Old Age Security is paid in three layers: the OAS pension itself, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for seniors with low income, and the Allowance programs for some people aged 60 to 64. Each has its own maximum and its own income limit, and the maximums change every quarter. The tables below come straight from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and show the current quarter and the previous one, so the change is visible. This page explains the rules; it is not financial advice, and the exact amount for any one person is shown in My Service Canada Account.
How much is OAS in Canada right now?
For October to December 2026 the full OAS pension is $762.50 a month at age 65 to 74 and $838.75 at age 75 and over, after a 1.4% cost-of-living increase. That is $10.53 a month more than the July to September rate for the younger group, and the rise over the past year is 3%.
How to read this table: Maximum monthly amounts for a full, non-deferred pension. The income limit is the income at which the benefit stops completely. OAS pension rows use individual net world income for 2025; GIS and Allowance rows use annual net income, combined for couples where shown. The top-up cut-off is the income at which the extra top-up for the lowest incomes stops.
| Benefit and situation | Maximum per month | Income must be under | Income that counts | Top-up income cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAS pension, age 65 to 74 | $762.50 | $152,062 | Individual net world income in 2025 | — |
| OAS pension, age 75 and over | $838.75 | $157,923 | Individual net world income in 2025 | — |
| GIS, single, widowed or divorced | $1,138.90 | $23,112 | Own annual net income | $10,496 |
| GIS, spouse or partner receives the full OAS pension | $685.56 | $30,528 | Combined income of the couple | $8,800 |
| GIS, spouse or partner receives the Allowance | $685.56 | $42,768 | Combined income of the couple | $8,800 |
| GIS, spouse or partner receives no OAS pension or Allowance | $1,138.90 | $55,392 | Combined income of the couple | $20,992 |
| Allowance, age 60 to 64 (spouse or partner receives GIS) | $1,448.06 | $42,768 | Combined income of the couple | $8,800 |
| Allowance for the Survivor, age 60 to 64 | $1,726.18 | $31,152 | Own annual net income | $10,496 |
Source: Old Age Security payment amounts — Canada.ca (maximum payments and income thresholds, October to December 2026); Old Age Security payment amounts — Canada.ca (latest quarterly adjustment); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (October to December 2026), Table 5; Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (October to December 2026), Table 5 (Allowances); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (July to September 2026), Table 5; Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (July to September 2026), Table 5 (GIS single); Old Age Security — When to start your retirement pension (deferral table, October to December 2026); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — income recovery thresholds (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — How much you could receive (Canada.ca); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — October to December 2026, Table 5 footnote 6 (income excluded from GIS and Allowance cut-offs). In effect from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026; checked September 29, 2026.
Payments arrive once a month by direct deposit or cheque. The exact deposit day for each month is listed on the CPP and OAS payment dates page.
OAS payments from July to September 2026
From July to September 2026 the full OAS pension was $751.97 a month at age 65 to 74 and $827.17 at 75 and over. The income limits for the OAS pension were the same in both quarters because they are set once a year for the July to June recovery period. The GIS and Allowance limits, by contrast, move with every quarterly increase.
How to read this table: Previous quarter, kept for comparison and for anyone checking a September 2026 payment. Same columns and income rules as the October to December table.
| Benefit and situation | Maximum per month | Income must be under | Income that counts | Top-up income cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAS pension, age 65 to 74 | $751.97 | $152,062 | Individual net world income in 2025 | — |
| OAS pension, age 75 and over | $827.17 | $157,923 | Individual net world income in 2025 | — |
| GIS, single, widowed or divorced | $1,123.17 | $22,800 | Own annual net income | $10,352 |
| GIS, spouse or partner receives the full OAS pension | $676.09 | $30,096 | Combined income of the couple | $8,800 |
| GIS, spouse or partner receives the Allowance | $676.09 | $42,144 | Combined income of the couple | $8,800 |
| GIS, spouse or partner receives no OAS pension or Allowance | $1,123.17 | $54,624 | Combined income of the couple | $20,704 |
| Allowance, age 60 to 64 (spouse or partner receives GIS) | $1,428.06 | $42,144 | Combined income of the couple | $8,800 |
| Allowance for the Survivor, age 60 to 64 | $1,702.34 | $30,696 | Own annual net income | $10,352 |
Source: Old Age Security payment amounts — Canada.ca (maximum payments and income thresholds, October to December 2026); Old Age Security payment amounts — Canada.ca (latest quarterly adjustment); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (October to December 2026), Table 5; Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (October to December 2026), Table 5 (Allowances); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (July to September 2026), Table 5; Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (July to September 2026), Table 5 (GIS single); Old Age Security — When to start your retirement pension (deferral table, October to December 2026); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — income recovery thresholds (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — How much you could receive (Canada.ca); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — October to December 2026, Table 5 footnote 6 (income excluded from GIS and Allowance cut-offs). In effect from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026; checked September 29, 2026.
