OAS Allowance in 2025: Payment Dates, Amounts and Eligibility (Age 60–64)

OAS Allowance in 2025: Hey there, Canadians! If you’re in your early 60s, married to or living with someone who’s getting the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), or if you’re widowed and haven’t remarried, you might have heard about the OAS Allowance. This lesser-known benefit is a game-changer for low-income folks aged 60 to 64, helping bridge the gap until you hit 65 and qualify for OAS yourself.

What Is the OAS Allowance?

The OAS Allowance is a monthly, non-taxable payment from the federal government designed to support low-income Canadians aged 60 to 64 who are married to or living with someone receiving OAS and GIS. There’s also a version called the Allowance for the Survivor, which helps low-income widows or widowers in the same age range who haven’t remarried or entered a new common-law relationship. Both are part of the broader Old Age Security program, which includes the OAS pension and GIS, all aimed at making sure seniors (and near-seniors) have enough to cover basics like rent, groceries, or medical costs.

Think of the Allowance as a helping hand for couples or widowed folks who are just shy of OAS eligibility but need support now. It’s not tied to your work history or contributions, unlike the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and it’s funded by general tax revenues. The catch? Your income (or combined income with your partner) needs to be below a certain threshold, and you must meet specific residency and marital status rules. The Allowance stops when you turn 65, as you’ll likely qualify for OAS and GIS at that point, but it’s a vital lifeline in the meantime.

Payment Dates for 2025

Let’s start with when you can expect that Allowance payment to show up. The OAS Allowance (and Allowance for the Survivor) follows the same payment schedule as OAS and GIS, landing in your bank account on the third-to-last business day of each month if you’re signed up for direct deposit. For August 2025, that means you’ll see your payment on August 27, 2025. Direct deposit is the way to go—it’s fast, secure, and saves you the hassle of waiting for a cheque, which can take days or even weeks to arrive, especially if there’s a postal hiccup.

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

Old Age Security Pension

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Payment Amounts: How Much Will You Get?

The amount you receive from the OAS Allowance depends on your income, your marital status, and whether you’re applying for the regular Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor. Like OAS and GIS, the Allowance is adjusted four times a year (January, April, July, and October) based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to keep up with inflation. Your payments won’t decrease if the cost of living drops—they’ll either stay the same or go up.

For July to September 2025, here are the maximum monthly amounts:

• OAS Allowance: Up to $1,381.90 per month if you’re 60 to 64, married to or living with someone who receives OAS and GIS, and your combined annual income is less than $40,800.
• Allowance for the Survivor: Up to $1,647.34 per month if you’re 60 to 64, your spouse or common-law partner has passed away, you haven’t remarried or entered a new common-law relationship, and your annual income is less than $29,712.

These amounts include a combination of the OAS pension amount (up to $727.67 for ages 65–74) and the GIS amount (up to $654.23 for those whose spouse receives OAS), tailored to your situation. If you’re eligible for the Allowance, your payment is calculated based on your 2024 tax return (or an estimate of your 2025 income if your situation has changed, like if you stopped working). The Allowance is non-taxable, so you keep every dollar, but you still need to report it on your tax return to confirm eligibility for other benefits.

If your income is close to the threshold, your payment might be reduced. For every dollar of combined income above a certain point, your Allowance decreases by 50 cents, up to the maximum threshold. For example, if you and your spouse have a combined income of $38,000, your Allowance might be lower than the maximum $1,381.90. You can use the OAS Benefits Estimator on canada.ca to get a personalized estimate based on your specific income.

Here’s a table summarizing the maximum amounts and income thresholds for July to September 2025:

These amounts could change in October 2025, so check the Government of Canada’s website for updates closer to the date. There’s also talk of a one-time $650 OAS-related bonus in March 2025 to help with rising costs, which might extend to Allowance recipients, but this hasn’t been confirmed for August. Keep an eye on canada.ca for the latest news.

Eligibility: Who Can Get the OAS Allowance?

The OAS Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor have specific eligibility rules, so let’s break them down to make sure you know if you qualify.

