Old Age Security (OAS) Payment Dates And Amounts In 2026

The Old Age Security (OAS) program is a government pension that provides monthly financial support to eligible seniors in Canada. Understanding OAS payment dates and the amounts you may receive can help you effectively manage your budget, so you know when payments are coming in and whether you’ll have enough to cover your regular bills.

OAS Payment Dates 2026

OAS payment dates change every year, but payments are typically made in the last week of each month. When a payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is made on the last business day before it. OAS payment dates also coincide with Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payment dates.

For 2026, the OAS payment dates are as follows¹:

Note: Paid via Cheque? If you’re set up with direct deposit, your funds will typically arrive in your account on the payment date. If you receive your payment by cheque, please allow a few extra days for it to be delivered. To get paid faster and on the exact date, set up direct deposit through Service Canada.

How Will You Receive Your OAS Payment?

You can receive your OAS payments either by cheque or direct deposit to your bank account. Direct deposit is faster and more reliable — if you don’t already have it set up, you’ll need to register for it through Service Canada before receiving OAS payments this way.

Learn more: How Does Old Age Security (OAS) Pension Work?

Who Is Eligible For OAS?

Unlike the Canada Pension Plan, OAS isn’t based on your work history or contributions — it’s a residency-based pension funded through general tax revenue. Whether you qualify comes down to your age, your legal status, and how long you’ve lived in Canada.

To receive OAS, you generally need to meet the following requirements⁶:

• Be at least 65 years old. Your pension can’t start before the month after your 65th birthday, though you can defer it to as late as age 70 for a higher monthly amount.
• Be a Canadian citizen or legal resident. Your status is assessed as of the day before your application is approved — or, if you live abroad, the day before you left Canada.
• Meet the minimum residency requirement:
  • If you live in Canada, you must have lived here for at least 10 years after turning 18.
  • If you live outside Canada, you must have lived in Canada for at least 20 years after turning 18.

To receive the full OAS pension, you need 40 years of residency in Canada after age 18. With fewer years, you may still qualify for a partial pension (see “What Is Partial Old Age Security?” below). If you’ve lived or worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, those years may count toward the minimum and help you qualify⁶.

Do You Need To Apply For OAS, Or Are You Enrolled Automatically?

Many seniors are enrolled in OAS automatically and never have to fill out an application. Service Canada uses the information it already has — such as your tax history — to enrol eligible people, then mails a notification letter the month after you turn 64 confirming you’ve been selected for automatic enrolment⁵.

Here’s how to tell which situation applies to you:

• You receive an automatic-enrolment letter. If the details are correct, you don’t need to do anything — your OAS pension starts the month after you turn 65.
• You don’t receive a letter by one month after your 64th birthday. This usually means you need to apply yourself. You can apply online through your My Service Canada Account or by submitting a paper application (form ISP-3550).
• You want to defer your OAS. Even if you’re automatically enrolled, you can choose to delay your start date for a higher monthly amount — but you have to tell Service Canada.

GIS works the same way. If you’re automatically enrolled in OAS, Service Canada also assesses you for the GIS and enrols you if you qualify⁵. Once you’re receiving GIS, you don’t need to reapply every year — it’s renewed automatically as long as you file your income tax return on time.

Learn more: How To Apply For Old Age Security (OAS)

When Can OAS Payments Start?

OAS payments can start as early as when you turn 65 years of age.

However, you can also choose to push the payments out until you’re a little older to increase your monthly benefit amount. You can defer OAS payments for up to 5 years, until you turn 70, in exchange for a higher monthly benefit. The longer you wait to start collecting OAS, the higher your monthly pension payment will be.

Deferring your OAS payments increases your monthly payment by 0.6% per month (or 7.2% per year), up to a maximum 36% increase at age 70².

Once you’re over the age of 70, there’s no benefit in waiting to collect your first OAS payment. You may even be at risk of losing benefits. So, if you haven’t started collecting OAS by the time you reach 70 years, you should apply right away.

How Much Can You Get?

