An OAS calculator is suddenly the most useful tool for Canadian seniors, because the headline number and the number that lands in your bank account are no longer the same. Old Age Security rose 1.4% for the October to December 2026 quarter, lifting the maximum monthly pension to $762.50 for ages 65 to 74 and $838.75 for age 75 and over, starting with the October 28 deposit. Over the past 12 months, payments have climbed 3.0%, which means a full pension at 65 is worth $22.41 more each month than a year ago. But the raise is not guaranteed in full. Seniors whose net income sits above the recovery tax line give back 15 cents of every extra dollar, and OAS is also taxable, so the take home gain can be much smaller. We’ll be updating this article monthly, so check back for new rates and thresholds.
The reason the calculator matters is that four things decide your real payment, and most people only think about one. Your years of residence in Canada set the share of the full pension. The age you start sets whether you get the delay bonus. Your age sets whether you get the 10% boost at 75. And your net income sets whether the clawback applies. The government’s own rate tables show only maximums, so a retiree with 25 years in Canada, or one earning $120,000 from a pension and RRIF withdrawals, will not receive the figure in the headlines. Below you will find the latest rates, the dates for the next three payments, the formula in plain language, worked examples with the math shown, and a free OAS calculator you can paste into your page.
OAS Rates July to September vs October to December 2026
| Benefit (maximum monthly) | Jul to Sep 2026 | Oct to Dec 2026 | Monthly change |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAS pension, age 65 to 74 | $751.97 | $762.50 | $10.53 |
| OAS pension, age 75 and over | $827.17 | $838.75 | $11.58 |
| GIS, single, widowed or divorced | $1,123.17 | $1,138.90 | $15.73 |
| GIS, spouse receives full OAS | $676.09 | $685.56 | $9.47 |
| Maximum OAS plus GIS, single, 65 to 74 | $1,875.14 | $1,901.40 | $26.26 |
Key Dates for OAS Payments and Thresholds
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 28, 2026 | First payment at the new 1.4% rates |
| November 26, 2026 | Second payment of the quarter |
| December 22, 2026 | Third payment, issued early for the holidays |
| Late January 2027 | Next quarterly review of OAS amounts based on the Consumer Price Index |
| Spring 2027 | File your 2026 tax return, which sets the next clawback and GIS calculations |
| July 2027 | New clawback period starts, using 2026 income and the $95,323 threshold |
Why OAS Went Up 1.4% This Quarter and What 3.0% a Year Means
OAS is reviewed four times a year, in January, April, July and October, and the change follows the Consumer Price Index. It is written into the Old Age Security Act, so no minister has to announce it. For this quarter, the index moved by 2.4 points on a base of 167.1, which works out to 1.4%. That came on top of a 1.2% rise in July, and together with the earlier adjustments it produces a 3.0% gain between October 2025 and October 2026.
In dollars, that is a jump from $740.09 to $762.50 at ages 65 to 74, a gain of $22.41 a month, or about $269 a year. At age 75 and over, the pension went from $814.10 to $838.75, which is $24.65 more a month. Compared with the quarter just ended, the October bump adds $10.53 a month at the lower age band, or $126.36 over 12 months at the new rate.
Those are maximums, and the increase applies in the same percentage to everyone, so a person who receives a partial pension gets a proportionally smaller dollar raise. GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor rise by the same 1.4%.
How Your OAS Payment Is Calculated: The Four Factors
The first factor is residence. A full pension requires 40 years of residence in Canada after age 18. If you have fewer, your pension is calculated in fortieths, so 25 years gives you 25/40 of the maximum, which is 62.5%. The minimum is 10 years of residence in Canada after 18 to qualify for a pension living in Canada.
The second factor is when you start. The pension begins at 65, but you can delay it for up to 60 months. Each month of delay raises your pension by 0.6% for life, so waiting until 70 adds 36%. The increase applies to the pension you would have received, and the quarterly increases continue to apply on top of it.
The third factor is age. The pension rises by 10% permanently starting the month after you turn 75. That is why the age 75 maximum is $838.75 rather than $762.50. You do not apply for it.
The fourth factor is income. OAS is taxable, and if your net income for the year is above the recovery tax threshold, you repay 15% of the excess, up to the full amount of OAS you received. GIS, by contrast, is income tested and is not taxable.
