Do you qualify

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The information provided below should be used as a guideline. We encourage you to allow a Service Canada representative to determine if you are eligible.

Do you qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement

You may be able to get this benefit if:

  • you are 65 or older
  • you live in Canada
  • you receive the Old Age Security (OAS) pension
  • your income is below $22,440 if you are single, widowed, or divorced
  • your income plus the income of your spouse/common-law partner is below:
    • $29,616 if your spouse/common-law partner receives the full OAS pension
    • $53,808 if your spouse/common-law partner does not receive an OAS pension
    • $41,472 if your spouse/common-law partner receives the Allowance
    • you are not currently under a sponsorship agreement

Effective October 1, 2025, individuals under a sponsorship agreement are not able to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor benefits for the entire length of their sponsorship agreement. Additionally, the length of Parent and Grandparent (PGP) sponsorship agreements have been extended from 10 to 20 years in all provinces except Quebec.

If you moved to Canada as an immigrant

If you are an immigrant who is sponsored

If you are a sponsored immigrant, you cannot receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement while you are sponsored unless your sponsor:

  • is deceased
  • is imprisoned for more than 6 months
  • has been convicted of an offence against the sponsored individual
  • declares personal bankruptcy

If you are an immigrant who is not sponsored

If you are an immigrant who is not sponsored, you could receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement if you receive the Old Age Security pension.

Benefit for your spouse or common-law partner

Allowance

If you are eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to receive the Allowance benefit if your spouse or common-law partner:

  • is 60 to 64 years of age
  • is a Canadian citizen or a legal resident
  • resides in Canada and has resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
  • your combined annual income is less than the maximum annual income threshold for the Allowance
  • is not currently under a sponsorship agreement

Benefit for a surviving spouse or common-law partner

Allowance for the Survivor

You could receive the Allowance for the Survivor if:

Retirement hub

Explore our new retirement planning tool to find out about public pensions, when to collect them and tips to consider for your retirement income.

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2025-10-09