Allowance

• Applying for the Allowance 
• How your benefits are calculated 
• Receiving the Allowance 
• Renewing your benefits 
• Filing your income tax return 
• Appealing a decision 
• Protecting information about you 
• Other benefits 
• More information 

Applying for the Allowance

1. What is the Allowance and how do I apply?

The Allowance provides money for low-income seniors who meet the following conditions:

• your spouse or common-law partner (same sex or opposite sex) receives or is entitled to receive the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement;
• you are 60 to 64 years of age;
• you are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time your Allowance is approved or when you last lived in Canada; and
• you have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18.

If you have not lived in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18, you may still qualify. Canada has social security agreements with many countries. If you have lived in one of these countries or contributed to its social security system, you may qualify for a pension from that country, from Canada or from both countries. For more information, contact us or see International Benefits.

When our records show that you may be eligible for the Allowance, we normally send you an application kit. You should complete the application and return it to us as soon as possible. If you don't apply right away, you could lose some benefits.

Normally, individuals must apply for the Allowance on their own behalf. If you are applying for someone else, contact us for more information.
If you haven't received an application, but you think you may be eligible, contact us toll-free at 1-800-277-9914.

2. What documents will I need to provide?

Depending on your situation, you will have to provide up to three kinds of documents with your application:

1. Birth certificate - Normally, you have to prove that you are between 60 and 64 years of age by submitting a birth certificate. You do not have to provide your birth certificate if the information in the Social Insurance Register matches the information on your application. If you cannot obtain your birth certificate, contact us for information about other documents that may be acceptable.
2. Marriage certificate or statutory declaration - If you are married, you must provide a marriage certificate. Common-law couples must sign a "statutory declaration" and provide other documentation as proof of your relationship. 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; or
     • 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 - You must provide a statutory declaration that states the date you and your common-law partner began living together. Contact us for a copy of this form and for help to complete the declaration. When you call, we will tell you what other documents you will need.

   *A common-law partner is a person of the same or opposite sex who has been living with you in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.

3. Citizenship or immigration documents - If you were not born in Canada, you must submit proof of your legal status in Canada such as citizenship or immigration documents. If you have not lived continuously in Canada since age 18, you must submit proof of all the dates you arrived in Canada and when you left. Usually, you can do this with a passport.

The application kit contains more detailed information about these requirements.

Top of Page

How your benefits are calculated

3. How do you calculate my benefits?

We base the Allowance for a payment period (July of one year to June of the next) on the combined annual income from the previous tax year of you and your spouse or common-law partner.
Consult the Old Age Security Payment Rates for current benefit rates and maximum income levels.

4. What is considered to be income?

When applying for the Allowance, you and your spouse must report the following income:

• Canada Pension Plan or Quebec 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 are not to be included as income. Consult the application form for more details about what to include as income.

5. What happens if there is a loss or reduction of income?

In some situations, like when you stop working or you suffer a loss or reduction of pension income, we can calculate your Allowance by estimating your pension and employment income for this year, instead of using last year's pension and employment income. If you or your spouse or common-law partner have a lower income this year for either of these reasons, you should contact us. Your benefits may increase.

Top of Page

Receiving the Allowance

6. When will my Allowance begin?

Usually, your Allowance will begin the month following your 60th birthday, the month after you've met the residence and income requirements, or the month your spouse or common law partner becomes eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, whichever is the latest. If you apply late and are eligible, you can receive a back payment of up to 11 months plus the month in which we receive your application. You must renew your benefits each year.

7. Can my benefits stop?

We stop paying the Allowance if one of the following happens:

• Your combined income in the previous year is more than the maximum allowed;
• Your spouse or common-law partner ceases to be eligible for the Garanteed Income Supplement;
• You are absent from Canada for more than six consecutive months after the month of your departure (see Can I receive my Allowance outside Canada?);
• You did not reapply by filing a tax return by April 30 or did not submit an application form when you were asked to do so;
• Your spouse or common-law partner dies. In this case, you may be eligible to receive the Allowance for the survivor;
• You separate or stop living in a common-law relationship. In cases of separation, please contact us for further information; or
• You die. Your spouse or common-law partner may continue to receive the Garanteed Income Supplement based on his or her income.

8. What happens when I turn 65?

At age 65, most people who receive the Allowance will have their benefit automatically changed to the Old Age Security Pension. However, you may be required to submit an application if you have not lived in Canada all of your life. Again, depending upon your income, you may then also be able to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

9. What if we separate?

If you have been separated from your spouse or common-law partner, your Allowance will end. The monthly payments of the Allowance stop after a separation of three months or more. If you or your spouse or common-law partner are separated for reasons beyond your control (for example, one of you has to live in a hospital or nursing home), contact us for more information.

Top of Page

Renewing your benefits

10. Does my Allowance have to be renewed each year?

Yes. The Allowance is based on 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 Allowance each year.

Most seniors can renew their Allowance automatically simply by filing their tax return by April 30 each year.

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.

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

If you do not reapply for the Allowance in the spring, or if your income is now too high for you to qualify for the Allowance, you will receive your last payment in June of that year. Your Allowance also stops when you reach 65 and are eligible for the Old Age Security pension.

