New OAS Payment Increase Coming In October 2026

Canadian seniors will receive noticeably larger Old Age Security deposits – OAS payments starting with the October 28 payment after the Government of Canada confirmed a 1.4% quarterly increase for the October to December 2026 period.

This is the strongest single-quarter adjustment of the entire calendar year, surpassing the 1.2% increase that took effect in July and pushing the cumulative year-over-year gain to 3.0% from October 2025 to October 2026.

The new rate lifts the maximum monthly OAS pension from $751.97 to approximately $762.50 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and from $827.17 to approximately $838.75 for those aged 75 and older.

Low-income seniors who also collect the Guaranteed Income Supplement will see their GIS rise by the same 1.4%, bringing combined monthly deposits closer to $1,900 for eligible single recipients in the younger age group.

This guide covers the updated OAS and GIS amounts, the CPI arithmetic behind the adjustment, complete Q4 payment dates, recovery tax thresholds, deferral implications, and what newcomers to Canada should understand about qualifying for this benefit.

Updated New Maximum OAS Amounts for October to December 2026

The official OAS payment amounts page confirms the 1.4% increase but had not yet published the rounded dollar figures on the quarterly rate card at the time of writing.

The amounts below are calculated by applying the confirmed 1.4% rate to the current July to September 2026 maximums.

Age Group	Jul–Sep 2026	Oct–Dec 2026
65 to 74	$751.97	~$762.50
75 and over	$827.17	~$838.75

Seniors aged 75 and older continue to receive the permanent 10% enhancement that the federal government introduced in July 2022, which is applied on top of every quarterly CPI adjustment.

Partial OAS recipients who lived in Canada for at least 10 but fewer than 40 years after age 18 will also see their proportional payment rise by 1.4%.

The OAS Benefits Estimator on the Service Canada website provides personalized calculations based on your residence history and expected start date.

How the 1.4% Quarterly Adjustment Was Calculated

OAS benefits are reviewed every January, April, July, and October using a formula tied directly to the Consumer Price Index published by Statistics Canada.

The October adjustment compares two three-month CPI averages to determine whether inflation has risen since the last period that produced an increase.

For October 2026, the most recent available period covers May, June, and July 2026, which produced CPI readings of 169.6, 169.0, and 169.9, respectively.

The three-month average for that window is 169.5. The comparison period is February, March, and April 2026, with CPI values of 165.9, 167.4, and 168.0 and an average of 167.1.

The difference of 2.4 index points divided by 167.1 produces the confirmed 1.4% increase that applies across all Old Age Security pension and benefit categories.

This means the October increase was effectively locked in by mid-August when Statistics Canada released the July CPI data.

Combined OAS and GIS Amounts for Low-Income Seniors

The Guaranteed Income Supplement rises by the same 1.4% alongside OAS because both benefits are indexed to the identical CPI measure.

GIS is a tax-free monthly benefit paid on top of the OAS pension to low-income seniors whose annual net income falls below specific thresholds based on marital status.

The maximum GIS for a single, widowed, or divorced senior currently sits at $1,123.17 per month for July to September 2026.

Applying the 1.4% increase pushes that figure to approximately $1,138.89 for the October to December quarter.

Benefit Combination	Jul–Sep 2026	Oct–Dec 2026
OAS only (age 65–74)	$751.97	~$762.50
OAS only (age 75+)	$827.17	~$838.75
OAS + max GIS (single, 65–74)	$1,875.14	~$1,901.39
OAS + max GIS (single, 75+)	$1,950.34	~$1,977.64

These combined figures represent the maximum possible monthly deposit for seniors with no income beyond OAS.

GIS is generally reduced by $1 for every $2 of annual income other than OAS, and the exact reduction depends on marital status and income type, with special exemptions for employment and self-employment earnings.

Seniors who have not yet filed their 2025 tax return should do so as soon as possible, as missing income information can cause GIS payments to be reduced or interrupted.

Complete Q4 2026 OAS Payment Dates

Service Canada deposits OAS, GIS, and CPP payments on the same date each month according to the federal benefits payment calendar.

Three deposits will carry the new October to December 2026 rates:

Wednesday, October 28, 2026: First payment at the new 1.4% quarterly rate.
Thursday, November 26, 2026: Second payment at the Q4 rate.
Tuesday, December 22, 2026: Third payment, issued earlier than usual to account for the holiday period.

