Old Age Security: OAS

The Old Age Security pension is a monthly payment available to most Canadians aged 65 or older. You must apply to receive benefits. If you meet the eligibility requirements explained below, you may be entitled to receive the Old Age Security pension even if you are still working or have never worked.

Eligibility Information

We look at three factors to determine if you can receive the Old Age Security pension: your age, your legal status, and the number of years you have lived in Canada.

If one of the two scenarios listed below describes your situation, you may be eligible to receive the Old Age Security pension.

Application Information

To get an application kit, you may contact us, you may pick one up at a Service Canada Centre near you, or you can print one from our Web site.
The kit contains detailed instructions to help you apply for the Old Age Security pension, including where to send the completed and signed application form.

What documents will I need to provide?

If you were not born in Canada or if you have not lived continuously in Canada since age 18, you must submit proof of legal status in Canada such as citizenship or immigration papers. You do not need to provide proof of your statement of residence since age 18 to present or proof of your date of birth (e.g. birth certificate) when you apply. but Service Canada may contact you to ask for proof.

Guaranteed Income Supplement: GIS

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides a monthly non-taxable benefit to low-income Old Age Security (OAS) recipients living in Canada.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement is a monthly benefit paid to eligible residents of Canada who receive a basic, full or partial Old Age Security pension and who have little or no other income. Guaranteed Income Supplement payments may begin in the same month as Old Age Security pension payments. Recipients must re-apply annually for the Guaranteed Income Supplement benefit by filing an income statement or by completing an income tax return by April 30. Thus, the amount of monthly payments determined for the year may increase or decrease according to reported changes in a recipient’s yearly income. Unlike the basic Old Age Security pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement is not subject to income tax. The Guaranteed Income Supplement is not payable outside Canada beyond a period of six months after the date of departure, regardless of how long the person has lived in Canada.

Eligibility Information

To receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement benefit, a person must be receiving an Old Age Security pension. The yearly income of the applicant or, in the case of a couple, the combined income of the applicant and spouse or common-law partner, cannot exceed certain limits.

Allowance

The Allowance provides money for low-income seniors who meet the following conditions:

• your spouse or common-law partner (same sex or opposite sex) receives or is entitled to receive the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement;
• you are 60 to 64 years of age;
• you are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time your Allowance is approved or when you last lived in Canada; and
• you have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18.

If you have not lived in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18, you may still qualify. Canada has social security agreements with many countries. If you have lived in one of these countries or contributed to its social security system, you may qualify for a pension from that country, from Canada or from both countries.

When you may be eligible for the Allowance, you will normally receive an application kit. You should complete the application and return it as soon as possible. If you don’t apply right away, you could lose some benefits.
If you have not received an application, but you think you may be eligible, contact Canada Pension Plan toll-free at 1-800-277-9914.

Application Information

Depending on your situation, you will have to provide up to three kinds of documents with your application:

• • Proof of Birth:

  You do not need to provide proof of birth with your application. However, the Old Age Security Program has the right to request proof of birth at any time, when determined necessary.

  • Proof of Marital Status:

  If you are married, you must provide a marriage certificate. Common-law couples must sign a “statutory declaration” and provide other documentation as proof of your relationship.

  • Proof of Canadian Legal Status:

  If you were not born in Canada, you must submit proof of your legal status in Canada such as citizenship or immigration documents.

  • Proof of Residence History

  If you have not lived in Canada all your life, you must send certified photocopies of documents that prove your history of residence in Canada. You can use passport, immigration records or custom declarations to prove when you entered, departed or returned to Canada.

Benefits received from the Old Age Security program are not to be included as income. Consult the application form for more details about what to include as income.

What happens if there is a loss or reduction of income?

In some situations, like when you stop working or you suffer a loss or reduction of pension income, we can calculate your Allowance by estimating your pension and employment income for this year, instead of using last year’s pension and employment income. If you or your spouse or common-law partner have a lower income this year for either of these reasons, you should contact Old Age Security Program. Your benefits may increase.

Allowance for the Survivor

The Allowance for the Survivor provides money for low-income seniors who meet the following conditions:

Eligibility Information

• you are 60 to 64 years of age;
• you are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time your Allowance for the Survivor is approved or when you last lived in Canada;
• your annual income is below the prescribed limit (refer to the following tables);
• your spouse or common-law partner has died and you have not remarried or entered into a common-law partnership exceeding 12 months since then; and
• you have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18.

If you meet these conditions, please contact us. We will send you an application kit for the Allowance for the Survivor. Please complete it and return it quickly. If you don’t apply right away, you could lose some benefits.

Application Information

Depending on your situation, you will have to provide up to five kinds of documents with your application:

• Birth certificate:

You do not need to provide proof of birth with your application. However, Old Age Security program has the right to request proof of birth at any time, when deemed necessary.

• Marriage certificate or statutory declaration:

If you were married, you must provide a marriage certificate. If you lived in a common-law relationship, you must sign a “statutory declaration” and provide other documentation as proof of your relationship.

• Proof of Canadian Legal Status:

If you were not born in Canada, you must submit proof of your legal status in Canada such as citizenship or immigration documents. If you have not lived continuously in Canada since age 18, you must submit proof of all the dates you arrived in Canada and when you left. Usually, you can do this with a passport.

• Death certificate :

You must send us proof of your spouse or common-law partner’s date of death.

Canada Pension Plan: CPP

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Retirement Pension provides a monthly taxable benefit to retired contributors.
Delivered by: Service Canada on behalf of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

Eligibility Information

You qualify for a CPP retirement pension if you worked, you have made at least one valid contribution (payment) to the Canada Pension Plan, and you are at least 60 years old. (Your retirement pension does not start automatically. You must apply for it.

Application Information

• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
• If you wish to arrange for Direct Deposit, please have the financial institution number of your bank, the branch and account number;
• If you lived or worked in a country other than Canada and want to apply for benefits from that country, give details of when you worked or lived outside Canada and your Social Insurance Number there;
• If you want to take advantage of pension sharing for possible tax savings, your spouse or common-law partner’s SIN; and,
• If you were the primary caregiver of any child(ren) or received Family Allowance or Child Tax Benefits while they were under the age of 7, you need to provide:
  • the SIN of each child; and,
  • the date of entry into Canada for each child born outside of Canada.

For more information, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp.html