Last Updated On 19 April 2026, 9:33 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
Canadian seniors are set to receive their next Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan deposits on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with the latest quarterly cost of living adjustment built into every OAS cheque.
This month’s payment matters because it reflects the latest April to June 2026 OAS increase and the final payment before amounts are reviewed again for July.
For millions of retirees across the country, the April 28 deposit reflects the new 0.1% quarterly OAS increase, while CPP continues to follow its annual January indexation cycle.
The Canada Pension Plan operates on a different clock. It adjusts benefits only once each year, every January, using the 12-month Consumer Price Index average.
OAS uses a faster quarterly cycle reviewed in January, April, July, and October to keep payments closer to real-time changes in consumer prices.
Understanding how these two separate adjustment mechanisms interact is essential for every senior trying to budget around the April deposit and plan ahead for the next increase in July.
This guide covers the exact maximum amounts landing in bank accounts on April 28, the specific CPI calculation behind the April bump, what is known so far about the July 2026 review, and the tax treatment every recipient should know.
Table of Contents
OAS Payments Quarterly Adjustment Cycle
Old Age Security works completely differently from the CPP.
The OAS program uses quarterly reviews in January, April, July, and October to recalibrate monthly payments against inflation.
Each quarterly adjustment compares the average CPI over the most recent 3-month period against the average CPI from the last 3-month period that produced a benefit increase.
This quarterly mechanism is designed to pass inflation relief through to seniors faster than the annual CPP model can achieve.
For the April to June 2026 quarter, OAS benefits will rise by 0.1% above the level paid during the January to March 2026 quarter.
That small quarterly adjustment reflects a tiny CPI gain between the November 2025 to January 2026 reference period and the August to October 2025 comparison period.
The cumulative OAS increase from April 2025 through April 2026 works out to 2.1%, layered across four separate quarterly reviews.
OAS payment amounts can rise when the cost of living goes up.
Service Canada confirms that monthly rates will not drop if the cost of living happens to fall.
This safeguard means the published OAS benefit rates do not decrease solely because CPI falls, although an individual recipient’s payment can still change because of income, residency, or eligibility changes.
The April 28 deposit is the final OAS payment before the July 2026 review locks in the next quarterly adjustment for the remainder of summer.
Maximum OAS Amounts Coming On April 28
Seniors aged 65 to 74 with a 2024 annual net world income below $148,451 can receive up to $743.05 per month in OAS.
The amount for this age group rose from $742.31 during the January to March 2026 quarter under the 0.1% adjustment.
Seniors aged 75 and over with a 2024 annual net world income below $154,196 can receive up to $817.36 per month.
That figure represents the permanent 10% top-up introduced in July 2022 for seniors over 75, layered on top of the standard base rate.
The 75 and over maximum rose from $816.54 during the January to March quarter to the current $817.36 after the April adjustment.
These amounts apply only to seniors who built up 40 or more years of Canadian residency after age 18 and qualify for the full pension.
Partial pensions apply to seniors who lived in Canada between 10 and 40 years after turning 18, prorated by the number of qualifying years.
| Your situation | Your 2024 annual net world income must be | Maximum monthly payment |
| Age 65 to 74 | less than $148,451 | up to $743.05 |
| Age 75 and over | less than $154,196 | up to $817.36 |
Projected July 2026 OAS Payment Increase
The July 2026 quarterly review will use the 3-month average CPI from February, March, and April 2026 as its most recent reference window.
The comparison window will extend back to the last 3-month period where a CPI gain triggered a benefit increase, which is November 2025 to January 2026 at 165.1.
Statistics Canada reported that the February 2026 CPI rose 1.8% year over year, down from 2.3% in January, while the all-items CPI index increased to 165.9 in February.
The March 2026 CPI reading is scheduled for release on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Economists widely expect March headline inflation to rise from February levels, largely because higher fuel prices are entering the CPI data.
National Bank expects March CPI to rise 1.2% month over month on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, which could lift the annual inflation rate from 1.8% in February to 2.6% in March.
That forecast is still not enough to calculate the official July OAS rate because OAS uses monthly CPI index levels, not only annual inflation rates.
If the February to April 2026 3-month CPI average exceeds 165.1, OAS rates should increase for the July to September 2026 quarter.
Based on February’s confirmed CPI index of 165.9 and the National Bank’s projected 1.2% month-over-month increase for March, the March CPI index would land around 167.9.
If April CPI holds near the same range, the February-to-April 3-month average would be around 167.2 to 167.3, implying a projected July 2026 OAS increase of roughly 1.3%.
This estimate is not official. The final July increase cannot be calculated until Statistics Canada releases the April 2026 CPI reading in May and Service Canada publishes the official July to September 2026 OAS, GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor rates.
