The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a tax-free monthly payment for people 65 and older who get the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and have a low income. It comes on the same day as your OAS, often in the same deposit. The less other income you have, the more GIS you get.
How much GIS you can get
GIS amounts go up with the cost of living every January, April, July and October. These are the maximums for October to December 2026.
| Your situation | Maximum GIS a month (Oct to Dec 2026) | GIS stops when yearly income reaches |
|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed or divorced | $1,123.17 | $23,112 |
| Your spouse or partner gets the full OAS pension | $685.56 each | $30,528 combined |
| Your spouse or partner gets the Allowance | $685.56 | $42,768 combined |
| Your spouse or partner gets no OAS or Allowance | $1,123.17 | $55,392 combined |
Most people get less than the maximum. Your GIS is based on your income from the previous year, so payments from July 2026 to June 2027 are based on your 2025 tax return.
What counts as income
Things like CPP, workplace pensions, RRSP withdrawals, interest and investment income all count. Some things do not:
- Your OAS pension and your GIS itself.
- The first $5,000 you earn from a job or self-employment.
- Half of what you earn from work between $5,000 and $15,000.
So if you earn $8,000 from a part-time job, only $1,500 of it counts. The first $5,000 is ignored, and only half of the next $3,000 counts.
How income lowers your GIS
If you’re single, each $1 of counted income lowers your yearly GIS by 50 cents. If your income is low, part of your GIS is a top-up that goes down by another 25 cents for each $1 of income over $2,000. For a couple where both get OAS, each person’s GIS goes down by 25 cents for each $1 of the couple’s combined income.
Here are some rough examples using July to September 2026 rates. Your letter from Service Canada shows your exact amount.
- A single senior whose only other income is OAS gets the full $1,138.90 a month.
- A single senior with $6,000 a year from CPP gets about $790 a month.
- A single senior with $15,000 a year from CPP and a small pension gets about $325 a month.
- A couple who both get OAS, with $20,000 of combined other income, get about $210 a month each.
For your own estimate, use the Old Age Security Benefits Estimator on Canada.ca.
Who qualifies for GIS
You can get GIS if all of these are true:
- You are 65 or older.
- You get the OAS pension, even a partial one.
- You live in Canada.
- Your yearly income, or your combined income with your spouse or common-law partner, is below the limit in the table above.
- You are not under a sponsorship agreement. If you came to Canada sponsored by a family member, you usually can’t get GIS until the sponsorship ends. There are exceptions, for example if your sponsor has died or declared bankruptcy.
If you’re 60 to 64 and your spouse gets GIS, or your spouse has died, look at the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor.
How to get GIS
For many people GIS is automatic. Service Canada may enrol you after your 64th birthday, and you’ll get a letter telling you so.
- Watch for a letter from Service Canada after you turn 64.
- If it has been a month since your 64th birthday and no letter has come, call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to find out if you need to apply.
- To apply online, sign in to My Service Canada Account, go to the Old Age Security section and choose the application for OAS and GIS, or for GIS only if you already get OAS.
- To apply on paper, use form ISP-3550 for OAS and GIS together, or ISP-3025 for GIS only, and mail it with the documents it asks for.
Keeping your GIS every year
Once you have GIS, it renews by itself if you file your taxes on time. File by April 30 every year, even if your income is very low or you have no income. Service Canada reviews your GIS each July using the tax return you filed that spring.
If you’re married or common-law, your spouse’s or partner’s income counts too, so they should file on time as well. You can also report your income directly to Service Canada instead of relying on your tax return.
Tell Service Canada if your marital status, address, income or your spouse’s situation changes. If you and your spouse must live apart for reasons you can’t control, such as one of you moving into long-term care, ask about form ISP-3040. It can mean a higher payment.
You don’t pay tax on GIS, but it still appears on your tax slip and must be reported on your return.
What changed in 2026
- Quarterly increases. GIS rose 1.2% for July to September 2026 and 1.4% for October to December 2026. The calendar at the top of this page shows the new amounts once they are published.
- Longer sponsorship periods. Since October 1, 2025, sponsorship agreements for parents and grandparents last 20 years instead of 10. Sponsored parents and grandparents usually can’t get GIS during that time.
- A new name for the GST credit. In July 2026 the GST/HST credit became the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, with higher amounts. Many GIS recipients qualify. You get it by filing your taxes.
Payment late, missing or different?
Direct deposit is fastest. Cheques can take longer. Service Canada asks you to wait 5 to 10 business days after the payment date before you call.
Check your payment details in My Service Canada Account first. Then call 1-800-277-9914 (TTY 1-800-255-4786), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time. From outside Canada and the US, call collect at 1-613-957-1954.
Common reasons GIS stops or changes:
- You or your spouse didn’t file a tax return by April 30.
- Your income went up last year, so the amount changed in July.
- You moved or changed banks and didn’t update your details.
- You were outside Canada for more than 6 months.
- Your marital status changed.
Watch for scams. Service Canada will never ask you to pay a fee to get your GIS, and never asks for payment by gift card, Bitcoin or wire transfer. Don’t share your passwords or banking details in reply to a text or email. If you’re unsure, hang up and call the number above yourself. You can report scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Other help you might be missing
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: a tax-free payment four times a year for people with low or modest incomes. Most GIS recipients qualify.
- Canadian Dental Care Plan: covers dental care if you have no dental insurance and your family income is under $90,000.
- Ontario GAINS: a monthly top-up for Ontario seniors who get OAS and GIS.
- B.C. Senior’s Supplement, Alberta Seniors Benefit, Saskatchewan Seniors Income Plan and Manitoba 55 PLUS: provincial top-ups for low-income seniors, often linked to GIS.
- CPP survivor’s pension: if your spouse has died and paid into CPP, you may be owed a monthly pension. It counts as income for GIS.
- Ontario Trillium Benefit: help with energy costs and property tax or rent for Ontario residents who file taxes.
Common questions
Is GIS paid on the same day as OAS?
Yes. GIS, OAS and CPP are all paid on the same day each month. The calendar at the top of this page lists the dates.
Do I have to apply for GIS every year?
No. Once you get it, it renews each July as long as you, and your spouse if you have one, file your taxes by April 30.
Is GIS taxable?
No, you don’t pay tax on GIS. You still have to report it on your tax return, and it’s listed on your tax slip.
Can I work and still get GIS?
Yes. The first $5,000 you earn from work each year doesn’t count, and only half of your work earnings between $5,000 and $15,000 count.
Can I get GIS if I live outside Canada?
Your GIS may stop if you’re away for more than 6 months. Call Service Canada before you leave and when you come back.
Why did my GIS go down in July?
GIS is recalculated each July using last year’s income. If your income went up, for example from an RRSP withdrawal, your GIS drops for the next 12 months.