11. When do payments arrive?

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

12. Can you send the payment to my bank?

Yes. Through our direct deposit service, we can deposit your Allowance payment directly into your bank account. Although payment by cheque is possible, the benefits of using direct deposit include:

• always receiving your payments on time; and
• knowing that your cheques will never be lost, stolen or damaged.

If you are already receiving benefits by cheque and wish to switch to direct deposit, you can sign up over the telephone. When you contact us, in addition to your social insurance number, be sure to have the branch, institution, and account number of your financial institution ready—you can find this information on your personal cheques.

If you live in Canada, you can use the My Service Canada Account online service to change your address and direct deposit information.

Personal Access Code (PAC) is required the first time you login to My Service Canada Account. The PAC is your key to accessing secure online services – please keep it safe and do not share it with anyone.

If you already have an epass, you will have to replace it with an Access Key.

You may also write to us. See the list of our regional offices for the mailing address for your region.

13. 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 have your new address.

You can notify us of a change of address 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling our automated telephone system at 1-800-277-9914. You will be asked to provide your social insurance number, your new address and postal code as well as 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.

If you live in Canada, you can use the My Service Canada Account online service to change your address and direct deposit information.

A Personal Access Code (PAC) is required the first time you login to My Service Canada Account. The PAC is your key to accessing secure online services – please keep it safe and do not share it with anyone.

If you already have an epass, you will have to replace it with an Access Key.

You can also notify us in writing. See the list of our regional offices for the mailing address for your region.

14. Can I receive my Allowance outside Canada?

The Government of Canada designed the Allowance benefit to assist low-income seniors 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 reapply when you return to live in Canada.

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

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

Yes. We will increase your payments to reflect any increases in the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index. We make any necessary adjustments every three months – in January, April, July, and October.

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

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

Top of Page

Filing your income tax return

16. Is my Allowance taxable?

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

Appealing a decision

17. What can I do if I do not agree with a decision affecting my Allowance?

If you disagree with a decision that affects your Allowance, you have the right to an explanation. If you contact us, we can explain the reasons for our decision. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may ask us to reconsider the decision. To do this, you must send a letter to the Service Canada regional director in your region within 90 days of receiving notice of our original decision. In your letter, please ensure to provide:

• your name;
• your address;
• your social insurance number; and
• your reason(s) for making the appeal.

After this reconsideration, if you are still not satisfied, you can appeal the decision to the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals. If the appeal concerns income, it will be referred to the Tax Court of Canada.

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

Top of Page

Protecting information about you

18. 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 and Skills Development 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.

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

You have the right to review 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. To make a request, you must complete an Access to information request form. This form and Info Source are available in any Service Canada Center and government offices open to the public. They are also available at public libraries, most rural post offices and in Canadian missions abroad.

Top of Page

Other benefits

20. Am I eligible for other benefits?

In addition to the basic OAS pension, seniors with low incomes may qualify for other income-tested benefits such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance, which includes the Allowance for the Survivor. For more information, please contact us.

If you have contributed to the Canada Pension Plan or the Quebec Pension Plan, you may be eligible for a retirement pension when you turn 65. If you have retired or substantially reduced your hours of work, you could qualify for a reduced CPP or QPP retirement pension as early as age 60.

Disability and survivor benefits are also available from the Canada Pension Plan or the Quebec Pension Plan if you have made sufficient contributions and you meet other eligibility requirements. You must apply to receive these benefits.

For more information about the Canada Pension Plan, contact us.

For more information about the Quebec Pension Plan, contact La Régie des rentes du Québec:

By phone
1-800-463-5185

By mail
PO Box 5200
Québec QC  G1K 7S9

On the Web   www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en

In addition, you may be entitled to benefits under the Employment Insurance Program. If so, contact us for more information.

21. Other benefit programs for veterans

If you are a veteran, you may also be entitled to receive benefits under other federal programs such as the War Veterans Allowance program. For more information, call Veterans Affairs Canada toll-free at 1-866-522-2122, or visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site.

22. Provincial/territorial and municipal programs

Your provincial/territorial and municipal governments may offer income assistance and services to seniors. For more information, please contact these governments directly.

Additional information on federal, provincial and territorial programs for seniors is also available on the Seniors Canada Web site.

23. Online services and forms

At Service Canada, we provide a number of services on the Internet to allow you to complete tasks online at your convenience. We also provide you with access to online forms for programs and services delivered by Service Canada and our partner departments.

To access an online service or find a form, see Online Services and Forms.

24. How do I request a review of my Old Age Security account to ensure I am receiving my full benefit entitlement? 

The Government of Canada wants to ensure that you receive all of the benefits to which you are entitled. We take great care in reviewing applications so that the payments we make to you are accurate. We also routinely check client accounts to ensure continued accuracy.

If you think that we may have made a mistake on your account, or that you may not have applied for a benefit to which you are entitled, please contact us. We will be glad to review your file either by mail, or over the phone with you. If you send us a request by mail, please be sure to include your name, mailing address, telephone number, and your social insurance number.

This service is provided free of charge.

Top of Page

More Information

Service Canada delivers Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan programs and services on behalf of the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development.

For more information about the Old Age Security Program and the Canada Pension Plan, please contact us.

Have your social insurance number on hand when you call.

OAS Main Menu