Do you qualify
Who can receive the Allowance
To qualify for the Allowance benefit, you need to meet the following conditions:
- Your spouse or common-law partner receives the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and is eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
- You are 60 to 64 years old
- You are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident
- You have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
- You or your spouse or common-law partner is not currently under a sponsorship agreement
- You and your spouse or common-law partner have a total annual income that is less than the below threshold
Income threshold
| Your situation | Your annual net income plus the annual net income of your spouse/common-law partner must be |
|---|---|
| I have a spouse/common-law partner who receives the GIS and the full OAS pension | less than $41,664 (combined income of couple) |
If you do not have 10 years of residence in Canada
If you have not resided in Canada for at least 10 years since you turned 18, but you have resided or worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, you may still be eligible for a partial benefit.
If you moved to Canada as an immigrant
Immigrants who are sponsored
You cannot receive the Allowance while sponsored, unless your sponsor:
- Has died
- Is imprisoned for more than 6 months
- Has been convicted of an offence against you
- Declares personal bankruptcy
Sponsorship rules (effective October 1, 2025)
- If you are under a sponsorship agreement, you cannot receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance, or Allowance for the Survivor for the entire length of your sponsorship agreement
- Parent and grandparent sponsorship agreements have been extended from 10 to 20 years in all provinces except Quebec
Immigrants who are not sponsored
Immigrants who are not sponsored may receive the Allowance if they qualify.
Other related benefit
Benefits for surviving spouse/common-law partner
Allowance for the Survivor
You may be able to get this benefit if:
- Your spouse or common-law partner has died and you have not remarried or entered into a new common-law relationship
- You are 60 to 64 years old
- You are a Canadian citizen or legal resident
- You have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
- You are not currently under a sponsorship agreement
- Your annual income is less than the maximum annual income threshold for the Allowance for the Survivor
Find out more about the Allowance for the Survivor.
Learn and plan for your retirement
Explore our new retirement planning site to find out about public pensions, when to collect them and tips to consider for your retirement income.
Contact us
For all general questions about the Allowance or specific questions about your application, contact us.