Changes to the Old Age Security (OAS) Program

Are you affected by the changes made to the Old Age Security Act in 2010?

These changes may affect you if you are:

• a senior who is eligible to receive Old Age Security benefits (or who is planning to apply for Old Age Security benefits) who is incarcerated in a federal penitentiary or a provincial or territorial correctional facility;
• a senior who is 60-64 years old who is receiving an Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor benefit who is incarcerated in a federal penitentiary or a provincial or territorial correctional facility;
• a senior who is 60-64 years old whose spouse or common-law partner is eligible for OAS benefits and who is incarcerated in a federal penitentiary or a provincial or territorial correctional facility;
• a senior who is 65 or over whose spouse or common-law partner is eligible for OAS benefits and who is incarcerated in a federal penitentiary or a provincial or territorial correctional facility.

What are the changes?

• Old Age Security benefits are suspended for beneficiaries who are incarcerated in federal penitentiaries as a result of a sentence of two years or more.
• Old Age Security benefits will be suspended for beneficiaries who are incarcerated in provincial or territorial correctional facilities as a result of a sentence longer than 90 days once the province or territory has signed an information-sharing agreement with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
• HRSDC is working with the provinces and territories to put these agreements in place. Currently, no agreements have been signed. Please check back for updates.
• While an individual's OAS benefits will be suspended while he or she is incarcerated, spouses or common-law partners still have their right to their own OAS pension.
• If an incarcerated individual's spouse or common-law partner also receives the Guaranteed Income Supplement, this benefit will be increased to the same amount single-income beneficiaries receive.
• Spouses or common-law partners of incarcerated individuals who receive the Allowance will still receive the benefit based on individual income.
• Once the beneficiary's spouse or common-law partner has notified Service Canada in writing of his or her release, and Service Canada has received confirmation of release from the Correctional Service of Canada, the Guaranteed Income Supplement or Allowance benefits will once again be calculated using the combined income.
• Individuals who were formerly incarcerated will start receiving their benefits beginning the month of their release upon written notification and confirmation of release from the Correctional Service of Canada.
• Once released or prior to release, they must contact Service Canada in writing to inform the department of their release and to provide up-to-date payment information.
• See the list of our regional offices for the mailing address for your region.