

Right now, several banks offer guaranteed income certificates, or GICs, which allow investors to earn a fixed yield of 5%. Given inflation is under 5% right now, GICs are ideal for those with a low risk appetite and a near-term investment horizon. But with multiple interest rate cuts scheduled in 2024, GIC yields will also move lower in the next 12 months.

Alternatively, Canadians can further diversify income streams by investing in blue-chip dividend stocks such as Nexus Industrial REIT (TSX:NXR.UN), which currently yields over 8%.

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A real estate investment trust, Nexus acquires industrial properties located in primary and secondary markets in Canada. It owns a portfolio of 116 properties totaling 12.4 million square feet of gross leasable area.

Companies in the real estate sector have underperformed in recent months due to rising interest rates. However, the industrial sector is comparatively quite stable, making Nexus Industrial REIT a top investment choice right now.

In recent months, Nexus has focused on completing developments that are expected to drive outsized returns and drive future cash flows higher. Further, it is pursuing the sale of its retail and office assets, the proceeds of which will be used to lower balance sheet debt.

Nexus Industrial emphasized its recent acquisitions will help it generate incremental net operating income in 2024. The company stated, “Recent acquisitions and developments have significantly high graded the quality of the REIT’s portfolio.”

Nexus Industrial pays investors a monthly dividend of $0.053 per share, indicating a yield of over 8%. Given its funds from operations stood at $0.198 in Q3, the REIT has a payout ratio of roughly 80%.

The post Here’s the Average CPP Benefit at Age 60, 65 and 70 appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Aditya Raghunath has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Nexus Industrial REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy

2023

Higher CPP deductions are coming to paycheques this year — here's what to expect

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The trade-off is Canadians will eventually receive higher payouts once they start collecting pensions

Author of the article:

The Canadian Press

Ritika Dubey

Published Jan 01, 2024  •  Last updated 3 days ago  •  3 minute read

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TORONTO — Middle-income earners will start seeing a larger portion of their paycheques going toward Canada Pension Plan contributions as of Jan. 1.

A broader pension revamp began in 2019 as both the Quebec Pension Plan and CPP began phasing in enhanced benefits intended to provide more financial support for Canadians after they retire. So far, individual contributions — and the employer’s matching portion — have primarily ticked upward.

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The trade-off is that Canadians will eventually receive higher payouts once they start collecting their pensions.

But as of 2024, the CPP includes a new, second earnings ceiling. For those who make more than a given amount, additional payroll deductions now apply.

“The primary objective of these changes is to strengthen benefits and enhance overall financial stability for prospective retirees,” said Alim Dhanji, senior wealth adviser at Assante Financial Management Ltd. in Vancouver.

Previously, everyone earning over the base amount (currently $3,500) contributes a set portion of their income, up to a maximum amount (last year’s was $66,600) that increases slightly every year. Those who are self employed pay both the employee and employer portions.

Starting this year, the enhanced pension plan now has two earnings ceilings.

The first tier works similarly to the old system: just like before, workers contribute a set portion of their earnings to CPP, up to a government-set threshold — for 2024, it’s $68,500. Those earning that amount or less won’t see any changes to their current contribution rates.

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What’s new, for anyone earning more than that amount, is a second contribution level that tops out at $73,200.

People in this group pay an additional four per cent on their second tier earnings, or the amount they make between $68,500 and $73,200.

For 2024, that means a maximum $188 in additional payroll deductions. Overall, people earning over $73,200 will be contributing an extra $300 in 2024, compared to their previous contribution last year.

The upgraded CPP policies, which continue phasing in through next year, were designed to significantly boost retirement income for Canadians — an increase from one-quarter of their eligible income to one-third.

Anyone who has paid into CPP since 2019 will receive higher benefits, but the full effects will take decades to materialize, so the youngest workers stand to gain the most. People retiring 40 years from now will see their income go up by more than 50 per cent compared to the current pension beneficiaries.

Dhanji noted the changes will not affect the eligibility criteria for retirement pension, post-retirement benefits, disability pension and survivor’s pension.

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The new, second threshold will affect employers as well as employees, Dhanji noted, since they are required to match their workers’ higher contributions.

Employers have been affected by the phased increase since 2019, he said. Between that year and 2023, both workers and their employers saw contribution rates rise by almost a full percentage point.

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Canadian employers match their workers’ pension earnings as a part of the policy. While the pension amount gets split between the employer and workers, freelancers and self-employed people are responsible for paying both portions — a combined 11.9 per cent for the first tier and eight per cent for the second tier.

“From a financial planning standpoint, employers can find assurance in the fact that these changes are designed to benefit their employees during retirement … contributing to enhanced financial well-being,” Dhanji said.

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