Old Age Security (OAS) in Canada: amounts, eligibility, GIS and how to apply

Old Age Security is the one federal pension almost every senior in Canada receives, whether or not they ever held a job. It is also the most misunderstood: the amount changes four times a year, it depends on how long someone lived in Canada rather than on what they earned, it can be clawed back from high earners, and it opens the door to three income-tested benefits that are easy to miss. This guide covers the whole program in one place, using figures copied from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Service Canada pages. It explains the rules; it is not financial advice, and the exact amount for any one person is shown in My Service Canada Account.

What is Old Age Security in Canada?

Old Age Security (OAS) is a monthly pension paid by the Government of Canada to people aged 65 and older who meet its legal status and residence rules. Many people still call it the “old age pension”, and the two names mean the same thing. Service Canada is explicit that the OAS pension can be paid even to someone who has never worked or who is still working: employment does not affect eligibility, although income affects how much is kept.

The program is really four benefits that are paid together on the same monthly date:

• The OAS pension for people 65 and older, based on years of residence in Canada after age 18.
• The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), a tax-free top-up for OAS pensioners with low income who live in Canada.
• The Allowance, for people aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner receives the GIS.
• The Allowance for the Survivor, for widowed people aged 60 to 64 with low income.

OAS is separate from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). CPP is earned through payroll contributions; OAS is not. Most retirees receive both, and the two are compared later in this guide. For a side-by-side estimate of all three benefits for a specific income, the OAS, CPP and GIS planner does the arithmetic.

How much is Old Age Security in 2026?

For October to December 2026 the full OAS pension is up to $762.50 a month at age 65 to 74 and up to $838.75 at age 75 and over. ESDC raised OAS benefits by 1.4% for the quarter and puts the increase from October 2025 to October 2026 at 3.0%. The table shows every benefit in the program with its maximum and the income at which it stops.

How to read this table: Maximum monthly amounts for a full pension that was not deferred. The income limit is the annual income at which the benefit is reduced to zero. OAS pension rows use individual net world income for 2025; GIS and Allowance rows use annual net income, combined for couples where shown.

Benefit and situation	Maximum per month	Income must be under	Income that counts
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
GIS, spouse or partner receives the full OAS pension	$685.56	$30,528	Combined income of the couple
GIS, spouse or partner receives the Allowance	$685.56	$42,768	Combined income of the couple
GIS, spouse or partner receives no OAS pension or Allowance	$1,138.90	$55,392	Combined income of the couple
Allowance, age 60 to 64 (spouse or partner receives GIS)	$1,448.06	$42,768	Combined income of the couple
Allowance for the Survivor, age 60 to 64	$1,726.18	$31,152	Own annual net income

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.

These are maximums, not typical payments. Someone with fewer than 40 years in Canada after 18 gets a partial pension, someone who delayed OAS gets more, and a high earner has some or all of it withheld as recovery tax. In the previous quarter, July to September 2026, the maximums were $751.97 at 65 to 74 and $827.17 at 75 and over. Every quarter’s figures, including the top-up cut-offs for the lowest incomes, are kept on the OAS payment amounts page.

What is the most a senior household can receive from the OAS program?

When there is little or no other income, the OAS pension and the GIS stack. These totals use October to December 2026 maximums; any other income, including CPP, reduces the GIS part.

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Who qualifies for Old Age Security?

To receive the OAS pension a person must be 65 or older and meet two further tests. Living in Canada, they must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident when the application is approved and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18. Living abroad, they must have been a citizen or legal resident on the day before leaving Canada and have lived in Canada for at least 20 years since age 18. The companion benefits have their own conditions:

How to read this table: Conditions as ESDC states them. Income thresholds for each benefit are in the amounts table above and change every quarter.

