Anúncios
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is paid on top of the OAS pension when income stays below a limit. Below: the 5 steps, the October to December 2026 amounts and contacts.
You will be redirected to another site
Anúncios
Step 1: Check for the Service Canada letter after turning 64
Shortly after a person turns 64, Service Canada sends a letter. It confirms the OAS pension and says whether Service Canada will try to enrol the person in the GIS automatically. When the letter says enrolment is automatic, no application is needed at this stage.
Step 2: Apply online in My Service Canada Account
If the letter did not arrive, or if it asks for an application, the request can be made online in the My Service Canada Account. The online application opens 1 month after the person turns 64.
- Go to the Old Age Security section.
- Choose “Apply for Old Age Security and manage my benefits”.
- Choose “Application for Guaranteed Income Supplement” when the OAS pension is already being paid, or the joint OAS and GIS application otherwise.
Step 3: Or apply by mail
Canada.ca also accepts paper applications:
- Form ISP-3025: GIS only.
- Form ISP-3550: OAS pension and GIS together.
- Guide ISP-3550A: instructions for filling in the joint form.
Step 4: Gather the documents
- SIN and date of birth of the applicant and of the spouse or partner, if any.
- Places lived in since age 18.
- Any drop in work or pension income in the last 2 years.
- Income from outside Canada.
- Bank details for direct deposit.
Step 5: File the tax return by April 30 every year
The GIS is renewed based on the yearly tax return. Canada.ca asks for the return to be filed by April 30 each year to avoid any disruption. In July, a letter says whether the GIS was renewed, stopped, started, or whether income information is missing.
Anúncios
If the July payment does not arrive, Canada.ca advises calling as soon as possible with the SIN and the previous year’s income at hand.
Who can receive the GIS
According to Canada.ca (eligibility page, 2026), the criteria are:
- being 65 or older;
- receiving the OAS pension;
- living in Canada;
- not being under a sponsorship agreement, with some exceptions;
- having yearly income below the limit for the person’s situation (table below).
GIS amounts for October to December 2026
Amounts for October to December 2026, set by the Government of Canada and adjusted every 3 months (January, April, July and October). The amount depends on income and marital status. Canada.ca notes that “maximum amounts are not guaranteed”.
| Situation | Monthly GIS | Yearly income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Single, divorced or widowed | up to $1,138.90 | below $23,112 |
| Spouse or partner receives the full OAS pension | up to $685.56 | combined below $30,528 |
| Spouse or partner receives the Allowance | up to $685.56 | combined below $42,768 |
| Spouse or partner receives neither OAS nor the Allowance | up to $1,138.90 | combined below $55,392 |
Source: Canada.ca, GIS benefit amount, October to December 2026 (page dated October 13, 2026).
For reference, the OAS pension itself is up to $762.50 a month for ages 65 to 74 and up to $838.75 a month for ages 75 and over (Canada.ca, OAS payments, October to December 2026).
Key dates and deadlines
📅
GIS calendar
The dates that keep the payment going
1. April 30: yearly deadline to file the tax return and avoid disruption (Canada.ca, 2026).
2. July: renewal letter saying whether the GIS was renewed, stopped, started or needs income information.
3. January, April, July and October: months when the amounts are adjusted.
4. November 26, 2026 and December 22, 2026: next OAS and GIS payment dates (Canada.ca benefits calendar).
5. 1 month after turning 64: the online application opens.
6. Up to 11 months: limit for retroactive payment before the month of the application, under the OAS Act (Social Security Tribunal decision, 2025).
Dates from Canada.ca (2026). Amounts change in January 2027.
Where to apply and who to call
- Online: My Service Canada Account, on Canada.ca.
- OAS and GIS line: 1-800-277-9914 (English, from Canada and the United States).
- TTY: 1-800-255-4786.
- From outside Canada and the United States: 1-613-957-1954 (collect calls accepted).
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time, plus an automated service available 24/7.
Source: Canada.ca, Contact Old Age Security (2026).
You will be redirected to another site
When the situation does not fit
- Income dropped because of retirement or a smaller pension: Canada.ca allows the payment to be calculated on the estimated income of the current year (Receiving the GIS page, 2026).
- The tax return was not filed by April 30: filing it as soon as possible and calling the OAS line with the SIN and the previous year’s income at hand is what Canada.ca indicates.
- Living in Ontario, British Columbia or Alberta: provincial programs exist on top of the GIS. Ontario GAINS pays up to $92 a month from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, automatically to people who receive the OAS pension and the GIS (ontario.ca, 2026 to 2027). The BC Senior’s Supplement ranges from $1.00 to $99.30 a month for a single person and from $2.00 to $220.50 a month for a couple, paid automatically (gov.bc.ca, 2026). The Alberta Seniors Benefit pays up to $3,946 a year to a single person, with an income limit of $32,690 for a single person, and requires an application at sfa.alberta.ca or by phone at 1-877-644-9992 (alberta.ca, from July 1, 2026). Provincial supplements vary by province and are not part of the federal GIS.
Sources
Independent information site, not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Apply only through Canada.ca or Service Canada. Sources: Canada.ca, GIS benefit amount (October to December 2026, page dated October 13, 2026); Canada.ca, GIS eligibility (2026); Canada.ca, GIS apply (2026); Canada.ca, receiving the GIS (2026); Canada.ca, OAS payments (October to December 2026); Canada.ca, benefit payment dates (2026); Canada.ca, Contact Old Age Security (2026); Social Security Tribunal decision 528098 (2025); ontario.ca, GAINS (2026 to 2027); gov.bc.ca, Senior’s Supplement (2026); alberta.ca, Alberta Seniors Benefit (from July 1, 2026).