Do you qualify
Who can receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement
To qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), you must:
- Be 65 years old or older
- Receive the Old Age Security (OAS) pension
- Live in Canada
- Not be under a sponsorship agreement
- Have an annual income below the income threshold for your situation
Income thresholds based on your situation
| Your situation | Your annual income must be |
|---|---|
| I am single, divorced, or widowed. | Less than $22,488 |
| I have a spouse or common-law partner who receives the full OAS pension. | Less than $29,712 (combined annual income of couple) |
| I have a spouse or common-law partner who receives the Allowance. | Less than $41,616 (combined annual income of couple) |
| I have a spouse or common-law partner who does not receive OAS. | Less than $53,904 (combined annual income of couple) |
If you moved to Canada as an immigrant
Immigrants who are sponsored
You cannot receive GIS 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 GIS if they qualify for the OAS pension.
Other related benefits
Benefits for spouse or common-law partner
Allowance
If you qualify for the GIS, your spouse or common-law partner may also receive the Allowance if they:
- Are 60 to 64 years old
- Are a Canadian citizen or legal resident
- Have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18
- Have a combined annual income below the maximum income threshold for the Allowance
- Are not currently under a sponsorship agreement
Find out more about the Allowance.
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 common-law relationship
- You are 60 to 64 years of age
- You are a Canadian citizen or legal resident
- You have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
- Your annual income is less than the maximum annual income threshold for the Allowance for the Survivor
- You are not currently under a sponsorship agreement
Find out more about the Allowance for the Survivor.
Contact us
For all general questions about the Guaranteed Income Supplement or specific questions about your application, contact us.