Old Age Security (OAS) 2026: Payment Amounts, Eligibility Rules & How to Apply

A complete, Service Canada–sourced guide to Canada’s largest public pension for seniors 65 and older

Old Age Security (OAS) is a monthly government pension paid to eligible seniors in Canada, funded entirely from general federal tax revenue rather than payroll contributions. Unlike the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), you do not need to have worked or paid into OAS to qualify — eligibility is based on age, legal status, and years of Canadian residence. This guide breaks down the current payment amounts, eligibility thresholds, deferral math, and application process using the most recently published Service Canada figures.

Key Facts at a Glance

Source: Old Age Security (OAS) payment amounts — Canada.ca

Who Qualifies for Old Age Security

OAS eligibility is split into two tracks depending on where you currently live. Employment history has no bearing on eligibility — you can qualify whether you’ve never worked, are currently working, or have been retired for decades.

If you live in Canada

• You must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident at the time your application is approved
• You must have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since turning 18

If you live outside Canada

• You must have been a Canadian citizen or legal resident on the day before you left Canada
• You must have resided in Canada for at least 20 years since turning 18

How income affects (but doesn’t determine) eligibility

Working does not disqualify you from OAS. However, your net income does affect both whether you receive a payment and how much. Canada Revenue Agency income-tested figures for the 2025 base year set the ceiling at under $152,062 for recipients aged 65–74, and under $157,923 for those 75 and older. Income counted includes private and public pensions, EI and workers’ compensation, salaries, rental income, RRSP withdrawals, and taxable interest, dividends, or capital gains. OAS, GIS, Allowance, Allowance for the Survivor, RDSP payments, and GST/HST credits are excluded from this calculation. You must file a tax return every year to keep receiving payments, since your return is what Service Canada uses to determine net income.

Time worked abroad for a Canadian employer

If you worked outside Canada for a Canadian employer, that period can sometimes count toward your residence requirement — provided you return to Canada within 6 months of the job ending, or you turn 65 while still working abroad and maintain Canadian residency. You’ll need to submit proof of employment and proof of your return to Canada when you apply.

How Much You Could Receive

Your OAS amount depends on three variables: your age, your net income, and how many years you’ve lived in Canada since age 18.

Maximum payment amounts and income thresholds

The automatic 10% increase at age 75

Once you turn 75, your OAS pension automatically increases by 10% starting the following month — no application required. This boost does not affect your Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payment amount.

Partial pension for less than 40 years of residence

If you’ve lived in Canada for fewer than 40 years since age 18, you’ll typically receive a partial pension calculated as years of Canadian residence ÷ 40. For example, 20 years of residence would produce 20/40, or 50%, of the full pension amount. To qualify for a partial pension you still need the underlying minimum: 10 years of residence if living in Canada, or 20 years if living abroad.

OAS recovery tax (the “clawback”)

If your 2025 net income exceeds $93,454, you may be required to repay part or all of your OAS pension through the recovery tax. This applies whether the higher income comes from continued employment, investment income, or other pension sources, and is separate from the income ceiling that determines basic eligibility.

When to Start Your OAS Pension

You can start receiving OAS as early as age 65 or delay it as late as age 70. Every month you delay increases your payment by 0.6%, for a maximum increase of 36% if you wait the full five years to age 70. There is no benefit to delaying past age 70, and no benefit to delaying at all if you’re eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, since GIS cannot be paid without an active OAS pension.

Deferral payment table

Source: When to start your OAS retirement pension — Canada.ca

Factors to weigh before choosing your start date

• Starting at 65 makes sense if you need income now, have little other retirement income, or qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Delaying makes sense if you’re in good health, expect a long retirement, have other income sources, or have fewer than 40 years of Canadian residence and want to offset a partial pension with a higher deferral rate
• Delaying does not increase your pension if you’re currently incarcerated in federal prison for a sentence of 2+ years (except the first month)
• Once your pension starts, additional years of Canadian residence will no longer increase your payment amount

Retroactive start dates

If you’re already over 65 when you apply, Service Canada can issue a retroactive payment covering up to 11 months from the date your application is received — but only for the period before any deferral you chose. If you deferred your start date, you cannot claim retroactive payments during the deferral window itself.

How to Apply for Old Age Security

Most people are enrolled automatically. Service Canada sends an enrollment letter around your 64th birthday if it already has enough information to confirm your eligibility. If one month has passed since your 64th birthday and no letter has arrived, you should contact Service Canada to check whether you need to apply manually.

When you must take action

• Your enrollment letter contains incorrect information
• Service Canada sends a letter specifically asking you to apply
• You want to delay or change your pension start date
• You’ve turned 65 but haven’t started your pension or chosen to delay it

Applying online through My Service Canada Account (MSCA)

You can apply or delay online if you are at least one month past your 64th birthday, live in Canada, are not already receiving OAS, have no pending application, and do not have a third party (power of attorney or trustee) managing your account. Inside MSCA, choose either “Apply for benefits” with a specific start date, or use the “Delay Receiving OAS/GIS pension” option if you don’t yet want to set a start date.

Applying by mail

If you don’t meet the online criteria — including anyone applying from outside Canada — you’ll need to complete the paper Application for the OAS and the GIS (form ISP-3550) and mail it to the Service Canada office for your last province or territory of residence.

Documents and information to gather before applying

• Your spouse or common-law partner’s Social Insurance Number and date of birth, if applicable
• A full history of where you’ve lived since age 18
• Your desired pension start date
• Residence history for the last 2 years, for you and your spouse/partner
• Income information for the last 2 years if taxes haven’t been filed with the CRA
• Details on any reduction in employment or pension income in the last 2 years
• Any income earned in another country
• Banking information for direct deposit

Other Benefits Linked to OAS

Note that if you don’t receive OAS — for example, because you’ve chosen to delay it — you cannot receive GIS, and your spouse or common-law partner cannot apply for the Allowance during that period.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum OAS payment in 2026?

For the July to September 2026 quarter, the maximum monthly OAS payment is $751.97 for recipients aged 65 to 74, and $827.17 for recipients aged 75 and older. Amounts are reviewed every January, April, July, and October to reflect cost-of-living changes and never decrease.

Do I need to apply for OAS, or am I automatically enrolled?

Most people are automatically enrolled and receive a letter around their 64th birthday. If one month has passed since your 64th birthday without a letter, contact Service Canada, since you may need to submit an application.

Does working affect my OAS eligibility?

No — you can receive OAS whether you’ve never worked, are currently working, or are fully retired. However, high net income can trigger the recovery tax or push you above the income ceiling for eligibility.

What is the OAS recovery tax (clawback)?

If your 2025 net income is above $93,454, you may have to repay part or all of your OAS pension through the recovery tax, calculated separately from your regular income tax return.

Can I delay OAS to receive a larger pension?

Yes. Delaying your start date past age 65 increases your payment by 0.6% per month, up to a maximum 36% increase if you wait until age 70. There’s no benefit to delaying beyond 70.

What is a partial OAS pension?

If you’ve lived in Canada for fewer than 40 years since age 18, you may receive a partial pension equal to your years of residence divided by 40. You still need at least 10 years of residence (living in Canada) or 20 years (living abroad) to qualify at all.

Official Source: This article summarizes and structures publicly available information published by Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada. For the authoritative, continuously updated source and to apply, visit: Official Source — Old Age Security.

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