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- Old Age Security benefits will increase by 1.4% for the October to December 2026 quarter.
- The first scheduled OAS, GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor payment in the new quarter is October 28, 2026.
- The increase does not automatically mean every recipient will receive the same dollar amount, especially if you receive a partial pension, GIS, or recovery-tax deductions.
What the October 2026 OAS increase means
Service Canada has announced that Old Age Security benefits will increase by 1.4% for the October to December 2026 quarter. The adjustment applies from October through December and reflects changes in the Consumer Price Index, or CPI.
The increase applies to the OAS program’s indexed benefits, including the Old Age Security pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor. It is not a separate bonus or one-time payment, and you do not need to submit a new application if you already receive an eligible benefit.
The increase is expected to appear with the October payment. Canada’s official payment calendar lists October 28, 2026 as the scheduled OAS payment date. November’s payment is scheduled for November 26, and December’s payment is scheduled for December 22.
View the official Old Age Security payment amounts page
How much more could you receive?
The exact October rates had not yet replaced the July to September tables on the official payment-amount page when this guide was checked. The confirmed adjustment is 1.4%, so you can estimate the change by multiplying your current monthly amount by 1.014.
| Current monthly amount | Approximate increase | Approximate October amount |
|---|---|---|
| $500.00 | $7.00 | $507.00 |
| $750.00 | $10.50 | $760.50 |
| $1,000.00 | $14.00 | $1,014.00 |
For example, the maximum July to September 2026 OAS pension was $751.97 per month for someone aged 65 to 74. A 1.4% increase works out to approximately $762.50 before any tax or recovery-tax deductions. The maximum for someone aged 75 or older was $827.17, which works out to approximately $838.75.
Those figures are estimates based on the announced percentage, not a substitute for the final rate table. Your actual amount may be lower because of a partial pension, deferred-pension calculations, income-tested benefits, tax withholding, or recovery-tax deductions.
Who is affected by the increase?
OAS pension recipients
If you receive a full OAS pension, your monthly rate should rise by approximately 1.4% for the October to December quarter. The increase is tied to the indexed payment rate, not to whether you worked or contributed to CPP.
OAS is based mainly on your age and how long you lived in Canada after age 18. It is taxable income and may be subject to the OAS recovery tax if your net world income is above the applicable threshold.
GIS recipients
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is also part of the OAS program and is included in quarterly indexation. However, GIS is income-tested. Service Canada recalculates GIS amounts each July using your net income from the previous calendar year, and payments can increase, decrease, or stop if your income or family situation changes.
That means the October increase does not override a separate change caused by updated income information, marital status, or a reassessment. If your GIS amount changed recently, compare your payment notice with your current circumstances rather than assuming the 1.4% adjustment is the only factor.
Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor
The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor are available to qualifying people aged 60 to 64. Both benefits are income-tested and are included among the OAS benefits covered by the quarterly adjustment.
Eligibility depends on factors such as age, marital or survivor status, residency, sponsorship status, and income. These benefits are not taxable income, but their rates and eligibility can still be affected by changes reported to the government.
Why your increase may not match 1.4%
The announced percentage describes the indexed rate change. It does not guarantee that every person’s total deposit will rise by exactly 1.4%.
- Partial OAS pension: If you lived in Canada for at least 10 years but less than 40 years after age 18, you may receive a partial pension. The maximum-rate tables do not apply directly to partial pensions.
- Recovery tax: Higher-income recipients may have part of their OAS withheld through the recovery tax. For the July 2026 to June 2027 period, the income threshold based on 2025 income is $93,454.
- Tax withholding: Federal or provincial tax deductions can reduce the amount deposited into your account even when the gross benefit has increased.
- GIS reassessment: GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor depend on income and household details as well as indexation.
- Deferred OAS: If you delayed starting OAS after age 65, your pension includes a separate increase based on the number of months you deferred it.
If you receive a partial pension, don’t try to calculate the new amount from the published maximum. Use your personal payment record or contact Service Canada.
Review the OAS recovery tax rules
When will the October increase appear?
The scheduled OAS payment date for October 2026 is October 28, 2026. The same OAS payment date covers the OAS pension, GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor.
Direct deposits may appear according to your financial institution’s processing time. Mailed cheques can take longer. The Government of Canada advises waiting five to 10 business days before contacting the program about a payment that has not arrived.
Check the official 2026 OAS payment dates
What to check before and after the first higher payment
- Compare your September and October deposits. Look at the gross amount and deductions, not just the final deposit.
- Check whether the change is indexed or income-related. A GIS change may reflect your annual reassessment rather than the quarterly increase alone.
- Review your recovery-tax position. The 2025 income threshold for the July 2026 to June 2027 recovery-tax period is $93,454. The recovery tax generally applies at 15% to income above the threshold, subject to the official calculation rules.
- Confirm your payment date. Use the official benefits calendar if the deposit is not visible when expected.
- Check your Service Canada record. My Service Canada Account can show OAS information, payment details, and some correspondence.
Sign in to My Service Canada Account
What the increase does not change
The October adjustment does not change the basic OAS eligibility rules. It also does not automatically qualify someone for GIS, Allowance, or the Allowance for the Survivor.
It does not remove the OAS recovery tax, change your residency history, convert a partial pension into a full pension, or replace the need to report important changes. If your income, marital status, address, banking information, or time outside Canada changes, use the appropriate Service Canada process rather than waiting for the next payment.
The safest next step is to compare your personal October payment with the official rate information once the October to December 2026 tables are posted. If the amount looks wrong, check the deduction details in your account and contact Service Canada before assuming the increase was missed.
Helpful Links
- Old Age Security payment amounts – Check the latest OAS, GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor rates, thresholds, and quarterly adjustment information.
- Benefits payment dates – View the official 2026 payment schedule for OAS, GIS, Allowance, and other federal benefits.
- Old Age Security pension recovery tax – Review recovery-tax thresholds, repayment rules, filing requirements, and income-related deductions.
- Old Age Security – Access official OAS eligibility, application, payment, tax, and account-management information.
- My Service Canada Account – Sign in to view eligible benefit information, correspondence, and personal records.
- Contact Old Age Security – Official page referenced in the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the October 2026 OAS increase a one-time payment?
A. No. The 1.4% adjustment is a recurring increase to the indexed monthly rate for the October to December 2026 quarter. It is not a separate bonus or cheque.
Q. Will GIS increase by the same 1.4% as OAS?
A. GIS is included in the OAS program’s quarterly indexation, but your actual GIS payment also depends on income, marital status, and other eligibility details. A reassessment can change the amount separately.
Q. What is the October 2026 OAS payment date?
A. The scheduled OAS payment date is October 28, 2026. Direct deposits and mailed cheques may appear at different times.
Q. Can the OAS increase cause a higher recovery tax?
A. The increase itself does not change the recovery-tax formula, but higher total income can affect your tax position. For the July 2026 to June 2027 recovery-tax period, the threshold based on 2025 income is $93,454.
