Canada OAS payment increase: Seniors to get more money from October 28 as 2026 benefit rises 1.4% — new monthly amounts, GIS, payment dates and tax rules explained

Canadian seniors are set to see a bigger Old Age Security payment this fall, with the federal government confirming a 1.4% increase in OAS benefits for the October to December 2026 quarter.

The increase will take effect with the October 28, 2026 OAS payment and will bring the year-over-year increase in OAS benefits to 3.0% from October 2025 to October 2026, according to the Government of Canada.

For seniors receiving the maximum OAS pension, the increase means the monthly amount will rise from the current $751.97 to roughly $762.50 for people aged 65 to 74. For those aged 75 and older, the maximum will rise from $827.17 to roughly $838.75.


The federal government has confirmed the 1.4% increase, although the final rounded October-to-December dollar amounts should be checked against the official quarterly payment table once published.

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When is the next OAS payment in Canada?

The first OAS payment reflecting the new 1.4% increase is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

The next two OAS payment dates are:

• October 28, 2026
• November 26, 2026
• December 22, 2026

These dates apply to OAS, GIS and other benefits administered through the Old Age Security program. The Government of Canada's official payment calendar confirms the October 28, November 26 and December 22 dates.

That means the September 25 payment will be the final OAS payment at the July-to-September rate. The October 28 deposit will be the first one reflecting the new quarterly adjustment.

How much will OAS pay from October to December 2026?

The current maximum OAS amounts for July to September are $751.97 per month for seniors aged 65 to 74 and $827.17 for those aged 75 and over.

• Applying the confirmed 1.4% increase gives approximately:
• AgeJuly–September 2026October–December 2026*
• 65 to 74$751.97~$762.50
• 75 and over$827.17~$838.75
• *Approximate figures calculated from the current maximums and the confirmed 1.4% adjustment.
• For someone aged 65 to 74 receiving the maximum amount, that works out to about $10.53 more per month.
• For someone aged 75 or older receiving the maximum, the increase is approximately $11.58 per month.
• The actual amount a senior receives can be different because OAS depends on factors including age, income and residence history in Canada.

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Why is OAS increasing by 1.4%?

The increase is linked to Canada's Consumer Price Index.

OAS amounts are reviewed in January, April, July and October to account for changes in the cost of living. The government says the quarterly calculation compares the average CPI for the latest available three-month period with the last three-month period that produced an increase in OAS.

Statistics Canada's July 2026 CPI data showed an all-items index of 169.9, compared with 169.0 in June and 169.6 in May.

The resulting calculation produced the 1.4% October adjustment announced by the federal government.

Importantly, OAS rates can increase when the cost of living rises, but they do not decrease simply because the CPI falls. This provides a floor for the benefit rate.

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GIS recipients will also see an increase

The change is important for lower-income seniors because the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is also adjusted for inflation.

The current maximum GIS payment for a single, divorced or widowed senior is $1,123.17 per month for July to September 2026.

A 1.4% increase would put the maximum at approximately $1,138.89 per month.

That means a single senior aged 65 to 74 receiving both the maximum OAS and maximum GIS could receive roughly $1,901 per month from the two benefits combined.

For a senior aged 75 or older, the combined maximum would be approximately $1,978 per month.

These are maximum figures, however. GIS depends on income and marital status, so many seniors will receive less than the maximum.

What happens to seniors receiving a partial OAS pension?

Not everyone receives the maximum OAS amount.

Seniors who lived in Canada for at least 10 years but fewer than 40 years after turning 18 may receive a partial OAS pension. Their payment is based on their years of residence in Canada.

A partial pension will also be adjusted when the OAS rate rises.

For newcomers and immigrants to Canada, this is particularly important. The number of years lived in Canada after age 18 can affect the amount of OAS a person ultimately receives.

The government's OAS estimator can be used to get a personalized estimate based on residence history and other details.

Seniors should also watch the OAS recovery tax

The October increase does not mean every senior will receive the full amount.

Higher-income seniors may have to repay some or all of their OAS through the OAS recovery tax, commonly called the OAS clawback.

For the July 2026 to June 2027 recovery period, the relevant threshold is $93,454 of 2025 net world income. The current maximum OAS amounts and corresponding income thresholds are published by the federal government.

The recovery tax is calculated at 15 cents for every dollar of income above the applicable threshold, subject to the rules for the relevant tax year.

This means higher-income retirees should not simply multiply the published maximum OAS amount by 12 when estimating their annual benefit.

What if you delay OAS until age 70?

Seniors do not have to begin OAS at 65. The federal government allows eligible people to delay their OAS pension until as late as age 70. The pension increases by 0.6% for every month it is delayed, up to a maximum increase of 36% at age 70.

Using the approximate October 2026 maximum of $762.50, a full 36% deferral increase would put the monthly amount at roughly $1,037.

However, delaying OAS also means delaying access to GIS because GIS requires an OAS pension.

That makes the decision particularly relevant for seniors who have other retirement income and those who may qualify for GIS.

OAS rates cannot simply fall if inflation drops

One detail that can be easy to miss is the protection built into the OAS indexing system.

The government states that OAS monthly payment rates will increase when the cost of living goes up but will not decrease when the cost of living goes down.

So once the October-to-December rate is established, a later fall in CPI does not automatically reduce the published OAS rate.

Individual payments can still change for other reasons, including income changes that affect the recovery tax or GIS eligibility.

How to check your exact October OAS payment

The approximate figures above should not be treated as an individual's guaranteed payment.

Seniors can check their personal OAS information through My Service Canada Account, where payment and benefit information is available.

The Government of Canada's official OAS page currently lists the July-to-September 2026 maximums and confirms that the next quarterly adjustment will be 1.4%.

The official OAS payment calendar also confirms that the October payment will arrive on October 28, followed by payments on November 26 and December 22.

For seniors relying on OAS and GIS to cover everyday expenses, the increase may appear modest on a monthly basis, but the October adjustment becomes part of the base used for future indexed payments.

The key date to remember is October 28, 2026 — the first OAS payment scheduled to reflect the new 1.4% quarterly increase.