OAS Allowance

To get the regular OAS Allowance, you need to meet these requirements:

• Age: Be 60 to 64 years old. The Allowance stops the month after you turn 65, as you’ll likely qualify for OAS and GIS.
• Marital Status: Be married to or in a common-law relationship with someone who is receiving both OAS and GIS. Your spouse or partner must already be approved for these benefits.
• Income: Your combined annual income with your spouse or common-law partner must be less than $40,800 (based on your 2024 tax return or a 2025 income estimate). This includes most income sources, like CPP, RRSP withdrawals, or private pensions, but not OAS, GIS, or the Allowance itself.
• Residency: You must live in Canada and have lived here for at least 10 years since age 18. If you’re outside Canada for more than six months, your payments may stop unless you qualify under a social security agreement with another country.
• Citizenship or Residency Status: You must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident (e.g., permanent resident). If you’re a sponsored immigrant, you may not qualify if you’ve lived in Canada for less than 10 years after age 18, unless your sponsor has died, gone bankrupt, been imprisoned for over six months, or been convicted of abusing you.

Allowance for the Survivor

The rules for the Allowance for the Survivor are slightly different:

• Age: Be 60 to 64 years old.
• Marital Status: Your spouse or common-law partner must have passed away, and you haven’t remarried or entered a new common-law relationship.
• Income: Your annual income must be less than $29,712 (based on your 2024 tax return or a 2025 estimate). Again, OAS, GIS, and Allowance payments don’t count toward this.
• Residency: Same as above—you need to live in Canada and have 10 years of residency since age 18.
• Citizenship or Residency Status: Same as the regular Allowance—you must be a citizen or legal resident.

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 10-year residency requirement. Contact Service Canada to confirm if this applies to you. If your income has dropped recently (say, you retired or your spouse passed away), you can ask Service Canada to use a current-year income estimate instead of your 2024 tax return to boost your eligibility or payment amount.

How to Apply for the OAS Allowance

Unlike OAS and GIS, which often have automatic enrollment, the OAS Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor usually require you to apply manually. Service Canada doesn’t always have enough info to enroll you automatically, especially if your spouse’s OAS/GIS status or your income details are unclear. Here’s how to get started:

1. Online Application

• Log into your My Service Canada Account at canada.ca. If you don’t have an account, you can set one up with your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and personal details.
• Go to the “Apply for Benefits” section and select the OAS Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor.
• Fill in your SIN, income details, marital status, and residency history. You’ll also need your spouse’s SIN (if applying for the regular Allowance) or proof of your spouse’s passing (for the Survivor benefit).
• Submit the application and keep an eye on your account for updates.

2. Paper Application

• Download the application form for the Allowance (ISP-3008) or Allowance for the Survivor (ISP-3009) from canada.ca, or pick one up at a Service Canada office.
• Complete the form with your SIN, income, marital status, and residency details. For the Survivor benefit, include a death certificate or other proof of your spouse’s passing.
• Mail it to Service Canada or drop it off at a local office. The address is on the form.

3. Timing

• Apply as soon as you turn 60 or your spouse starts receiving OAS and GIS (or after your spouse’s passing for the Survivor benefit). It can take a few weeks to process, so don’t wait too long.
• If you apply after you’re eligible, you can get up to 11 months of retroactive payments, but only from the date Service Canada receives your application.

If your spouse is applying for OAS and GIS at the same time, you can apply for the Allowance together to streamline the process. Service Canada will let you know if you need extra documents, like proof of income or residency.

Checking Your OAS Allowance Application Status

Once you’ve applied, you’ll want to know if your application was approved, rejected, or still being processed. Here’s how to check:

1. My Service Canada Account

• Log into your account at canada.ca.
• Check the “Benefits and Payments” section for your Allowance status, payment amounts, and upcoming payment dates. This is also where you can update your banking or contact info.
• This is the fastest and most secure way to stay updated.

2. Call Service Canada

• Dial 1-800-277-9914 and have your SIN ready. An agent can confirm your application status, payment details, or any issues.
• Call volumes can be high, so try early mornings or midweek for shorter waits.

3. Visit a Service Canada Office

• Pop into your local office with your SIN, ID, and any letters from Service Canada. Staff can check your status and help with problems, like missing documents or income verification.

4. Check Your Tax Slip

• Your T4A(OAS) slip, sent out each January, shows your Allowance payments for the previous year. This can confirm whether you’re receiving the benefit, though it’s not real-time.

Your application status might show:

• Approved: You’re all set, and payments will start on the next scheduled date (e.g., August 27, 2025).
• Pending: Service Canada is reviewing your application, which could take a few weeks. This might happen if they’re verifying your income, residency, or spouse’s OAS/GIS status.
• Declined: Your application didn’t meet the eligibility criteria. You’ll get a letter explaining why, like “Combined income too high” or “Spouse not receiving GIS.”
• Incomplete: You’re missing documents or info, like proof of residency or a death certificate. Service Canada will specify what’s needed.

