Old Age Security (OAS) is one of the most popular retirement plans in Canada. Established to ensure that seniors earn at least $1,000/month—and that there are no low-income seniors struggling to make ends meet—OAS has become a vital source of retirement income for millions of Canadians.
OAS pension benefits are paid out each month via direct deposit or cheque. By the end of this post, you’ll know the exact date you’ll receive your OAS benefit each month, how to calculate how much you’ll receive, and whether you’re eligible for any additional benefits or exclusions.
Canada Old Age Security (OAS) Payment Dates Schedule 2026
The OAS payment dates for 2026 are:
- 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
Payments are generally made on the third-to-last business day of the month, except for December, when they are paid earlier (before Christmas). Payments are made through direct deposit or by cheque.
The OAS pension, Guaranteed Income Supplements, and other supplements and allowances are all paid on the same day. That means that OAS payment dates coincide with CPP payment dates, so if you’re receiving both, you’ll get them on the same day.
If you’ve already signed up for CPP and have direct deposit set up, your monthly OAS pension benefits will be sent to the same bank account. The deposit may show up in your bank account as “Canada Fed” or something similar.
Note that GST payment dates do not fall on the same day as OAS and CPP.
Use our OAS calculator to see how much OAS you can expect to earn:
When Is OAS Paid In September, 2026?
OAS will be paid out on September 25, 2026. If you haven't received your OAS benefits within 1 or 2 business days of September 25, contact your bank and/or Service Canada.
What Is Old Age Security (OAS) In Canada?
Old Age Security (OAS) is one of the three main retirement income plans in Canada, with the other two being the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Employment Pensions Plan (or Individual Retirement Savings).
OAS beneficiaries may also qualify for one of the OAS supplements, including Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), allowance for spouses or common-law partners of GIS recipients, and allowance for survivors.
The first public old-age pension scheme in Canada was launched in 1927. However, to get to its present form, the plan has gone through several adjustments and modifications.
Today, millions of Canadian seniors receive OAS benefits.
Related: Want to receive senior discounts in Canada? Check out our full list of 200+ discounts.
Am I Eligible For OAS?
The Old Age Security pension (OAS) is available to people 65 years old or older who have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18. If you live abroad, you must have spent at least 20 years as an adult living in Canada.
Your time outside of Canada may still be considered in some situations, such as if you spent time working abroad for a Canadian employer (e.g., as a diplomat), worked for an international organization, or lived in a country with a social security agreement with Canada.
Your employment history is not taken into account while determining your eligibility for Old Age Security. As a result, whether or not you have worked is irrelevant, and you may still qualify for monthly payments.
However, what you currently earn is considered, so high earners will earn less OAS than low earners.
To summarize, to be eligible for OAS, you must be:
- 65 years of age or older
- A Canadian citizen or resident who has lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18 (if you live in Canada).
- A Canadian citizen or resident who has lived in Canada for at least 20 years after turning 18 (if you live outside of Canada).
How to Apply For OAS In Canada
If enough information is available in Service Canada's records, you may be automatically enrolled for the OAS pension. If this is the case, a letter will arrive one month after you turn 64 informing you that you have been enrolled.
However, if the information in the letter is incorrect, or if you received a letter requesting that you apply because of insufficient data to process automatic enrollment, you must apply for Old Age Security manually.
You can apply for OAS via a paper application or online:
- To fill out the paper application, download the OAS pension application form, fill it out, and submit certified true copies of all required documentation. The completed form may be dropped off at any Service Canada office or mailed to the closest office. Service Canada doesn't currently have any virtual offices, but you can still apply online (see the next step).
- To apply online, go to your My Service Canada Account, or create one if you do not already have one.
You can easily set up a new account using your existing GCKey, bank account, or BC/Alberta government account. A personal access code will be sent to you by mail to finish the registration process and activate your account.
To use the online application method, you need to be a resident of Canada who is not already receiving an OAS pension.
When To Apply For OAS
The month before the pension commencement date is the earliest time to apply for OAS benefits. That means if you want to receive your OAS pension by age 65, you can begin an application 11 months before that.
This is true whether you use the online or paper application process. You may also wish to defer your payment so that you'll receive larger payments later on.
How To Apply For OAS Retroactively
You can retroactively apply for Old Age Security and be paid for up to 12 months of previous payments.
