Your application

You need to do the following:

Step 1: Determine if you need to apply

We may send you a letter to let you know that you will receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

You will need to apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement if:

• you get a letter from us asking you to apply
• the information in the letter we send you is incorrect
• you are already receiving an Old Age Security pension and have never received the Guaranteed Income Supplement

If you did not receive any letter about the Guaranteed Income Supplement the month after you turned 64, contact us to find out if you need to apply.

Step 2: Gather your information

Before you begin, please ensure you have:

• your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• information about your spouse or common-law partner if you have one (Social Insurance Number, date of birth)
• information about the countries where you have lived since age 18
• your banking information to sign up for direct deposit
• the date you would like your payments to start
• your reduction in employment or pension income, if applicable

How to determine your income

When applying for the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance, you, or in the case of a couple you and your spouse or common-law partner, must report your income and deductions.

Do not include Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, or Allowance for the Survivor payments as income.

What you must include as income

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits
• Other pension income, such as private pensions, superannuation and foreign pension income
• Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) that you cashed during the year
• Employment Insurance benefits
• Worker's compensation benefits
• Interest and other investment income, including foreign dividends
• Taxable capital gains and dividends
• Net income from any rental properties
• Net employment or self-employment income (consult exemptions below)
• Other income from sources such as alimony and First Home Savings Account (FHSA) withdrawals

Less deductions such as

• Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan contributions and your Employment Insurance premiums
• Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan contributions and your Employment Insurance premiums of net self-employment income
• Union dues, RRSP deductions, FHSA contributions, moving expenses and other employment expenses

What is exempted as income

• Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor payments
• If you are employed or self-employed and receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, you can earn up to $5,000 with no reduction to your benefit amount. For earnings between $5,000 and $15,000,  only 50% of the income you receive will reduce your Guaranteed Income Supplement benefit amount
• Death benefit and Children's benefits from CPP or QPP
• Inheritances
• Lottery winnings
• The goods and services tax (GST) credit

Step 3: Submit your application

Decide how to apply:

Apply online for GIS

To apply online, you must:

• be at least 1 month past your 64th birthday
• not have a legal representative on your account

If you are applying online, you’ll need a My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

If you don’t have a My Service Canada Account (MSCA), you can register for one. You’ll receive a personal access code to complete your registration.

Apply or register through My Service Canada Account

Apply using a paper application

If you are applying for both the Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement

• Complete the form included with your letter or download a new Application for the Old Age Security Pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (ISP-3550)
• Include certified true copies of the required documents
• Mail the application to Service Canada or bring it in person to a Service Canada office

See the Reference Guide (ISP-3550A) for information on filling in your application form.

If you are applying for just the Guaranteed Income Supplement

• Complete the form included with your letter or download a new Application for the Guaranteed Income Supplement or Statement of Income (ISP-3025)
• Include certified true copies of the required documents
• Mail the application to Service Canada or bring it in person to a Service Canada office

If someone is helping you with your application

You must provide consent for someone to help you with your application. You can do this 2 ways:

1. through your My Service Canada Account

or

2. complete the Consent to Communicate Information to an Authorized Person form (ISP-1603) and mail it to us, or drop it off at a Service Canada office

This does not give the person helping you authority to:

• submit your application
• apply for benefits on your behalf
• change your payment address
• request or change the withholding of tax for you

If you need to apply or act on someone’s behalf

If someone cannot manage their own affairs, another person or agency may act on their behalf.

To apply to administer benefits on someone’s behalf you need to:

• have a medical professional complete the Certificate of Incapability form (ISP-3505)
• complete one of the following forms that applies to you:
  • Agreement to administer benefits under the Old Age Security Act and/or the Canada Pension Plan by a Private Trustee form (for administration by an individual)
  • Agreement to administer benefits under the Old Age Security Act and/or the Canada Pension Plan by an Agency or Institution form (for administration by an agency, charitable organization or municipality)

You will need to mail it to us, or drop it off at a Service Canada office.

These forms do not give the person applying on someone’s behalf authority to submit an application through My Service Canada Account (MSCA). You must submit a paper application.

Protecting your information

Learn how we protect your privacy.

Step 4: Receive a response from us

We will mail you a letter with either:

• a decision on your application
• a request for more information

Your 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

Step 5: Review your application status

To view your application status, you can:

• sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA)
• contact Service Canada

If you don’t have an MSCA account, you can register for one.

Step 6: If you disagree with the decision

If you disagree with the decision, you may ask to have the decision reviewed. You must request this review in writing within 90 days of receiving your decision letter.

Your application will be reviewed by Service Canada staff who were not involved in making the original decision on your application.

Submit a request for reconsideration of a decision

There are 3 ways you can make your request for reconsideration:

Online

Submit your request online using My Service Canada Account (MSCA)

Printable form

Complete and submit the Request for Reconsideration of a Canada Pension Plan Disability Decision form (ISP-3134)

If you complete your request on paper

Sign and date your written request and submit it:

By mail
To the return address on the decision letter

In person
At a Service Canada Office

Writing

Prepare and submit a written request to review the decision and include:

• your name
• your address
• your telephone number
• your Social Insurance Number or Client Identification Number
• a detailed explanation of why you do not agree with the decision
• any new information that could affect the decision
• your signature and the date

If you complete your request on paper

Sign and date your written request and submit it:

By mail
To the return address on the decision letter

In person
At a Service Canada Office

Reconsiderations can take several months to complete, depending on the case. Service Canada will review your application and any new information you submit in support of your request and send you a (new) decision by mail.

Submit an appeal to the Social Security Tribunal of Canada

If you disagree with the new decision, you can contact the Social Security Tribunal (SST). The Social Security Tribunal is an independent administrative tribunal. It’s separate from Service Canada.

There are 2 ways to start an appeal with the Social Security Tribunal:

Social Security Tribunal Website

Complete section 9 of the Notice of Appeal – Income Security – General Division form

Using My Service Canada Account (MSCA)

Start the appeal process online in My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

1. sign in or register to MSCA
2. navigate to the "Canada Pension Plan / Old Age Security" section
3. navigate to the "If you disagree with a decision" section
4. select "Appeal to the SST" under "Step 2"

Help to communicate with the Social Security Tribunal

If you would like a representative to help you communicate with the Social Security Tribunal about your appeal, you will need to either:

Complete a form

Complete section 9 of the Notice of Appeal – Income Security – General Division form

Call a representative

Call the Social Security Tribunal and provide your representative’s information

You must contact the Social Security Tribunal directly to change or cancel your representative.