If your application is pending or declined, don’t worry—there are steps to fix it.

What If Your Application Is Rejected or Payments Stop?

Getting a rejection or seeing your payments stop can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the road. Here’s what might have happened and how to fix it:

Common Reasons for Rejection or Stopped Payments

• Income Too High: Your combined income (or individual income for the Survivor benefit) exceeds the threshold ($40,800 for the Allowance, $29,712 for the Survivor benefit). Ask Service Canada to use a 2025 income estimate if your income has dropped.
• Spouse Not Receiving OAS/GIS: For the regular Allowance, your spouse or partner must be getting both OAS and GIS. If their GIS was rejected or stopped, your Allowance will be too.
• Residency Issues: You haven’t lived in Canada for 10 years since age 18, or you’ve been outside Canada for more than six months.
• Marital Status Changes: For the Survivor benefit, remarrying or entering a new common-law relationship disqualifies you. For the regular Allowance, a change in your spouse’s status (like divorce or death) could affect eligibility.
• Missing Tax Return: Allowance payments depend on your previous year’s tax return. If you haven’t filed your 2024 taxes by April 30, 2025, your payments could stop.
• Incomplete Application: Missing info, like your SIN, proof of residency, or a death certificate, can lead to rejection.

What to Do

• File Your Taxes: If payments stopped due to a missing tax return, file your 2024 taxes ASAP through the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Account or a tax professional. This updates your income info for eligibility.
• Provide Missing Info: If your application was incomplete, submit the required documents, like proof of residency (old tax returns, utility bills) or a death certificate for the Survivor benefit.
• Request an Income Estimate: If your income dropped significantly in 2025 (e.g., you retired or your spouse passed away), ask Service Canada to use a current-year estimate instead of your 2024 tax return.
• Appeal a Rejection: If you think the rejection was unfair, write to Service Canada within 90 days of receiving the decision letter. Explain why you believe you qualify and include supporting documents, like proof of income or residency. A review typically takes 30–60 days.
• Check Spouse’s Status: For the regular Allowance, ensure your spouse is still receiving OAS and GIS. If their benefits stopped, you’ll need to resolve that first.
• Contact Service Canada: Call 1-800-277-9914 or visit an office to get clarity on the issue and next steps.

If you need to reapply, use the same online or paper application process, ensuring all details are accurate. Retroactive payments are available for up to 11 months from the date Service Canada receives your application, so act quickly.

Other Benefits to Explore

If you qualify for the OAS Allowance, you might be eligible for other supports to help with expenses:

• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): Once you turn 65, you could get up to $1,086.88 per month (July–September 2025) if your income is below $21,624 (single) or $29,136 (couple with both receiving OAS). This is non-taxable and often automatic if you’re on OAS.
• OAS Pension: At 65, you’ll transition from the Allowance to OAS, with up to $727.67 per month (ages 65–74) or $800.44 (75 and older) if you’ve lived in Canada for 40 years after age 18.
• Provincial Supplements: In British Columbia, the Senior’s Supplement adds up to $90 per month for low-income OAS/GIS recipients. Ontario’s GAINS program offers similar support. Check with your provincial government for details.
• GST/HST Credit: This quarterly tax credit helps low-income households, including seniors. File your taxes to qualify.
• Canada Disability Benefit: If you have a disability, this new benefit (started July 2025) could provide extra support. Check canada.ca for eligibility and application details.

Contact Service Canada or your provincial benefits office to see what else you might qualify for. These extras can add up to make a real difference.

What’s New for the OAS Allowance in 2025?

The OAS Allowance program is fairly stable, but there are a few updates for 2025 to keep in mind:

• Inflation Adjustments: The maximum Allowance amount for July to September 2025 is $1,381.90, and the Allowance for the Survivor is $1,647.34, reflecting a 1% increase from April to June 2025 due to CPI changes. Expect another adjustment in October 2025.
• Potential One-Time Bonus: A $650 OAS-related top-up was announced for March 2025, and there’s a chance it could apply to Allowance recipients. Check canada.ca for updates on whether this extends to August or later.
• Improved Digital Access: The My Service Canada Account got a small upgrade in early 2025, making it easier to apply, check your status, or update details. If you’re not comfortable online, Service Canada offices or local libraries can help.
• Streamlined Verification: Service Canada is working to speed up income and residency verification, which could reduce delays for Allowance applications in 2025.