New OAS Payments Coming On September 25, 2026

The next Old Age Security deposit – OAS payment is confirmed for Friday, September 25, when Service Canada will issue OAS pensions, Guaranteed Income Supplement top-ups, Allowance payments, and Allowance for the Survivor payments on the same nationwide payment date.

This is the third and final deposit at the July-to-September 2026 quarterly rates, which delivered the largest quarterly increase of 2026 up to that point.

The 1.2% adjustment was calculated from the change in the average CPI for February, March, and April 2026 compared with the applicable earlier three-month period.

A single senior with no other income who also qualifies for the full Guaranteed Income Supplement can receive a combined monthly deposit of $1,875.14 in the 65-to-74 age group or $1,950.34 at age 75 and over.

If your circumstances and entitlement have not changed, your September 25 payment should generally match your August 27 payment because both use the same quarterly rates.

Individual amounts can still change because of factors such as turning 75, updated income or residence information, or OAS recovery-tax adjustments.

Current OAS And GIS Payment Amounts for September 2026

The following maximum monthly amounts apply to the September 25 deposit and reflect the July-to-September 2026 quarterly rates.

Not everyone receives the maximum OAS pension because the amount is prorated based on how many years you lived in Canada after turning 18, with 40 years of residence required for the full amount.

GIS amounts decrease as income rises, so the maximums listed below go to those with the least other income.

OAS pension (age 65 to 74): $751.97 per month maximum.
OAS pension (age 75 and older): $827.17 per month maximum.
GIS (single, widowed, or divorced senior): $1,123.17 per month maximum, with annual income under $22,800.
GIS (spouse or common-law partner also receives full OAS): $676.09 per month maximum each, with combined annual income under $30,096.
Allowance (age 60 to 64, spouse of GIS recipient): $1,428.06 per month maximum.
Allowance for the Survivor (age 60 to 64, surviving spouse): $1,702.34 per month maximum.
Combined OAS and GIS (single senior, age 65 to 74, no other income): $1,875.14 per month.
Combined OAS and GIS (single senior, age 75 and older, no other income): $1,950.34 per month.

The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor serve as bridge programs for lower-income Canadians aged 60 to 64 who are connected to the OAS system through a current or former spouse.

Both programs end when the recipient turns 65 and becomes eligible for OAS and GIS directly.

Confirmed 1.4% OAS Increase Coming In October

The Government of Canada has confirmed a 1.4% quarterly increase for the October-to-December 2026 quarter, the strongest single-quarter adjustment of the entire calendar year.

Based on the confirmed 1.4% rate applied to the current July-to-September maximums, the projected October-to-December amounts are as follows.

OAS pension (age 65 to 74): approximately $762.50 per month.
OAS pension (age 75 and older): approximately $838.75 per month.
GIS (single, widowed, or divorced senior): approximately $1,138.89 per month.
GIS (spouse or common-law partner also receives full OAS): approximately $685.56 per month each.
Combined OAS and GIS (single senior, age 65 to 74, no other income): approximately $1,901.39 per month.
Combined OAS and GIS (single senior, age 75 and older, no other income): approximately $1,977.64 per month.

These projected figures are calculated by applying the confirmed 1.4% increase to current rates and may differ slightly from the final rounded amounts Service Canada publishes on the official quarterly rate card.

The new rates will first appear in the October 28 deposit and hold steady through the November 26 and December 22 payments.

Who Qualifies For OAS And GIS

OAS eligibility depends on age, legal status, and residence history.

If you live in Canada, you generally need at least 10 years of Canadian residence after age 18 for a partial pension, while 40 years produces a full pension.

If you live outside Canada, the normal requirement is 20 years of Canadian residence after age 18, although an international social security agreement may help you qualify with fewer years.

Old Age Security is funded entirely from general federal tax revenue rather than from payroll contributions, which distinguishes it from contribution-based pension programs.

Newcomers who arrived later in life often receive partial pensions, though social security agreements with more than 60 countries may allow foreign residence periods to count toward the minimum eligibility threshold.

To qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, you must live in Canada, receive OAS, be at least 65, meet the applicable income threshold for your marital situation, and generally not be under an active sponsorship agreement.

GIS is generally reduced as other income rises, broadly at 50 cents for each dollar of other income, although special rules apply.

In particular, the first $5,000 of employment or self-employment earnings is fully exempt, while only half of earnings between $5,000 and $15,000 counts toward the GIS calculation.

