Benefits for low-income seniors
Applying for benefits
To receive any OAS benefit, you must apply. You can get an application form by calling the toll-free number listed at the end of this booklet.
When you apply for an OAS pension, you can indicate on your application form that you want to apply for the GIS as well.
GIS and Allowance payments are non-taxable. Both must be renewed annually. Monthly payments may increase or decrease according to changes in the recipient's annual income and marital status.
How do I get an application kit?
We will send you an application kit if our records show that you might be eligible for benefits. If you receive a kit, you should complete the application form and return it to us as soon as possible. You could lose some benefits if you don't apply right away.
If you haven't received an application kit from us, but think you may qualify for benefits, please contact us.
If your spouse or common-law partner has died, you may qualify for the Allowance for the survivor. Contact us for an application kit. Again, you should complete and return the application as soon as possible. If you delay, you may miss some benefits.
What documents will I need to provide?
If you are applying for the GIS or the Allowance, we will need certain documents from you.
If you are married and applying for the first time, you must provide a marriage certificate. If you were married in Canada but 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.
If you were married outside Canada and don't know how to obtain your marriage certificate, call us.
If you are in a common-law relationship, you must provide a statutory declaration that gives the date when you and your partner began living together. Call us for a copy of this form and for help to complete the declaration. This applies to both opposite-sex and same-sex common-law relationships.
Seniors between 60 and 64 with a spouse or common-law partner who receives or is eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement may also need:
- Marriage certificate/statutory declaration and proof of cohabitation
- Citizenship/immigration documents
Seniors between 60 and 64 whose spouse or common-law partner has died may also need:
- Marriage certificate/statutory declaration and proof of cohabitation
- Citizenship/immigration documents
- Death certificate of spouse or common-law partner
In addition to signing a "statutory declaration," common-law couples must also provide documented proof that they have been living in a conjugal or marriage-like relationship for at least 12 months. The documents you choose should indicate your marital status or give your shared address. You can use the following documents to prove cohabitation:
- Income tax and benefits returns
- Guaranteed Income Supplement applications
- Joint bank accounts
- Wills
- Investments
- Bills
If you have any questions about proving your common-law relationship, please call us.
Citizenship or immigration documents
If you were not born in Canada, you must prove your legal status in Canada by showing us your citizenship or immigration documents. If you have not lived continuously in Canada since the age of 18, you must submit proof of all the dates when you arrived in or left Canada. Usually, you do this with a passport. The application kit contains more detailed information about these requirements.
What kinds of income do I have to report?
When applying for the GIS, you must report the following income:
- Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan benefits
- Private pension income and superannuation
- Foreign pension income
- RRSPs that you have cashed
- Employment Insurance benefits
- Interest on any savings
- Any capital gains or dividends
- Income from any rental properties
- Any employment income
Benefits from the Old Age Security program are not considered income for this purpose.