Benefit	Age	Residence	Status and other conditions	Income test
OAS pension	65 or older (can be delayed to 70)	At least 10 years in Canada after age 18 if living in Canada; at least 20 years if living outside Canada	Canadian citizen or legal resident when the application is approved (living abroad: on the day before leaving Canada)	No income test to qualify; recovery tax applies to high incomes
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)	65 or older	Must receive the OAS pension and live in Canada	Canadian citizen or legal resident; not under a sponsorship agreement	Annual income below the GIS threshold for the household situation
Allowance	60 to 64	At least 10 years in Canada after age 18	Canadian citizen or legal resident; spouse or common-law partner receives the GIS; neither partner under a sponsorship agreement	Couple's combined income below the Allowance threshold
Allowance for the Survivor	60 to 64	At least 10 years in Canada after age 18	Spouse or common-law partner has died and the survivor has not remarried or entered a new common-law relationship; not under a sponsorship agreement	Own annual income below the Allowance for the Survivor threshold

Source: Old Age Security — Do you qualify (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (income that counts, tax return rule); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (working abroad for a Canadian employer); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (proof needed for work abroad); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (GIS citizenship or legal residence); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (Allowance sponsorship condition covers both partners); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (social security agreements); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (Canada.ca); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (sponsorship rules effective October 1, 2025); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (Allowance for the Survivor conditions); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (exceptions for sponsored immigrants); Allowance — conversion to the Allowance for the Survivor (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax cap (Canada.ca); Allowance — overview and when to apply (Canada.ca); Allowance for the Survivor — overview and when to apply (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — Apply, delay, or change your start date (automatic enrolment); Old Age Security — Apply, delay, or change your start date (online conditions and paper form); Old Age Security — Apply (applying from outside Canada); Old Age Security — Apply (paper form); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Apply (GIS-only form); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Apply (automatic GIS enrolment); Old Age Security — After you apply (processing times and reconsideration); Old Age Security — After you apply (reconsideration deadline); Old Age Security — When to start your retirement pension (retroactive payments); Old Age Security — When to start (other benefits wait while OAS is delayed); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (first payment and cancelling); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (payments while living outside Canada); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (leaving or returning to Canada); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (annual reassessment and taxes); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-residents (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax threshold (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax deducted (Canada.ca); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Receiving your benefit (missing July payment); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Receiving your benefit (annual review and tax filing); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (call before leaving and on return); Pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada — social security agreements (Canada.ca); Pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada — agreements differ (Canada.ca). In effect from October 1, 2025; checked September 30, 2026.

A few details catch people out:

• A tax return is required every year. Service Canada says a return must be filed each year to receive the OAS pension, and it is the return that sets the GIS and Allowance amounts.
• Working abroad for a Canadian employer can count as residence if the person came back to Canada within 6 months after the job ended, or turned 65 while still working abroad and keeping a Canadian residence. The application needs proof of the employment and, unless the person turned 65 while still employed abroad, proof of physically returning to Canada.
• Social security agreements can mean a pension from both Canada and the partner country, and time in that country can help someone living abroad reach the 20 years needed for payments outside Canada. The rules differ from one agreement to the next.
• Sponsored immigrants can receive the OAS pension if they qualify, but not the GIS, the Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor for the entire length of the sponsorship. Under ESDC’s sponsorship rules effective October 1, 2025, parent and grandparent sponsorship agreements are treated as lasting 20 years instead of 10 in every province except Quebec. The rule is lifted if the sponsor dies, is imprisoned for more than 6 months, is convicted of an offence against the sponsored person, or declares personal bankruptcy.

The detailed residence rules, including how absences are counted, are on the OAS eligibility page. Newcomers who are still setting up their paperwork need a Social Insurance Number first; the SIN application steps explain how to get one.

How is a partial OAS pension calculated?

A partial pension equals the number of years lived in Canada after age 18, divided by 40. Twenty years gives half of the full pension; 40 or more gives all of it. Once the pension starts, additional years in Canada do not increase it. The table applies the rule to the October to December 2026 full rates at both age bands.

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ESDC asks partial pensioners not to rely on its maximum tables and to check with Service Canada, so treat these figures as an illustration of the rule, not a quote. Two practical points follow from it. First, someone with, say, 32 years of residence at 65 can sometimes gain both ways by delaying: each extra year in Canada adds a fortieth of the full pension, and the deferral increase is added on top. Second, a partial pension still opens the door to the GIS for a low-income senior living in Canada, because the GIS is based on income, so a small OAS cheque is not necessarily the whole story.

When should OAS start: at 65 or later?