When you apply for OAS, you have the option of choosing a pension start date of 12 months before your application date or the month you turn 65, whichever comes later.
For example, if you apply during the month that you turn 66, you may still pick a pension start date of the month you turned 65. If you applied in the month that you turned 67, your earliest start date would be age 66.
Deferring Your OAS Benefits
For each month after turning 65 that you postpone your OAS pension benefits, your monthly pension payment will increase by 0.60%, up to a maximum increase of 36%.
Here's a table showing how much more you'll earn if you choose to defer your OAS pension payments.
| Starting Age | # of months past 65 | OAS Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | 12 months | 7.2% |
| 67 | 24 months | 14.4% |
| 68 | 36 months | 21.6% |
| 69 | 48 months | 28.8% |
| 70 | 60 months | 36% |
If your income is high now and you believe it will be lower in the future, delaying Old Age Security might be a good idea.
Still, it's a good idea to talk with your financial advisor and consider all of the ramifications before deciding to defer your OAS pension benefits.
You won't be able to apply for or receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) during the deferral period (except as noted below), and your spouse will be ineligible for GIS payments, too.
You should think about how it will affect your income now and in the future, including whether you'll continue working or not, as well as your retirement prospects.
Once again, your financial advisor can assist you by taking into account your unique circumstances.
Old Age Pension Payment Dates 2026
The monthly OAS pension is adjusted for inflation every 3 months. From July to September 2026, you may receive up to $751.97 per month as an OAS pension if you're 65 to 74, or up to $827.17 per month if you're 75 or older.
However, how much OAS you will get is determined by a) how long you lived in Canada after age 18, and b) your annual income from the previous year.
If you've lived in Canada for at least 40 years after your 18th birthday, you'll be eligible for a full Old Age Security pension of $751.97/month (or $827.17/month at age 75+). If you've lived in Canada for a shorter period after your 18th birthday, a partial benefit will be paid.
Read the section below on the OAS clawback to discover how your income may impact your payments.
OAS Calculator: How Is OAS Calculated?
To find out if you'll receive the complete pension or just a fraction of it, first figure out how long you've lived in Canada as a fraction of 40 years.
For example, if you spent 35 years in Canada after your 18th birthday, you're eligible to receive 87.5% of the maximum monthly OAS pension (35 out of 40 years = 87.5%) which means you'll receive $657.97/month (ages 65 to 74).
If you spent 40+ years in Canada after the age of 18, you're eligible to earn the maximum amount.
If your income exceeds a preset threshold, the pension is reduced by the OAS monthly recovery tax, also known as the OAS clawback. This is a simple approach to working out how much money you'll receive.
When you apply for Old Age Security, the government will send you a letter telling you how much you can expect to receive.
OAS Clawback 2026
The OAS clawback threshold for the period of July 2025 to June 2026 was $90,997, measured in 2024 income. For the period of July 2026 to June 2027, it's $93,454, measured in 2025 income. Any amount earned above this point is subject to an additional 15% reduction in OAS pension until the OAS completely disappears.
This means that for the period beginning July 2026, OAS will be completely clawed back at an annual income of $152,062 for seniors aged 65 to 74, or $157,923 for seniors aged 75 and older.
OAS benefits are paid for a 12-month period, starting in July and ending the following June. The income from the previous year is also used to determine how much you will receive, as is the case with some other Canadian programs.
Here's an example of how the OAS clawback works.
Imagine you're a 65- to 74-year-old OAS recipient with a net income of $120,000. That's over the $93,454 minimum threshold by $26,546, so that excess is subject to a 15% tax, which comes to $3,981.90 ($26,546 * 15%) for the July 2026 to June 2027 OAS period. That amount is spread across 12 months, which means you'll receive $331.83 ($3,981.90 / 12) less OAS per month than you otherwise would, or $420.14 ($751.97 - $331.83).
You can apply for a monthly clawback waiver if you believe your income in the current year will be lower than it was in the prior year. To do so, fill out Form T1213OAS and submit it to the nearest tax office listed on the form.
Is OAS Taxable?
Yes, OAS is viewed as taxable income, which means that all of your monthly OAS pension benefits are added to your income at the end of the year and taxed at your marginal tax rate.
