Canadian seniors receiving Old Age Security (OAS) are set to receive their next payment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, with the federal government confirming a 1.4% increase to OAS benefit rates for the October-to-December quarter.
The increase raises the maximum monthly OAS pension to $762.50 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and $838.75 for those aged 75 and older. The federal government says the quarterly adjustment is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Canada's measure of consumer inflation.
The October adjustment means OAS rates are now 3.0% higher than they were in October 2025, although the amount an individual receives depends on factors including age, years of residence in Canada after age 18 and income.
October 28 Is the Next OAS Payment Date
The federal benefits calendar confirms that the next OAS payment will be issued on October 28, 2026.
The remaining OAS payment dates for 2026 are:
| Month | OAS payment date |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | October 28, 2026 |
| November 2026 | November 26, 2026 |
| December 2026 | December 22, 2026 |
The same payment schedule applies to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payments.
The October 28 payment will be the first regular OAS deposit reflecting the new October-to-December quarterly rates.
Maximum OAS Payments Increase
The new maximum monthly rates are:
| Age | July–September 2026 | October–December 2026 | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65–74 | $751.97 | $762.50 | $10.53 |
| 75 and older | $827.17 | $838.75 | $11.58 |
The federal government's official OAS information confirms the new maximum rates of $762.50 and $838.75.
For someone receiving the maximum OAS amount, the October increase represents an additional $10.53 per month for those aged 65 to 74 and $11.58 per month for recipients aged 75 and older.
Over the three monthly payments in the October-to-December quarter, that represents approximately $31.59 more for a maximum-rate recipient aged 65 to 74 and $34.74 more for someone aged 75 or older compared with the previous quarterly rate.
Why Did OAS Increase?
OAS payments are reviewed every January, April, July and October using changes in the Consumer Price Index.
For the October-to-December 2026 adjustment, the government compared the average CPI for May, June and July 2026 with the previous three-month period in which an increase in CPI resulted in an OAS increase.
The average CPI for May through July was 169.5, compared with 167.1 for February through April.
That produced a 1.4% increase in OAS benefit amounts.
The purpose of the quarterly adjustment is to help protect the purchasing power of OAS recipients as the cost of living changes.
Importantly, the federal government states that OAS rates can increase when the cost of living rises but will not decrease solely because the CPI falls.
Not Everyone Will Receive the Maximum $762.50
The advertised maximum OAS amounts do not mean every senior aged 65 or older will receive that amount.
OAS entitlement depends partly on how long a person has lived in Canada after reaching age 18.
Someone who has lived in Canada for at least 40 years after age 18 can generally qualify for a full OAS pension, subject to the program's other eligibility requirements.
People who have lived in Canada for at least 10 years but fewer than 40 years after age 18 may qualify for a partial OAS pension. The federal government warns that partial-pension recipients should not use the maximum-payment tables to determine their actual benefit.
For example, using the proportional calculation described in the supplied report, a person with 25 qualifying years could receive approximately 25/40 of the full age-65-to-74 amount, or about $476.56 per month.
The actual entitlement can vary depending on the person's circumstances.
OAS and Newcomers to Canada
The residency requirement is particularly important for immigrants and newcomers planning for retirement in Canada.
OAS is not based exclusively on Canadian citizenship. Eligibility is also connected to age, legal status, residence and the number of years a person has lived in Canada after age 18.
For people who have lived in Canada for fewer than 40 years, a partial pension may apply.
Canada also has international social security agreements with certain countries. These agreements can help people meet minimum eligibility requirements by allowing periods of residence or contributions in another country to be taken into account in specific circumstances.
Newcomers approaching retirement age should therefore examine their individual residency history rather than assuming they will automatically receive the full OAS amount.
Income Can Affect OAS Through the Recovery Tax
Higher-income seniors also need to understand the OAS recovery tax, commonly known as the OAS clawback.
The recovery tax can reduce OAS payments when a recipient's income exceeds the applicable threshold.
For the 2025 income year, which is used for the July 2026-to-June 2027 OAS payment period, the official government page identifies $93,454 as the net world income threshold for the recovery tax.
This distinction is important because the income threshold applicable to a person's current OAS payment is not necessarily the same as the threshold published for the current calendar year.
OAS recipients with higher incomes should therefore review their CRA information and understand which tax year is being used to calculate their current recovery-tax adjustment.
OAS Is Taxable Income
Unlike the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the OAS pension is considered taxable income.
The federal government states that OAS is subject to income tax and may also be subject to the recovery tax when income exceeds the applicable threshold.
This means seniors should consider their total taxable income when planning retirement finances.
