What is the eligibility

The one-time payment for seniors is available to individuals who are eligible to receive the Old Age Security pension or the Guaranteed Income Supplement in June 2020.

When an individual defers the Old Age Security pension in exchange for a higher monthly amount, they are not eligible for the pension, and therefore they are not eligible to receive this one-time tax-free payment.

When do you get paid

A one-time separate payment was issued during the week of July 6, 2020. If you reside in Canada, you should have received the payment that week. If you reside outside Canada, the payment was issued in July, but international postal disruptions might have delayed the receipt of cheques.

If an individual became entitled to an Old Age Security pension or income-tested benefit retroactively to June 2020 (or earlier), the payment will be issued in September 2020.

What if you did not receive your one time payment?

The funds for the one-time payment are not available after September 30, 2020. In order to meet the distribution deadline, individuals who may be eligible for OAS or income-tested benefits in June 2020 needed to have their application processed or file in order before September 2020 to receive the one-time tax-free payment for seniors.

Method of payment

Payment amount

Everyone will receive one payment.

If you only receive the Old Age Security pension, you will receive a separate single payment of $300.

If you receive the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, you will receive a separate single payment of $500.

If you receive the Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor, you will receive a separate single payment of $500.

Spouse and common-law partner

You and your spouse or common-law partner will each receive $500 if you are both receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

For couples where one partner receives the Guaranteed Income Supplement and one partner (between the age of 60 and 64) receives the Allowance, the partner receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement will receive $500 and the partner receiving the Allowance will receive $500.

Allowance for the Survivor

Recipients of the Allowance for the Survivor will receive the $500 for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Non-taxable payment

The one-time payment for seniors is non-taxable. You will receive the full amount (no withholds). You will not receive a tax slip and you will not have to report this amount in your 2020 tax return.

source: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/notice-covid-19/one-time-payment.html