Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

• About the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Applying for the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Renewing your benefits
• Eligibility Requirements
• Receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Filing your income tax return
• Appealing a decision
• Protecting information about you
• Other public retirement benefits
• More Information
• Important Information for Common-law Partners
• Questions and answers about the application forms sent to potential clients - 2003

About the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

1. What is the Guaranteed Income Supplement?

The Guaranteed Income Supplement provides additional money, on top of the Old Age Security pension, to low-income seniors living in Canada. To be eligible for the GIS benefit, you must be receiving the Old Age Security pension and meet the income requirements explained below.

Applying for the Guaranteed Income Supplement

2. How do I get the Guaranteed Income Supplement?

You must apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Contact us for an application form at 1 800 277-9914.

You can also re-apply for GIS by filing your income tax return. The Seniors 55 and up  section of the CRA site contains information on filing your tax return.

If you did not qualify for the GIS benefit in the past, but you think you might be eligible now, you should apply as soon as possible.

Normally, individuals must apply for the GIS benefit on their own behalf. If you are applying for someone else, please contact us for more information.

3. What documents will I need?

The type of documents you are required to provide will depend on your marital status, the type of application you are making, and whether you are applying for the first time.

The application kit will describe what documents, if any, you need to provide. If you are married may be asked to provide a marriage certificate. If you are living with a common-law partner you may be asked to complete and sign a "statutory declaration" and provide other supporting documentation. See below for more details.

Couples married in Canada  - If you don't have your marriage certificate, there are two ways to get it:

• You can get a certificate from the church in which you were married.
• You can contact the Registrar of Vital Statistics in the capital city of the province or territory in which you were married.

Couples married outside Canada- If you don't know how to get a copy of your marriage certificate, contact us.

Common-law relationships (same sex or opposite sex) - You must sign a statutory declaration and provide other documentation as proof of your relationship. Contact us for a copy of this form and for help to complete the declaration. When you call, we will also tell you what other documents you will need.

Renewing your benefits

4. Do I have to renew the Guaranteed Income Supplement every year?

Yes. The Guaranteed Income Supplement is based on your annual income, or the combined annual income of you and your spouse or common-law partner. Since your annual income can change from year to year, you must renew your GIS each year.

Most seniors automatically renew their GIS simply by filing their income tax return by April 30.

If you do not file a tax return, or if we need more information, we will send you a renewal application form in the mail. If you receive a form from us, you must complete and return it as soon as you have all the necessary income information, even if you file a tax return.

Each July, you will receive a letter that tells you the new amount of your monthly payment.

If you do not re-apply for the GIS benefit in the spring, or if your income is now too high to qualify for it, you will only get the basic Old Age Security pension starting in July of that year.

Eligibility Requirements

5. How is eligibility determined for the Guaranteed Income Supplement?

To qualify for the GIS, you must be entitled to Old Age Security. Eligibility also depends on whether your income and that of your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one, exceeds a specific amount.

Consult the Old Age Security Payment Rates for current benefit rates and maximum income levels.

6. What if I marry or separate?

If you marry or separate, or if your spouse or common-law partner dies, you must let us know because it may affect your benefits.

If you and your spouse or common-law partner are separated for reasons beyond your control (for example, if one of you has to live in a hospital or nursing home), you can each be considered as a single person if that will give you a higher monthly payment.

7. What do you consider to be income?

When applying for the GIS benefit, you, and in the case of a couple, you and your spouse or common-law partner, must report the following income:

• Canada Pension Plan or Québec Pension Plan benefits
• private pension income and superannuation
• foreign pension income
• RRSPs that you cashed
• Employment Insurance benefits
• interest on any savings
• any capital gains or dividends
• income from any rental properties
• any employment income
• income from other sources such as workers' compensation payments, alimony, etc.

Benefits received from the Old Age Security program, including the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance, are not included as income. Look at the application form for more details about what to count as income.

8. What happens if my income drops?

In some situations, such as when you stop working or when your pension income drops, we can calculate your GIS benefit by estimating your income for this year, instead of using last year's income. If you or your spouse or common-law partner have a lower income this year for either of these reasons, you should let us know (contact us). Your benefits may increase.

Receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement

9. How and when will I receive my payments?

If you are eligible for the GIS benefit, we will add it to your Old Age Security pension payment each month. You can find the exact payment dates on this Web site.

Payments usually arrive in the last three banking days of each month. If your payment is late by more than a week, or if you lose your payment, please contact us.

If you apply late and are eligible to receive the GIS, we can give you a retroactive payment of up to 11 months plus the month in which we receive your application.

10. Can you send the payment to my bank?

Yes. Normally, we deposit pension payments directly into bank accounts through our direct deposit service. Monthly payments dates are available on this Web site.

Although payment by cheque is still possible, direct deposit offers several advantages.

• Your deposit will always be on time and you can start using the money and earning interest immediately.
• Your payment can never be lost, stolen or damaged.
• Your pension will automatically be deposited into your account if you are ill, on vacation or travelling.

Contact us to learn more about this free service. If you want to sign up for the service, you can do it by telephone. Be sure to have this information ready when you call.

Personal information:

• your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
• your telephone number, including the area code; and
• your current residential address, including the postal code.

Banking information:

• the name of your bank or financial institution;
• the branch number of the bank; and
• your bank account number.

If you have a chequing account, you can find the banking information on the bottom of your cheque.