OAS can start at 65 or be delayed for up to 60 months. Each month of delay adds 0.6%, which is 7.2% a year and 36% at age 70. There is no increase for waiting past 70. ESDC’s own example at October to December 2026 rates:

How to read this table: Full pension at the age 65 to 74 rate. The percentages are fixed by law; the dollar figures rise with each quarterly indexation.

Age OAS starts	Months delayed	Permanent 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.

Delaying has a cost, and for some people it brings no benefit at all. ESDC says there is no benefit to waiting for anyone eligible for the GIS, because the GIS cannot be paid while OAS is deferred and GIS amounts do not increase with deferral. A spouse aged 60 to 64 also cannot apply for the Allowance until the OAS pension has started. And someone living outside Canada with fewer than 20 years of residence, in a country without a social security agreement, gains nothing by waiting.

The points ESDC lists in favour of delaying are good health and an expectation of a long life, other sources of income, and fewer than 40 years of residence in Canada. Separately, there is an automatic 10% increase the month after the 75th birthday, worth $76.25 a month at the current full rate. The trade-offs, including how long it takes for the bigger payment to catch up, are worked through in the OAS deferral guide, and the same decision for CPP is covered in CPP at 60, 65 or 70.

What is the Guaranteed Income Supplement?

The Guaranteed Income Supplement is a monthly, tax-free payment for OAS pensioners with low income. To qualify a person must be 65 or older, receive the OAS pension, live in Canada, not be under a sponsorship agreement, and have annual income below the limit for their situation. For October to December 2026 the maximum GIS is $1,138.90 a month for a single, widowed or divorced senior and $685.56 a month for each member of a couple who both receive the OAS pension.

The income limits for October to December 2026 are:

• Single, widowed or divorced: own income under $23,112.
• Spouse or partner receives the full OAS pension: combined income under $30,528.
• Spouse or partner receives the Allowance: combined income under $42,768.
• Spouse or partner receives neither OAS nor the Allowance: combined income under $55,392.

Not all income counts. The OAS pension itself is left out, as is the first $5,000 of employment or self-employment income and 50% of such income between $5,000 and $15,000. Almost everything else on the tax return counts, including CPP, workplace pensions, RRIF withdrawals and interest. That is why a modest CPP pension reduces the GIS but rarely removes it: even the maximum new CPP pension at 65 for January 2026 comes to $18,091.80 a year, below the single GIS limit.

The GIS is reviewed every July using the previous year’s tax return. Service Canada sends a letter saying whether the benefit is renewed with a new amount, stopped, started or needs more income information, and it asks recipients to file by April 30 every year to avoid a gap in payments. Some provinces pay their own top-up to GIS recipients, such as the programs covered in Ontario seniors benefits and the Alberta Seniors Benefit; the GIS income limits by province page brings them together.

What are the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor?

These two benefits cover a gap for low-income people aged 60 to 64, who are too young for OAS and the GIS.

The Allowance is paid to a person aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner receives the GIS. The person must be a citizen or legal resident, have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since 18, and the couple’s combined income must be below $42,768 for October to December 2026. The maximum is $1,448.06 a month, the same as the full OAS pension plus the couple rate of GIS ($1,448.06). ESDC recommends applying 6 to 11 months before turning 60, or as soon as possible if already 60 to 64.

The Allowance for the Survivor is paid to a person aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner has died and who has not remarried or entered a new common-law relationship. The same citizenship and 10-year residence rules apply, own income must be below $31,152, and the maximum is $1,726.18 a month for October to December 2026. It must be applied for, no earlier than 11 months before the 60th birthday; someone already receiving the Allowance is switched to the Allowance for the Survivor automatically when the partner dies.

Both benefits are tax-free, both are reassessed each July from the tax return, and neither can be paid to someone under a sponsorship agreement. The Allowance for the Survivor guide covers the application in detail, and a survivor may also qualify for the CPP survivor’s pension and the one-time CPP death benefit of $2,500.

How does the OAS clawback work?

The OAS pension has no income test for eligibility, but high earners repay it through the OAS pension recovery tax, usually called the clawback. The recovery tax is 15% of individual net income above a yearly threshold, and it is withheld from OAS payments over the following July-to-June period.

How to read this table: The threshold is where the 15% recovery tax starts. The full-clawback figures are the incomes at which the whole OAS pension is repaid. Recovery tax on each income year is deducted from payments in the recovery period shown.

