OTTAWA — Nearly 7.5 million Canadian seniors will receive increased Old Age Security payments on April 28. This is the first deposit reflecting a quarterly cost-of-living adjustment that pushes maximum benefits past $740 for the first time.
The Government of Canada confirmed OAS benefits rose 0.1 percent for the April to June 2026 quarter, bringing the year-over-year increase to 2.1 percent compared to April 2025.
- Seniors aged 65 to 74 can now receive up to $743.05 per month, up from $742.31 in the previous quarter.
- Those aged 75 and over can receive up to $817.36, reflecting the permanent 10 percent enhancement introduced in July 2022.
CPP Payments Unchanged from January
The Canada Pension Plan follows a different schedule. CPP adjusts once annually each January, so the April 28 deposit reflects the same 2.0 percent increase applied at the start of the year.
The maximum CPP retirement pension for those starting at age 65 in January 2026 is $1,507.65 per month, according to Service Canada. The average CPP retirement pension for new beneficiaries is $925.35 per month for the April to June 2026 period.
Most Canadian seniors receive both CPP and OAS on the same monthly deposit date. The two programs are calculated independently based on separate eligibility rules.
How the Quarterly Adjustment Works
OAS benefits are reviewed four times per year — in January, April, July, and October — to keep payments closer to real-time changes in consumer prices. CPP uses a slower annual cycle based on the 12-month average of the Consumer Price Index.
The April to June 2026 adjustment is based on the difference between the average CPI for November and December 2025 and January 2026, compared with the last three-month period where a CPI increase triggered a benefit increase.
OAS payment amounts do not decrease if the cost of living falls. Service Canada confirms that monthly rates hold steady even when CPI declines, although individual payments can still change due to income, residency, or eligibility factors.
What Seniors Will Receive
| Benefit | Maximum Monthly Amount (April–June 2026) |
|---|---|
| OAS pension, ages 65–74 | $743.05 |
| OAS pension, ages 75+ | $817.36 |
| GIS, single/widowed/divorced | $1,109.85 |
| GIS, the partner receives full OAS | $668.08 |
| Allowance | $1,411.13 |
| Allowance for the Survivor | $1,682.15 |
| CPP retirement pension (max at 65) | $1,507.65 |
| CPP retirement pension (average at 65) | $925.35 |
Source: Canada.ca Maximum Benefit Amounts
Not everyone receives the maximum amount. Full OAS requires 40 or more years of Canadian residency after age 18. Partial pensions apply to those with between 10 and 40 years of residency, prorated by the number of qualifying years.
Higher-Income Seniors Face Clawback
The OAS pension is taxable income and is subject to a recovery tax for higher earners.
For 2026 income, the OAS pension repayment range is:
- Ages 65 to 74: $95,323 to $154,753
- Ages 75 and over: up to $160,696 (higher threshold due to the enhanced OAS pension)
The recovery tax equals 15 cents for every dollar of net world income above the minimum threshold. Income above the upper threshold eliminates the OAS pension entirely for that year.
GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor payments are non-taxable and do not factor into the clawback calculation.
July Could Bring a Larger Increase
The next quarterly review will use the three-month average CPI from February, March, and April 2026.
Economists expect March headline inflation to rise from February levels, largely because higher fuel prices are entering the CPI data. If the February to April 2026 CPI average exceeds the 165.1 level used for the April calculation, OAS rates should increase for the July to September quarter.
The final July increase cannot be calculated until Statistics Canada releases the April 2026 CPI reading in May.
Tax Filing Deadline Looms
Seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement must file their 2025 tax return by April 30, 2026, or risk having GIS payments suspended starting in July.
Every July, Service Canada recalculates the GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor amounts based on the most recent tax return on file. Late filers risk a temporary suspension of benefits because the CRA cannot recalculate without current income information.
Even seniors with zero income must file a return annually to maintain continuous GIS eligibility.
Payment Arrives on Tuesday
Direct deposit recipients should see the April 28 payment in their bank account on Tuesday morning. Paper cheque recipients should allow two to three additional business days for mail delivery.
Remaining 2026 payment dates:
- May 27
- June 26
- July 29
- August 27
- September 25
- October 28
- November 26
- December 22
Seniors can confirm their payment details through My Service Canada Account at canada.ca.
