Old Age Security Pension September 2025 Payment Dates, Amounts and Eligibility Guide for Canadian Seniors

Old Age Security Pension September 2025: Hello, Canadian seniors, or soon-to-be seniors! If you’re approaching 65 or already there, you’ve likely heard about the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, Canada’s cornerstone retirement benefit. It’s a monthly payment designed to help you cover life’s essentials, from groceries to rent to those little treats that make retirement more enjoyable. With 2025 well underway, In this article I will provide you through everything you need to know about the OAS pension for September 2025.

What Is the Old Age Security Pension?

The OAS pension is a monthly payment from the federal government that helps seniors aged 65 and older cover basic living expenses. Unlike the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which depends on how much you contributed during your working years, OAS is funded by general tax revenues, so you don’t need to have worked or paid into a specific fund to qualify. It’s designed to be a safety net for all eligible Canadians, whether you were a teacher, a tradesperson, or a stay-at-home parent.

OAS is one part of Canada’s retirement income system, alongside CPP, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors, and your personal savings. It’s taxable, meaning you’ll need to report it on your income tax return, but it’s a reliable source of income that’s adjusted quarterly to keep up with inflation. Whether you’re still working, fully retired, or living abroad, OAS can play a big role in your financial planning, and 2025 brings some updates that make it even more valuable.

Payment Dates for 2025

One of the first things you’ll want to know is when that OAS payment will land in your bank account. The government sets a predictable schedule, with payments typically hitting accounts on the third-to-last business day of each month. For September 2025, you can expect your OAS payment on September 25, 2025, if you’re signed up for direct deposit. This is the fastest and most reliable way to get your money, and I can’t recommend it enough, cheques can take days or even weeks to arrive, especially if there’s a postal delay.

Here’s the full OAS payment schedule for the rest of 2025, so you can mark your calendar and plan your budget:

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Payment Amounts: How Much Will You Get?

The amount you receive from OAS depends on a few factors: your age, how long you’ve lived in Canada, and your income. The government adjusts OAS payments every January, April, July, and October based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to keep up with inflation. The good news? Your payments won’t go down if the cost of living drops—they’ll either stay the same or increase.

For September 2025, here are the maximum monthly OAS amounts:

• Ages 65 to 74: Up to $727.67 per month, which works out to $8,732.04 per year.
• Ages 75 and older: Up to $800.44 per month, thanks to a permanent 10% boost introduced in July 2022 for seniors 75 and up. That’s $9,605.28 per year.

These are the maximum amounts, but what you actually get depends on your residency history and income. If you’ve lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18, you’re eligible for the full pension. If you’ve lived here for fewer years (but at least 10 if you’re in Canada, or 20 if you’re living abroad), you’ll get a partial pension based on the number of years you’ve lived in Canada. For example, if you’ve lived here for 20 years, you’d get 20/40ths (or half) of the maximum amount.

Your income also matters. If you’re still working or have other income sources (like CPP, RRSP withdrawals, or private pensions), you might face the OAS recovery tax, also called a “clawback.” If your net world income in 2025 exceeds $93,454 (for ages 65–74) or $157,490 (for ages 75 and up), you’ll repay 15 cents for every dollar above the threshold. If your income is above $151,668 (ages 65–74) or $157,490 (ages 75 and up), your OAS could be reduced to zero.

Here’s a table summarizing the OAS amounts for September 2025:

Eligibility For Get OAS

To qualify for OAS, you need to meet a few straightforward requirements. Here’s what you need to know:

• You must be 65 or older to start receiving OAS. Payments typically begin the month after your 65th birthday, but you can defer them up to age 70 for a higher monthly amount (more on that later).
• You need to have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18 if you’re living in Canada when you apply, or 20 years if you’re living abroad. If you’ve lived in Canada for 40 years or more after age 18, you qualify for the full pension.
• You must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident (like a permanent resident or landed immigrant) at the time of your application. If you’re living abroad, you need to have been a citizen or legal resident the day before you left Canada.
• If you’ve lived or worked in a country with a social security agreement with Canada (like the U.S., U.K., or Australia), that time might count toward your residency requirement. Check with Service Canada to see if this applies to you.