Filing your income tax return on time is essential because Service Canada uses your previous year’s return to determine GIS eligibility and calculate your payment amount each July.

Filing taxes late can cause GIS payments to be reduced or interrupted.

The Annual GIS Income Reset In July

July is the most consequential month in the OAS calendar because Service Canada recalculates every GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor amount based on the recipient’s previous year’s tax return.

For the current July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, GIS is calculated using your 2025 net income as reported on your 2025 tax return.

This means the July payment carries two separate adjustments: the quarterly CPI increase that applies to all OAS benefits and an individual GIS recalculation based on whether your 2025 income was higher or lower than your 2024 income.

Some recipients saw their GIS amount change noticeably in July for this reason, and the recalculated amount has carried through August and September.

If your 2025 income was lower than your 2024 income, your GIS may have increased beyond the quarterly CPI adjustment alone.

Conversely, if your 2025 income was higher, your GIS may have decreased despite the quarterly inflation increase.

The next annual reset will arrive in July 2027, using your 2026 tax return.

The OAS Recovery Tax

Higher-income seniors face the OAS recovery tax, commonly known as the clawback, which reduces their pension by 15 cents for every dollar of net world income above the annual threshold.

For the current July 2026 to June 2027 recovery period, the threshold is $93,454 in 2025 net world income for all OAS recipients according to the OAS clawback rules for 2026.

Full OAS repayment occurs at $152,062 of net world income for seniors aged 65 to 74 and at $157,923 for seniors aged 75 and older.

The higher upper threshold for older seniors reflects the larger base pension they receive through the permanent 10% enhancement.

For Canadian residents, the OAS recovery-tax calculation is based on net income before adjustments on the tax return, subject to specific CRA adjustments.

OAS pension income is included in that calculation.

For the 2026 income year, a separate and higher threshold of $95,323 will govern OAS payments from July 2027 through June 2028.

The recovery tax is spread across 12 monthly OAS payments rather than collected as a single lump sum at tax time.

Tax-Free Savings Account withdrawals are not included in income for OAS recovery-tax purposes, which means they do not affect the clawback calculation.

How To Apply For OAS And GIS

Most people do not need to apply for OAS if Service Canada has enough information to enrol them automatically.

If Service Canada does not enroll you automatically, you will receive a notification letter around your 64th birthday confirming your eligibility.

If you need to apply online, you can do so through your My Service Canada Account once you are at least one month past your 64th birthday.

The combined OAS and GIS paper application is ISP-3550, while people already receiving OAS who need to apply only for GIS use the form ISP-3025.

You can also visit a Service Canada centre for in-person assistance.

Once enrolled, GIS renews automatically each year as long as you file your income tax return on time by April 30.

If your return is late and GIS payments are interrupted, payments can resume once Service Canada receives the required income information and confirms your eligibility, and any past amounts owed may then be paid.

The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor require separate applications because eligibility depends on the applicant’s age, marital status, and connection to a GIS recipient or deceased spouse.

OAS And GIS Payment Dates 2026-2027

The confirmed remaining 2026 dates and projected 2027 dates through June are listed below. The 2026 dates are confirmed on the federal benefits payment calendar.

The 2027 dates are projected based on the third-from-last banking day of each month, which is the pattern Service Canada has historically followed, and will be confirmed when the official 2027 calendar is published.

Confirmed 2026 Dates:

Friday, September 25, 2026 (final payment at July-to-September rates)
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 (first payment at new October-to-December rates, 1.4% increase)
Thursday, November 26, 2026 (second payment at October-to-December rates)
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 (third payment at October-to-December rates)

Projected 2027 Dates:

Wednesday, January 27, 2027 (first payment at new January-to-March 2027 rates)
Wednesday, February 24, 2027
Monday, March 29, 2027
Wednesday, April 28, 2027 (first payment at new April-to-June 2027 rates)
Thursday, May 27, 2027
Monday, June 28, 2027 (final payment before July 2027 annual GIS reset)

The October 28 deposit is the next date to watch because it will carry the confirmed 1.4% quarterly increase into recipients’ bank accounts.

January 2027 will bring another quarterly adjustment, either an increase or a hold at October-to-December levels if CPI is flat or declines.

The June 2027 payment is significant because it will be the final deposit before Service Canada recalculates GIS using 2026 tax returns in July 2027.

What To Do If Your Payment Does Not Arrive

Direct-deposit payments are scheduled for September 25, although bank posting times can vary.

