A letter from the government can be confusing, and sometimes worrying. Most of them are routine. The guides below explain the letters people get most often from Service Canada, which runs CPP, OAS, the GIS and the Canada Disability Benefit, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which runs taxes, the Canada Child Benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. Each one covers what the letter means, whether you need to act, and who to call.
Letters from Service Canada
- The OAS automatic enrolment letter: sent around your 64th birthday. Usually no action needed.
- The GIS renewal letter (“we need your income information”): sent each July. Act quickly if it asks for income.
- Your CPP Statement of Contributions: your record of CPP earnings and contributions, and how to fix mistakes.
- A request for information or review letter: when Service Canada needs documents about an application or a benefit you already get.
Letters from the CRA
- Your Notice of Assessment: the summary of your tax return, and the parts that affect benefits.
- Benefit notices and notices of redetermination: how much you’ll get from the CCB and CGEB, and why it changed.
- A letter asking for documents: a review of your marital status, residency or who cares for your children.
- The Disability Tax Credit approval or denial letter: what it unlocks, and what to do if you’re denied.
From either one
- A “you owe” overpayment notice: how to check it, repay over time or dispute it.
Three rules for any government letter
1. Don’t ignore it. Most letters that ask for something have a deadline. Missing it can delay or stop your payments. If you need more time, call before the deadline.
2. Check the deadline to disagree. For CPP, OAS and GIS decisions, you have 90 days from getting the decision letter to ask Service Canada to reconsider. For CRA tax and benefit notices, most people have until the later of 90 days from the notice date or one year after the tax filing deadline to object. For a Disability Tax Credit decision, the CRA gives 90 days to object.
3. Keep copies. Keep the letter, and a copy of anything you send back, with the date you sent it.
How to tell if a letter is real
- Service Canada letters come by mail in a beige or white envelope with the Canada wordmark. Service Canada won’t ask for personal information by text, email or an unexpected call.
- CRA letters and notices also appear in your CRA account. CRA emails only tell you there’s new mail to see after you sign in. They don’t include links to forms asking for personal or banking details.
- Real letters may ask for your SIN, date of birth, income or documents. They will never ask for gift cards, prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or your banking password, or threaten arrest.
- Sign in to your account by typing canada.ca into your browser yourself. Don’t use links or phone numbers from a message you’re unsure about.
- Still not sure? Call 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or the program’s number below.
For viral payment claims and scam texts, see our benefit scam and rumour checker.
Who to call
| Program | Phone |
|---|---|
| CPP, OAS and GIS (Service Canada) | 1-800-277-9914 |
| Canada Disability Benefit | 1-833-486-3007 |
| General Service Canada | 1-800-622-6232 |
| CRA personal taxes and the Disability Tax Credit | 1-800-959-8281 |
| CRA benefits (CCB, CGEB, provincial benefits) | 1-800-387-1193 |
| CRA benefit overpayments and payment plans | 1-888-863-8662 |
| Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre | 1-888-495-8501 |