By the end of February each year, you'll receive a T4A OAS tax slip (or an NR4 OAS tax slip if you're not a Canadian resident).
If you prefer to have your OAS taxes deducted directly from your payments, you can request this through your My Service Canada Account or by sending Form ISP3520CPP to your nearest tax office.
OAS Increases In 2026 (January, April, July, October)
Due to increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the maximum OAS pension for seniors aged 65 to 74 rose from $740.09 in October 2025 to $742.31 in January 2026, $743.05 in April 2026, and $751.97 in July 2026.
The July 2026 adjustment was the biggest of the year so far at 1.2%, for a total increase of 2.3% between July 2025 and July 2026. OAS benefits will increase by 1.4% for the October to December 2026 quarter (3.0% over the past year), which works out to about $762.50 per month for ages 65 to 74 and about $838.75 for ages 75 and older.
The OAS pension was also permanently increased by 10% for people 75 years old or older in July 2022. This means eligible seniors now receive an additional $902.40 per year in OAS (($827.17 - $751.97) x 12).
In the rare case that the cost of living decreases, Old Age Security payments will not be reduced.
OAS Amount For People Living Outside Canada
Canada has social security agreements with many countries throughout the world. This means you may continue to receive your monthly pension while living outside of Canada, and the time spent away from home can be taken into account when determining your OAS eligibility.
Depending on the country you live in, you may be able to get your OAS pension benefits as direct deposits and in local currency. You can learn more about OAS for Canadians living abroad here.
OAS Supplements
Seniors who meet the low-income requirements may also qualify for several supplements. These supplements are determined by the recipient's income, and unlike the OAS pension itself, these supplements are not taxable.
#1 Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is for OAS recipients with lower incomes.
If you're single and earn less than $22,800 per year—or if your combined income with a spouse who receives the full OAS pension is less than $30,096 per year—you might be eligible for GIS.
The maximum monthly Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payment from July to September 2026 is $1,123.17. This applies if you’re single, divorced, or widowed.
If your spouse or common-law partner also receives the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Old Age Security pension (OAS), the maximum monthly GIS payment is $676.09.
#2 Spouse Allowance
The GIS spouse's benefit is for spouses of GIS recipients who are 60 to 64 years old, and whose combined family income is less than $42,144. Spouses can receive up to $1,428.06 per month in the July-September 2026 quarter.
#3 Survivor Allowance
If your spouse has died and you make less than $30,696 annually, you may be eligible to receive up to $1,702.34 per month as a survivor allowance.
OAS vs. CPP
For seniors in Canada, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) are two important sources of retirement income. However, the two of them are actually quite different.
CPP is a contributory retirement plan in which you are required to contribute a percentage of your employment earnings. On the other hand, you can qualify for OAS whether or not you have worked before.
CPP payments can start as early as age 60, but the minimum age for OAS pension benefits is 65. The amounts paid and how those amounts are determined are also quite different.
CPP payments are based on the length of time and amount contributed to the plan, while you don't need to contribute to OAS. Your current income impacts your OAS earnings in a major way, while it only has a negligible impact on CPP, since that's calculated over 39 years.
OAS Pension Benefit Dates FAQs
When does OAS get deposited?
OAS (and CPP) payments are made via direct deposit on the third-to-last business day of each month.
How much is OAS in 2026?
The maximum OAS pension benefit from July to September 2026 is $751.97 per month for seniors aged 65 to 74, and $827.17 for seniors 75 and older. If you defer your Old Age Security payments beyond age 65, your benefits increase by 0.6% per month up to a maximum increase of 36% after 60 months (upon turning 70).
What's the maximum OAS pension?
The maximum OAS pension for July to September 2026 is $751.97 per month (ages 65 to 74) or $827.17 (ages 75+). For the July 2026 to June 2027 period, your 2025 income must not have exceeded $93,454 to be eligible for the full amount.
What's the maximum OAS income before it's clawed back?
For the July 2026 to June 2027 period, the OAS benefit starts being clawed back once your 2025 income exceeds $93,454. It will be clawed back entirely if you made more than $152,062 (ages 65 to 74) or $157,923 (ages 75+).
When did seniors receive their $300 in 2022?
Seniors received their $300 one-time payment on April 19, 2022. If you are a senior citizen already receiving OAS, you did not have to apply for this one-time $300 payment; it was paid out to you automatically via direct deposit.