Cheque recipients should expect longer delivery times because Service Canada mails cheques during the last three business days of the month.

If your September 25 deposit has not arrived, wait at least 5 to 10 business days before contacting Service Canada.

You can reach Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to report a missing payment or start a payment inquiry.

Before calling, confirm that your direct deposit banking information and mailing address are all current through your My Service Canada Account.

For GIS recipients specifically, a missing or reduced payment often traces back to an unfiled or late-processed income tax return rather than a banking issue.

The September 25 OAS and GIS deposit brings the July-to-September 2026 quarter to a close at rates that delivered the year’s largest quarterly increase up to that point, before the confirmed 1.4% October adjustment pushes payments higher still.

Federal figures show about 7.7 million OAS clients in 2025-26, while the latest full-year data show 2.5 million low-income OAS pensioners received GIS in 2024-25.

For millions of recipient households, these quarterly adjustments translate into real changes in monthly budgets.

Confirm your deposit on September 25, review your account through My Service Canada Account, and ensure your 2025 tax return has been assessed so your GIS entitlement remains uninterrupted through the rest of the benefit year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is the next OAS increase after September 25, 2026?

The next OAS increase takes effect with the October 28, 2026, deposit. The Government of Canada has confirmed a 1.4% quarterly increase for the October-to-December 2026 quarter, the largest single-quarter adjustment of the entire year. The projected maximum OAS pension for that quarter is approximately $762.50 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and approximately $838.75 for those 75 and older. GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor rates will also rise by 1.4% in the same quarter. The following adjustment will arrive in January 2027 with the exact rate depending on CPI data from the preceding months.

Will my GIS amount change between now and the next July reset?

Your individual GIS amount typically holds steady between July and the following June because it is based on the previous year’s tax return, which does not change within the benefit year. However, the dollar amount in your monthly deposit can still shift quarterly because GIS rates are adjusted alongside OAS based on CPI. If Service Canada identifies an error in your income assessment or receives amended tax information from the CRA, your individual GIS could also change mid-year. The next full annual GIS recalculation will arrive with the July 2027 payment using your 2026 tax return.

Can I receive OAS if I no longer live in Canada?

If you lived in Canada for at least 20 years after turning 18, your OAS pension continues indefinitely regardless of where you live. If you have fewer than 20 years of Canadian residence, you may still qualify to receive OAS abroad if Canada’s social security agreement with another country allows qualifying periods in both countries to be combined to meet the 20-year requirement. The amount of your Canadian OAS pension, however, remains based on your actual years of Canadian residence after age 18. GIS is generally not payable outside Canada beyond six months because it requires Canadian residency as an ongoing eligibility condition.

How does the OAS recovery tax work and who does it affect?

The OAS recovery tax reduces your pension by 15% of net world income above the annual threshold. For the July 2026 to June 2027 recovery period, the threshold is $93,454 in 2025 net world income. Seniors whose income exceeded that level will see a monthly deduction spread across 12 OAS payments. Full OAS repayment occurs at $152,062 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and $157,923 for those 75 and older. Net income includes OAS pension income, while TFSA withdrawals are not included in income for OAS recovery-tax purposes. The recovery tax applies to higher-income OAS recipients whose calculated income exceeds the applicable threshold.

What is the difference between the OAS pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement?

OAS is a taxable monthly pension available to eligible people aged 65 and older, with eligibility primarily based on legal status and years of Canadian residence after age 18. GIS is a non-taxable monthly top-up paid only to OAS recipients who live in Canada and whose annual income falls below specific thresholds based on marital status. The maximum GIS for a single senior in the July-to-September 2026 quarter is $1,123.17 per month, compared to the maximum OAS pension of $751.97 for seniors aged 65 to 74. Together, a single senior with no other income can receive up to $1,875.14 per month. While GIS is non-taxable, it must still be reported on line 14600 of the tax return with an offsetting deduction on line 25000. Both OAS and GIS adjust quarterly based on CPI.

Fact-Checked: All OAS and GIS payment amounts, quarterly indexation rates, recovery tax thresholds, GIS employment income exemptions, tax reporting requirements, and confirmed 2026 deposit dates in this article were verified against the official Government of Canada OAS payment amounts page. Projected 2027 payment dates are based on the third-from-last banking day of each month and will be confirmed when the official 2027 calendar is published.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 or a qualified professional for guidance on your specific OAS and GIS 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.