A rise in the quarterly CPI average above the prior reference period would produce a proportional increase in OAS, GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor payments beginning with the July 29, 2026 deposit.
Fuel-driven inflation could therefore lift the July adjustment well above the 1% increase, but the exact amount remains unconfirmed until the official rates are published.
OAS Clawback Rules For 2026 Recipients
The OAS pension is considered taxable income and is subject to a recovery tax known as the clawback.
For the July 2025 to June 2026 recovery tax period, individual 2024 net world income above $90,997 triggers repayment at 15% of the excess amount.
For 2026 income, the published OAS pension repayment range is $95,323 to $154,753 for recipients aged 65 to 74.
Seniors aged 75 and over face an upper repayment threshold of $160,696 because of the 10% enhanced OAS pension.
Income inside the repayment range leads to a partial OAS recovery tax based on how far the recipient’s income sits above the lower threshold.
Income above the upper threshold eliminates the OAS pension entirely for that year.
Net world income used in the clawback calculation includes the OAS pension itself plus all other reportable income on the T1 tax return.
GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor payments are not taxable and do not factor into the OAS recovery tax calculation.
If a recovery tax applies, it is generally spread over 12 monthly OAS payments after the CRA calculates it, rather than being limited to a one-time lump sum at tax time.
GIS Amounts Also Increase
The Guaranteed Income Supplement paid on top of OAS also received the 0.1% quarterly bump effective April 2026.
A single, widowed, or divorced senior with a 2024 annual net income below $22,512 can receive up to $1,109.85 in GIS per month.
That amount rose from $1,108.74 in the January to March quarter under the latest quarterly review.
A married or common law senior whose partner also receives a full OAS pension can receive up to $668.08 per month, provided combined income stays below $29,760.
A senior whose partner receives the Allowance can also receive up to $668.08, with a combined income ceiling of $41,664.
A senior whose partner does not receive an OAS pension or Allowance can receive up to $1,109.85 per month, with a combined income threshold of $53,952.
GIS amounts are non-taxable and do not count against the net income thresholds used for the OAS recovery tax calculation.
| Your situation | Your 2024 annual net income must be | Maximum monthly payment |
| Single, widowed or divorced | less than $22,512 | up to $1,109.85 |
| Partner also receives a full OAS pension | combined less than $29,760 | up to $668.08 |
| Partner receives the Allowance | combined less than $41,664 | up to $668.08 |
| Partner does not receive OAS or Allowance | combined less than $53,952 | up to $1,109.85 |
July 2026 GIS Recalculation Based On 2025 Tax Returns
Every July, Service Canada recalculates GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor amounts based on the most recent tax return on file.
The July 2026 recalculation will use 2025 net income reported on returns filed by the April 30, 2026 deadline.
Seniors whose income dropped between 2024 and 2025 may see larger GIS payments beginning with the July 29, 2026 deposit.
Seniors whose income rose may see reduced GIS payments starting in July or a complete loss of the supplement depending on the size of the change.
Late filers risk a temporary suspension of GIS benefits starting in July because the CRA cannot recalculate without a current tax return on file.
Even seniors with zero income must file a return every year to maintain continuous GIS eligibility and avoid payment gaps.
Allowance And Allowance For The Survivor
The Allowance benefit supports Canadians aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner receives both the GIS and a full OAS pension.
The maximum monthly Allowance payment for April to June 2026 is $1,411.13, up from $1,409.72 in the prior quarter.
Couples qualify for the Allowance only if their combined annual income sits below $41,664 and the younger partner has at least 10 years of Canadian residency after age 18.
The Allowance for the Survivor supports widowed Canadians aged 60 to 64 who have not remarried or entered a new common-law relationship.
The maximum monthly Allowance for the Survivor for April to June 2026 is $1,682.15, up from $1,680.47 in the prior quarter.
Individual annual income must stay below $30,336 and the recipient must have at least 10 years of Canadian residency after age 18.
Both the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are non-taxable payments and do not add to reportable income on the annual tax return.
CPP Payments Follow An Annual Adjustment Each January
The Canada Pension Plan only adjusts once a year.
For benefits already in pay, the annual CPP adjustment set in January 2026 stays in place through December 2026, although maximum amounts for new CPP benefits can change during the year because of CPP enhancement rules.
Service Canada confirmed a 2.0% annual increase in CPP benefits in pay for 2026, applied to every monthly payment starting with the January 28, 2026 deposit, according to the official Maximum benefit amounts publication.
That annual rate applies to CPP benefits in pay, including retirement pensions, disability pensions, survivor pensions, and children’s benefits. The CPP death benefit is a separate one-time payment with a maximum of $2,500.
The April 28 CPP payment for existing recipients will therefore reflect the same annual indexation rate applied in January, with no separate April CPP cost of living adjustment.
