If you are 65 or older, Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) may be the main money you live on. Both are paid on the same day, near the end of each month. In October 2026 the money arrives on October 28.
This guide lists all 2026 OAS and GIS payment dates and the amounts for each quarter. It also covers the income limits and the mistakes that can stop or cut your payments.
Together, a single senior with a low income and a full OAS pension can get up to $1,901.40 a month from October to December 2026. You do not pay tax on the GIS part.
The short answer
If you get Old Age Security (OAS) or the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), both are paid on the same day near the end of each month. In October 2026 the money arrives on October 28.
Checked October 22, 2026
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Key facts · 5 facts · checked October 22, 2026ShowHide
- 2026 dates: Jan 28, Feb 25, Mar 27, Apr 28, May 27, Jun 26, Jul 29, Aug 27, Sep 25, Oct 28, Nov 26, Dec 22.
- OAS for October to December 2026: up to $762.50 a month at 65 to 74 and $838.75 at 75 and over.
- GIS for October to December 2026: up to $1,138.90 a month for a single senior with income under $23,112.
- Payments can take a few days to arrive; wait 5 to 10 business days before contacting Service Canada.
- File your tax return by April 30 every year so your OAS and GIS are not interrupted.
Main source: Benefits payment dates
2026 OAS and GIS payment dates (official calendar)
OAS and GIS payments are deposited on the same dates. Here is the full 2026 schedule:
- January 28, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- March 27, 2026
- April 28, 2026
- May 27, 2026
- June 26, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- September 25, 2026
- October 28, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 22, 2026 (earlier because of the holidays)
Payments are issued on these dates but may take a few days to reach you. Mailed cheques take longer than direct deposit. If a payment is late, wait 5 to 10 business days before you contact Service Canada. The December payment comes earlier than usual because of the holidays.
How much OAS will you get in 2026?
Your OAS amount depends on two main factors: your age and how long you lived in Canada after age 18. For each rule, see who qualifies for Old Age Security in 2026 and how much it pays.
Full pension (40+ years of Canadian residence after age 18):
| Age group | January to March 2026 | April to June 2026 | July to September 2026 | October to December 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | $742.31/month | $743.05/month | $751.97/month | $762.50/month |
| 75 and older | $816.54/month | $817.36/month | $827.17/month | $838.75/month |
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Partial pension: If you lived in Canada for at least 10 years but fewer than 40 years after age 18, you receive a prorated amount. For example, 20 years of residence gives you 20/40 = 50% of the full pension.
OAS amounts are reviewed four times a year, in January, April, July and October, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Amounts can go up with inflation but never go down. If the CPI drops, your payment stays the same.
In October 2026, the maximum for ages 65 to 74 went up from $751.97 to $762.50 a month. The next review is in January 2027.
Understanding the GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement)
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is a monthly payment for low-income seniors who already get OAS. You do not pay tax on it. Unlike OAS, GIS does not depend on how long you lived in Canada; it depends on your income. The GIS eligibility guide for 2026 explains who can get it and how to apply.
GIS for October to December 2026:
| Your situation | Yearly income must be less than | Maximum monthly GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed or divorced | $23,112 | $1,138.90 |
| Spouse gets the full OAS pension | $30,528 (combined) | $685.56 each |
| Spouse gets the Allowance | $42,768 (combined) | $685.56 |
| Spouse does not get OAS or the Allowance | $55,392 (combined) | $1,138.90 |
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What counts as "income" for GIS purposes:
- CPP/QPP payments: counted
- Private pensions and RRSP or RRIF withdrawals: counted
- Employment or self-employment income: partly counted (see the exemption below)
- Investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains): counted
- OAS pension: not counted
- GIS itself: not counted
- TFSA withdrawals: not counted
This distinction matters enormously. Where you hold your savings (RRSP vs TFSA) can mean thousands of dollars in GIS difference each year.
The RRSP and GIS trap
One of the most consequential financial planning mistakes for Canadian seniors involves RRSP and RRIF withdrawals. Here's why:
Every dollar withdrawn from an RRSP or RRIF counts as income for GIS purposes. Because GIS has a 50% clawback rate (your GIS is reduced by $0.50 for every $1 of income), RRIF withdrawals effectively face a combined marginal tax rate of 70% or more when you add federal and provincial income tax on top.
Example (Rosa, age 67, single): Rosa receives a full OAS pension and has $150,000 in savings. If that money is in an RRSP (now converted to a RRIF), her mandatory minimum withdrawal at age 67 is approximately $6,240/year. That $6,240 reduces her GIS by about $348 a month, or about $4,176 a year at October to December 2026 rates, and also triggers about $940 in income tax. Total cost: over $4,000 lost from a $6,240 withdrawal.
If Rosa had moved those funds into a TFSA before turning 65, the withdrawals would have been invisible to GIS. She would keep her full supplement.
The takeaway: If you're approaching 65 and expect to qualify for GIS, consider converting RRSP funds to a TFSA in the years before you turn 65, when the income won't affect GIS. This requires careful planning with annual TFSA contribution room, and ideally a conversation with a financial advisor, but the difference over a 20-year retirement can be tens of thousands of dollars.
The earnings exemption for working seniors
Many seniors keep working part-time after 65. GIS does not count all of what you earn from a job or from self-employment.