If you were also receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), you were eligible to receive an additional $200 as part of the same one-time payment, for a total of $500.
If you didn't receive these payments in April 2022 but believe that you should have, contact Service Canada.
When are T4 slips for CPP and OAS mailed?
T4 tax slips are generally accessible in your My Service Canada account as of February 1. If you prefer paper tax slips, they're sent out by the end of February each year.
If you do not receive your tax slips in the mail by the end of February (or don't have access to them in your My Service Canada account), contact Service Canada.
How long does it take to receive my OAS pension benefits?
The month after your application is completely processed and approved, you should begin receiving your OAS payouts.
Keep in mind that there is an 11-month application window, which means that if you want to receive your OAS pension at age 66, you should apply one month after you turn 65.
What's the maximum income to qualify for GIS?
The highest income to qualify for GIS is $22,800 if you're single and up to $54,624 if you have a spouse who is not receiving OAS (July to September 2026 figures).
How much will CPP and OAS increase in 2026?
CPP benefits increased by 2.0% in January 2026. OAS is adjusted every quarter instead: the maximum OAS pension (ages 65 to 74) went from $740.09 at the end of 2025 to $742.31 in January 2026, $743.05 in April 2026, and $751.97 in July 2026.
The July 2026 increase was 1.2%, bringing the total OAS increase to 2.3% between July 2025 and July 2026. OAS benefits will increase by 1.4% for the October to December 2026 quarter (3.0% over the past year), which works out to about $762.50 per month for ages 65 to 74 and about $838.75 for ages 75 and older.
Old Age Security was also permanently increased by 10% for seniors 75 and older starting in July 2022. This means eligible seniors now receive an additional $902.40 per year in OAS (($827.17 - $751.97) x 12).
Did OAS increase in January 2026?
Yes, OAS pension amounts and supplements rose in January 2026 as a result of quarterly indexation, with the maximum pension for ages 65 to 74 going from $740.09 to $742.31. It was raised again in April 2026 (to $743.05) and July 2026 (to $751.97).
Are Canadian seniors getting a raise in 2026?
Yes, Canadian seniors are getting extra money in 2026. CPP benefits rose by 2.0% in January 2026, and OAS benefits have increased in each of the first three quarters of 2026, including a 1.2% increase in July.
Is OAS changing in 2026?
No, the age of eligibility for OAS (and GIS) benefits is still 65. A plan to gradually raise it to 67 starting in April 2023 was reversed in Budget 2016, so it never took effect.
OAS pension benefits are also increasing in 2026. Old Age Security benefits are indexed to inflation every quarter, and the maximum pension for ages 65 to 74 has risen from $740.09 at the end of 2025 to $751.97 for July to September 2026.
How much is the OAS increase for seniors over 75?
In July 2022, OAS benefits permanently increased by 10% for recipients 75 and older. This means eligible seniors now receive an additional $902.40 per year in OAS (($827.17 - $751.97) x 12).
This increase marks the first meaningful raise to OAS benefits since 1973, outside of quarterly indexation.
What is the $500 one-time payment for seniors in 2022?
Seniors born before June 30, 1947, are eligible for a one-time taxable payment of $500. You must've been eligible for Old Age Security in June 2021 to receive the $500 payment.
You do not have to apply to receive this payment: if you are eligible for it, you will have received it automatically. The $500 payment was made in August 2021.
How much is the Old Age pension in Ontario?
OAS pension benefits don't change based on the province or territory you live in, so they're the same for Ontario residents as they are for all other Canadians. To get a more accurate understanding of how much OAS you can expect to receive (whether you live in Ontario or elsewhere in Canada), use the formula in the OAS calculator section above.
When are OAS T4s mailed out?
T4A/NR4 tax slips for OAS recipients are made available in your My Service Canada account each year on February 1, assuming you've registered to receive your tax slips online. From your account, you can view and print your T4A/NR4 slips for the current year along with the past 6 years.
If you've registered for online tax slips but prefer to receive a physical copy in the mail as well, you can reactivate the mail option by selecting Tax slip mailing options in your My Service Canada account. Keep in mind that if you change your tax slip preference after the first week of January, the change won't take effect until the following year.
Whether you receive physical copies in the mail or not, you can still access these tax slips online, too.
