Seniors and Elders — Income, Services and Your Rights

Verified 2026-10-03 against official sources, linked throughout. Amounts marked Oct–Dec 2026 are the current quarterly figures. Not legal advice.

⚠️ If you were quoted $751.97 or $827.17, those are out of date. Those were the July–September 2026 amounts. The current figures are $762.50 and $838.75.

Old Age Security (OAS) — Canada-wide

• 65 or older. Canadian citizen or legal resident, resident in Canada at least 10 years since age 18 (20 years if living outside Canada).
• Maximum, Oct–Dec 2026:
  • Age 65–74: $762.50/month
  • Age 75+: $838.75/month — permanently 10% higher since July 2022
• Income cut-off (2025 net world income): $152,062 (65–74); $157,923 (75+). A partial pension applies with 10–40 years of residence.
• Amounts are taxable; recovery tax applies above $93,454 (2025 threshold). Indexed to CPI quarterly — up only, never down.
• Apply: usually automatic (Service Canada mails a letter). If nothing arrives a month after your 64th birthday, apply in My Service Canada Account or at any Service Canada office.
• Appeal: reconsideration within 90 days (form ISP-3134) → Social Security Tribunal of Canada.
• OAS

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) — Canada-wide

Tax-free top-up for lower-income OAS recipients. You must receive OAS to get it.

Maximum, Oct–Dec 2026:

GIS Allowance (ages 60–64): up to $1,428.06/month — a spouse or common-law partner of an OAS recipient. Apply 6–11 months before turning 60. Allowance for the Survivor (60–64): widowed, not remarried, income under $31,152 — up to $1,726.18/month.

⚠️ Service Canada states GIS payments may stop or be reduced if you have not filed your 2025 taxes. File, even if you owe nothing.

Appeal: same 90-day reconsideration → SST route as OAS.

GIS

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

• At least 60 years old plus at least one valid CPP contribution.
• Maximum new benefits, January 2026: retirement at 65 $1,507.65/month; survivor’s 65+ $904.59; death benefit $2,500. Benefits in pay indexed +2.0%.
• Appeal: reconsideration within 90 days (form ISP-1238) → SSTC.
• CPP

⚠️ “Enhanced GIS” is not an official program name. What exists is the enhanced GIS top-up threshold (single OAS recipient top-up cut-off $10,496 for Oct–Dec 2026) and the permanent 10% OAS increase at 75+.

Age discrimination — know which tribunal you use

Age is a prohibited ground of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act, with no upper age limit — protection does not stop at 65.

⚠️ Jurisdiction matters. The CHRA covers the federal government and federally regulated organizations (banks, airlines, rail, telecom, federally regulated media). In Ontario, most employers and services fall under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario — a different body.

• Federal route: complaint to the CHRC (online/email/fax/mail; no walk-in). Deadline generally one year from the last act. Process: complaint → CHRC screening → Tribunal → respondent response (60 days) → your reply (60 days). CHRC does not guarantee processing times.
• Ontario route: the HRTO under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• CHRC — about discrimination

Long-term care and home care — Ontario only

Administered by Ontario Health atHome (not “Home Care Ontario” — that name is outdated and may send people looking for an organization that no longer exists).

If you need long-term care

Assessment, then rank up to five homes in preference order. You have 24 hours to accept or reject an offer and up to 5 days to move in; payment starts on the move-in date regardless.

Maximum co-payment fees, effective 1 July 2026 (same for for-profit and not-for-profit homes):

The level of care is the same regardless of room type; optional extras (hairdressing, cable, phone, internet, transportation) can be charged on top.

Low-income help — Long-Term Care Rate Reduction: covers basic accommodation only (regular semi-private/private are not eligible). No fixed income threshold, but someone with no dependants would likely qualify below roughly $27,338 based on the July 2026 basic rate. Comfort allowance currently $149/month. Apply to your home within 90 days of moving in (retroactive up to 90 days), and re-apply every year — to keep the reduced rate from 1 July you must re-apply between 1 July and 28 September.

Home care

For people of all ages, not seniors only. If you qualify, the Ontario government pays for home care (community support services may have a co-payment). Call Ontario Health atHome for a case manager assessment.

Appeal: complain to Ontario Health atHome first; if unsatisfied, escalate, then appeal to the Ontario Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB).

Community Paramedicine for LTC is available while on the LTC waitlist — it helps you stay living at home while waiting.

Apply for LTC · Paying for LTC · Home and community care

The Age Amount tax credit

Not a benefit — it is a federal non-refundable tax credit (line 30100).

• Eligible if you were 65 on 31 December of the tax year (65 by 31 Dec 2025 → claim on your 2025 return filed in 2026) and net income under $105,709.
• 2025 tax year amount: full $9,028 if net income $45,522 or less; reduced between $45,522 and $105,709.
• ⚠️ The 2026 tax-year amount was not yet published as of 2026-10-03.
• CRA — Age Amount

Two programs that do NOT exist

• There is no “Ontario Senior Support Program.” No Government of Ontario program by that name was found. Likely meant: Ontario Health atHome home & community care, the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program, or Rapid Access Seniors Supports (some public health units).
• “Enhanced GIS” is not an official program name — see above.

2026 budget status

As of 2026-10-03 there is no legislated increase to OAS or GIS dollar amounts in the Spring Economic Update 2026. The only OAS-related item is funding for a new OAS platform and increased processing capacity. The 2026 changes are CPI indexation (+1.4% for Oct–Dec 2026, +3.0% year over year) and a proposed Canada Groceries and Essentials benefit (family of four up to $1,890 this year; single person up to $950), explicitly in addition to GIS and CCB.

Combining with disability programs

Retirement does not end disability support:

• OAS/GIS + CPP disability — both can be claimed.
• OAS/GIS + the Disability Tax Credit — the credit applies regardless.
• Seniors under 65 with a disability — the non-work disability programs page covers CPP disability, EI and the Canada Disability Benefit.
• Long-term care + GIS — ask the home about the rate reduction; many people qualify and do not apply.

Amounts verified 2026-10-03. Benefit rates change — confirm with Service Canada before making decisions.