Old Age Security (OAS) guide

Who qualifies

You generally qualify for OAS at 65 if you're a Canadian citizen or legal resident and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18 (if you live in Canada when you apply). A full pension requires 40 years of residence after 18; otherwise you receive a partial pension of one-fortieth for each year. People living outside Canada need at least 20 years of residence after 18 to keep receiving it.

Many people are enrolled automatically and receive a letter from Service Canada around their 64th birthday. If you don't receive one, you need to apply.

How much OAS pays

Amounts are reviewed every January, April, July and October for inflation, and never decrease when prices fall. The 75-and-over amount is 10% higher.

The recovery tax (clawback)

If your net world income is above the threshold — $95,323 for 2026, $93,454 for 2025 — you repay 15% of the excess, up to the full OAS you received. For 2026, the pension is fully recovered at about $155,320 for ages 65–74 and $161,320 for 75 and over (estimates).

The calculation is per person. RRIF withdrawals, CPP, pensions, interest and taxable capital gains all count; TFSA withdrawals don't. That gives couples and people with several accounts room to plan around it.

Deferring to 70

You can defer OAS up to 60 months. Each month adds 0.6%, so starting at 70 pays 36% more for life. Deferral can make sense if you're still working with income above the threshold, or if you want a larger indexed income later in life. You can't receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement while your OAS is deferred.

GIS and the Allowance

The Guaranteed Income Supplement adds a non-taxable monthly amount for OAS recipients with low income. For October to December 2026, a single person can receive up to $1,138.90 a month with annual income under $23,112. The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor help some 60–64-year-olds. Because GIS falls as income rises, TFSA savings can be especially useful for lower-income retirees — see GIS for low-income seniors.