OAS Guides

Eligibility checks

Do I qualify for the Allowance (ages 60 to 64)?

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The Allowance is a tax-free monthly payment for people aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner gets Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). It depends on your age, your spouse's benefits, your years in Canada and your income as a couple. It does not start on its own: you must apply.

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How old are you?

Does your spouse or common-law partner get the OAS pension and the GIS?

GIS is the Guaranteed Income Supplement, an extra monthly payment for people on OAS with low income. A spouse is a person you are married to. A common-law partner is a person you live with in a marriage-like relationship.

Are you a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada?

A legal resident is, for example, a permanent resident.

Since your 18th birthday, how many years in total have you lived in Canada?

Add up all the time you lived in Canada after age 18, even if it was in separate periods.

Have you lived or worked in another country?

Canada has social security agreements with many countries. Time in one of those countries may help you qualify.

Did you or your spouse or partner come to Canada as a sponsored immigrant, and is the sponsorship still in effect?

Most people answer No. A sponsorship is a written promise by a relative to support you for a set number of years.

Was your combined income in 2025, yours and your spouse's or partner's, under $42,768?

Do not count OAS. Each of you can leave out the first $5,000 earned from a job or self-employment, and half of what you earned between $5,000 and $15,000. Count CPP, workplace pensions, RRSP or RRIF withdrawals and interest.

Likely not eligible

Not yet. The Allowance starts at 60.

Why

The Allowance is only for people aged 60 to 64. You can apply 6 to 11 months before you turn 60, so payments can start on time.

What to do next

  1. If your spouse or partner gets OAS and GIS, plan to apply 6 to 11 months before your 60th birthday.
  2. File your tax return every year, even with little or no income. The Allowance uses it.
  3. Come back to this check when you are close to 60.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

The Allowance ends at 65. Check OAS and GIS instead.

Why

The Allowance is only for ages 60 to 64. At 65 you may qualify for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) instead.

What to do next

  1. Use our OAS and GIS checks to see what you may get now.
  2. If you have not received an OAS letter, call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Your spouse's GIS decides this.

Why

The Allowance is only for people whose spouse or partner gets OAS and is eligible for the GIS. Many people who qualify for GIS never apply for it.

What to do next

  1. Use our GIS check for your spouse or partner. If they qualify, they should apply for GIS.
  2. Ask Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 whether your spouse or partner is eligible for the GIS.
  3. If they qualify for GIS, come back and run this check again.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

You likely cannot get the Allowance yet.

Why

The Allowance is paid only when your spouse or partner receives the OAS pension and is eligible for the GIS. If your spouse or partner delays OAS, you cannot get the Allowance. For low-income couples, delaying OAS can cost more than it gains.

What to do next

  1. If your spouse or partner delayed OAS and your income is low, they may want to start OAS now. Then run this check again.
  2. If your spouse or partner is not yet 65, check again once they get OAS.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Check the Allowance for the Survivor instead.

Why

If your spouse or partner has died and you are 60 to 64, the benefit to look at is the Allowance for the Survivor. It has its own income limit.

What to do next

  1. Run our Allowance for the Survivor check.
  2. If you were already getting the Allowance when your spouse or partner died, you are switched to the Allowance for the Survivor automatically. You still need to tell Service Canada about the death.
  3. Also check the CPP survivor's pension and death benefit.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

You likely cannot get the Allowance.

Why

The Allowance is for Canadian citizens and legal residents of Canada, such as permanent residents.

What to do next

  1. If your status changes, run this check again.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 if you are not sure what counts as legal residence.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Your legal status decides this.

Why

You must be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada, such as a permanent resident.

What to do next

  1. Look at your citizenship certificate, passport or permanent resident card.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 and ask whether your status counts.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

You may still qualify through another country.

Why

The Allowance usually needs at least 10 years in Canada since age 18. If you worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, you may still qualify. Service Canada decides.

What to do next

  1. Make a list of the countries you lived or worked in, with dates.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 and ask whether a social security agreement helps you qualify.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

You likely have not lived in Canada long enough yet.

Why

The Allowance needs at least 10 years in Canada since age 18.

What to do next

  1. Work out the date you will reach 10 years in Canada. If that is before your 65th birthday, check again then.
  2. If you are not sure of your years, call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Your years in Canada decide this.

Why

The Allowance needs at least 10 years in Canada since age 18. Time in a country with a social security agreement with Canada may also help.

What to do next

  1. Use old passports, immigration papers, tax returns or school and work records to count your years in Canada after age 18.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 if you need help.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

You likely cannot get the Allowance during a sponsorship.

Why

The Allowance is only for couples where neither person is under a sponsorship agreement.

What to do next

  1. Find the end date of the sponsorship on the immigration papers, and check again after that date.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to ask about your situation.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Your sponsorship papers decide this.

Why

If you or your spouse or partner came to Canada as a sponsored relative, and the sponsorship is still in effect, you likely cannot get the Allowance. If you came another way, this rule does not apply.

What to do next

  1. Look at both of your immigration papers for a sponsorship agreement and its end date.
  2. Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 and ask whether a sponsorship affects the Allowance.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely eligible

You are likely eligible for the Allowance.

Why

You are 60 to 64, your spouse or partner gets OAS and GIS, and your combined 2025 income was under $42,768. From October to December 2026, the Allowance pays up to $1,448.06 a month. The more income you have, the less you get.

What to do next

  1. Apply. The Allowance does not start on its own. If you live in Canada, apply in My Service Canada Account, in the Old Age Security section.
  2. Or apply on paper with form ISP3008 (the application) and form ISP3026 (Statement of Income), and mail them to Service Canada.
  3. Have both of your Social Insurance Numbers, your banking details and the countries you lived in since age 18.
  4. File both tax returns by April 30 every year. That is how the Allowance is renewed.
  5. British Columbia, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut add money for people on the Allowance. In other provinces, ask your provincial government or call 211.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

Your 2025 income was likely too high for the Allowance.

Why

The Allowance stops when a couple's combined income is $42,768 or more, based on 2025 income.

What to do next

  1. Make sure you left out OAS, the first $5,000 of each person's work income, and half of work income between $5,000 and $15,000. These do not count.
  2. If your income has dropped this year, for example because you retired, call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.
  3. File your taxes every year and check again next year.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Your 2025 income decides this.

Why

You meet the other rules for the Allowance. Whether you get it, and how much, depends on your combined income for 2025. The limit is under $42,768.

What to do next

  1. Find your income on each of your 2025 tax returns or Notices of Assessment. Add them, then take off OAS and the work income that does not count.
  2. If either of you has not filed a 2025 tax return, file it now.
  3. Apply anyway if you think you are close. Service Canada works out the amount from your tax returns.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Where these rules come from

  1. Allowance: Eligibility (Government of Canada)
  2. Allowance: Overview (Government of Canada)
  3. Old Age Security: Payment amounts (Government of Canada)
  4. Allowance: Apply (Government of Canada)
  5. Allowance: Receiving your benefit (Government of Canada)

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