Yes! You can use AI to fill out Form SC ISP-1300, Application for CPP Survivor's Pension and Surviving Child's Benefit

Applicants may mistakenly apply to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) when the deceased primarily lived or worked in Quebec, which has its own Quebec Pension Plan (QPP). This error occurs from not carefully reading the instructions on page 2, leading to the application being rejected and sent back, causing significant delays in receiving benefits. To avoid this, carefully review the deceased's work and residency history; if it involves Quebec, contact Retraite Québec first to determine the correct plan to apply to.

In Section D, applicants often confuse the definitions of 'separated', 'divorced', and 'living apart for reasons beyond our control', or misstate the start date of a common-law relationship. An incorrect status or date can affect eligibility, as a common-law relationship must be continuous for at least one year. This leads to processing delays while Service Canada requests clarification or proof. Always use the exact legal definitions provided and double-check dates before submitting.

The form explicitly instructs applicants to write the deceased's Social Insurance Number (SIN) at the top of each page, but this is a frequently overlooked step. This instruction exists to ensure that if pages get separated during mail handling or processing, they can be correctly re-associated with the application. Forgetting this can lead to lost information and significant processing delays. Before mailing, flip through each page to confirm the SIN is present.

Applicants often list all dependent children in Section E, including those aged 18 to 25 who are students. However, the form specifies that children in this age group must apply for benefits themselves using a separate form (ISP1402). This mistake creates confusion and delays the child's benefit, as their information cannot be processed from this application. Applicants should only list children under 18 in Section E1 and ensure eligible older children receive and complete their own separate application.

In Section F, applicants frequently make data entry errors when providing their banking details, such as transposing digits in the branch, institution, or account number. This happens due to simple oversight when copying the numbers from a cheque or bank statement. An incorrect number will cause the direct deposit to fail, resulting in delayed payments or the issuance of a physical cheque, which takes longer to arrive. Carefully double-check all banking numbers before submission. AI-powered tools like Instafill.ai can help by validating the format of these numbers to catch potential errors.

The most common reason for an application to be immediately returned is a missing signature or date in Section H. In the stress of completing the paperwork, applicants simply forget to sign. An unsigned application is legally invalid and cannot be processed, halting the entire process until a signed copy is received. Always perform a final check of the signature block on page 9 before sealing the envelope. Smart form-filling tools can flag mandatory signature fields to prevent this oversight.

Applicants may not know or may forget to include the SIN for the deceased, themselves, or the dependent children. The form states that if a SIN is missing, a copy of a birth certificate is required, but applicants often miss this and submit the form with neither. This forces Service Canada to halt processing and request the missing information or document, significantly delaying the determination of eligibility. To avoid this, gather all SINs before starting the application or have birth certificate copies ready.

Applicants sometimes leave Section B blank, even if the deceased lived or worked in another country, assuming it's not relevant. However, if the deceased's CPP contributions are insufficient to qualify for benefits, a social security agreement with another country could provide the necessary credits. Omitting this information can lead to a wrongful denial of the application. It is crucial to list all countries the deceased lived or worked in, as it can be the key to qualifying for the pension.

The signature block for an 'Authorized Representative' on page 10 is often misused by applicants who have a friend or family member helping them fill out the form. This section is strictly for a legally appointed representative (e.g., someone with Power of Attorney), and requires submission of legal documents. An incorrect signature here invalidates the application. Unless you have legal authority, you must sign as the 'applicant' in Section H; if you need help with information, use form ISP1603 instead.

The instructions note that the fillable PDF version of the form can be saved to a computer but cannot be submitted electronically. Many users, accustomed to online services, overlook this and assume they can email the form or upload it through their My Service Canada Account. This results in a lost application, as it is never officially received. The completed form must be printed, signed in pen, and mailed or dropped off at a Service Canada Centre. For non-fillable PDFs, tools like Instafill.ai can convert them into fillable versions to ensure clean, legible entries before printing.