The Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor
Receiving the Allowance and the Allowance for the survivor
When will my benefits begin?
Once we approve your application, your Allowance will begin the month after one of these dates, whichever is latest:
- your 60th birthday;
- when you meet the residence and income requirements; or
- when your spouse or common-law partner qualifies for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
If you apply for the Allowance or the Allowance for the survivor sometime after becoming eligible for benefits, you can receive a retroactive payment of up to 11 months in addition to a payment for the month in which you apply.
When will my payments arrive?
Payments usually arrive in the last three banking days of each month. If your payment is more than a week late, or if you lose it, please call us.
Can you send the payment to my bank?
Yes. We can deposit your payment into your bank account through our direct deposit service. Although payment by cheque is still possible, direct deposit offers several advantages:
- Your deposit is always on time and you can immediately start using the money or earning interest.
- Your payment is never lost, stolen or damaged.
- Your payment is automatically deposited into your account if you are ill or away.
Call us to learn more about this free service. If you wish to sign up for the service by telephone, be sure to have the following information when you call:
Personal information
- your social insurance number
- your telephone number, including the area code
- your current home address, including the postal code
Banking information
- the name of your bank or financial institution
- the branch number of your bank
- your account number
If you have a chequing account, you can find the bank information on your cheques.
What happens if I move?
If you are planning to move, please tell us your new address and postal code as soon as possible. This will allow us to update our records and make sure your payment gets to you on time. Even if your payments are deposited directly into your bank account, we need to know your new address so we can send you information and your yearly income tax slip or renewal form.
Can I receive my Allowance or Allowance for the survivor benefits outside Canada?
The Government of Canada designed the Allowance and the Allowance for the survivor to support low-income seniors living in Canada. If you spend more than six months in a row outside Canada, we will make payments for the month you leave and for six months after that. Then payments will stop.
For example, if you left Canada in January, we would send payments until the end of July. After July, the payments would stop.
If you stay outside Canada for a longer period, then return, you can always reapply when you come back to live in Canada.
Will I get cost-of-living increases?
We will increase your pension payments to reflect 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 payment will not go down if the cost of living falls.
Can my benefits stop?
We stop paying the Allowance and the Allowance for the survivor if one of the following occurs:
- You do not reapply for the benefit for the coming year.
- Your income, or the total income of you and your spouse or common-law partner, is above a certain level.
- You leave Canada for more than six months in a row.
- If you qualified for the Allowance for the survivor because your spouse or common-law partner died, then you remarry or begin living in a common-law relationship.
- And, of course, your benefits will end if you die.
What happens if my spouse or partner dies?
If you are receiving the Allowance and your spouse or common-law partner dies, you will be switched to the Allowance for the survivor. Your benefits will then be calculated on the basis of your income alone.
What happens when I turn 65?
At the age of 65, most people who receive the Allowance or the Allowance for the survivor have their benefit automatically changed to an Old Age Security pension. At this point you may also be eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement. See the booklets Old Age Security Pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement for more information.