How to Apply for OAS?

For most Canadians, applying for OAS is a breeze because Service Canada automatically enrolls you if they have enough info from your tax returns. You should get a letter the month after you turn 64 letting you know you’re enrolled and when payments will start. If you don’t get this letter, you’ll need to apply manually. Here’s how:

1. Online Application

• Log into your My Service Canada Account at canada.ca.

• Go to the OAS section and follow the prompts to apply. You’ll need your Social Insurance Number (SIN), residency details, and banking information for direct deposit.

• If you meet the online requirements (like having a registered CRA My Account), this is the fastest way to apply.

2. Paper Application

• Download the OAS application form (ISP-3550) from canada.ca or pick one up at a Service Canada office.
• Fill it out with your SIN, residency history, and banking details.
• Mail it to Service Canada or drop it off at a local office. Addresses are listed on the form.

3. Timing

• Apply at least six months before your 65th birthday (or when you want payments to start) to avoid delays. If you apply after 65, you can get up to 11 months of retroactive payments, but you can’t get retroactive payments for any period you deferred.

Checking Your OAS Application Status

Wondering if your OAS application was approved or where your payments are at? Here’s how to check:

1. My Service Canada Account

• Log into your account at canada.ca.
• Go to the “Benefits and Payments” section to see your OAS status, payment amounts, and upcoming payment dates. You can also update your banking or contact info here.
• This is the easiest way to stay on top of things, and it’s secure.

2. Call Service Canada

• Dial 1-800-277-9914 and have your SIN ready. An agent can tell you if your application is approved, pending, or declined, and explain any issues.
• Lines can be busy, so try calling early in the morning or midweek for shorter wait times.

3. Visit a Service Canada Office

• Drop by your local office with your SIN, ID, and any OAS-related letters. Staff can check your status and help with problems, like missing documents or residency verification.

4. Check Your Tax Slip

• Your T4A(OAS) slip, sent out each January, shows your OAS payments for the previous year. This can confirm whether you’re receiving payments and how much.

If your application is pending, it could take a few weeks for Service Canada to verify your residency or income. If it’s declined, you’ll get a letter explaining why, common reasons include insufficient residency (less than 10 years in Canada) or missing information. You can appeal a rejection by writing to Service Canada within 90 days, including any supporting documents like proof of residency or a corrected tax return.

What If Your Application Is Rejected or Payments Stop?

If your OAS application is rejected or your payments stop, don’t panic—there are steps you can take:

Common Reasons for Rejection or Stopped Payments

• You haven’t lived in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18 (or 20 years if abroad). Provide proof of residency, like old tax returns or utility bills, to fix this.
• OAS eligibility often depends on your income from the previous year’s tax return. File your 2024 taxes by April 30, 2025, to avoid interruptions.
• If your income exceeds the clawback threshold ($93,454 in 2025), your payments may be reduced or stopped. Check your income sources and consider deferring OAS if you’re still working.
• If you’re outside Canada for more than six months and don’t qualify under a social security agreement, your OAS may stop. Contact Service Canada to confirm your status.
• Missing details like your SIN or banking info can lead to rejection. Double-check your application and resubmit with the correct info.

What to Do?

• If payments stopped due to a missing tax return, file ASAP through the CRA’s My Account or a tax professional.
• If your application was incomplete, submit the required documents (like proof of residency or income) to Service Canada.
• Write to Service Canada within 90 days of receiving a rejection letter, explaining why you think the decision was wrong. Include supporting documents, like proof of Canadian residency or a corrected tax return.
• Call 1-800-277-9914 or visit an office to get clarity on why your application was rejected or payments stopped. They can guide you on next steps.

FAQ’s About Old Age Security Pension September 2025