From April to June 2026, the maximum OAS payment amounts are as follows³:

OAS amounts are reviewed quarterly against inflation. Payments increased by 0.1% for the April to June 2026 quarter, and will increase by another 1.2% for the July to September 2026 quarter³.

Maximum OAS Amounts By 2026 Payment Date 

*Amounts shown are the maximum monthly payment for each quarter; your actual amount depends on your income and how many years you’ve lived in Canada after age 18.*

† July to September 2026: a 1.2% increase is confirmed, so the figures shown are estimates (April–June amount × 1.012)³
‡ October to December 2026: these amounts are reviewed in October 2026 and aren’t available yet.

Factors That Affect Your OAS Payment Amounts

The amount you can collect in OAS payments each month depends on certain factors, including the following:

• Age. The age when you start receiving your OAS pension impacts the amount you’re paid. You can start receiving OAS when you turn 65, but if you delay it, you can increase your monthly payment amounts until age 70. Payments also automatically increase by 10% once you turn 75.
• Income. If you earn an annual income over a certain threshold, your OAS payment is gradually reduced by the OAS recovery tax, also known as the OAS clawback.
• Years Of Residency In Canada. The length of time that you’ve lived in Canada after the age of 18 impacts how much you receive in OAS pension. If you’ve lived in Canada for less than 40 years, you may only get a partial OAS payment.
• Cost Of Living. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the cost of living in Canada, and affects the amount of OAS you receive.

You can estimate how much you may be eligible to receive by using an OAS payment calculator on the Canada.ca website.

How To Get The Maximum Amount?

To maximize your OAS payments in Canada, consider the following.

Delay Your OAS Payments Until You Turn 70

While you can start collecting OAS when you turn 65, you can increase your monthly payments by delaying it. More specifically, OAS payments increase by 0.6% per month (7.2% per year) until you turn 70. That means you could receive 36% more every month if you delay your payments compared to starting at 65.

Monthly OAS payments also automatically increase when you turn 75. Once you turn 75, your maximum payment rises to $817.36 per month, compared to a maximum of $743.05 per month for those between the ages of 65 to 74 (April to June 2026 rates)³.

Stay Under The Income Threshold

If your 2025 net world income was over $93,454, your OAS is subject to the OAS clawback (the recovery tax) from July 2026 to June 2027, which reduces your OAS payments by 15% of every dollar over the threshold. OAS is fully clawed back once your 2025 income reaches $152,062 (ages 65 to 74) or $157,923 (ages 75 and over)⁴. For income earned in 2026, the threshold rises to $95,323⁴.

To prevent this, consider the following:

• Split your pension income with your spouse (if applicable) when you file your income taxes
• Withdraw RRSP funds before you start collecting OAS
• Withdraw from your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) so it doesn’t add to your taxable income

Keep Tabs On Inflation Adjustments

Adjustments to OAS payments are made every 3 months and are based on inflation and the CPI. Keep track of these changes to make sure you’re getting the right amount.

Apply For Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) If You’re Eligible

You may be eligible for GIS payments if your income is below a certain level. If you qualify for GIS, you can receive additional monthly payments on top of OAS — up to $1,109.85 per month for a single senior (April to June 2026)³.

How OAS Works For Couples

OAS is an individual benefit, not a household one. You and your spouse or common-law partner each qualify on your own, based on your age and how long you’ve lived in Canada — there’s no separate “couple’s rate”, and you each receive your own monthly payment. Still, a few things work differently once you’re part of a couple:

• The clawback is based on your own income, not your combined income. You and your partner are each measured against the recovery-tax threshold separately ($93,454 on 2025 income; $95,323 on 2026 income), so one partner having a high income doesn’t reduce the other partner’s OAS⁴.
• GIS, on the other hand, is tested on your combined income. If you both receive OAS, it’s your household income that determines your GIS amount — see the couple thresholds in the GIS table above.
• Pension income splitting can protect both of your OAS payments. You can’t split the OAS pension itself, but you can transfer up to 50% of eligible pension income (such as RRIF or workplace pension payments) to a lower-income spouse on your tax return. Shifting income to the lower earner can keep the higher earner under the clawback threshold and preserve more OAS for the household.
• A younger spouse may qualify for the Allowance. If you’re 60 to 64 and your partner receives the GIS and a full OAS pension, you may be eligible for the Allowance until you’re old enough for OAS yourself (see above).