- First $5,000 of earnings per year: fully exempt (doesn't reduce GIS at all)
- Next $10,000 of earnings (from $5,001 to $15,000): 50% exempt (only $5,000 counts as income)
- Above $15,000: standard GIS rules apply
This means a single senior earning $15,000 a year from a part-time job has only $5,000 counted against their GIS. Ontario's rate table for October to December 2026 (age 65 to 74) shows GIS of $868.90 a month at $5,000 of income. Without the exemption, all $15,000 would count, and GIS would be $337.49 a month.
This exemption applies only to employment and self-employment income. It does not apply to CPP, pensions, or investment income.
What happens if you don't file taxes
This is the single most important thing a senior can do to protect their benefits: file your tax return every year by April 30, even if you have no income to report.
Service Canada reviews your GIS each July using your tax return from the year before. If your return is not filed, your GIS can stop, starting with the July payment.
In 2021, approximately 4% of GIS renewals were suspended because seniors hadn't filed their returns. For a single senior receiving maximum GIS, that's over $13,000 per year at stake.
If your GIS has already been stopped:
- File your missing tax return(s) right away
- Contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914
- Back payments of GIS are limited to 11 months, so a longer gap in filing can mean benefits you cannot get back
Free help is available: The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) offers free tax preparation for low-income individuals and seniors across Canada. You can find a clinic near you on the CRA website.
OAS clawback (recovery tax) explained
Higher-income seniors may have their OAS reduced through the OAS recovery tax, commonly known as the clawback.
For your 2026 income, the clawback starts when your net world income is over $95,323. You repay 15% of the amount above that line. Canada.ca estimates that OAS is fully clawed back at $155,320 for ages 65 to 74 and $161,320 for 75 and over.
The amount held back from your monthly OAS from July 2026 to June 2027 is based on your 2025 income, when the clawback started at $93,454. If your income changes a lot from year to year, your OAS payments may change when the CRA reassesses.
Planning tip: If you're near the clawback threshold, timing matters. Deferring RRSP or RRIF withdrawals, choosing when you realize capital gains, or timing the sale of investments can help keep your 2026 income below $95,323.
How BenefitCheck helps seniors
BenefitCheck estimates whether you may qualify for OAS, GIS, the Ontario GAINS top-up, the Ontario Trillium Benefit and other programs. It checks federal and provincial programs in one place.
The calculator helps you:
- see which programs you likely qualify for
- understand how income from different sources affects your benefits
- identify whether the GIS earnings exemption applies to you
- spot potential issues before they affect your payments
FAQ
Do I need to apply for OAS, or is it automatic?
For most Canadians, OAS enrolment is automatic. If Service Canada has your information, it sends an enrolment letter around your 64th birthday and you do not need to apply. If a month has passed since your 64th birthday and no letter has come, contact Service Canada to find out whether you need to apply. You can also apply online through My Service Canada Account.
Does CPP income reduce my GIS?
Yes. Canada Pension Plan income is fully counted when your GIS is worked out. For each $2 of CPP, your GIS drops by about $1. This is why some financial planners suggest delaying CPP to age 70 if you can rely on GIS in the meantime, though this depends on your own situation and life expectancy.
Can I receive OAS if I lived outside Canada?
Yes, but with conditions. If you lived in Canada for at least 20 years after age 18, you can keep getting OAS while you live abroad. With less than 20 years, your OAS may stop if you are outside Canada for more than 6 months. A social security agreement between Canada and a country where you lived and worked can also help you qualify.
When is GIS recalculated each year?
GIS amounts are recalculated in July each year based on your previous year's tax return. For example, your July 2026 GIS will be based on your 2025 income (filed by April 30, 2026). Quarterly CPI adjustments in January, April, July, and October may also change amounts slightly. If your income drops significantly mid-year (for example, due to retirement), you can contact Service Canada to request a reassessment using estimated current-year income.
What is the OAS Allowance for spouses aged 60 to 64?
The Allowance is a monthly benefit for people aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner gets GIS and the full OAS pension. From October to December 2026 it pays up to $1,448.06 a month, and the couple's combined yearly income must be less than $42,768. It stops when you turn 65, at which point you apply for OAS and GIS directly. The Allowance for the Survivor, for widowed people aged 60 to 64, pays up to $1,726.18 a month.
When is the next GIS payment?
GIS is paid on the same day as your OAS pension, near the end of each month. In 2026 the last three payment dates are October 28, November 26 and December 22. Payments may take a few days to arrive, so wait 5 to 10 business days before you contact Service Canada about a missing one. Canada.ca posts each new year's dates on its Benefits payment dates page.
Is GIS paid on the same day as OAS?
Yes. Canada.ca lists one set of Old Age Security payment dates, and it covers the OAS pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor. If you get both OAS and GIS, they are paid on the same day. Mailed cheques go out in the last 3 business days of the month and take longer than direct deposit.
When does Ontario pay GAINS?
Ontario pays the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) top-up on or about the 25th of each month, from July to June. It is a separate payment from your federal OAS and GIS. For July 2026 to June 2027, GAINS pays up to $92 a month to a single senior and up to $184 a month to a couple. If you already get OAS and GIS, you do not have to apply.