OAS Clawback in 2026: Thresholds You Should Know
The recovery tax is often called the clawback. It looks at your net income from the year before the payment period, and the amount is withheld from your pension across the 12 months that run from July to June.
| Income year | Payments affected | Clawback starts above | OAS fully recovered at (65 to 74) | OAS fully recovered at (75 and over) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | July 2026 to June 2027 | $93,454 | $152,062 | $157,923 |
| 2026 | July 2027 to June 2028 | $95,323 | $155,320 | $161,320 |
Two points trip people up. First, the payments you are receiving right now, including the October to December deposits, are subject to the 2025 numbers, so the threshold that matters today is $93,454. Some articles quote $95,323 as if it applies to current payments, but that figure belongs to the next cycle, which starts in July 2027. Second, your net income includes the OAS pension itself, so a retiree with $85,000 of other income and a full OAS pension is already near the line.
The recovery tax also changes how much of the 1.4% increase you keep. If you are inside the clawback range, 15% of the raise is withheld, so a $126.36 yearly gain becomes about $107.41 before regular income tax. The calculator below applies this automatically.
OAS Calculator for Canada: Check Your Real Monthly Payment
Use the calculator below to estimate your monthly pension after residence years, delay, age and clawback. Enter your age band, your years in Canada after age 18, how many months you delayed, and your other annual net income. Choose whether to test against the 2025 income threshold, which applies to current payments, or the 2026 threshold, which applies from July 2027.
OAS Calculator Canada (October to December 2026 rates)
Estimate your monthly Old Age Security pension after residence years, delay bonus, age 75 boost and the recovery tax (clawback).
Estimate only. Uses current quarter maximums, spreads the clawback over 12 months and does not include GIS or income tax. Confirm at canada.ca.
The tool uses the October to December 2026 maximums and spreads the clawback across 12 months. It does not estimate GIS, which depends on household income and marital status. For that, use the official benefits estimator linked in the resources table.
Worked OAS Examples With the Math
Example one: a full pension at 67. You lived in Canada for 40 years after 18, started at 65, and have $30,000 of other income. The base is $762.50 a month, or $9,150 a year. Your net income, including OAS, is $39,150, which is far below $93,454, so there is no clawback. You receive the full $762.50.
Example two: delayed to 70. You waited 60 months. The delay bonus is 36%, so $762.50 times 1.36 equals $1,037.00 a month, or $12,444 a year. The pension is larger for life, but if your other income is high you will pay more in tax and potentially clawback, so check the net result.
Example three: a partial pension. You came to Canada at 38 and have 25 years of residence after 18 by age 65. Your share is 25/40, which is 62.5%. That gives $762.50 times 0.625, or about $476.56 a month. If your income is low, you may also qualify for GIS, which has its own income test.
Example four: inside the clawback. You are 68 with a full pension and $120,000 of other net income. Your OAS is $9,150 a year, so net income is $129,150. Using the 2025 threshold, the excess is $129,150 minus $93,454, which is $35,696. The recovery tax is 15% of that, or $5,354.40. You keep $3,795.60 of the $9,150, which is about $316.30 a month, and that is before regular tax on the amount you keep.
Example five: age 75 or older. You turned 76 with 40 years of residence. The base is $838.75 a month, or $10,065 a year. The extra 10% also raises the point at which the clawback eliminates the pension, from $152,062 to $157,923 on 2025 income.
Who Qualifies for OAS and How to Apply?
To qualify, you must be 65 or older, be a Canadian citizen or legal resident when your application is approved, and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18. Time outside Canada can still count under social security agreements with other countries.
Many people are enrolled automatically, but not everyone. Service Canada sends a letter to some people around age 64, and if you do not receive one by the month after you turn 64, you should apply yourself. Service Canada recommends applying about 11 months before you want payments to start.
How to apply, step by step. First, gather your Social Insurance Number, proof of age, and details of your residence history, including any time spent abroad. Second, create or sign in to My Service Canada Account, where you can apply online. Third, complete the Old Age Security application and review the options to delay your pension if you want a larger monthly amount. Fourth, add direct deposit information so payments arrive on the right date. Fifth, if you are low income, apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and if your spouse is 60 to 64, ask about the Allowance. Sixth, keep a copy of your confirmation number and check your account for updates.
Retroactive payments are possible for up to 12 months in many cases, but delaying your application by mistake can cost money, so do not wait.