What Is Partial Old Age Security?

As mentioned, if you’ve resided in Canada for less than 40 years after age 18, you may not be eligible for a full OAS pension. In this case, you may only be eligible for a partial OAS payment, calculated based on the number of years you’ve lived in Canada.

Further, if you currently live outside of Canada, you must meet the 20-year residency requirement to continue receiving OAS payments.

Do Payment Amounts Adjust For Inflation?

Yes, OAS payments are adjusted for inflation to accommodate the rise in the cost of living. These adjustments are measured and determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and are reviewed 4 times a year, in January, April, July and October. If the CPI increases, OAS payments increase accordingly. If the CPI decreases, OAS payments stay the same — they never go down³.

Can You Get Retroactive Payments?

If you’re over the age of 65 and haven’t started receiving OAS payments, you may be able to receive retroactive payments for up to 11 months from the date Service Canada receives your application. However, if you choose to defer receiving your OAS pension after the age of 65, you won’t be eligible for retroactive payments during the deferral period.

To apply for retroactive OAS payments, complete the application form (ISP-3000) and submit it to Service Canada.

GIS And Other Pension Benefits You Can Receive With OAS

The OAS pension isn’t the only support available to seniors. Depending on your income, age, and where you live, you may qualify for additional federal and provincial benefits that are paid alongside your OAS pension.

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

The GIS is a non-taxable monthly benefit for low-income OAS recipients who live in Canada. Your GIS amount is recalculated each July based on your previous year’s net income, and it’s paid on the same dates as your OAS pension.

For April to June 2026, the maximum monthly GIS amounts are as follows³:

The Allowance And Allowance For The Survivor

If you’re 60 to 64 years old, you may qualify for one of these OAS program benefits before you’re old enough to collect the OAS pension itself³:

• Allowance. You may qualify if your spouse or common-law partner receives both the GIS and the full OAS pension. The maximum payment is $1,411.13 per month (April to June 2026) if your combined income is under $41,664.
• Allowance For The Survivor. You may qualify if your spouse or common-law partner has died. The maximum payment is $1,682.15 per month (April to June 2026) if your income is under $30,336.

Provincial Senior Benefits

Several provinces also top up the income of low-income seniors who receive OAS and GIS, including the following:

• Ontario. The Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) provides a monthly top-up to low-income Ontario seniors who receive OAS and GIS.
• Alberta. The Alberta Seniors Benefit provides monthly payments to low-income Alberta seniors, on top of federal OAS and GIS benefits.
• British Columbia. The BC Senior’s Supplement is paid automatically to low-income seniors who receive OAS and GIS.
• Saskatchewan. The Seniors Income Plan supplements the income of seniors with little or no income beyond OAS and GIS.

In most provinces, you don’t need to apply separately — you’re automatically assessed when you qualify for GIS. Eligibility and amounts vary by province and are income-tested, so check your province’s program for details.

Additional Reading

Can You Get A Loan While Benefiting From OAS?

How To Start Preparing For Retirement Success In 2026

How Does Pension Income Splitting Work?

Bottom Line

Staying informed about your finances and planning ahead for retirement can help you maximize benefits like OAS and prevent unfortunate financial stress. In particular, you should get familiar with OAS eligibility, tax implications, and the OAS clawback to help you make better decisions. By being proactive with your retirement planning, you can enjoy a more financially comfortable retirement.

OAS Payment FAQs

References

1. Employment and Social Development Canada. (2026). Benefits payment dates. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/calendar.html
2. Employment and Social Development Canada. (2026). Old Age Security: How much you could receive. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/old-age-security/benefit-amount.html
3. Employment and Social Development Canada. (2026). Old Age Security payment amounts. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/old-age-security/payments.html
4. Employment and Social Development Canada. (2026). Old Age Security pension recovery tax. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/old-age-security/recovery-tax.html
5. Employment and Social Development Canada. (2026). Old Age Security: Apply, delay, or change your start date. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/old-age-security/apply.html