Income year	Deducted from payments	Clawback starts above	Fully repaid at (65 to 74)	Fully repaid at (75+)	Status
2024	July 2025 to June 2026	$90,997	$148,451	$154,196	Final
2025	July 2026 to June 2027	$93,454	$152,062	$157,923	Final
2026	July 2027 to June 2028	$95,323	$155,320	$161,320	Final

Source: Old Age Security pension recovery tax — income recovery thresholds table (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — footnote 1, estimates to September and final from October (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-residents (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — Return of Income deadline (Canada.ca); Repayment of Old Age Security pension — income line and return lines (Canada.ca); Repayment of Old Age Security pension — worked example (Canada.ca); Repayment of Old Age Security pension — deductions spread over 12 payments (Canada.ca); Repayment of Old Age Security pension — financial hardship (Canada.ca); Line 23500 – Social benefits repayment (CRA); Line 23500 – Social benefits repayment, withheld recovery tax (CRA); Repayment of Old Age Security pension — contact to check or increase the deduction (Canada.ca); Contact the Canada Revenue Agency — individual income tax enquiries line (CRA); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — CRA contact for tax questions (Canada.ca); T1213OAS Request to Reduce Old Age Security Recovery Tax at Source (CRA); Pension income splitting — 50% limit (CRA); Pension income splitting — RRIF and annuity income at 65 or older (CRA); Pension income splitting — OAS and CPP not eligible (CRA); Pension income splitting — effect on OAS repayment (CRA); Line 21000 – Deduction for elected split-pension amount, Form T1032 (CRA); What is a TFSA — TFSA impact on government benefits and credits (CRA). In effect from July 1, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.

A worked example: 2025 net income of $100,000 is above the $93,454 threshold, so the recovery tax for the July 2026 to June 2027 period is $981.90, or about $81.83 off each monthly payment.

The test is individual, not household, so a couple can each keep a full pension even with a large combined income. Several things change the result: TFSA income and withdrawals do not count, while RRIF withdrawals, CPP, pension income, interest and capital gains do. Couples can allocate up to 50% of eligible pension income to the lower-income spouse, which can pull one partner under the threshold; the pension income splitting page explains how. Anyone whose income will drop sharply can ask the CRA to reduce the withholding with Form T1213(OAS). Every threshold, more examples and the non-resident rules are on the OAS clawback page, and the effect of RRIF withdrawals can be modelled with the RRIF calculator and the RRIF minimum withdrawal rates.

How do you apply for Old Age Security?

Most people do not have to apply. When Service Canada has the necessary information it sends an enrolment letter around the 64th birthday, which means the person is enrolled automatically, and it tries to enrol eligible people for the GIS at the same time.

How to read this table: Automatic enrolment depends on Service Canada already having the information it needs; anyone who is not enrolled receives a letter inviting an application.

Benefit	Enrolment or when to apply
OAS pension	Automatic for most people: enrolment letter around the 64th birthday
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)	Service Canada tries to enrol automatically with OAS; otherwise a letter invites an application
Allowance	Apply 6 to 11 months before turning 60 (or as soon as possible if already 60 to 64)
Allowance for the Survivor	Must apply; no earlier than 11 months before the 60th birthday (Allowance recipients are converted automatically)

Source: Old Age Security — Do you qualify (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (income that counts, tax return rule); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (working abroad for a Canadian employer); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (proof needed for work abroad); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (GIS citizenship or legal residence); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (Allowance sponsorship condition covers both partners); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (social security agreements); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (Canada.ca); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (sponsorship rules effective October 1, 2025); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (Allowance for the Survivor conditions); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (exceptions for sponsored immigrants); Allowance — conversion to the Allowance for the Survivor (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax cap (Canada.ca); Allowance — overview and when to apply (Canada.ca); Allowance for the Survivor — overview and when to apply (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — Apply, delay, or change your start date (automatic enrolment); Old Age Security — Apply, delay, or change your start date (online conditions and paper form); Old Age Security — Apply (applying from outside Canada); Old Age Security — Apply (paper form); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Apply (GIS-only form); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Apply (automatic GIS enrolment); Old Age Security — After you apply (processing times and reconsideration); Old Age Security — After you apply (reconsideration deadline); Old Age Security — When to start your retirement pension (retroactive payments); Old Age Security — When to start (other benefits wait while OAS is delayed); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (first payment and cancelling); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (payments while living outside Canada); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (leaving or returning to Canada); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (annual reassessment and taxes); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-residents (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax threshold (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax deducted (Canada.ca); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Receiving your benefit (missing July payment); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Receiving your benefit (annual review and tax filing); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (call before leaving and on return); Pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada — social security agreements (Canada.ca); Pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada — agreements differ (Canada.ca). In effect from October 1, 2025; checked September 30, 2026.

