Apply, delay, or change your start date
Get timely benefit payments: Sign up for Direct Deposit today!
Sign up for direct deposit to avoid delays in your benefit payments. It's fast, secure, and convenient.
Most people don’t need to apply
If Service Canada has your eligibility information, you will get an enrollment letter around your 64th birthday. This means that you are automatically enrolled—no need to apply.
Didn’t get a letter?
If it’s been one month since your 64th birthday and you still have not received an enrollment letter, contact us to find out if you need to apply.
You will need to take action if
- The letter you received has wrong information
- You get a letter from Service Canada asking you to apply
- You want to delay or change your start date
- You have already had your 65th birthday and you have not started your pension or delayed your start date
What to know before you start
Check that you qualify and choose your start date before you begin.
- I qualify
- I've chosen my Old Age Security (OAS) start date
Gather your information
Before you begin, please ensure you have the following:
- information about your spouse or common-law partner if you are married or in a common-law relationship (Social Insurance Number, date of birth)
- information about where you have lived since age 18
- the date you would like your pension to start
- for you and your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable):
- details about your residence history for the last 2 years
- income information for the last 2 years if you have not filed taxes with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- information about a reduction in employment or pension income in the last 2 years
- any income earned from another country
- your banking information to sign up for direct deposit
If you lived or are living outside of Canada
If you are applying from outside of Canada, you must use a paper application. Send your application to the Service Canada office in your last province or territory of residence. Learn more about pensions and benefits if you have lived or are living outside Canada.
Apply or delay
To apply or delay your OAS pension, apply or delay online or apply or delay with a paper form.
Apply or delay online
Check that you qualify to apply or delay using the online process
You can only apply or delay online if all the following statements are true.
- You are at least 1 month past your 64th birthday
- You live in Canada
- You are not currently receiving an Old Age Security pension
- You have not already applied, or your application is still being assessed by Service Canada
- You don't have a third party (like a power of attorney or a trustee) managing your OAS account
If you cannot apply or delay online, you will need to use a paper form.
- 1. Register or sign into your My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to:
Apply - 2. Complete this option (if required):
If someone is helping you communicate with Service Canada
You can authorize someone to communicate with Service Canada on your behalf by signing in to your My Service Canada Account and selecting the "Give consent to communicate on my behalf" link.
This does not give someone consent to:
- apply for benefits on your behalf
- change your payment address
- request or change the withholding of tax
- 3. Choose how to apply or delay
-
Option 1: Apply or delay with an application (with a start date)
- Select "Manage my benefits" from the Old Age Security section
- Select “Your benefit(s)” on the top left, then select “Apply for benefits”
- Choose your start date in the application
-
Option 2: Delay (without a start date)
- Select “Manage my benefits” from the Old Age Security section
- Select “Profile,” then “Delay Receiving OAS/GIS pension” under the “Tell us if anything has changed” heading
Apply or delay with a paper form
- 1. Complete the form:
- Application for the OAS and the GIS (ISP-3550)
- If you download the form, check your “Downloads” folder, even if the page indicates the form is loading
- Application for the OAS and the GIS (ISP-3550)
- 2. Choose and complete an option (if required):
If someone is helping you communicate with Service Canada
You can authorize someone to communicate with Service Canada on your behalf by:
This does not give someone consent to:
- apply for benefits on your behalf
- change your payment address
- request or change the withholding of tax
If you are applying on someone's behalf
To act as an administrator for someone who cannot manage their own pension and benefits, you must:
- Have a medical professional complete the Certificate of Incapability OAS/CPP form (ISP-3505)
- Choose and complete the form that applies to you:
-
Individual administration: Option 1
-
Agencies, charitable organizations, or municipalities: Option 2
- 3. Submit the forms
Change your start date
- If you delayed your OAS, but did not complete an application:
- You need to apply to start receiving your payments
- If you already applied and chose a start date, but want to change it:
- You need to call us, write to us, or visit a Service Canada Office to ask for a new date
Receive a response from us
If you filled in an application, you’ll get a letter from us in the mail. It will tell you one of these things:
- A decision on your application
- If we need more information from you
If you get a decision letter
Your letter with a decision will include
- The amount you will receive each month
- The date of your first payment
- Any past payments that may be owed to you
Check your application status
Use one of the following methods to check your application status:
- Sign in to your MSCA
- Select "Manage my benefits" link from the Old Age Security section
- Call Service Canada
Page details
- Date modified: