Low-income seniors across Canada are set to receive higher Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments beginning with the October 28, 2026 payment.
The federal government has increased Old Age Security (OAS) benefits, including GIS, by 1.4 per cent for the October-to-December 2026 quarter. As a result, a single, widowed or divorced senior receiving the maximum GIS can now receive up to $1,138.90 per month, an increase of $15.73 from the previous quarterly maximum.
The increase is part of the regular quarterly adjustment to OAS benefits based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The October 2026 adjustment brings the annual increase in OAS benefit rates to 3.0 per cent compared with October 2025.
The first payment at the new rates will be issued on Wednesday, October 28, followed by payments on November 26 and December 22.
New maximum GIS payments for October to December 2026
The amount a senior receives depends on marital status and income. The following are the maximum monthly GIS amounts for the October-to-December 2026 quarter:
| Recipient situation | July–September 2026 | October–December 2026 | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed or divorced | $1,123.17 | $1,138.90 | $15.73 |
| Spouse/common-law partner receives full OAS | $676.09 | $685.56 | $9.47 |
| Spouse/common-law partner receives Allowance | $676.09 | $685.56 | $9.47 |
| Spouse/common-law partner does not receive OAS or Allowance | $1,123.17 | $1,138.90 | $15.73 |
These are maximum amounts. A senior's actual payment can be lower depending on income, marital status and other factors.
The federal government's official GIS page confirms the new maximums and the October 28 payment date.
Single seniors can receive up to $1,138.90
The largest maximum GIS payment applies to a senior who is single, widowed or divorced and has sufficiently low income.
Under the new October-to-December rate, the maximum is $1,138.90 per month.
Compared with the previous maximum of $1,123.17, the increase is $15.73 every month. If the recipient receives the maximum for all three months of the quarter, the higher rate represents an additional $47.19 compared with the previous quarterly rate.
GIS itself is tax-free, although other retirement income can affect eligibility and the amount of GIS a person receives.
GIS income thresholds also increased
The quarterly adjustment also raised the income thresholds used to determine GIS eligibility.
For October to December 2026, the applicable annual income thresholds are:
| Recipient situation | Maximum annual income for GIS eligibility |
|---|---|
| Single, widowed or divorced | Less than $23,112 |
| Spouse/partner receives full OAS | Less than $30,528 |
| Spouse/partner receives Allowance | Less than $42,768 |
| Spouse/partner does not receive OAS or Allowance | Less than $55,392 |
These income limits generally exclude the OAS pension itself from the GIS income calculation. Other income, including CPP and private pension income, can affect the amount of GIS a senior receives.
GIS is income-tested, meaning that the maximum payment is generally available to seniors with the lowest qualifying income. As other income rises, GIS payments are gradually reduced and can eventually reach zero.
The first $5,000 of employment income is exempt
Low-income seniors who continue working may be able to earn employment or self-employment income without having their entire earnings count against GIS.
The first $5,000 of annual employment or self-employment income is fully exempt under the GIS earnings exemption.
An additional 50 per cent exemption applies to the next $10,000 of employment income. This means employment income between $5,000 and $15,000 is only partially counted when GIS is calculated.
The exemption applies to employment and self-employment earnings. Other forms of income, such as investment income, private pensions and RRSP withdrawals, are treated differently under the GIS income calculation.
This provision can be particularly important for seniors who want to supplement their retirement income through part-time or seasonal work.
GIS is different from OAS
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is an additional benefit for low-income seniors who qualify for Old Age Security.
OAS is the basic federal pension available to eligible seniors aged 65 and older. GIS, by contrast, is specifically designed to provide additional income support to low-income OAS recipients.
For October to December 2026, the maximum OAS pension is:
- $762.50 per month for people aged 65 to 74;
- $838.75 per month for people aged 75 and older.
The maximum GIS for a single senior is $1,138.90 per month.
A person who qualifies for both benefits can therefore receive OAS and GIS, although the exact combined amount depends on age, income, marital status and other eligibility factors.
It is important not to add the maximum figures automatically and assume every senior will receive that amount. The maximum GIS applies only to people who meet the relevant income and eligibility requirements.
October 28 is the next GIS payment date
Service Canada has confirmed the following payment dates for the October-to-December 2026 quarter:
| Payment | Date |
|---|---|
| October GIS/OAS | October 28, 2026 |
| November GIS/OAS | November 26, 2026 |
| December GIS/OAS | December 22, 2026 |
The December payment is issued earlier than the regular late-month schedule because of the holiday period. The federal benefits calendar lists October 28, November 26 and December 22 as the 2026 OAS payment dates, and GIS is included under the OAS payment schedule.
Seniors using direct deposit should normally see their payment on the scheduled date, although the exact time a deposit appears can vary between financial institutions.
The government also warns that mailed cheques can take longer to arrive.
Why GIS payments increased
GIS and other OAS benefits are reviewed quarterly to reflect changes in the cost of living.
For the October-to-December 2026 adjustment, the government compared the average Consumer Price Index for May, June and July 2026 with the relevant previous three-month period. The average CPI increased from 167.1 to 169.5, resulting in a 1.4 per cent increase in OAS benefits.
The quarterly review is intended to ensure that OAS benefits keep pace with inflation.
The October increase follows smaller adjustments earlier in 2026. The annual change from October 2025 to October 2026 is 3.0 per cent.
GIS payments are protected from falling because of lower inflation
An important feature of the OAS system is that quarterly payment rates cannot be reduced solely because the Consumer Price Index falls.
The government describes this as a protection built into the Old Age Security Act. If inflation declines, published OAS benefit rates do not automatically fall as a result.
However, an individual's actual GIS payment can still change because GIS is income-tested. Changes in a person's income, marital status or other circumstances can affect the amount they receive.
Therefore, the inflation protection should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every individual's GIS deposit will remain unchanged.
Who can qualify for GIS?
The GIS is available to eligible low-income seniors who receive OAS.
Generally, a person must:
- be 65 or older;
- receive or qualify for the Old Age Security pension;
- meet the applicable income requirements; and
- meet Canada's residence and other eligibility requirements.
The federal government states that GIS is a monthly, tax-free benefit for eligible low-income OAS pensioners. In many cases, Service Canada can automatically enrol an eligible person if it has the necessary information.
People who have not been automatically enrolled may need to apply.
Filing taxes is important for continuing GIS
Seniors receiving GIS should make sure their income-tax returns are filed on time.
Service Canada uses income information to determine continued GIS eligibility. The federal government warns that if a person has not filed their 2025 tax return with the CRA, their GIS payments may be stopped or reduced.
Seniors who have not filed should submit their tax return as soon as possible or contact Service Canada about reporting their income directly where applicable.
This is particularly important because GIS is reassessed annually based on income information.
Failing to file a tax return can therefore affect more than income-tax obligations; it can also affect access to income-tested government benefits.
What about seniors who are still working?
Receiving GIS does not necessarily mean a senior must stop working.
The earnings exemption allows eligible recipients to earn employment or self-employment income without having the first $5,000 reduce their GIS.
For earnings above $5,000 and up to $15,000, only half of that additional employment income is counted under the exemption rules.
However, seniors should not assume that every type of income receives the same treatment. Investment income, pension income and RRSP withdrawals generally do not receive the employment-income exemption.
Seniors considering additional employment or withdrawing retirement savings should therefore understand how the additional income could affect their GIS.
Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor also increased
The October adjustment also affects two related benefits for eligible people aged 60 to 64 who have not yet reached the normal OAS eligibility age.
The maximum Allowance increased from $1,428.06 to $1,448.06 per month.
The maximum Allowance for the Survivor increased from $1,702.34 to $1,726.18 per month.
The Allowance can be available to a person aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner receives GIS, provided the applicable income and other conditions are met.
The Allowance for the Survivor is designed for eligible low-income widowed individuals aged 60 to 64.
These benefits are also non-taxable.
How seniors can check their October payment
Seniors who receive GIS can verify their specific payment through My Service Canada Account.
The account allows recipients to view information about their OAS and GIS benefits and check payment details.
Because GIS is income-tested, the amount shown in an individual's account is more important than the published maximum. A senior receiving less than $1,138.90, for example, is not necessarily receiving an incorrect payment.
The maximum amount is only a reference point. Actual GIS depends on the individual's circumstances.
Seniors who believe their payment has been calculated incorrectly can contact Service Canada for assistance.
GIS increase does not mean every senior will receive more money
The 1.4 per cent increase applies to the published benefit rates, but the effect on an individual's payment can vary.
A senior receiving the maximum GIS will see the full increase. Someone receiving a partial GIS payment may see a smaller dollar increase.
Similarly, a change in annual income can cause a person's GIS to rise or fall independently of the quarterly inflation adjustment.
This distinction is important because headlines about maximum benefit increases do not mean that every GIS recipient will receive the maximum amount.
What happens after December?
The October-to-December rates will remain in effect for the November 26 and December 22 payments.
The next quarterly review will determine the applicable rates for January to March 2027. The government will use the relevant Consumer Price Index data to calculate the next adjustment.
For now, the October 28 payment represents the first GIS deposit at the newly increased rates.
What Canadian seniors should know
The October 2026 GIS increase provides additional monthly support to eligible low-income seniors at a time when household costs remain an important concern.
The maximum GIS for a single, widowed or divorced senior is now $1,138.90 per month, while the maximum for a qualifying senior whose spouse or common-law partner receives full OAS or the Allowance is $685.56.
The increase is automatic for existing eligible recipients, so they do not need to submit a new application simply because the quarterly rate increased.
However, seniors should continue to file their taxes, keep their income information up to date and monitor their My Service Canada Account for payment details.
The next GIS and OAS payment will arrive on October 28, 2026, followed by November 26 and December 22 payments at the same October-to-December rates.
For the most accurate information about an individual's eligibility and payment amount, seniors should use the official Government of Canada information rather than relying solely on published maximums.