Canadian GIS 2026: Who Qualifies and How Much

Updated October 2026 with the Guaranteed Income Supplement amounts Service Canada set for October to December 2026.

The Canadian GIS, or Guaranteed Income Supplement, is a tax-free monthly payment for seniors 65 and older who get Old Age Security (OAS) and have a low income. For October to December 2026, a single senior can get up to $1,138.90 a month if their annual income is under $23,112. Couples have their own limits, shown in the table below. You have to live in Canada, and you have to file a tax return every year to keep it coming.

What is the Canadian GIS?

The Guaranteed Income Supplement is part of the Old Age Security program. OAS is the basic pension most seniors get at 65. The GIS sits on top of it for people whose other income is low. It is paid every month with your OAS pension, it is not taxable, and you do not report it as income on your tax return.

The amount is worked out from your income in the previous calendar year, and your spouse’s or common-law partner’s income if you have one. The less other income you have, the more GIS you get. Service Canada raises the amounts every January, April, July and October when the cost of living goes up, and never lowers them when it goes down.

Who qualifies for the GIS in 2026

According to Service Canada, you can get the GIS if you:

are 65 or older
receive the Old Age Security pension
live in Canada
are not under a sponsorship agreement
have an annual income below the threshold for your situation

Sponsored immigrants generally cannot receive the GIS while the sponsorship lasts. Since October 1, 2025, parent and grandparent sponsorships outside Quebec last 20 years instead of 10, so this rule now covers more families. There are exceptions, for example if the sponsor has died or declared bankruptcy.

GIS income thresholds and maximum amounts, October to December 2026

Your situation	Annual income must be under	Maximum GIS per month
Single, widowed or divorced	$23,112	$1,138.90
Spouse or partner gets the full OAS pension	$30,528 (combined)	$685.56
Spouse or partner gets the Allowance	$42,768 (combined)	$685.56
Spouse or partner gets neither OAS nor the Allowance	$55,392 (combined)	$1,138.90

These are maximums. Most people get less, because the GIS goes down as other income goes up. Amounts went up 1.4% for October to December 2026, and the next change is in January 2027. To see your own number, try our free GIS and OAS calculator.

What income counts for the GIS

Service Canada uses your net income from your tax return for the previous year, with some amounts left out. The OAS pension itself and the GIS do not count against you. Things that usually do count include CPP or QPP benefits, workplace pensions, RRSP and RRIF withdrawals, interest, dividends, rental income and capital gains.

Work income gets a break. The first $5,000 a year of employment or self-employment income is not counted, and half of the next $10,000 is not counted either.

Example: a single senior earns $12,000 from a part-time job in 2025. The first $5,000 is exempt. Of the remaining $7,000, half ($3,500) is exempt. Only $3,500 of that job income counts toward the GIS paid from July 2026.

Because RRIF withdrawals and investment income count in full, the timing of withdrawals can change your GIS. We wrote more about that in GIS clawbacks and how seniors can plan RRIF withdrawals.

How to apply for the GIS

For many people it starts automatically. If Service Canada has enough information, you get a letter shortly after your 64th birthday saying you will be enrolled in OAS and, where possible, the GIS. If you are not enrolled automatically, the letter invites you to apply.

Wait for the letter. If a month has passed since your 64th birthday and nothing has arrived, contact Service Canada.
Apply online through My Service Canada Account (MSCA), or on paper with form ISP-3025 (GIS only) or ISP-3550 (OAS and GIS together).
Have ready your SIN, date of birth, your spouse’s details, where you have lived since 18, and your banking information for direct deposit.
Expect a decision letter. Service Canada says online applications take about 14 days and paper applications about 120 days.

Tip: if you disagree with the decision, you have 90 days from the date you receive the letter to ask Service Canada to reconsider it.

How to keep your GIS coming

The GIS is renewed every July using your tax return. That makes filing on time the single most important thing you can do.

File by April 30 every year, even if your only income is OAS and CPP. Service Canada says you must file by the deadline to avoid any disruption to payments.
Watch for the July letter. It tells you whether your GIS is renewed, changed, stopped or needs more information.
Tell Service Canada if your income drops. If you retire or a pension stops, they can use an estimate of this year’s income instead of last year’s, which can raise your payment sooner.
Report changes in marital status, address and income as soon as they happen.
Stay in Canada. The GIS stops if you are outside Canada for more than 6 months. Contact Service Canada before you leave and when you return.

Important: if you and your spouse have to live apart for reasons beyond your control, such as long-term care, you may get a higher amount. Service Canada uses form ISP-3040 for this.

The Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor

Two related benefits help people aged 60 to 64:

The Allowance is for a spouse or common-law partner of someone who gets the GIS. For October to December 2026 it pays up to $1,448.06 a month if the couple’s combined income is under $42,768.
The Allowance for the Survivor is for a widowed person who has not remarried or entered a new common-law relationship. It pays up to $1,726.18 a month if their income is under $31,152.

Both require at least 10 years living in Canada since age 18. At 65, people on either Allowance usually move to OAS and the GIS.

GIS payment dates for the rest of 2026

The GIS is paid on the same day as your OAS pension. The remaining 2026 dates are:

October 2026: October 28
November 2026: November 26
December 2026: December 22

Cheques are mailed in the last 3 business days of the month. Direct deposit arrives faster and does not get lost in the mail.

Want us to file it for you?

Your GIS depends on a correct return filed on time, every year. Our seniors tax returns start at $75 ($135 for a couple), and most are done in one 30-minute appointment by phone, video or at our Abbotsford office. See all prices on our pricing page, or book a free call.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to apply for GIS in Canada?

Not always. Many seniors are enrolled automatically and get a letter shortly after turning 64. If you do not get a letter, or you already get OAS but never applied for the GIS, you need to apply online through My Service Canada Account or with form ISP-3025.

How much is the GIS in 2026?

For October to December 2026, the maximum is $1,138.90 a month for a single senior with income under $23,112, and $685.56 a month each for a couple who both get OAS with combined income under $30,528. Your actual amount depends on your income from the previous year.

Is the GIS taxable?

No. The GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are not taxable. The OAS pension itself is taxable.

Do I need to file a tax return to get the GIS?

Yes. Service Canada renews the GIS every July using your tax return, so file by April 30 every year, even if you had no taxable income. If you have a spouse or partner, they need to file too.

Can I work and still get the GIS?

Yes. The first $5,000 a year of employment or self-employment income is not counted, and half of the next $10,000 is not counted. Income above that reduces your GIS.

When is the GIS paid?

With your OAS pension, near the end of each month. The remaining 2026 dates are October 28, November 26 and December 22.

Can I get the GIS if I live outside Canada?

No. The GIS stops if you are outside Canada for more than 6 months. You can keep your OAS pension abroad in some cases, but not the GIS.

Sources we used

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