A retiree who began collecting CPP at age 65 in January 2026 at the full rate can receive a maximum monthly retirement pension of $1,507.65.
That figure represents the combined enhanced benefit under the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings cap layered with the additional contribution tier built into the enhanced CPP framework launched in 2019.
Most retirees receive well below the maximum amount because qualifying for the ceiling requires making the highest allowable contributions over roughly forty years of working history.
The average monthly CPP retirement payment for new beneficiaries at age 65 in January 2026 is $925.35, so many retirees receive less than the $1,507.65 maximum.
A CPP disability pension can pay up to $1,741.20 per month, combining a flat rate portion of $610.46 with an earnings-related portion of $1,130.74.
The post-retirement disability benefit adds another $610.46 per month on top of an existing retirement pension for contributors who meet eligibility requirements.
Survivor pensions pay up to $803.54 for recipients younger than 65 and up to $904.59 for those 65 and older.
Children of a disabled or deceased CPP contributor can receive $307.81 per month if they are under 18 or enrolled as full-time students.
Part-time students in the same category receive $153.91 per month from the CPP children’s benefit.
The estate of a contributor who passes away before claiming retirement benefits can receive a one-time death benefit of $2,500.
Anyone receiving both a retirement pension and a survivor pension under a combined calculation can receive up to $1,531.56 per month at age 65.
CPP 2026 Maximum Amounts
| CPP benefit (starting January 2026) | Maximum amount |
| Retirement pension at age 65 | $1,507.65 |
| Post-retirement benefit at age 65 | $54.69 |
| Disability pension | $1,741.20 |
| Post-retirement disability benefit | $610.46 |
| Survivor pension, younger than 65 | $803.54 |
| Survivor pension, 65 and older | $904.59 |
| Combined survivor and retirement at 65 | $1,531.56 |
| Combined survivor and disability | $1,756.14 |
| Children of disabled or deceased contributor, under 18 or full-time student | $307.81 |
| Children of disabled or deceased contributor, part-time students | $153.91 |
| Death benefit, one-time payment | $2,500.00 |
Who Qualifies For CPP Versus OAS
CPP eligibility depends on having made at least one valid contribution to the plan during working years.
Payments can start as early as age 60 with a permanent reduction or as late as age 70 for a permanent increase.
Contributors who delay CPP from age 65 to age 70 can earn a 42% higher monthly benefit for the rest of their lives.
OAS eligibility depends primarily on Canadian residency after age 18 and requires no work history or contribution record.
Canadians with at least 10 years of residency after age 18 qualify for a partial OAS pension.
Full OAS requires 40 or more years of residency after age 18 and produces the full monthly maximum.
Most recipients receive both CPP and OAS at the same time on the same deposit date, as detailed in the Government of Canada’s benefits payment dates calendar, which confirms April 28, 2026 as the next deposit.
Receiving one benefit does not affect eligibility for the other, though the OAS clawback considers CPP income when calculating the recovery tax.
Seniors who deferred OAS past age 65 can request a retroactive start date for up to 11 months, but they cannot receive retroactive OAS payments for months counted as a deferral period.
CPP Contribution Rates Hitting Paycheques In 2026
The Year’s Basic Exemption for 2026 remains at $3,500 under the CPP contribution framework.
The Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings for 2026 rose to $74,600 from the 2025 level of $71,300.
The Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings for 2026 sit at $85,000, covering the second additional CPP contribution tier for higher earners.
Workers and employers each pay 5.95% on earnings between the basic exemption and the YMPE, producing a maximum contribution of $4,230.45 per side.
The second tier known as CPP2 applies a 4% contribution rate on earnings between the YMPE and the YAMPE, capped at $416 per side for 2026.
Self-employed Canadians pay both halves, producing a maximum base contribution of $8,460.90 and a maximum CPP2 contribution of $832 for 2026.
The combined maximum CPP contribution for a self-employed worker earning above $85,000 therefore reaches $9,292.90 for the year.
These rates help determine future CPP entitlement, while the January 2026 maximum retirement pension of $1,507.65 applies to new benefits beginning in January 2026.
How To Confirm Your April 28 Payment
Direct deposit recipients should see their combined CPP and OAS amounts land in their bank account on the morning of Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Paper cheque recipients should allow two to three business days of additional mail time after the April 28 issue date.
My Service Canada Account provides a secure online portal for reviewing payment status, benefit amounts, and historical deposits for every Old Age Security pension recipient.
Seniors can log in through their existing GCKey or Sign-In Partner credentials to confirm the April deposit has posted correctly.
The account also allows recipients to update direct deposit banking information, mailing addresses, and voluntary tax withholding preferences.
