Section 71 — Canada Pension Plan: Payable to estate

Where payment of a death benefit is approved, the Minister shall, except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), pay the death benefit to the estate of the contributor. The Minister may direct payment of a death benefit in whole or in part to such person or body as is prescribed where he is satisfied, after making reasonable inquiries, that there is no estate; the estate has not applied for the death benefit within the prescribed time interval following the contributor’s death; or if the contributor’s death occurs before January 1, 2019, the amount of the death benefit is less than the prescribed amount. Where a payment has been made pursuant to subsection (2), the Minister is not liable to make that payment to any subsequent applicant.