Processing Time: How Long Until Your First OAS Payment
Service Canada does not promise a single processing time, and wait times change with application volumes. The practical advice is to apply early, because an application filed in the months before your 65th birthday gives staff time to check residence history and your first payment can start in the month you become eligible. Applications that involve time outside Canada, international agreements or missing documents take longer. You can check your status in My Service Canada Account or call Service Canada. If your application is approved late, retroactive payments can cover the gap in many cases, and the amount follows the rates that were in effect in each quarter.
Payment Schedule: OAS, GIS and Allowance Dates
OAS, GIS, Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor payments arrive on the same date each month. For the rest of the quarter, the dates are Wednesday, October 28, Thursday, November 26 and Tuesday, December 22. The December date is earlier than usual because of the holidays. The deposit goes to your bank by direct deposit, and if you do not have direct deposit you will receive a cheque by mail, which can take longer. The January 2027 payment is expected at the end of January, and the amount will reflect the next quarterly review. Check the official payment calendar when it is published rather than relying on projected dates.
GIS Income Limits for October to December 2026
GIS tops up OAS for low-income seniors and is tax free. It is recalculated every July using your income from the previous year.
| Situation | Annual income must be under | Maximum monthly GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed or divorced | $23,112 | $1,138.90 |
| Spouse or partner receives full OAS | $30,528 combined | $685.56 each |
Your OAS pension does not count toward the income test for GIS. A single 65 to 74 senior with the full pension and maximum GIS can receive up to $1,901.40 a month, though most recipients get less because the supplement shrinks as other income rises.
Is OAS Taxable? How the Increase Looks After Tax
OAS is taxable income and is reported on your tax slip. You can ask Service Canada to withhold tax from your payments, which avoids a bill in April. The Allowance, the Allowance for the Survivor and GIS are not taxable. For someone in a 20% tax bracket, a $10.53 monthly increase is worth about $8.42 after tax, and in the clawback range the combined effect of tax and the 15% recovery can take away a large part of it. This is why many retirees find that a high headline raise means little. It is also why planning your income, for example the timing of RRIF withdrawals or the choice to split pension income with a spouse, can protect more of your OAS. Speak with a tax professional before making changes.
Should You Delay OAS to Get 0.6% More Each Month?
Delaying raises the pension by 0.6% for each month you wait after 65, up to 36% at age 70. Using the October maximum, waiting 12 months lifts $762.50 to about $817.40, and waiting 60 months lifts it to $1,037.00. The break even point for a delay to 70 is usually in the early 80s, so it tends to suit people in good health who have other income to live on. It tends to suit people less if the extra income would push them into the clawback range, because the larger pension raises your net income. If you are unsure, run both scenarios in the calculator and compare the totals over 15 and 20 years.
Official Resources and Links
OAS Calculator FAQs
How much is OAS in October 2026?
The maximum is $762.50 a month for ages 65 to 74 and $838.75 for age 75 and over, after a 1.4% increase.
How is the OAS pension calculated?
It depends on years of residence in Canada after 18, when you start, your age, and whether your net income triggers the recovery tax.
What is the OAS clawback threshold?
For payments through June 2027 it is $93,454 of 2025 net income. For 2026 income, which affects July 2027 to June 2028, it is $95,323.
At what income is OAS fully clawed back?
On 2025 income, at $152,062 for ages 65 to 74 and $157,923 for age 75 and over.
Does the 1.4% increase apply to GIS?
Yes. GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor all rise by the same percentage.
Is OAS taxable?
Yes. GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are not.
How much more do I get if I delay OAS?
You get 0.6% more for each month you delay after 65, up to 36% at 70.
When is the next OAS payment?
After the October 28 deposit, the next dates are November 26 and December 22.
How much OAS will I get with 30 years in Canada?
You get 30/40, or 75%, of the maximum. At the October rate for ages 65 to 74, that is about $571.88 a month.
Do I have to apply for OAS?
Some people are enrolled automatically, but if you did not get a letter by the month after you turn 64, you should apply.
Conclusion
The 1.4% rise is real, and it is the biggest of four adjustments this year, but the real value of Old Age Security depends on your own numbers. Your years in Canada, the age you start, whether you have passed 75 and your net income all change the outcome, and for higher earners the clawback can take back 15 cents of every extra dollar. Use the OAS calculator above to test your scenario, confirm your figures in My Service Canada Account, and compare the results before you choose when to start or how to draw other income. Always check the official Service Canada tables, since quarterly rates and thresholds can change. This article is general information and not financial or tax advice.