The January to March 2027 amounts will be added here as soon as ESDC publishes them, and the oldest quarter will drop off.
How much can a single senior or a couple get from OAS and GIS?
The most a single senior aged 65 to 74 can receive from the OAS program is the full pension plus the full GIS. The combinations below use October to December 2026 maximums and assume little or no income besides OAS; any other income, including CPP, reduces the GIS.
| Household | OAS pension | GIS or Allowance | Total per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, 65 to 74 | $762.50 | $1,138.90 GIS | $1,901.40 |
| Single, 75 and over | $838.75 | $1,138.90 GIS | $1,977.65 |
| Couple, both 65 to 74 and both on OAS | $762.50 each | $685.56 GIS each | $2,896.12 for the couple |
| Couple, one 65 to 74 on OAS, partner 60 to 64 | $762.50 | $685.56 GIS plus $1,448.06 Allowance | $2,896.12 for the couple |
| Couple, one 65 to 74 on OAS, partner not on OAS or Allowance | $762.50 | $1,138.90 GIS | $1,901.40 for the couple |
The Allowance maximum is not a coincidence: $1,448.06 equals the full OAS pension plus the couple rate of GIS ($1,448.06), so a couple where one partner is 60 to 64 receives the same maximum as a couple where both are 65 to 74. More detail on the income tests and provincial top-ups is on the GIS income limits page, and a surviving partner aged 60 to 64 can check the Allowance for the Survivor rules.
Who gets the full OAS pension and who gets less?
The full pension goes to people who lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18. Anyone with fewer years gets a partial pension equal to the years lived in Canada after 18, divided by 40. The minimum is 10 years for someone living in Canada and 20 years for someone living abroad. Once the pension starts, additional years in Canada do not raise it, which is one reason newer residents sometimes delay. The full residence rules, including social security agreements, are on the OAS eligibility page.
| Years in Canada after 18 | Share of the full pension | Monthly OAS at 65 to 74 (Oct to Dec 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | 25% | $190.63 |
| 20 years | 50% | $381.25 |
| 30 years | 75% | $571.88 |
| 40 years or more | 100% | $762.50 |
ESDC says its maximum tables should not be used to work out a partial pension and asks partial pensioners to contact Service Canada instead, so the figures above only illustrate the years ÷ 40 rule at the current full rate; My Service Canada Account shows the actual amount. A partial OAS pension still opens the door to the GIS, which is income-tested, so a low-income senior with a partial pension can check a GIS estimate rather than assume the partial pension is all that will be paid.
How much does OAS increase at 75?
The OAS pension rises by 10% automatically the month after the 75th birthday. At October to December 2026 rates that is $76.25 a month more, taking the full pension from $762.50 to $838.75. The increase applies on top of any deferral increase, so someone who started OAS at 70 at the $1,037.00 rate would reach about $1,140.70 a month at 75 at today’s rates. The GIS does not change at 75, and the income limit for the OAS pension is higher for the 75-and-over group because the pension being repaid is larger.
How much more OAS do you get by delaying it to 70?
OAS can start at 65 or be deferred for up to 60 months. Each month of delay adds 0.6%, so a full year adds 7.2% and waiting until 70 adds 36%. ESDC’s own table shows what that means at October to December 2026 rates:
How to read this table: Full pension, age 65 to 74 rate. Amounts are indexed every quarter, so the dollar figures rise over time while the percentage increases stay fixed.
| Age OAS starts | Months deferred | Increase | Maximum per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 0 | 0% | $762.50 |
| 66 | 12 | 7.2% | $817.40 |
| 67 | 24 | 14.4% | $872.30 |
| 68 | 36 | 21.6% | $927.20 |
| 69 | 48 | 28.8% | $982.10 |
| 70 | 60 | 36% | $1,037.00 |
Source: Old Age Security payment amounts — Canada.ca (maximum payments and income thresholds, October to December 2026); Old Age Security payment amounts — Canada.ca (latest quarterly adjustment); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (October to December 2026), Table 5; Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (October to December 2026), Table 5 (Allowances); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (July to September 2026), Table 5; Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — CPP (2026) and OAS (July to September 2026), Table 5 (GIS single); Old Age Security — When to start your retirement pension (deferral table, October to December 2026); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — income recovery thresholds (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — How much you could receive (Canada.ca); Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures — October to December 2026, Table 5 footnote 6 (income excluded from GIS and Allowance cut-offs). In effect from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026; checked September 29, 2026.