Direct deposit recipients typically see funds appear in their bank accounts during morning hours on the scheduled date.

Recipients who receive OAS by cheque should expect mailed payments to take longer than direct deposit.

The September 25 deposit will be the final payment under the July to September rates, meaning seniors who compare their October 28 deposit with their September amount should see the full 1.4% quarterly increase reflected.

2026 OAS Increases at a Glance

OAS has now been adjusted four times in 2026, with each quarter reflecting a different level of inflationary pressure measured through CPI data collected by Statistics Canada.

Quarter	Increase	Max (65–74)	Max (75+)
Jan–Mar 2026	0.3%	$742.31	$816.54
Apr–Jun 2026	0.1%	$743.05	$817.36
Jul–Sep 2026	1.2%	$751.97	$827.17
Oct–Dec 2026	1.4%	~$762.50	~$838.75

The first half of 2026 saw relatively modest price growth, which translated into small January and April bumps.

Spring and early summer consumer prices accelerated, producing the larger July and October adjustments that account for most of the 3.0% annual gain.

Unlike the Canada Pension Plan, which adjusts once per year in January, the quarterly OAS mechanism passes inflation relief through to seniors faster.

The OAS Recovery Tax and the October Increase

Higher-income seniors face the OAS recovery tax, which reduces monthly pension payments by 15 cents for every dollar of net world income above the annual threshold.

For the July 2026 to June 2027 recovery period, the minimum income threshold is $93,454 based on 2025 net world income, as detailed in the OAS clawback guide.

OAS is fully eliminated at $152,062 of 2025 net world income for seniors aged 65 to 74 and at $157,923 for those aged 75 and over.

The higher elimination threshold for the 75 and over group exists because their maximum OAS pension is larger due to the permanent 10% enhancement.

Net world income used in the clawback calculation includes the OAS pension itself, which means the pension can partially trigger its own recovery at certain income levels.

If the recovery tax applies, it is spread across 12 monthly OAS payments from July through June rather than collected as a single lump sum at tax time.

For the 2026 income year, the repayment range starts at $95,323, with upper thresholds that become final in the October to December rate card.

Seniors who want to protect their OAS payments from July 2027 onward should keep their 2026 net world income below $95,323.

OAS Deferral and How It Multiplies the October Increase

Seniors can defer their OAS pension past age 65 in exchange for a 0.6% increase for every month of deferral, up to a maximum of 36% at age 70.

A senior who deferred until 70 and qualifies for the new Q4 maximum of approximately $762.50 would receive roughly $1,037 per month, combining the deferral premium with the latest quarterly adjustment.

The maximum retroactive start date for OAS is 11 months, and the deferral period does not count toward retroactivity.

Deferring OAS also means forgoing the Guaranteed Income Supplement during the deferral period because GIS requires active OAS receipt.

For most seniors with other income sources who do not depend on OAS immediately at 65, deferral can produce a meaningful long-term gain.

The Deflation Safeguard That Protects Your October Rate

Under the Old Age Security Act, published OAS rates do not decrease solely because the Consumer Price Index falls.

This one-way floor means that once the October to December rates are set, your maximum entitlement will not drop in January 2027 even if inflation cools through the autumn.

An individual payment can still change for reasons unrelated to CPI, including shifts in income that affect the recovery tax, changes in residency status, or adjustments to GIS after the annual income recalculation.

The safeguard applies equally to the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance, and the Allowance for the Survivor.

How To Verify Your October OAS Payment

The most reliable way to confirm your exact OAS entitlement is through your My Service Canada Account, which displays your payment history, upcoming deposit amount, and any adjustments to your file.

If you do not have online access, you can call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to request your current payment details.

Direct-deposit recipients should receive their payment on the scheduled payment date, although the exact posting time can vary by financial institution.

Setting up direct deposit through My Service Canada Account is the fastest way to receive your October 28 payment without postal delays.

What Comes After the October Increase

The next OAS quarterly review will set the January to March 2027 rates using CPI data from the autumn months of 2026.

Statistics Canada will publish that data in late 2026, and Employment and Social Development Canada will confirm the new figures before the January payment.

