Date: October 9, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
Canadian seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will receive higher monthly payments beginning with the October 2026 payment, as the federal government increases Old Age Security benefits by 1.4% for the October-to-December quarter.
The increase takes effect with the October 28, 2026, payment and applies to GIS recipients across the different marital and partnership categories. The federal government says the adjustment is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index and brings the year-over-year increase in OAS benefits to 3.0% from October 2025 to October 2026.
For a single, widowed or divorced senior receiving the maximum GIS amount, the monthly payment rises from $1,123.17 in the July-to-September quarter to $1,138.90 for October through December. That represents an increase of $15.73 per month.
A senior receiving the maximum amount would therefore receive approximately $47 more over the three-month October-to-December period compared with the previous quarterly rate.
For seniors whose spouse or common-law partner receives a full OAS pension, the maximum GIS payment rises from $676.09 to $685.56 per month. The same maximum applies where the spouse or common-law partner receives the Allowance.
For a recipient whose spouse or common-law partner does not receive an OAS pension or Allowance, the maximum GIS payment also increases to $1,138.90 per month. The federal government's current GIS payment table confirms the new rates.
The increase is not limited to the maximum payment amounts. The income thresholds used to determine GIS eligibility have also been adjusted upward for the October-to-December quarter.
For a single, widowed or divorced person, annual income must be below $23,112 to qualify for GIS under the current threshold. The previous threshold was $22,800.
For a couple in which the spouse or common-law partner receives the full OAS pension, the combined annual income threshold has increased from $30,096 to $30,528.
Where the spouse or common-law partner receives the Allowance, the combined income threshold has risen from $42,144 to $42,768. For couples where the spouse or common-law partner does not receive an OAS pension or Allowance, the threshold has increased from $54,624 to $55,392.
The income thresholds do not include the OAS pension itself in the calculation. Employment and self-employment income also receive special treatment under the GIS rules.
The GIS is designed to provide additional financial support to low-income seniors who receive the Old Age Security pension. Generally, a person must be at least 65 years old, receive OAS and meet the applicable income and residency requirements to qualify.
GIS is not a flat benefit that every eligible senior receives at the same amount. The amount a person receives depends on factors including income and marital status. Seniors with additional income from sources such as CPP retirement benefits, workplace pensions or investments may receive less than the maximum GIS amount.
The federal government also provides preferential treatment for certain employment and self-employment income when calculating GIS. The first $5,000 of annual employment or self-employment earnings is exempt, while 50% of earnings between $5,000 and $15,000 is also exempt from the GIS calculation.
The October increase is part of the regular quarterly adjustment system used for OAS benefits. The government reviews OAS and related benefits in January, April, July and October using Consumer Price Index data to account for changes in the cost of living.
When the cost of living increases, benefit rates can rise. The federal government also states that OAS benefit rates will not decrease solely because the Consumer Price Index falls.
The October 2026 adjustment is the largest quarterly increase recorded during the year. GIS rates increased by 0.3% in January, 0.1% in April and 1.2% in July before the latest 1.4% adjustment.
The new GIS rates will remain in effect for the three payments scheduled for October, November and December. According to the Government of Canada's benefits calendar, the relevant OAS and GIS payment dates are October 28, November 26 and December 22, 2026.
Seniors receiving GIS do not need to submit a new application simply because of the quarterly increase. The adjustment is applied to eligible recipients automatically.
However, individual GIS amounts can change for other reasons. Service Canada conducts an annual review of GIS eligibility using information from a recipient's federal tax return. The annual review can result in a benefit being renewed, increased, reduced or stopped depending on changes in income and other circumstances.
Filing an annual tax return is therefore important for seniors receiving GIS, even though GIS payments themselves are not taxable. Failure to file can result in interruptions to benefits.
The federal government also provides an online OAS estimator for people who want to determine how much they may receive based on their individual circumstances. Seniors can also access their benefit information through My Service Canada Account.
The October 28 payment will be particularly important for seniors watching their household budgets as food, housing, utilities and other living costs continue to influence household finances. The quarterly increase is intended to ensure that federal seniors' benefits continue to reflect changes in the cost of living.
For eligible seniors, the maximum monthly GIS payment for the October-to-December 2026 period is now $1,138.90 for single, widowed or divorced recipients and for recipients whose spouse or common-law partner does not receive OAS or the Allowance. The maximum is $685.56 for recipients whose spouse or common-law partner receives the full OAS pension or the Allowance.
The next quarterly adjustment will determine the benefit rates for January through March 2027. Until then, the October 2026 rates will remain in effect.