T4A OAS and T4A P slips for 2025 income are already available in the account for seniors preparing their 2025 tax return ahead of the April 30, 2026 deadline.
What To Do If Your April 28 Payment Does Not Arrive
If the April 28 payment does not arrive, recipients should first confirm bank posting times and My Service Canada Account details before contacting Service Canada.
Bank processing times can vary, and direct deposits occasionally post later in the day than expected even when funds are scheduled on time.
Recipients can contact Service Canada at 1 800 277 9914 to report a missing payment or start a payment inquiry.
Teletypewriter users can reach Service Canada at 1 800 255 4786 for the same inquiry.
Missing payments are most often caused by outdated banking information, stale mailing addresses, or gaps in Canadian residency records on file.
Updating direct deposit details through My Service Canada Account can prevent future missed deposits from bouncing back to the government.
OAS Deferral Option For Higher Lifetime Payments
Seniors who do not need OAS income at age 65 can defer the pension for up to 60 months to boost the monthly amount.
Each deferred month adds 0.6% to the future monthly payment, up to a 36% total increase at age 70.
A senior who defers from 65 to 70 would receive approximately $1,010.55 per month at the April 2026 base rate instead of $743.05.
Those 75 and over would see the deferred amount rise to approximately $1,111.61 once the 10% over 75 enhancement is layered on top of the deferred base.
Deferral makes the most sense for seniors who continue to earn high employment income between 65 and 70 that would otherwise trigger the OAS clawback.
The breakeven point for deferral depends on lifespan, taxes, GIS eligibility, clawback exposure, and personal cash flow needs, so it is not the same for every senior.
Seniors in poor health, or those who need income immediately, may benefit more from claiming at 65 than from deferring the pension further.
Tax Treatment Of Your April 28 CPP And OAS Payments
Both CPP and OAS payments are fully taxable at the federal and provincial levels and must be reported on the 2026 T1 return next spring.
Service Canada issues T4A P slips for CPP income and T4A OAS slips for Old Age Security income each January.
Voluntary tax withholding on both benefits is available through My Service Canada Account and helps prevent a large balance owing at tax time.
Higher-income seniors should pay particular attention to OAS withholding, including the 15% recovery tax on income above $90,997 for the July 2025 to June 2026 recovery tax period and above $95,323 for 2026 income.
GIS payments, Allowance payments, and Allowance for the Survivor payments are non-taxable and do not require any withholding.
Filing the 2025 tax return on or before April 30, 2026 is critical because late filing can trigger GIS payment suspensions starting in July, as covered in our full guide on CRA tax mistakes to avoid before April 30.
2026 CPP And OAS Payment Dates
The April 28, 2026 deposit is the fourth of twelve scheduled CPP and OAS payment dates in the 2026 calendar year.
Remaining 2026 deposit dates confirmed by Service Canada follow a predictable monthly pattern tied to the last banking days of each month.
- April 28, 2026
- May 27, 2026
- June 26, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- September 25, 2026
- October 28, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 22, 2026
The April 28 CPP and OAS payment will arrive with the latest quarterly OAS increase already applied, while CPP remains fixed at the 2026 annual rate set in January.
Seniors should remember that CPP and OAS follow different increase schedules: CPP adjusts once a year, while OAS, GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor are reviewed every quarter.
The next key date is the July 2026 review, when OAS benefits could rise again depending on the February to April CPI average.
Recipients should also file their 2025 tax return by April 30, 2026, to avoid possible interruptions to income-tested benefits such as GIS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will the next OAS payment arrive after April 28, 2026?
The next OAS and CPP deposit is scheduled for May 27, 2026, and will match the April rate because the CPP adjusts once yearly and the OAS holds its April-to-June quarterly level through June.
What is the difference between CPP and OAS cost of living adjustments?
CPP adjusts once each January based on a full 12 month CPI average, while OAS adjusts four times a year in January, April, July, and October using shorter 3-month CPI windows.
How much could OAS increase in July 2026?
Official July amounts are not published until late June, but a modest quarterly adjustment is expected if the February to April 2026 CPI average rises above the 165.1 level used for the April calculation.
Can I receive both CPP and OAS at the same time?
Yes, most Canadian seniors receive both pensions concurrently on the same monthly deposit date, with each benefit calculated independently based on its own eligibility rules.
What happens to my GIS if I file my 2025 tax return late?
GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor payments can be suspended starting in July 2026 if the CRA does not have a current tax return on file by the April 30 deadline.
Fact-checked: Payment amounts, income thresholds, payment dates, and adjustment percentages are verified against official Canada.ca publications as of April 2026, including the Old Age Security payment amounts page, the CPP and OAS benefits payment calendar, and the Maximum Benefit Amounts and Related Figures report.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult Service Canada or a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
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