The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a regularly scheduled installment you can get in the event that you are 65 and more established. Sometimes, Service Canada will have the option to consequently select you for the OAS Pension. In different cases, you should apply for the Old Age Security pension. Service Canada will illuminate you in the event that you have been consequently enlisted.
As a rule, you don’t need to apply to get this advantage.
Why you may have to apply for OAS
You may have to apply for the Old Age Security. We may not have enough information to enroll you automatically.
When payments start in Old age security (OAS)
You can receive your first payment the month after you turn 65.
Delaying your first payment
You can receive a higher Old Age Security pension amount for each month you decide to delay your first payment.
| Maximum monthly payment amount | To receive the OAS your annual income must be |
|---|---|
| $614.14 | Less than $128,149 |
Find out more about Old Age Security (OAS) payment amounts.
The Old Age Security pension is reviewed in January, April, July and October to reflect increases in the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Your monthly payment amount will not decrease if the cost of living goes down.
Your payment
If your income is higher than $77,580 (2019), you will have to repay part or your entire Old Age Security pension. Find out more about Old Age Security pension recovery tax.
You can receive your benefit payment by cheque or direct deposit to your banking account in Canada, the United States, or to some specific countries. You will have to sign up for direct deposit.
Retroactive payments
If you are already over 65, we may be able to give you a retroactive payment for up to a maximum of 11 months from the date we receive your application. If you delayed receiving your Old Age Security pension you will not be able to receive retroactive payment.
You might also be eligible to receive extra payments based on your income such as:
- the Guaranteed Income Supplement
- the Allowance
- the Allowance for the Survivor
Payment dates
You will receive your first Old Age Security payment either:
- the month after you turn 65
- the specific date that you have chosen
Should you wait to start collecting Old Age Security Pension?
You can receive your first Old Age Security pension payment the month after you turn 65.
You can receive a higher amount for each month you decide to delay your first payment.
You can delay payment of the Old Age Security pension for up to 60 months (5 years) after you are 65. The longer you delay, the larger your pension payment will be each month.
After age 70, there is no advantage in delaying your first payment. In fact, you risk losing benefits. If you are over the age of 70 and are not receiving an Old Age Security pension, apply now.
If you are eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, there is also no advantage in delaying your first payment.
Consider your personal circumstances
There are many factors you should consider when deciding when to start receiving your Old Age Security pension. These include your health, your financial situation, and your plans for retirement.
You should think about:
- whether you plan to keep working
- if your spouse or common-law partner wants to apply for the Allowance
- your health
- your retirement plans
If you are still working and receiving Old Age Security payments
If you are still working and your income is higher than $77,580, you will have to repay part of your Old Age Security pension payment. Delaying your first payment can let you keep more of your pension.
If you are planning on receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement and your income is less than what you reported on your tax form last year, contact Canada Post.
Other benefits will be delayed if you delay your Old Age Security payment
If you are not in receipt of the Old Age Security pension:
- you cannot get the Guaranteed Income Supplement
- your spouse cannot apply for the Allowance
Note: The Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowance amounts don’t increase when you delay receiving Old Age Security pension payments. You cannot receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement and your partner cannot receive the Allowance when you are not receiving the Old Age Security pension.
When monthly increases are not applied
Applying to delay your first payment
If you received a letter from us and want to delay your first payment:
- log into your My Service Canada Account and follow the directions
- complete, sign, and return the enrolment letter by mail
Guide for calculating OAS amounts for each year the pension is delayed
Examples of delaying Old Age Security
Delaying 1 year
Jessica turned 65 in July 2019. If he decides to delay receiving the Old Age Security pension for 1 year, his monthly amount will increase by 7.2% (0.6% x 12 months) to account for the 12-month deferral period from August 2019 to July 2020.
If Michael’s payment amount is $549.89 per month, his increased monthly payment would be $589.48.