Service Canada asks people to contact it if no letter has arrived one month after the 64th birthday. Action is also needed if the letter contains wrong information, if Service Canada writes asking for an application, if the person wants to delay OAS, or if they turned 65 without starting or delaying it. The steps:

1. Gather the information. Social Insurance Number and date of birth for the applicant and any spouse or common-law partner, where the applicant has lived since age 18, any income earned in another country, details of any drop in employment or pension income in the last two years, and banking details for direct deposit. A void cheque or direct deposit form has the transit, institution and account numbers.
2. Apply online if possible. In My Service Canada Account, open the Old Age Security section on the dashboard and follow the application link. Online applications are open only to people at least one month past their 64th birthday who are not already receiving OAS, have not applied (or whose application is still being assessed) and do not have a power of attorney or trustee managing the account.
3. Otherwise use the paper form. Form ISP-3550 applies for both the OAS pension and the GIS; Form ISP-3025 applies for the GIS alone for someone already receiving OAS. The reference guide ISP-3550A explains each section. Applicants outside Canada must use paper and send it to the Service Canada office for the last province or territory where they lived.
4. Wait for the decision letter. Service Canada’s published processing targets are 14 days online and 120 days by mail. The approval letter shows the monthly amount and the first payment date.
5. Ask for a reconsideration if the decision looks wrong. The request must be made within 90 days of receiving the decision letter.

Late applicants can get some money back. Anyone already over 65 may receive a retroactive payment for up to 11 months from the date the application is received, but not for months when OAS was deliberately delayed. Going the other way, someone who started OAS and changes their mind can ask in writing to cancel within 6 months of the first payment and repay what was received within the next 6 months, then reapply later, possibly for a higher pension. CPP needs its own application; the steps are in how to apply for CPP.

When are OAS payments made?

OAS, the GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are paid once a month, late in the month, on the same dates as CPP. The next payment is issued on October 28, 2026.

Old Age Security payment dates

Next payment date

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

This is the date the payment is issued. Deposits can take a few days to arrive and mailed cheques can take longer, so allow a few business days before contacting the government.

Month	2026	2025
January	Wed, January 28	Wed, January 29
February	Wed, February 25	Wed, February 26
March	Fri, March 27	Thu, March 27
April	Tue, April 28	Mon, April 28
May	Wed, May 27	Wed, May 28
June	Fri, June 26	Thu, June 26
July	Wed, July 29	Tue, July 29
August	Thu, August 27	Wed, August 27
September	Fri, September 25	Thu, September 25
October	Wed, October 28	Wed, October 29
November	Thu, November 26	Wed, November 26
December	Tue, December 22	Mon, December 22

How to read this table: These are the dates Service Canada issues the payment. The same dates apply to CPP. 2027 dates are added when Canada.ca publishes them. Source: Benefits payment dates — Canada.ca (Canada Pension Plan, 2026 dates); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension — Canada.ca (payment by cheque); Contact Canada Pension Plan — Canada.ca (phone numbers and hours); Contact Old Age Security — Canada.ca (phone numbers and hours). Dates checked September 29, 2026.

Direct deposit avoids mail delays and can go to a bank account in Canada, the United States or other participating countries; it can be set up at any time in My Service Canada Account from the Profile page of the OAS dashboard, after a one-time activation by calling 1-800-277-9914 or visiting a Service Canada office. Without direct deposit, a cheque is mailed during the last 3 business days of each month. Month-by-month dates for the year are on the CPP and OAS payment dates page.

Can you get OAS while living outside Canada?

Yes, with conditions. The OAS pension can be paid abroad to someone who lived in Canada for at least 20 years after turning 18, or who lived and worked in a country with a social security agreement with Canada so that the combined time reaches 20 years. The GIS and the Allowance programs are different: they require living in Canada.

