441-01937 (Social affairs and equality)

The Old Age Security (OAS) program plays a significant role in providing income security to Canadians in their senior years. OAS benefits are intended to provide partial income security for seniors in recognition of the contributions that they have made to Canadian society and the economy.

Benefits that recipients receive under the OAS program include: 1) the OAS pension, which is paid to all persons aged 65 or over who meet the residence requirements, 2) the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors, and 3) the Allowances for low-income Canadians aged 60 to 64 who are the spouses or common-law partners of GIS recipients, or who are widows or widowers.

To ensure OAS benefits retain their value over time and to protect the purchasing power of seniors, OAS benefits are adjusted four times per year (in January, April, July and October) to reflect inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI measures the price of a collection of foundational goods and services, such as food, shelter, gas and clothing, commonly purchased by Canadian households.

This quarterly indexation provides increases to all benefits under the OAS program, including the OAS pension, the GIS, and the Allowances, when prices go up. In October 2023, OAS benefits increased by 1.3%, following increases of 1.1% in July 2023, and 0.5% in April 2023. As of October 2023, OAS benefits had increased by 3.2% over the past year, from October 2022 to October 2023.

In addition, the Old Age Security Act contains a guarantee ensuring that benefits can never decrease, even in the event of a decline in the CPI. Should the average cost of living decrease, OAS benefit amounts will stay at the same level as during the previous three-month period.

In July 2022, the Government permanently increased the OAS pension by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over. This increase was designed to address the increased vulnerability that seniors face as they age.

As seniors get older, they tend to have lower income, and often face higher health-related expenses because of the onset of illness or disability. This is especially true for those 75 and older.

This vulnerability is further compounded by a reduced ability to supplement their income with paid work, the risk of outliving personal savings, and the risk of widowhood.

That is why the Government took action to help make life more affordable for Canadians as they age.

The Government of Canada remains committed to improving the income security of all seniors and continues to seek ways to strengthen the OAS program, as demonstrated by a broad range of measures taken since 2016:

•           Budget 2016 restored the age of eligibility for the OAS pension and the GIS to 65, putting thousands of dollars back in the pockets of future Canadian seniors.

•           In July 2016, the GIS was increased by up to $947 per year for the lowest-income single seniors, benefiting close to 900,000 vulnerable seniors across Canada.

•           In December 2017, the Government launched automatic enrolment to the GIS. Seniors who are automatically enrolled for the OAS pension are now automatically enrolled for the GIS without ever having to complete an application.

•           In Budget 2019, the Government enhanced the GIS Earnings Exemption so that low-income seniors who work are able to keep more of what they earn. As of July 2020, the enhanced exemption applies to both employment and self-employment income, and provides a full exemption on up to $5,000 of annual earnings, as well as a 50% exemption on the next $10,000 of earnings. This means that low-income seniors who work can keep more of their benefits.

•           In July 2020, the Minister of Seniors announced a one-time payment to seniors, $300 for seniors eligible for the OAS and an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the GIS.

•           In 2022, the Government of Canada took concrete action to help low-income renters who need it most, including seniors, and introduced a one-time $500 top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit.

•           In Budget 2023, the Government introduced the one-time Grocery Rebate, which would deliver targeted inflation relief for 11 million individuals and families who already receive the Goods and Services Tax Credit, including more than half of Canadian seniors. This measure would provide an extra $225 for seniors, on average. This is in addition to the extra Goods and Services Tax Credit amounts that started being paid on November 4, 2022, with most payments having been made before the end of 2022.