If you are an Ontario senior on a low income, the province can pay you up to $92 a month on top of your federal pension. That is the most a single senior can get from July 2026 to June 2027. This top-up is called GAINS (Guaranteed Annual Income System). It arrives around the 25th of each month.
Ontario does not publish exact GAINS payment dates for 2026, so the day can move a little. Your Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) come from Canada in a separate deposit. So you may see two deposits a month.
You do not pay tax on GAINS, and you do not need to apply. It starts on its own when you get OAS and GIS.
What GAINS pays · 2026
up to$92a month
for a single senior on GIS · July 2026 to June 2027
Couplesup to $184 combined
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Key facts · 5 facts · checked October 22, 2026ShowHide
- GAINS is paid on or about the 25th of each month; the exact day can vary.
- OAS and GIS dates: October 28, November 26 and December 22, 2026.
- Up to $92 a month for a single senior, or up to $184 combined for a couple, for July 2026 to June 2027.
- GAINS stops when your other income, like a workplace pension, reaches $4,416 a year (single) or $8,832 (couple).
- File a tax return by April 30 every year to keep GAINS coming.
Main source: Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System payments for seniors
When do you get your money?
Ontario pays GAINS on or about the 25th of each month, July to June. The exact day can vary.
| Month | GAINS from Ontario | OAS and GIS from Canada |
|---|---|---|
| October | On or about the 25th | October 28, 2026 |
| November | On or about the 25th | November 26, 2026 |
| December | On or about the 25th | December 22, 2026 |
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GAINS may come before or after your OAS and GIS. The full federal calendar is in our guide to OAS and GIS payment dates for 2026.
How much can you get?
For July 2026 to June 2027, GAINS pays up to $92 a month to a single senior and up to $184 combined to a couple. The amount depends on your private income in 2025.
For a single senior, GAINS drops by $0.50 a month for every full $24 of yearly private income. For a couple who both get GAINS, each partner's payment drops by $0.50 for every full $48 of combined yearly income.
So GAINS reaches $0 at $4,416 of private income for a single senior and $8,832 of combined income for a couple. The table below uses Ontario's rate table for October to December 2026.
| Private income in 2025 | GAINS a month, single senior |
|---|---|
| No private income | $92, the maximum |
| $1,200 | $67 |
| $2,400 | $42 |
| $3,600 | $17 |
| $4,416 or more | $0 |
Example: for a single senior with $2,400 of private income in 2025, the table shows $42 a month.
Example: a couple who both get GAINS have $4,800 of combined private income. Ontario's table for couples shows $42 a month each.
How not to miss it
- Your tax return. File by April 30 every year, even with no income, or send a GIS application to Service Canada. Read why filing taxes keeps benefits coming.
- Life changes. GAINS can change during the year if your income or marital status changes. Different income limits apply if your spouse is under 65 or not eligible for OAS.
- When the amount changes. The GAINS maximum can change only once a year, on July 1.
- When payments start. The first GAINS payment is for the month after you become eligible.
- Time away from Ontario. After six months in a row away, not counting the month you left, payments can stop until you return to live mainly in Ontario.
Your next steps
- If you get both OAS and GIS, you do not need to apply for GAINS. Read who qualifies for GIS and who qualifies for OAS.
- For GAINS questions, call Ontario's Ministry of Finance at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (668-8297), TTY 1-800-263-7776, or read the GAINS page on ontario.ca.
- For a missing OAS or GIS deposit, wait 5 to 10 business days before contacting the federal program. See the Government of Canada benefits calendar.
Questions people ask
Questions people ask
When is GAINS paid in 2026?
Ontario pays GAINS on or about the 25th of every month, July to June. It publishes no exact day, so the date can vary. GAINS comes separately from OAS and GIS, which Canada pays on October 28, November 26 and December 22, 2026.
What is the maximum GAINS payment in 2026?
For July 2026 to June 2027, GAINS pays up to $92 a month to an eligible single senior, or up to $184 combined for a couple. A senior with no private income in 2025 gets the maximum. A workplace pension, CPP or bank interest lowers it.
Do I need to apply for GAINS?
Not if you already get OAS and GIS. Ontario works it out from federal information and your tax return. To qualify, you must be 65 or older, a resident of Canada for at least 10 years, and have lived in Ontario for the past 12 months or 20 years in total since age 18.
What happens to GAINS if I spend the winter outside Ontario?
Tell Ontario if you are away more than one month. After six months in a row away, not counting the month you left, GAINS is not paid for any month spent fully outside Ontario, and payments may be suspended. GIS, which GAINS needs, is not paid while you are outside Canada for more than 6 months.
What if my GAINS payment is late or missing?
Ontario pays GAINS on or about the 25th, so the exact day can vary. If it has not arrived, call the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (668-8297). To get GAINS by direct deposit, sign up through Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.