Delaying 5 years
Nita will be turning 65 in December 2019. If she decides to delay receiving the Old Age Security pension for the maximum deferral period of 60 months, her monthly amount will increase by 36% at age 70 (0.6% x 60 months).
If Rita’s payment amount is $549.89 per month, her increased monthly payment would be $747.85.
Delaying with an earlier start date than the date of application
John could receive his Old Age Security pension in August 2019 and he decided to delay receiving it. In December 2020, John applied for Old Age Security. He writes on his application that he would like his benefit to be effective as of October 2020, 3 months earlier than his application date. His monthly benefit amount will then increase by 8.4% (0.6% x 14 months) to account for the 14-month period from August 2019 to September 2020. The monthly increase does not apply to the period from October 2020 to December 2020.
If John’s payment amount is $549.89 per month, his increased monthly payment would be $596.08.
Other situations that can affect your Old Age Security pension amount
If you have lived in Canada less than 40 years
Not everyone receives the full Old Age Security pension. The amount you receive depends on the number of years you have lived in Canada.
If you lived in Canada for less than 40 years (after age 18) you will receive a partial payment amount. Your payment amount is based on the number of years in Canada divided by 40.
How much Old Age Security pension amount?
You can receive up to $614.14 per month (October to December 2020 maximum monthly payment). The amount you receive depends on how long you lived in Canada or specific countries after the age of 18.
You will have to pay tax on the Old Age Security pension payment.
If Extra payment based on your income how much it is?
Guaranteed Income Supplement
You may also be eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement if:
- you are 65 or older
- you live in Canada
- you get the Old Age Security pension
- your income is below:
- $18,624 if you are single, widowed or divorced
- Your income plus the income of your spouse/common-law partner is below:
- $24,576 if your spouse/common-law partner receives the full OAS pension
- $44,640 if your spouse/common-law partner does not receive an OAS pension
- $44,640 if your spouse/common-law partner receives the Allowance
You apply for the GIS at the same time as you apply for the OAS pension.
Benefits for your spouse or common-law partner
Allowance
If you are eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to receive the Allowance if your spouse or common-law partner:
- is 60 to 64 years of age
- is a Canadian citizen or a legal resident
- resides in Canada and has resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
- your combined annual income is less than $34,416 (October to December 2020 maximum annual income threshold)
Allowance for the Survivor
You could receive the Allowance for the Survivor if:
- you are 60 to 64 years of age
- your spouse or common-law partner has died and you have not remarried or entered into a common-law relationship
- your annual income is less than $25,080 (October to December 2020 maximum annual income threshold)
Where you can get help of Old age security pension?
If you have general questions about Old Age Security or specific questions about your application, contact Canada Post.
Your employment history is not a factor in determining eligibility. You can receive the Old Age Security (OAS) pension even if you have never worked or are still working.
If you are living in Canada, you must:
- be 65 years old or older
- be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time we approve your OAS pension application
- have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
If you are living outside Canada, you must:
- be 65 years old or older
- have been a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada on the day before you left Canada
- have resided in Canada for at least 20 years since the age of 18
Canadians working outside Canada for Canadian employers
Canadians working outside Canada for Canadian employers, such as the Canadian Armed Forces and banks, may have their time working abroad counted as residence in Canada.
To qualify this time working abroad as residence, you must have either:
- returned to Canada within 6 months of ending employment
- turned 65 years old while still employed and maintained residence in Canada during your time outside of Canada
You must provide the following 2 documents:
- proof of employment from the employer
- proof of physically returning to Canada (unless you turned 65 while still employed outside Canada).
Under certain conditions, spouses, common-law partners, dependents, and Canadians working abroad for international organizations may also count time spent abroad as residence in Canada.
If neither of the above scenarios applies to you, you may still qualify for the Old Age Security pension, a pension from another country, or from both countries if you have:
- lived in one of the countries Canada has established a social security agreement
or - contributed to the social security system of one of the countries with which Canada has established a social security agreement.
For more information, see lived or living outside Canada.