The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a monthly top-up for seniors with low income, paid with Old Age Security (OAS). Because it depends on your income, Service Canada checks it every year. In July, it sends you a letter with the result. If that letter says it needs your income information, act quickly so your payments don’t stop.
What the letter looks like and who sends it
It comes from Service Canada, by mail, in a beige or white envelope with the Canada wordmark. It arrives in July, when the new GIS year starts. The letter tells you one of four things:
- Your GIS is renewed, with your new amount.
- Your GIS has stopped.
- Your GIS will start or start again.
- Service Canada needs more income information from you.
When Service Canada has no income information for you, the letter comes with a Statement of Income form. That form lets you give your income without filing a tax return first.
What it means in plain words
Each year, Service Canada works out your GIS from your federal tax return, and your spouse’s or partner’s if you have one. If you both filed on time, renewal is usually automatic.
A letter asking for income information usually means Service Canada couldn’t find a tax return, or couldn’t get income information for you or your spouse. Without it, it can’t work out your GIS for the new year.
Do you need to act?
- Renewed: No action needed. Check that the new amount looks right.
- Stopped: Read why. If it’s because of income and you think that’s wrong, or your income has since dropped, call Service Canada.
- Start or restart: No action needed, unless the details are wrong.
- Need income information: Yes. Act as soon as you can.
Exactly what to do
If the letter asks for your income
- File any missing tax return. This is the most common fix. You must file every year by April 30 to avoid a break in payments, even though GIS isn’t taxed. If the CRA sent you a SimpleFile by Phone invitation, you can file for free over the phone.
- Or fill in the Statement of Income form that came with the letter, and mail it back as the letter explains. Service Canada has also said you can give your income information by phone.
- Check your spouse’s or partner’s return too. Their income counts.
If you didn’t get a July payment
Call Service Canada as soon as possible at 1-800-277-9914. Have ready:
- your Social Insurance Number
- your income from last year
- your spouse’s or partner’s income from last year
If your income has dropped
If you or your spouse retired, or a pension was cut or stopped, call Service Canada. It can use an estimate of your income for this year instead of last year’s, which may raise your GIS.
If you and your partner must live apart
If you live apart for reasons you can’t control, such as long-term care, you may get more. Use the form Statement – Spouses or Common-law Partners Living Apart for Reasons beyond their Control (ISP-3040), and mail it to your nearest Service Canada office.
If you disagree with the decision
You can ask for a reconsideration within 90 days of getting your decision letter. Do it in My Service Canada Account, with form ISP-3134, or in writing. A different Service Canada employee reviews it.
Other things to report
Tell Service Canada if you move, marry, separate, start a common-law relationship, lose your spouse, or if your income changes. If you’ll be out of Canada for more than 6 months, call before you leave. GIS stops after 6 months away, and not reporting it can lead to an overpayment you’ll have to repay.
How to check it’s real
- A real letter comes by mail from Service Canada. It doesn’t come as a text or an email with a link.
- A real letter may ask for your income, but it won’t ask for your banking password, a fee, gift cards or crypto.
- You can check your GIS in My Service Canada Account, or call the number below yourself.
If a message says your GIS is “on hold” and asks you to click a link, it’s a scam. See our benefit scam checker.
Who to call
- OAS and GIS line: 1-800-277-9914 (TTY 1-800-255-4786), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time.
- CRA, for tax return questions: 1-800-959-8281.
- To report a scam: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, 1-888-495-8501.