How to read this table: Service Canada asks recipients to call before leaving Canada for more than 6 months and again on return, to avoid overpayments that must be repaid.

Situation	OAS pension	GIS and Allowance
Trip or stay outside Canada of 6 months or less	Continues	Continues
Outside Canada more than 6 months, with at least 20 years in Canada after age 18	Can continue while living abroad	GIS requires living in Canada, and ESDC says it may stop after more than 6 months away; call Service Canada before leaving and again on return
Outside Canada more than 6 months, fewer than 20 years in Canada but lived and worked in a social security agreement country, combined time at least 20 years	Continues	GIS requires living in Canada and may stop after more than 6 months away
Outside Canada more than 6 months, fewer than 20 years in Canada and no agreement that brings the total to 20	May stop after more than 6 months away; call Service Canada on return to restart payments	May stop after more than 6 months away

Source: Old Age Security — Do you qualify (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (income that counts, tax return rule); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (working abroad for a Canadian employer); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (proof needed for work abroad); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (GIS citizenship or legal residence); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (Allowance sponsorship condition covers both partners); Old Age Security — Do you qualify (social security agreements); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (Canada.ca); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (sponsorship rules effective October 1, 2025); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (Allowance for the Survivor conditions); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Do you qualify (exceptions for sponsored immigrants); Allowance — conversion to the Allowance for the Survivor (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax cap (Canada.ca); Allowance — overview and when to apply (Canada.ca); Allowance for the Survivor — overview and when to apply (Canada.ca); Old Age Security — Apply, delay, or change your start date (automatic enrolment); Old Age Security — Apply, delay, or change your start date (online conditions and paper form); Old Age Security — Apply (applying from outside Canada); Old Age Security — Apply (paper form); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Apply (GIS-only form); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Apply (automatic GIS enrolment); Old Age Security — After you apply (processing times and reconsideration); Old Age Security — After you apply (reconsideration deadline); Old Age Security — When to start your retirement pension (retroactive payments); Old Age Security — When to start (other benefits wait while OAS is delayed); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (first payment and cancelling); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (payments while living outside Canada); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (leaving or returning to Canada); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (annual reassessment and taxes); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-residents (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax threshold (Canada.ca); Old Age Security pension recovery tax — non-resident tax deducted (Canada.ca); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Receiving your benefit (missing July payment); Guaranteed Income Supplement — Receiving your benefit (annual review and tax filing); Old Age Security — Receiving your pension (call before leaving and on return); Pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada — social security agreements (Canada.ca); Pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada — agreements differ (Canada.ca). In effect from October 1, 2025; checked September 30, 2026.

Tax works differently for non-residents. Non-resident tax is deducted from each monthly OAS payment, at a rate that depends on the country. Pensioners living in a country where the non-resident tax on Canadian pensions is 25% or more must send the CRA an OAS Return of Income, reporting net world income, by April 30 each year; if the CRA does not receive it, OAS payments stop beginning in July. The non-resident tax and the recovery tax together can never exceed the OAS received. People living abroad can view their information online but must contact Service Canada to change their address or banking details. For anyone applying from abroad, or with a pension from another country, the social security agreement between Canada and that country sets extra rules, and ESDC notes that the requirements vary from agreement to agreement.

How are OAS and the Canada Pension Plan different?

The Canada Pension Plan is the other main public pension, and the two programs work on opposite principles. CPP is earned: the pension depends on how much was contributed from employment or self-employment earnings over a working life. OAS is residence-based and does not depend on contributions at all. Work in Quebec is covered by the Québec Pension Plan (QPP), run by Retraite Québec, which works together with the CPP.

Few people receive the CPP maximum; the average new CPP retirement pension at 65 was $858.34 a month in July 2026. Using the January 2026 CPP maximum and the October 2026 OAS rate, the maximum new CPP pension plus the full OAS pension comes to $2,270.15 a month, and the average new CPP pension plus full OAS comes to $1,620.84. How the CPP maximum is reached is covered on the maximum CPP benefit and CPP contribution pages, and the CPP enhancement guide explains why future pensions will be larger. People who keep working after starting CPP can build extra pension through the post-retirement benefit, and people unable to work before 65 may qualify for CPP disability benefits.