A higher OAS payment does not necessarily mean the full gross amount will remain available after taxes or any applicable recovery-tax adjustment.
Seniors Aged 75 and Older Receive a Higher Rate
The OAS program provides a higher maximum pension to people aged 75 and older.
For the October-to-December 2026 quarter, the maximum is $838.75 per month for recipients aged 75 and older, compared with $762.50 for those aged 65 to 74.
The higher rate reflects the permanent 10% increase to the OAS pension for recipients aged 75 and older that was introduced in 2022.
The increase is applied automatically once the recipient reaches the applicable age.
Deferring OAS Can Increase Lifetime Monthly Payments
Seniors do not necessarily have to begin OAS at age 65.
Eligible recipients can choose to defer the start of their OAS pension for up to five years.
The federal government says delaying OAS can increase the monthly pension. The increase is calculated at 0.6% for each month of deferral, up to a maximum of 36% at age 70.
Using the new October 2026 maximum age-65-to-74 rate of $762.50, a full pension deferred until age 70 could therefore be substantially higher than the amount received by someone who begins at 65.
However, delaying OAS is a personal financial decision. The best choice depends on factors such as health, other retirement income, taxes, life expectancy and financial needs.
OAS Is Different From CPP
OAS and the Canada Pension Plan are often discussed together because both are federal retirement benefits and are generally paid on the same schedule.
However, they are fundamentally different programs.
OAS is a federal pension funded from general government revenues. Eligibility is primarily related to age, residence and income.
CPP, by contrast, is an earnings-related contributory pension. The amount depends on a person's contributions to the CPP during their working years, along with factors such as when they start receiving the pension.
The October OAS adjustment therefore does not mean CPP recipients automatically receive a comparable October increase.
CPP has its own annual adjustment mechanism.
The Government of Canada's 2026 payment calendar confirms that both CPP and OAS are scheduled for payment on October 28, November 26 and December 22.
What Seniors Should Expect on October 28
For eligible recipients receiving the maximum OAS pension, the October payment should reflect the new quarterly rates.
The maximum amounts are:
Age 65–74: up to $762.50 per month
Age 75+: up to $838.75 per month
However, an individual's actual deposit may be lower because of partial pension entitlement, income-related recovery tax or other circumstances affecting eligibility.
Recipients can use My Service Canada Account to review their OAS information and manage their benefits. The Government of Canada provides access to OAS information and payment services through the account.
Three Payments Will Reflect the New Rate
The October increase applies to all three payments in the final quarter of 2026.
| Payment | Date | New quarterly rate |
|---|---|---|
| October | October 28, 2026 | Applies |
| November | November 26, 2026 | Applies |
| December | December 22, 2026 | Applies |
The December payment is scheduled earlier than the end of the month, consistent with the federal benefits calendar.
The next quarterly OAS adjustment will take effect in January 2027, depending on the applicable CPI calculation.
What the Increase Means for Seniors Facing Higher Costs
For individual recipients, an increase of roughly $10 to $12 per month may appear modest.
However, OAS forms an important component of retirement income for many seniors, particularly those with limited employment pensions or other sources of income.
The quarterly indexing mechanism is designed to help maintain purchasing power as consumer prices change.
For seniors receiving other benefits such as GIS, the overall amount of government support they receive can be significantly different from the OAS amount alone.
GIS is income-tested and is recalculated each July based on income from the previous calendar year.
Consequently, seniors should consider their full benefit profile rather than looking only at the OAS increase.
OAS Rates Are Now at Their Highest Level of 2026
The October adjustment places the maximum OAS pension at its highest monthly level of the 2026 calendar year.
The new rates also represent a 3.0% increase compared with October 2025, according to the federal government's official OAS rate information.
The increase demonstrates how Canada's retirement benefit system responds periodically to changes in the cost of living.
For seniors, the October 28 payment will therefore be more than another routine monthly deposit: it will be the first payment under the latest indexed OAS rates.
Final Takeaway
Canadian seniors receiving Old Age Security should expect their next payment on October 28, 2026, with the October-to-December quarterly adjustment already reflected in the new maximum rates.
Recipients aged 65 to 74 can receive up to $762.50 per month, while those aged 75 and older can receive up to $838.75.
The 1.4% quarterly increase was calculated using changes in the Consumer Price Index, while the government's deflation protection means OAS rates do not fall simply because inflation later declines.
The actual amount paid to each senior will depend on individual circumstances, including income and Canadian residence history.
With the final two OAS payments of 2026 scheduled for November 26 and December 22, seniors should also monitor their My Service Canada Account and official Government of Canada information for their individual benefit details.
Sources: Government of Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada; Immigration News Canada.