The Guaranteed Income Supplement
You should apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) if you are eligible to receive the OAS pension and your income is low.
To qualify:
- you must be 65 or over;
- you must live in Canada; and
- your annual income must be under a maximum amount specified for the year (see the table below). If you are married or living in a common-law relationship, your combined incomes will be considered in the calculations.
If you qualify for the GIS, the amount you receive will depend on your marital status and your income, not including your OAS pension income. The following table shows the maximum monthly GIS payments for the period of January to March 2011. The amounts may rise over time to keep up with inflation.
Keep in mind that you can expect to receive the maximum GIS benefit amount only if you have no other source of income.
Note: If you and your spouse or common-law partner are living apart for reasons beyond your control (for example, if one of you has to live in a hospital or nursing home), each of you may be considered as single if that gives you a higher monthly payment.
| Marital Status of GIS recipients | Maximum monthly GIS benefits (January to March 2011) |
Maximum incomeFootnote 1 (January 2011) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed, or separated | $661.69 | $15,888 |
| Couple – an OAS pensioner and a spouse or common-law partner who does not receive any benefit under the OAS program | $661.69 | $38,112 |
| Couple – two OAS pensioners | $436.95 | $20,976 |
| Couple – an OAS pensioner and an Allowance recipient | $436.95 | $38,112 |
To find out whether you qualify for the GIS based on your personal situation, or for more information, visit the Service Canada Web site or contact us.
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
The income amounts above are valid for January to March 2011 only. For the most up-to-date figures, please contact us.