Old Age Security (OAS) is the federal monthly pension paid to most Canadians aged 65 and older. It is funded from general tax revenue, and whether you qualify depends on your age and how long you have lived in Canada, not on your work history. You can get the OAS pension from age 65 if you have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18 and are a Canadian citizen or legal resident when it is approved (living abroad, you need 20 years and must have been a citizen or legal resident the day before you left); 40 years after age 18 gives the full pension, fewer years a partial one. Working doesn't affect eligibility, but high income is taxed back. This page explains how OAS works and links to a guide for each part.
How OAS works
| Topic | The rule | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Age 65+, and 10 years of residence in Canada after age 18 (20 years to be paid while living abroad) | Am I eligible for OAS? |
| How much | Up to $762.50 a month at 65 to 74 and $838.75 at 75+ (October to December 2026) | Maximum OAS payment |
| Partial pension | 1/40 of the full pension per year of residence, if you have fewer than 40 years | Why is my OAS less than the maximum? |
| Starting later | +0.6% per month of delay after 65, up to +36% at 70 | Deferring OAS |
| Clawback | 15% of 2025 net income above $93,454 is repaid (July 2026 to June 2027) | The OAS clawback |
| Tax | OAS is taxable income, reported on a T4A(OAS) slip | Is OAS taxable? |
| Applying | Many people are enrolled automatically; others apply from 1 month after turning 64 | How and when to apply |
| When it’s paid | Once a month, near the end of the month | OAS payment dates |
OAS is indexed to the Consumer Price Index every January, April, July and October, and the amount never falls if prices drop. For October to December 2026, OAS rises 1.4%. At 75, the pension rises by a further 10% automatically.
| Situation | Annual net world income (2025) must be | Maximum monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Age 65 to 74 | less than $152,062 | up to $762.50 |
| Age 75 and over | less than $157,923 | up to $838.75 |
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada – Old Age Security payment amounts, October to December 2026. View source. Latest adjustment (October to December 2026): +1.4%.
OAS, GIS and CPP
OAS is one of three public pensions. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is an extra monthly payment for OAS recipients with low income, and the Canada Pension Plan depends on your work history and contributions.
| Feature | OAS | CPP |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Years of residence in Canada | Contributions from work |
| Earliest start | 65 | 60 |
| Maximum at 65 | $762.50 a month (October to December 2026) | $1,507.65 a month (new pensions, January 2026) |
| Increase for starting later | 7.2% a year, to age 70 | 8.4% a year, to age 70 |
| Income-tested | Yes, the clawback on high incomes | No |
| Indexed | Quarterly | Annually |
| Paid outside Canada | With 20+ years of residence | Yes |
For the full comparison, see CPP vs OAS, and for how the three add up, living on CPP, OAS and GIS. The OAS vs GIS guide explains how the two benefits interact.
OAS guides
Amounts and eligibility
- Maximum OAS payment: this quarter’s maximums and the other program maximums
- Why is my OAS less than the maximum?: partial pensions by years of residence
- Am I eligible for OAS?: age, legal status and residence rules, including living abroad
- OAS calculator: estimate your payment from residence, start age and income
Starting OAS
- How and when to apply for OAS: automatic enrolment, applying and retroactive payments
- Deferring OAS: what waiting until 70 adds, and the break-even age
- OAS payment dates: this year’s schedule
Income, clawback and tax
- The OAS clawback: how the recovery tax works and ways to reduce it
- OAS clawback calculator: the clawback for your income
- Working while collecting OAS: how much you can earn and keep your OAS
- Is OAS taxable?: tax on OAS, withholding and non-residents
Related
Browse All Old Age Security (OAS): Complete Guide for Canadians Articles
Browse all 11 articles in this section.
O
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 22, 2026 and September 30, 2026. How we check facts.
- Government of Canada: Old Age Security payment amounts
- Government of Canada: Old Age Security pension recovery tax
- Government of Canada: CPP: When to start your retirement pension
- Government of Canada: Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
- Government of Canada: Statistics on CPP monthly maximum amounts for new benefits (open data)
- Government of Canada: Old Age Security - How much you could receive
- Government of Canada: Old Age Security - Do you qualify