Old Age Security in Canada

The program which provides old age security in Canada has been around since 1952. Today, the OAS payment is available at age 65.

You can receive old age security in Canada whether or not you're still working or even if you've never worked at all. You must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident on the day before your application is approved and you must have lived in Canada for 10 years before your application.

If you live outside Canada, you can apply for old age security if you lived for three times as long in Canada as another country.

Almost all of today’s seniors receive income from Canada’s Public Pensions. Basic financial support is also available to survivors and to people who become too disabled to work and their children. Income Security.

Programs delivers these pensions and benefits through the Old Age Security (OAS) program and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).Together, the Canadian Old Age Security and CPP provide a modest base upon which you can build your retirement income.

The following chart shows the maximum and average monthly rates for Old Age Security in Canada (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance, as well as the maximum annual income to be eligible for these benefits.

Canadian Old Age Security benefit rates are reviewed in January, April, July and October to reflect increases in the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

The term "spouse" includes a common-law partner.

Old Age Security Benefit Payment Rates April - June 2006

Type ofBenefit	Recipient	Avg monthly benefit	Max MonthlyBenefit	MaxIncome
OAS Pension	All recipients	$460.83	$484.63	*See note*
GuaranteedSupplement	Single person	$409.94	$593.97	$14,256
	Spouse of pensioner	$253.15	$389.67	$18,720
	Spouse of non-pensioner	$405.10	$593.97	$34,368
	Spouse of Allowance recipient	$324.94	$389.67	$34,368
Allowance	All recipients	$342.72	$874.30	$26,496
Allowance for the survivor	All recipients	$546.76	$967.24	$19,368

*Note - Pensioners with an individual net income above $62,144 must repay part or all of the maximum Old Age Security pension amount. The repayment amounts are normally deducted from their monthly payments before they are issued. The full OAS pension is eliminated when a pensioner's net income is $100,914 or above.