Is Old Age Security taxable?

The OAS pension is taxable income and appears on a T4A(OAS) slip each year, together with any recovery tax already withheld. Tax is not deducted automatically: Service Canada takes federal tax off each payment only when asked, so someone who does not request it may owe tax when filing. The GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are not taxable, but they still depend on a return being filed on time every year, which the tax deadline guide sets out. The marginal rate that applies to OAS and CPP income is shown in the Canadian tax brackets guide.

What to do if an OAS payment is late, wrong or stops

1. Check the payment date first. Payments can take a few days to arrive, and mailed cheques take longer. Service Canada asks people to wait 5 to 10 business days after the listed date before reporting a missing payment.
2. Look at My Service Canada Account. The OAS dashboard shows payment details, any recovery tax being withheld and the status of an application.
3. Confirm the tax return was filed. The GIS is renewed each July from the previous year’s return, and Service Canada asks recipients to file by April 30 to avoid a disruption. If the July payment does not arrive, it asks for a call as soon as possible with the Social Insurance Number and last year’s income for the recipient and any spouse or partner.
4. 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, call 1-613-957-1954 collect (Eastern Time). Have the Social Insurance Number and last year’s income ready.
5. Report changes promptly. Service Canada must be told about a new address or phone number, marriage, a new common-law relationship, separation or divorce, the death of a spouse or partner, and significant income changes. Late notice can lead to overpayments that must be repaid.
6. Request a reconsideration within 90 days if a decision on eligibility or the amount still seems wrong.

When an OAS recipient dies, Service Canada should be told as soon as possible so payments stop and no overpayment has to be recovered from the estate. The estate and survivors may qualify for the Allowance for the Survivor, the CPP death benefit or the CPP survivor’s pension. How estates are taxed at death is explained in inheritance tax in Canada.

What changes next for OAS?

OAS, GIS and Allowance amounts are reviewed in January, April, July and October against the Consumer Price Index, and they never go down when prices fall. The next review sets the January to March 2027 rates, and this guide is updated when ESDC publishes them. The GIS and Allowances are also recalculated every July from the previous year’s tax return. The recovery tax thresholds for 2026 income are final on ESDC’s table from October 2026, and the 2027 payment dates had not been published when this page was checked.

Common mistakes with Old Age Security

• Waiting to be told. Automatic enrolment only happens when Service Canada has enough information; no letter a month after the 64th birthday means it is time to call.
• Delaying OAS while eligible for the GIS. The GIS cannot be paid during deferral and does not grow with it, so a low-income senior loses money by waiting.
• Skipping the tax return. Even with no tax owing, a missing return can stop the GIS and the Allowance in July.
• Reading the maximum as a guarantee. Partial pensions, deferral, recovery tax and income all change the real payment.
• Treating the GIS limit as individual income for couples. It is combined income, with the OAS pension excluded.
• Leaving Canada without calling. An absence of more than 6 months can stop the GIS, and the OAS pension too for anyone who does not qualify for payments abroad, creating an overpayment.
• Forgetting tax on OAS. Tax is not withheld unless requested, which can leave a balance owing at tax time.

Seniors guides and tools on YieldMaple

Old Age Security connects to almost every other retirement decision. The pages below go deeper on each piece.

OAS, GIS and the Allowances: OAS payment amounts by quarter, OAS eligibility and residence rules, OAS deferral to age 70, OAS clawback thresholds, GIS income limits and provincial top-ups, Allowance for the Survivor and the CPP and OAS payment dates.

Canada Pension Plan: when to take CPP, how to apply for CPP, maximum CPP benefit, CPP maximum contribution, the CPP enhancement, the post-retirement benefit, CPP disability benefits, CPP survivor benefits and the CPP death benefit.

Retirement income and RRIFs: retirement income planning, how a RRIF works, RRIF minimum withdrawal rates, pension income splitting, the RRIF calculator and the OAS, CPP and GIS planner.

Health, provincial benefits and care: the Canadian Dental Care Plan, Ontario seniors benefits, the Alberta Seniors Benefit, the Canada caregiver credit, senior housing and care costs, reverse mortgages in Canada and the disability tax credit.

All seniors pages are listed on the seniors hub.