Common menu bar

• Français
• Home
• Contact Us
• Help
• Search
• canada.gc.ca

Breadcrumb

1. Home >
2. Publications and Resources >
3. Service Partners

Canada’s Public Pension system

• Previous
• Table of Contents
• Next

Old Age Security

Allowance/Allowance for the Survivor

Allowance

• For low-income seniors who meet the eligibility conditions
• Based on combined income from the previous year
• Not taxable
• Must apply in writing

Allowance - Eligibility

 

 

Notes 1

Allowance - Start and End Guidelines

 

 

Notes 2

Allowance for the Survivor

• For low-income seniors who meet the eligibility conditions
• Based on previous year’s income
• Not taxable
• Must apply in writing

Allowance for the Survivor - Eligibility

 

Notes 3

Allowance for the Survivor Start and End Guidelines

 

Notes 4

Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor at age 65

• At age 65, the Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor stop
• Must apply for OAS Pension
• May also qualify for the GIS

Notes 5

Voluntary Separation

• Spouses/common-law partners living apart* after they started receiving GIS
• After 3 months of separation, each will be considered as a single person for GIS purposes
• If one of the spouses/common-law partners receives the Allowance, payments will cease after 3 months of separation

Notes 6

Involuntary Separation

• Spouses/partners living apart for reasons beyond their control (nursing home)
• GIS payments may be increased
• Both spouses/partners 65 or over and receiving the GIS may be considered as either single, married or common-law whichever is to their advantage

Notes 7

Non-Sponsored Immigrants

A non-sponsored immigrant is:

• A person legally admitted to Canada as a permanent resident without a Sponsorship Agreement.

• 1/10th of the GIS or Allowance benefit for each year of residence in Canada after age 18
• Benefit amount is increased gradually over the 10-year period

Sponsorship of Immigrants

‘Sponsored Immigrant’:

• A person admitted to Canada as a permanent resident under a sponsorship agreement

Sponsorship Agreement:

• A family member (Canadian Citizen or permanent resident 18+) who agrees to provide financial and physical support while that person is living in Canada
• Maximum duration up to 10 years

Sponsored Immigrants

Not eligible for the GIS, the Allowance or the Allowance for the
Survivor:

• During the period of the sponsorship (up to 10 years) except in exceptional circumstances -
  • Death of the sponsor
  • Bankruptcy of the sponsor
  • Incarceration of the sponsor in a prison for a period of more than 6 months
  • Conviction of a sponsor of elder abuse of the sponsored immigrant
• Until acquiring 10 years of residence in Canada

(whichever comes first)

Notes 8

Portability

GIS, Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor may only be paid outside of Canada for:

• The month of your departure, and
• The following six months

Renewal of GIS, Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor

• Once initial application has been made, even if income in subsequent year(s) is “too high”, will not have to renew each year provided a tax return is filed prior to April 30
• If the tax return is not filed or filed too late, a renewal form is sent

Notes 9

OAS Decision-Making Process

Notes 10

---

Notes

1. Spouse: a person legally married to someone else

   Common-law Partner: a person living in a conjugal relationship with someone of the same or opposite sex for at least one continuous year.

2. Starts:
   11 months retroactivity

   Ends:
   With payment for the month of June (if combined income in the previous year exceeds the maximum income allowed, or if client failed to reapply or file an income tax return with CRA)

   • Paid for the month of departure and 6 additional months
   • At age 65 spouse will become eligible for his/her own OAS
   • Last payment made for the month of death

   Voluntary Separation:
   Does not apply to spouses/partners living apart for reasons beyond their control ‘involuntary separation’ (nursing home). Both spouses/partners 65 or over and receiving GIS may be considered as either single, married or common-law whichever is to their advantage.

3. Under the OAS Program, a Survivor is:
   • a person whose spouse or common-law partner has died; and
   • since the death, has not become the spouse/common-law partner of someone else at any point in time even if the common-law relationship has ended
4. In July, if pensioner’s income in the previous year exceeds the maximum income allowed, (or if he/she failed to reapply or file an income tax return with CRA) ;

   Under the CPP and the OAS Act, a common-law partnership is recognized after the partners have been cohabiting in a conjugal relationship for a continuous period of at least one year i.e. ends the month after the 12 months

   At age 65, the Allowance and Allowance for the survivor stops, recipients must then apply for their own OAS pension. They may also qualify for the GIS.

5. Although, generally speaking, the beneficiary must apply for the OAS pension, an application may be “deemed” to have been made [Section 5(2) of the OAS Act]
6. * This does not include situations of living apart due to reasons beyond their control.
7. If spouses or common-law partners are separated for reasons beyond their control (hospital or nursing home), contact HRSDC for more information.

   There is no impact on Allowance

8. Note: referred to as the ‘special qualifying factor’ (S.2, OAS Act)
9. A letter is sent in July of each year to advise about the new monthly payment amount

   For a couple, we require both incomes

   A person must apply for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension. However, provided eligibility has been established, an application for the OAS pension is not required when a person turns 65 years old and is in receipt of an Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor. Upon conversion of the Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor where the individual has less than the required 40 years of residence for a full OAS pension, an additional review of the client’s residence may be required.

   Allowance/Allowance for the Survivor accounts with 40 years of residence will automatically be converted to OAS/GIS.

10. An OAS client can appeal to the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals. If the grounds for appeal are based on S28(2) of the OAS Act (the decision made by the Minister on income or income from a particular source(s) has been incorrectly made, the appeal is referred to the Tax Court of Canada.) 

 

• Previous
• Table of Contents
• Next

Primary navigation (left column)

Date Modified:

2008-02-12