11. What happens if I move?

If you are planning to move, you must contact us with your new address and postal code as soon as possible. This will allow us to update our records and make sure that your payment gets to you on time. Even if your payments are deposited directly into your bank account, we still need to know your new address so we can send you important information and your yearly income tax slip. As well, if we need to contact you for additional income information, we will know where to reach you.

You can notify us of a change of address 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling our automated telephone system at 1 800 277-9914 (contact us). You will be asked for your Social Insurance Number, your new address and postal code and your telephone number with your area code. If you are calling on behalf of another person, we cannot make any changes unless we have written authorization from that person.

12. Can I receive my GIS benefit outside Canada?

The Government of Canada designed the Guaranteed Income Supplement to assist low-income pensioners living in Canada. For this reason, if you leave Canada we will only pay you for the month you leave, and for six months after that. Then your payments will stop. For example, if you leave Canada in January, we will send payments until the end of July. After July, the payments will stop. You have an obligation to tell us when you plan to be outside the country for more than six months.

If you do stay outside Canada for longer than six months, you can always re-apply when you return to live in Canada.

Most recipients will receive their cheque in the local currency of their country of residence.

13. Will I get cost-of-living increases?

We will increase your pension payments to reflect any increases in the cost of living as measured by the consumer price index. We apply any increases every three months-in January, April, July and October.

Your monthly payments will not go down if the cost of living falls.

Consult the Old Age Security payment rates for current supplement rate information.

14. Can my benefits stop?

We stop paying your Guaranteed Income Supplement if one of the following happens.

• You do not re-apply by filing a tax return by April 30 of each year or you do not submit an application form when asked to do so.
• Your income, or the total income for you and your spouse or common-law partner, is more than the maximum amount allowed.
• You leave Canada for more than six months in a row.
• You die. If your spouse or common-law partner is receiving the GIS or Allowance, payments may continue, based on his or her income.

Filing your income tax return

15. Is my Guaranteed Income Supplement taxable?

No. Your GIS benefit is not considered taxable income. However, you must still report it on your tax return.

Appealing a decision

16. What can I do if I do not agree with a decision affecting my Guaranteed Income Supplement?

If you disagree with a decision that affects your GIS benefit, you have the right to request an explanation. Contact us first, and we can explain the reason for our decision and usually settle the matter. If you are still not satisfied with our response, you may request a "reconsideration." To do this, you must send a letter to the Regional Director of Income Security Programs within 90 days of receiving notice of our decision. The mailing address for your region is available on this Web site (see Regional Offices). In your letter, please include:

• your name;
• your address;
• your Social Insurance Number; and
• your reason for appealing the decision.

If you are not satisfied with the Regional Director's response, you can appeal the decision to the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals.

Consult our fact sheet on The Old Age Security Appeals Process for more information.

Protecting information about you

17. How is information about me protected?

Your privacy is protected by two acts.

The Old Age Security Act and Regulations ensure that only specific agencies authorized by the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada are entitled to review relevant parts of your records. Personal information in your file cannot be given to other agencies or individuals without your consent.

The Access to Information Act  also prevents the release of information about you without your consent. However, there are two exceptions: information can be released if it has already been made public or if the release is allowed under the Privacy Act. The government can only use information for the purpose for which it was collected, except to comply with a warrant or subpoena, or to enforce a law.

18. Can I find out what information is in my file?

You have the right to see information about you that is kept on file by the Government of Canada. To help citizens get access to information about themselves, the government has published Info Source: Sources of federal government information. You must complete an information request form. These forms, and Info Source, are available in government offices open to the public, such as a Human Resources Development Canada office (see HRDC sites across Canada). They are also available at public libraries, most rural post offices and in Canadian missions abroad.

Other public retirement benefits

19. What other benefits may I or my spouse or common-law partner be eligible for?

If you made at least one valid contribution to either the Canada Pension Plan or the Québec Pension Plan, you will be eligible for a retirement pension at age 65. If you have retired or substantially reduced your hours of work, you could qualify for a reduced retirement pension as early as age 60.

Disability benefits and survivor benefits are also available under the Canada Pension Plan and the Québec Pension Plan  if you or your common-law partner made enough contributions. You must apply to receive any of these benefits.

For more information on the Québec Pension Plan, visit the Web site of the Régie des rentes du Québec.

You may be entitled to benefits under the Employment Insurance Program or from other federal programs such as War Veterans Allowances from Veterans Affairs Canada. 

Your provincial or territorial, and municipal governments may offer income assistance and services to seniors such as housing or health coverage (see Provincial and territorial governments).  Please contact these governments directly for more information.

For more information on federal, provincial and territorial programs for seniors, visit the Canadian Seniors Policies and Programs Database  Web site.

More Information

For more information about the Old Age Security Program and the Canada Pension Plan, please contact us at the telephone numbers below. The calls, which are free of charge, can be made anywhere from Canada and the United States.

• For service in English: 1 800 277-9914
  For service in French: 1 800 277-9915

If you have a hearing or speech impairment and use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call 1 800 255-4786.

Please have your Social Insurance Number on hand when you call.

Note: This Web page provides an overview of the Old Age Security Program and its supplements, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance and Allowance for the survivor. It is intended to give a general description of how the program works, who is eligible and how benefits are determined. It is not possible, in this space, to provide a comprehensive description of all the details of the complex legislation governing this program. In case of disputes, the wording and provisions of the Old Age Security Act and Regulations prevail.

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