| Verdict: Partly true |
|---|
| OAS does go up by 1.4% in October 2026, but claims of a large raise, or a 10% raise for everyone 65 and over, are not true. |
What the claim says
Posts say “OAS is increasing in October” and then give a big new amount. Some say every senior will get hundreds of dollars more a month. Others say the 10% raise that people 75 and over get will now start at 65.
What’s actually true
OAS amounts are checked four times a year, in January, April, July and October, and raised to match the cost of living. If prices fall, the amounts stay the same.
Canada.ca confirms that OAS goes up 1.4% for October to December 2026. That is 3.0% more than a year earlier. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) goes up by the same rate.
Here is what 1.4% means in dollars at the maximum. The new official amounts were not posted yet when we checked, so the right column is our estimate.
| OAS pension | July to September 2026 | October to December 2026 (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Age 65 to 74 | $751.97 | about $762.50 |
| Age 75 and over | $827.17 | about $838.75 |
So the raise is roughly $10 to $12 a month at the maximum, and less if you get a partial OAS. The first payment at the new rate is the October payment near the end of the month. You don’t need to do anything to get it.
The 10% raise at 65: not law
Since July 2022, OAS has been 10% higher for people aged 75 and over. That is real.
A private member’s bill, Bill C-261, would give the same 10% raise to people aged 65 to 74. It was introduced by Bloc Québécois MP Claude DeBellefeuille. As of our last check, it was still at second reading in the House of Commons, with its last debate on June 3, 2026.
That means it has not passed and is not law. The Speaker has also made a statement about whether the bill needs a “royal recommendation,” which is the government approval a bill needs when it spends public money. Until a bill passes both the House and Senate and gets royal assent, nothing changes for your payment.
Where the confusion comes from
- The raise is real, so posts that start with “OAS is going up” seem correct.
- Some sites turn a small percentage into a big headline number.
- Some add OAS, GIS and CPP together and call it “the new OAS.”
- A bill being debated is described as if it already passed.
How to check for yourself
The amounts are on the OAS payment amounts page on Canada.ca. You can also see your own monthly amount in My Service Canada Account.
Be careful with texts or emails about an “OAS increase” that ask you to click a link to confirm or claim it. The CRA lists OAS among the benefits scammers use in text messages. OAS increases are automatic.
What to do if you were targeted
- Didn’t click? Delete the message.
- Clicked and gave banking details? Call your bank.
- Gave your SIN or CRA sign-in? Call the CRA at 1-833-995-2336 (Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 7 pm Eastern time).
- For questions about your OAS, call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern time) or at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca.