Are you a low-income senior living in Canada? You may qualify for extra money to help you cover living expenses. Residents of Canada who receive a monthly Old Age Security (OAS) cheque may qualify for an additional benefit. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a supplement to OAS that you may qualify for under the Old Age Security Act.
The goal of OAS and GIS is to provide seniors with a basic amount of income from the government. To ensure the benefit gets to the people who need it the most there are several clawbacks in place designed to balance the distribution of funds.
Once you start receiving GIS, the amount you get will be adjusted automatically based on your most recent tax return. Below, we'll cover who qualifies, how much you could receive, how payments work, and how to apply.
Who is eligible for GIS?
Since the benefit is designed for low-income seniors who need extra financial support beyond their OAS pension, you may qualify for GIS if you meet the following conditions:
Be aged 65 or older
Live in Canada
Receive an OAS pension
Have annual income (or combined annual income for couples) below the applicable threshold
Your GIS eligibility is reviewed annually using the income information from your Federal Income Tax and Benefit return. Based on your income, your benefit will automatically renew if you still qualify.
If you already receive the GIS benefit, you'll get a letter in the mail each July to let you know whether:
Your benefit has either been renewed (including the new amount) or stopped
You need to provide additional information to continue receiving the benefit
If you're a non-sponsored immigrant, you may be eligible for GIS depending on whether you receive OAS. Sponsored immigrants may also be eligible provided they meet certain criteria.
The income threshold depends on your marital status. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, the qualification threshold is based on combined income as a couple.
How much GIS you may receive
Your GIS amount depends on:
Marital status: Single seniors receive different amounts than couples
Annual income: The less you earn, the more GIS you receive
Partner's benefits: Whether your spouse or common-law partner receives OAS or the Allowance affects the amount of your payment
Below are the maximum monthly payment amounts and the annual income limits to receive the GIS for April to June 2026, according to the Government of Canada:
Your situation | Your annual income must be | Maximum monthly payment amount |
|---|---|---|
| I am single, divorced, or widowed | Less than $22,512 | Up to $1,109.85 |
| I have a spouse/common-law partner who receives the full OAS pension | Less than $29,760 (combined annual income of couple) | Up to $668.08 |
| I have a spouse/common-law partner who receives the Allowance | Less than $41,664 (combined annual income of couple) | Up to $668.08 |
| I have a spouse/common-law partner who does not receive an OAS pension or Allowance (couples may benefit from understanding spousal RRSPs) | Less than $53,952 (combined annual income of couple) | Up to $1,109.85 |
These rates are updated quarterly to keep up with inflation.
When GIS payments are sent out
Once approved, your GIS arrives with your OAS payment each month. You have two options:
Direct deposit: Funds go straight to your bank account (often faster than receiving a cheque by mail)
Cheque by mail: Arrives during the last week of each month
It's worth noting that the GIS payment year runs from July through June, not January through December. As an example, GIS payments for July 2026 through June 2027 would be based on your 2025 income.
How is GIS calculated
GIS is calculated based on your previous year's income. Here's how it works:
Base amount: You start with the maximum amount for your situation
Income reduction: GIS generally decreases by $0.50 for every $1.00 of other income
Household factors: Your marital status and whether your partner receives OAS or the Allowance can affect your payment — couples may also want to understand how income splitting works
To estimate your GIS eligibility, you will need to report income and deductions, including:
Benefits from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or the Québec Pension Plan (QPP)
Additional pension income, including private pensions or foreign pensions
Income from Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) that you cashed in a given year
Employment Insurance (EI) income
Rental property income
Investment income, including interest
Dividends and capital gains income
Other income, including alimony and workers' compensation benefits
Employment net income minus the $5,000 earnings exemption, CPP or QPP contributions, and EI premiums
Self-employment net income minus CPP or QPP self-employment contributions and EI premiums
RRSP deductions, union dues, employment expenses, and other deductions
Review your most recent tax return and use it as a guideline to estimate your GIS using these tables.
If an OAS pensioner or spouse has a reduction in income or retires, Service Canada may determine eligibility using an income estimate for the current year. The estimate is reviewed once taxes are filed, and there may be an adjustment to the GIS paid.
If you have a loss or reduction in income in the current tax year, you may be able to ask for a recalculation. Contact Service Canada to ask for a form for estimating your current year's income.
How to apply for GIS
If you are eligible for an OAS pension, you will be automatically enrolled to receive it. This automatic enrolment has also been extended to GIS.
Watch your mail for a notice from Service Canada the month after your 64th birthday notifying you if you can be automatically enrolled. If you don't receive a letter from Service Canada, you may need to submit an application.
If you couldn't apply when you first became eligible due to an illness or another health-related circumstance, you may be able to complete a Declaration of Incapacity form. You can get the form by contacting Service Canada. Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to get your pension with an earlier start date.
To fill out your GIS application, you will need to gather the following personal information:
Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Date of birth
Address
SIN and date of birth for your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable
All addresses where you have lived since age 18
Your bank details if you want to sign up for direct deposit
The date you'd like your pension to start
You have the option to fill out a paper application or apply online. To apply online, you must:
Be at least one month past your 64th birthday
Not have applied for the GIS, or be receiving an OAS pension
Live in Canada
Not have a power of attorney or other legal representative managing your OAS account
Apply online using your My Service Canada Account (MSCA), or register if you don't have one.
GIS forms
If you want to fill out the paper GIS application, complete and mail in form ISP-3550 (Application for the Old Age Security Pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement). The mailing address is listed on the last page of the application.
Include certified true copies of all required documents along with your paper application and mail them to the nearest Service Canada office.
Another option is to bring the filled-out paper application and all documents to a Service Canada office. If you submit your forms in person, a Service Canada employee may be able to certify your documents at no cost.
Those aged 65 and older who are already receiving the OAS pension but were not automatically enrolled for GIS should apply as soon as possible if they believe they qualify. Eligible pensioners can receive up to a maximum of 11 months of retroactive payments from the date of application.
In such cases, you must apply for GIS in writing. Fill out GIS form ISP-3025 (Application for the Guaranteed Income Supplement) for the applicable payment year.
After you've filled out and submitted all required documents, Service Canada will review your application. You will be notified if your application is approved or not, or if you need to provide more information.
What to expect if your GIS application gets approved
Service Canada will send you a letter stating that your GIS application has been approved. You will also receive information about your monthly GIS amount, your first payment date, and if you're entitled to any back payments.
Your GIS payment will start the latest of:
The month following becoming eligible for GIS
The same month as when you start to receive your OAS pension
The month following your 65th birthday
Up to 11 months before the date of your application if you applied after your 65th birthday
Your GIS isn't necessarily guaranteed to continue forever — it can stop if your circumstances change. You may lose your payment if:
You do not submit your individual Income Tax and Benefit Return with the Canada Revenue Agency by April 30
You live outside of Canada for more than 6 months in a row
Your net income (or combined net income for couples) exceeds the income threshold
You serve time in federal prison for a sentence of 2 years or longer
How to view and manage GIS in MSCA
In MSCA, you can manage your GIS details and requests online. Through this secure portal, you can:
Check payments: View amounts, dates, and tax slips
Update information: Change your address, phone number, or direct deposit details
Request recalculations: If your income drops mid-year (for example, after you retire)
Track applications: See the status of new or renewal applications
Setting up an account is typically quick, and it can provide online access without waiting for mail.
Related benefits for spouses and survivors
If you qualify for GIS, your household may be eligible for other benefits:
The Allowance: For spouses or partners aged 60–64 who haven't reached OAS eligibility yet
Allowance for the Survivor: Provides financial support when your partner passes away
These benefits help ensure households have basic income during transitions. You can apply through Service Canada.
The bottom line
If you receive OAS, consider checking whether you qualify for GIS. GIS is intended to support low-income seniors by helping cover basic living costs.
Enrolment is usually automatic, but here's what you should do:
File taxes on time: Late returns can pause your GIS payments
Update your MSCA: Keep address and banking information current
Request recalculations: If your income drops mid-year, contact Service Canada