Deferring means giving up payments now for bigger ones later. Starting at 70 instead of 65 gives up $45,750 in payments (at today’s rate) in exchange for $274.50 more a month, which takes roughly 14 years after 70 to catch up, before tax and indexation. ESDC states there is no benefit to waiting for anyone eligible for the GIS, because the GIS cannot be paid while the OAS pension is deferred and GIS amounts do not rise with deferral. The trade-offs are covered in the OAS deferral guide.
How is OAS reduced when income is high?
The OAS pension itself has no income test for eligibility, but it is taxable and subject to the recovery tax, often called the OAS clawback. For payments from July 2026 to June 2027, anyone whose 2025 net income was above $93,454 repays 15% of the excess. For example, 2025 net income of $100,000 leads to a repayment of $981.90 a year, deducted as about $81.83 from each monthly payment. The pension is fully clawed back at $152,062 for age 65 to 74 and $157,923 for 75 and over. Thresholds for past and future years and how the repayment works are on the OAS clawback thresholds page; for couples, pension income splitting can change whose income crosses the line.
How are GIS and Allowance amounts calculated?
The GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are income-tested every year. The benefit is recalculated each July using net income from the previous calendar year, so the July 2026 amount is based on the 2025 tax return. Payments can rise, fall or stop when income changes. The senior benefits tracker follows the separate quarterly adjustments to OAS and GIS amounts through the year.
Some income is left out of the test. The OAS pension itself does not count, and neither does the first $5,000 of employment or self-employment income. Half of employment or self-employment income between $5,000 and $15,000 is also excluded. Other income on the tax return, such as the CPP pension, counts toward the limit, which is why CPP reduces the GIS.
The maximums in the tables include top-ups that go only to recipients with the lowest incomes. The top-up is phased out as income rises and stops at the top-up income cut-off shown in the table; above that point only the regular GIS or Allowance is paid, and it keeps shrinking until it reaches zero at the income limit. The OAS, CPP and GIS planner estimates the monthly GIS for a given income.
When do OAS payment amounts change next?
ESDC reviews OAS, GIS and Allowance amounts in January, April, July and October. The adjustment compares the average Consumer Price Index for the latest three months with the last three-month period that produced an increase; the October 2026 increase of 1.4% came from that calculation. If prices fall, amounts stay the same instead of going down. The January to March 2027 amounts are the next to be published, and this page will be updated with them.
What to do if an OAS payment looks wrong or is missing
- Check the amount online. Sign in to My Service Canada Account and open the OAS dashboard to see the payment details. An Advisory Letter from Service Canada explains any recovery tax being withheld.
- Allow for the payment date. Payments are issued on set dates late in each month; check the payment dates calendar and, as Service Canada asks, wait 5 to 10 business days after the listed date before reporting a missing payment (mailed cheques take longer than direct deposit).
- File a tax return every year. ESDC requires a return each year, and once it is filed the OAS, GIS and Allowance are reassessed automatically in July of the following year. Payments can rise, fall or stop when income changes.
- Call Service Canada. The OAS and CPP line is 1-800-277-9914 in Canada and the United States, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time (TTY 1-800-255-4786; from other countries, 1-613-957-1954 collect). Have the Social Insurance Number ready.
- Ask about a reconsideration. If a decision on eligibility or the amount still seems wrong, Service Canada can explain how to ask for it to be reviewed.
Common mistakes when reading OAS payment tables
- Treating the maximum as a guaranteed amount. The tables show the most anyone in that situation can receive; partial pensions, deferral, recovery tax and income all change the real number.
- Reading the GIS income limit as net income for couples. For couples the limit is combined income, and the OAS pension is excluded from it.
- Using an old quarter. Amounts change four times a year, so a figure from a news article can be one or two quarters out of date.
- Expecting GIS to rise after deferral or at 75. Only the OAS pension increases; GIS does not.
- Forgetting tax. The OAS pension is taxable, so the deposit can be lower than the gross amount if tax is withheld.
How much are CPP and OAS combined?
CPP is a separate program, but most people receive both, and CPP and OAS are paid on the same dates each month. The table combines the CPP retirement pension at 65 with the full OAS pension for October to December 2026.
| Situation | CPP at 65 | OAS pension (65 to 74) | CPP + OAS per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum new CPP pension (started January 2026) | $1,507.65 | $762.50 | $2,270.15 |
| Average new CPP pension at 65 (July 2026) | $858.34 | $762.50 | $1,620.84 |
CPP counts as income for the GIS, so it lowers the GIS but does not always remove it. Even the maximum CPP pension works out to $18,091.80 a year, below the single GIS income limit of $23,112, so a single senior whose only other income is CPP may still receive a reduced GIS on top of CPP and OAS. The OAS, CPP and GIS planner estimates all three together. CPP maximums and how contributions set the amount are explained on the maximum CPP benefit page, and the bigger picture is in the complete CPP, OAS and GIS guide.