In today’s economic climate, many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet. When every bit of income helps, you should take advantage of any government benefit you’re eligible for.
If you’re a low-income senior in Canada, you might qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). The GIS is a benefit available to Old Age Security (OAS) pensioners. This article explains what the GIS is, how much money you can get, and if you qualify.
What is the Guaranteed Income Supplement?
The federal Guaranteed Income Supplement is a non-taxable government benefit that is part of the OAS program. The supplement is paid out to eligible seniors every month.
The purpose of the GIS is to provide extra financial help to low-earning pensioners in Canada. Unlike OAS, which is available to all seniors regardless of employment history, GIS is only available to low-income seniors. Unlike the Canada Pension Plan, another government retirement benefit, the GIS is not considered taxable income.
Benefits of the Guaranteed Income Supplement
The main benefit of GIS is that it helps to support low-income seniors in Canada. How much you receive each month depends on your marital status and income from the previous year. If you’re in a couple, your combined income is used to calculate your payments.
The GIS benefit is reviewed four times a year in January, April, July, and October. This is to ensure GIS payments keep up with the cost of living, which is measured by the Consumer Price Index. Don’t worry, if the cost of living goes down, your payments won’t decrease.
You can choose to receive your payments by cheque or direct deposit.
The following table outlines the maximum monthly payments for the GIS based on marital status and income.1
Your situation: Single, divorced, widowed
Your annual income must be: Less than $21,624
Maximum monthly payment: Up to $1,065.47
Your situation: Spouse or common-law partner who receives the full OAS pension
Your annual income must be: Less than $28,560 (combined annual income as a couple)
Maximum monthly payment: Up to $641.35
Your situation: Spouse or common-law partner who receives the Allowance
Your annual income must be: Less than $39,984 (combined annual income as a couple)
Maximum monthly payment: Up to $641.35
Your situation: Spouse or common-law partner who does not receive an OAS pension or allowance
Your annual income must be: Less than $51,840 (combined annual income as a couple)
Maximum monthly payment: Up to $1,065.47
Eligibility Criteria for the Guaranteed Income Supplement
To qualify for GIS payments, you have to meet the following criteria:1
- Live in Canada
- 65 years or older
- Receive OAS pension
- Income plus the income of your spouse or common-law partner is below:
- $28,560 if your spouse or partner receives the full OAS pension
- $51,840 if your spouse or partner doesn’t receive an OAS pension
- $39,984 if your spouse or partner receives the Allowance
Eligibility for sponsored immigrants
If you’re a sponsored immigrant and have lived in Canada for less than 10 years since you were 18, you can’t receive the GIS unless your sponsor:
- Declared personal bankruptcy
- Is imprisoned for more than six months
- Is convinced of abusing you
- Has passed away
Eligibility for immigrants who are not sponsored
If you’re an immigrant who is not sponsored and you already receive the OAS, you might qualify for GIS.
Benefits for Spouses and Common-Law Partners
If you are eligible for GIS, your spouse or partner might qualify the Allowance benefit if they meet the following criteria:2
- Canadian citizen or legal resident
- 60 to 64 years of age
- Lives in Canada and has been for at least 10 years since the age of 18
- Combined income is less than the maximum annual income threshold for the Allowance ($39,984)
Benefits for Surviving Spouses and Common-Law Partners
The Allowance for the Survivor is also available to spouses or common-law partners who have lost their significant other. The eligibility requirements for this benefit include:
- 60 to 64 years of age
- Spouse or partner has died, and you have not remarried or entered into a common-law relationship
- Annual income is less than the maximum income for the Allowance of the Survivor ($29,112)
How to Apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement
In many cases, those who qualify for GIS don’t need to apply. If the government already has enough of your information, they will send you a letter the month after you turn 64 letting you know when you can expect your first payment.
If the government doesn’t have enough of your information to enroll you automatically, you may need to apply.
You’ll need to apply for GIS if:
- You get a letter from the government asking you to apply.
- You received a letter, but some of the information was incorrect.
- You already receive the OAS pension but have never received a GIS payment.
You should contact the government if you never received a letter about GIS the month after you turned 64.
If you have to apply on your own, here are the steps you need to follow.
Prepare your information
The government will request the following information:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- SIN and date of birth of your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one
- Banking information to sign up for direct deposit
- Date you want to start receiving your payments
- Reduction in employment or pension income, if applicable
Complete an application
You have the option of applying online or using a paper application.
To apply online you’ll need a My Service Canada Account (MSCA). If you don’t have one, you can register online.
If you prefer to use a paper application, you can find a copy here. When you’re finished, you can mail it to Service Canada or bring it to a Service Canada office.
Wait for a response
Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll wait to receive a letter from the government. The letter will have a decision about your application or will ask for additional information. If you receive a decision letter it will include:
- Amount of money you’ll receive each month
- Date of your first payment
- Any past payment you might be owed
GIS Payment Dates
Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor payments are all included in the monthly OAS payment. In 2024, you can expect to receive your OAS payments on the following dates:3
- January 29, 2024
- February 27, 2024
- March 26, 2024
- April 26, 2024
- May 29, 2024
- June 26, 2024
- July 29, 2024
- August 28, 2024
- September 25, 2024
- October 29, 2024
- November 27, 2024
- December 20, 2024
Don’t Miss Out on the Guaranteed Income Supplement
If you’re a low-income senior in Canada who is already collecting the Old Age Security pension, you might qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The GIS is a non-taxable government benefit that is paid to eligible seniors every month. Whether you qualify for GIS depends on your income. How much you can receive is based on your income and marital status.
Once you start receiving GIS payments, you need to keep filing your income tax return on time each year to avoid interrupting your payments.
References
- Government of Canada’s “Guaranteed Income Supplement.” Accessed April 18, 2024.
- Government of Canada, "Old Age Security payment amounts." Accessed April 18, 2024.
- Government of Canada, "Benefit payment dates." Accessed April 18, 2024.
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