Old Age Security

The Old Age Security program is one of the cornerstones of Canada’s retirement income system. Benefits include the basic Old Age Security pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance.

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

For detailed monthly rates, please refer to the Tables of Rates for Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance.

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.

Pensioners are not eligible for benefits if their income, or the combined income of them and their spouse, is more than the maximum income shown on the chart.

The Allowance stops being paid at $28,176 while the GIS stops being paid at $36,528.

Old Age Security Benefit Payment Rates [Oct – Dec 2010]

Type of Benefit Recipient Average monthly benefit
(Jul 2010)		 Maximum MonthlyBenefit Maximum Annual Income
Old Age Security Pension All recipients $490.30 $521.62 $108,214 (full pension clawback)
Guaranteed
Income
Supplement		 Single person $447.67 $658.40 $15,816
Spouse of pensioner $283.53 $434.78 $20,880
Spouse of non-pensioner $417.98 $658.40 $37,920
Spouse of Allowance recipient $371.99 $434.78 $37,920
Allowance All recipients $387.25 $956.40 $29,232
Allowance for the survivor All recipients $566.31 $1,060.15 $21,288

Note – Pensioners with an individual net income above $66,733 must repay part or the entire 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 $108,214 or above.

Source from http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/isp/oas/oasrates.shtml

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