Guaranteed Income Supplement — Up to $1,065 Extra Per Month
What you will learn: Whether you qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, how much you could receive, how to apply, and what to do if you were eligible for years and never received it.
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a monthly, non-taxable payment for low-income seniors who receive Old Age Security. As of 2026, a single senior can receive up to $1,065.47 per month in GIS — on top of their OAS. Over a year, that is up to $12,785 in additional income. GIS is not taxable, does not affect most other benefits, and many eligible seniors have never applied because they simply did not know it existed.
Irene, 78, from Thunder Bay, Ontario. Irene had been receiving Old Age Security for 13 years — $713 per month — and managing carefully on that and a small amount of savings. She had never heard of the Guaranteed Income Supplement. No one had mentioned it at the bank, at the post office, or at the Service Canada office when she applied for OAS.
A volunteer at her library's digital literacy session mentioned GIS while discussing My Service Canada Account. Irene checked that evening and discovered she had been eligible since she turned 65. She applied the next morning by phone.
Service Canada was able to pay her 11 months of retroactive GIS — nearly $12,000. Her monthly income increased by $987 going forward.
"Thirteen years," Irene said quietly. "I could have had this for thirteen years."
You cannot recover more than 11 months of back payments. But you can make sure it does not go unclaimed any longer.
What Is the Guaranteed Income Supplement?
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is a monthly payment from the federal government to Canadian seniors with low incomes. It has been available since 1967 and is specifically designed so that no senior in Canada has to live in extreme poverty. It is:
- Non-taxable — you do not pay income tax on GIS payments and you do not report them on your tax return as income
- In addition to OAS — you must already be receiving Old Age Security to qualify
- Income-tested — the amount you receive decreases as your other income rises, and phases out completely at higher income thresholds
- Inflation-adjusted quarterly — GIS amounts are recalculated four times per year to keep up with the cost of living
- Retroactively payable up to 11 months — if you were eligible and did not apply, Service Canada can issue back payments for up to 11 months
How Much Could You Receive?
The maximum GIS amounts as of the first quarter of 2026 (these are adjusted quarterly — check canada.ca for the most current figures):
| Situation | Maximum monthly GIS | Annual income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed, or divorced | $1,065.47/month | Up to ~$22,056/yr |
| Married/common-law, both receiving OAS | Up to $641.35/month each | Combined income up to ~$29,232/yr |
| Married/common-law, your spouse receives Allowance | Up to $1,065.47/month | Combined income up to ~$40,272/yr |
| Married/common-law, your spouse does not receive OAS | Up to $1,065.47/month | Combined income up to ~$29,232/yr |
Note: these figures are estimates based on early 2026 rates. GIS is adjusted quarterly. For exact current amounts, visit canada.ca — GIS benefit amounts.
GIS eligibility is based on your other income — not counting OAS itself or GIS payments. Income that counts: CPP, workplace pensions, RRSP withdrawals, employment income, interest and investment income, rental income. Income that does not count toward the threshold: OAS payments, GIS payments, the first $5,000 of employment income (and 50% of the next $10,000), and certain other exemptions. If your income is primarily OAS and a small CPP, you may qualify for the full or near-full GIS amount.
Do You Qualify? The Three Conditions
GIS eligibility checklist:
Not sure if your income qualifies? Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 and ask them to check your GIS eligibility. It takes less than five minutes on the phone. They can tell you immediately whether you qualify and how much you would receive.
How to Apply
In many cases, Service Canada will automatically enrol you in GIS when you begin receiving OAS — particularly if you applied for OAS recently and your income is clearly below the threshold. However, automatic enrolment does not always happen. If you are unsure whether you are receiving GIS, check now.
Check whether you are already receiving GIS
Log in to My Service Canada Account (mysca.service.canada.ca — see our My Service Canada Account guide for help). Under "Old Age Security," you will see a breakdown of what you receive — OAS, GIS, and any Allowance payments shown separately. If GIS does not appear and you believe you may qualify, apply.
Apply online
Applying for GIS through My Service Canada Account:
Apply by phone or in person
Service Canada — GIS enquiries and applications
Service Canada — CPP/OAS/GIS — 1-800-277-9914 (Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:30pm local time)
To visit a Service Canada Centre: canada.ca — Find a Service Canada Centre
When you call, say: "I would like to check whether I qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement and whether I need to apply." They will check your file and tell you immediately.
The Annual Renewal Requirement
GIS eligibility is reassessed every year based on your previous year's tax return. This is why filing your taxes matters — even if you have little or no income.
- If you file your taxes by April 30 each year, Service Canada automatically renews your GIS based on your tax information — you do not need to reapply.
- If you do not file your taxes, your GIS payments may be suspended the following July when Service Canada cannot verify your income.
- If your income increases significantly one year, your GIS amount will be reduced or eliminated for the following year. It will be restored the year after if your income drops back below the threshold.
If you have low or modest income, you may qualify for free tax filing help through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). Volunteers file your taxes at no charge — and ensuring your taxes are filed keeps your GIS flowing. Find a free tax clinic at: canada.ca — Find a Free Tax Clinic.
Related Benefits — The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor
Two additional benefits are available to lower-income spouses and survivors of GIS recipients:
- The Allowance — for Canadians aged 60–64 whose spouse or common-law partner receives OAS and GIS, and whose combined income is below the threshold (~$40,272/yr in 2026). This provides up to $1,381.90/month.
- The Allowance for the Survivor — for Canadians aged 60–64 who are widowed, low-income, and have not yet started receiving OAS. Up to $1,647.34/month.
Both benefits are managed by Service Canada and applied for through the same process as GIS. If you are in either of these situations, call 1-800-277-9914 to check your eligibility.
If you qualify and were not receiving GIS, that ends today.
A 10-minute phone call to 1-800-277-9914, or a few minutes in My Service Canada Account, could unlock hundreds of dollars per month — permanently, and tax-free.
Quick Answers
Log in to My Service Canada Account (mysca.service.canada.ca) and look at your Old Age Security section — GIS appears as a separate line if you are receiving it. Alternatively, look at your bank deposit — OAS and GIS are deposited together but may be listed as separate amounts in your statement. You can also call 1-800-277-9914 and they will check your file immediately.
Yes, but only up to 11 months of retroactive payments. Service Canada cannot issue back payments beyond 11 months, regardless of how long you were eligible. Apply as soon as possible to stop losing eligible months. Call 1-800-277-9914 to start the process immediately.
The OAS Recovery Tax (clawback) applies to OAS only when your net income exceeds approximately $90,997 (2026). If you qualify for GIS, your income is well below this threshold — GIS recipients are not subject to the OAS clawback. GIS itself is non-taxable and does not count toward the clawback threshold.
GIS is generally excluded from income calculations for provincial assistance programmes (Ontario Works, ODSP, Ontario Trillium Benefit) and social housing rent-geared-to-income calculations. This means receiving GIS typically does not reduce your provincial assistance. Confirm with your provincial or municipal housing provider if you are unsure about your specific situation.
GIS is based on your previous year's tax return. If your income increased a lot this year (for example, you withdrew from an RRSP), your GIS will be reduced or stopped the following July when Service Canada reassesses. However, you can request an early reassessment if your income has dropped significantly this year — for example, if you retired or stopped receiving RRSP income. Call Service Canada to discuss.