The annual CPP indexation for 2027 will also be announced separately, typically by early November 2026, using a 12-month CPI comparison ending in October.

Service Canada has not yet released the official 2027 benefit payment calendar.

The Canada Disability Benefit follows a separate payment schedule from OAS and CPP, with deposits arriving on the third Thursday of each month for eligible recipients aged 18 to 64.

Seniors who also receive the Canada Child Benefit for grandchildren in their care should note that CCB operates on its own monthly cycle and is administered by the CRA rather than Service Canada.

What the October OAS Increase Means

The 1.4% quarterly adjustment landing on October 28 is the culmination of a year in which OAS benefits have climbed 3.0% from where they stood 12 months ago.

For a senior aged 65 to 74 collecting the maximum, the Q4 rate adds roughly $10.53 per month compared to the July to September amount, translating to about $31.59 in additional income across the three-month quarter.

Those aged 75 and over gain approximately $11.58 per month, or roughly $34.74 over the quarter.

Seniors collecting both OAS and the full GIS will see the combined increase stretch further because GIS rises by the same percentage on a larger combined base.

While the dollar gains may seem incremental on a monthly basis, the quarterly compounding built into the OAS system means each new rate becomes the floor for all future adjustments.

Every benefit increase that arrived earlier in 2026 is already baked into the October baseline, and the deflation safeguard ensures none of it can be reversed by a dip in consumer prices.

Confirm your deposit details through My Service Canada Account, ensure your 2025 tax return is filed to maintain GIS eligibility, and mark October 28 on your calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much will OAS increase in October 2026?

OAS benefits will rise by 1.4% for the October to December 2026 quarter, the largest single-quarter adjustment of the year. The maximum monthly pension climbs from $751.97 to approximately $762.50 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and from $827.17 to approximately $838.75 for those aged 75 and older. The Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance both increase by the same 1.4%. The first deposit at the higher rate arrives on October 28, 2026, with two additional payments at the same rate following on November 26 and December 22.

When is the next OAS payment date after the October increase?

The three OAS payment dates that carry the new October to December 2026 quarterly rates are October 28, November 26, and December 22. The December payment is scheduled earlier than the usual end-of-month pattern to ensure funds arrive before the holiday period. Service Canada has not yet published the official 2027 benefit payment calendar, so January 2027 dates have not been confirmed.

Does the October 2026 OAS increase apply to the Guaranteed Income Supplement?

Yes, GIS rises by the same 1.4% as the OAS pension because both benefits are indexed to the identical Consumer Price Index measure. The maximum monthly GIS for a single, widowed, or divorced senior moves from $1,123.17 to approximately $1,138.89 for the October to December quarter. A single senior aged 65 to 74 with no other income could receive a combined OAS and GIS deposit of roughly $1,901 per month starting with the October 28 payment.

Can my OAS payment decrease after the October 2026 increase?

The published OAS rate itself cannot decrease solely because the Consumer Price Index falls, thanks to a deflation safeguard written into the Old Age Security Act. However, your individual payment can still change if your net world income pushes you into the recovery tax range, if your residency status changes, or if your GIS is recalculated based on updated income information from your tax return. The October to December rate becomes the permanent floor for future quarterly reviews.

What is the total OAS increase for all of 2026?

OAS benefits have been adjusted four times in 2026: 0.3% in January, 0.1% in April, 1.2% in July, and 1.4% in October. The cumulative year-over-year increase from October 2025 to October 2026 is 3.0%, according to the Government of Canada. Most of the annual gain arrived in the second half of the year as spring and summer consumer prices accelerated faster than the relatively flat inflation readings from early 2026.

Fact-Checked: All payment amounts, quarterly increase percentages, CPI index values, recovery tax thresholds, and 2026 payment dates in this article were verified against official Government of Canada sources, including the Old Age Security payment amounts page, the Service Canada quarterly statistics reports, Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index releases, and the federal benefits payment calendar current to September 18, 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Contact Service Canada or a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon moved to Canada in 2010 on a study visa. She navigated through the ups and downs of her student life and gained her permanent residency in 2015. Today, she is a proud Canadian citizen residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is mother of 2 beautiful daughters and making her difference through writing and guidance at INC – Immigration News Canada.