To qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), you must first receive an Old Age Security (OAS) pension, because GIS is paid on top of OAS. Service Canada then assesses your residence history since age 18 and your marital status, which determines whether the single or couple rules apply. The official information in this article is dated 2026.
Who can get the Guaranteed Income Supplement?
GIS is not a standalone benefit. It is paid to people who already receive Old Age Security (OAS), so OAS is the starting point.
| Condition | What the official rule says |
|---|---|
| Active OAS pension | Required. |
| Age | Service Canada contacts you after your 64th birthday to enrol you, but GIS is paid only once you receive an OAS pension. |
| Residence | Service Canada asks where you have lived since age 18. |
| Marital status | Single, widowed or divorced applicants follow the single rules. A spouse or partner changes which rule applies. |
Residence since age 18
The application asks for every place you have lived since age 18, so Service Canada reviews your residence history from that age onward. Reconstruct it before you apply, with the countries and approximate periods of residence. The official information summarised here does not state a minimum number of residence years, so check the current Service Canada criteria for that threshold.
Marital status rules
Your marital status decides which GIS rule applies:
- Single, widowed or divorced: the single-person rules apply, and only your own income is assessed against the limit.
- With a spouse or partner: the rule depends on whether your spouse or partner receives a full OAS pension, the Allowance, or neither.
Is GIS enrolment automatic?
Partly: Service Canada makes an automatic attempt, but it is not guaranteed. After your 64th birthday, Service Canada sends you a letter confirming your Old Age Security (OAS) enrolment, and it also tries to enrol you in the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) without a separate request from you. The GIS step is an automatic enrolment attempt, not a guaranteed result, so the letter you receive next depends on whether that attempt succeeds.
The sequence works as follows:
- Your 64th birthday: the trigger for both steps.
- OAS confirmation letter: confirms your OAS enrolment. It does not confirm GIS.
- Automatic GIS attempt: Service Canada tries to enrol you in GIS on the same record.
- If the attempt fails: you receive a letter inviting you to apply for GIS.
What happens when automatic enrolment fails
The invitation letter is your signal to submit an application yourself. When applying by mail, sign every required section by hand and include copies of the required documents. Do not send originals unless the form asks for them.
(Source: Service Canada / Government of Canada, 2026)
How do I apply for GIS online or by mail?
You can apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) through My Service Canada Account or on a paper form sent by mail. The online route is open only if you meet three conditions. If you do not, you must use the paper route. Paper applicants choose between two forms depending on whether they also need Old Age Security (OAS).
Online route: eligibility conditions
Apply online only if all of the following are true (Service Canada / Government of Canada, 2026):
- At least one month has passed since your 64th birthday.
- You have not applied, or your application is no longer under assessment.
- No third party, such as a power of attorney or trustee, manages your OAS account.
Paper route: choosing the form
| Form | Covers | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| ISP-3550 | OAS and GIS together | You are applying for both benefits |
| ISP-3025 | GIS only | You are applying for GIS only |
Both forms are sent by mail. Pick the one that matches your situation before you start filling it in.
Signing and attachments on paper forms
Paper applications have two fixed rules:
- Handwritten signature: sign every required section of the form by hand. A typed or unsigned section does not meet this rule.
- Attached copies: include copies of the required documents with the signed form. Send copies, not originals, unless the form instructions say otherwise.
Check the instructions shown in My Service Canada Account before you submit.
What information do I need to apply?
Before you complete a Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) application, gather your identity, residence and income details. You need your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and date of birth, the same details for your spouse or partner, the places you have lived since age 18, any drop in employment or pension income over the last two years, any foreign income, and the banking details for direct deposit.
Identity details for you and your partner
Have the SIN and date of birth ready for both the applicant and the spouse or partner. Service Canada uses these details to match the application against the OAS record, so write them exactly as they appear on your official documents.
| Item | Applicant | Spouse or partner |
|---|---|---|
| SIN | Required | Required |
| Date of birth | Required | Required |
Residence history since age 18
List each place of residence in order, with the approximate start and end dates. Residence history is used to assess your eligibility, so include periods spent abroad as well as in Canada.
Income details for the last two years
Report any drop in employment income or pension income during the last two years. A drop is a change from earlier levels, so note the source and the period it covers. Also list any foreign income you received, whatever its origin. Review your tax slips and pension statements before you start so that every income source is included.
Banking details
Enter the banking details for direct deposit in the application. Payments are made to this account, so confirm that the account holder’s name matches the applicant’s name.
GIS income thresholds and maximum amounts
The maximum monthly amount of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) depends on your marital status. Entitlement also depends on an income ceiling: the GIS is payable only if your annual income is below the threshold for your situation. For October to December 2026, a single, widowed or divorced person can receive up to CAD 1,138.90 per month, provided annual income is below CAD 23,112.
Maximum amounts and thresholds by situation (October to December 2026)
| Situation | Maximum GIS per month | Income ceiling (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed or divorced | CAD 1,138.90 | Annual income below CAD 23,112 |
| Spouse or partner receives a full OAS pension | CAD 685.56 | Combined income below CAD 30,528 |
| Spouse or partner receives the Allowance | CAD 685.56 | Combined income below CAD 42,768 |
| Spouse or partner receives neither OAS nor the Allowance | CAD 1,138.90 | Combined income below CAD 55,392 |
How rising income reduces payments
The maximum applies to the lowest income levels. As income rises, the GIS amount decreases, and it stops once income reaches the ceiling for your situation. Use the Service Canada income figures for your own case rather than estimating the reduction.
For couples, the table row depends on what the spouse or partner receives, not only on the couple’s total income. A spouse receiving a full OAS pension lowers the ceiling to CAD 30,528, while a spouse receiving neither benefit raises it to CAD 55,392.
Checking your figures before applying
- Confirm your marital status and, if you have a spouse or partner, whether they receive the OAS pension, the Allowance, or neither.
- Find the matching row in the table above.
- Add up the income that applies to your case, including any foreign income, and compare it with the ceiling.
- Confirm the period. The amounts above apply only to October to December 2026.
What if I get no letter or the letter is wrong?
Three situations require you to act yourself: no enrolment letter arrives, the letter contains incorrect information, or you were approved for Old Age Security (OAS) but never applied for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). In each case, the first step is to identify which situation applies to you, then take the matching action.
No letter one month after your 64th birthday
If one month has passed since your 64th birthday and you have no enrolment letter at all, contact Service Canada directly.
Incorrect information on the letter
If the letter contains wrong details, you must act on the error. Read the letter line by line and compare each entry against your own records. Compare every detail on the letter with your own records, then contact Service Canada about any error.
OAS approved, GIS never requested
If you applied for OAS but never submitted a GIS application, you need to take action to request the GIS. Check your correspondence for any GIS decision before assuming the supplement is being paid.
| Situation | Trigger | Action |
|---|---|---|
| No enrolment letter | One month past 64th birthday, no letter received | Contact Service Canada |
| Incorrect information on letter | Any wrong detail on the letter | Take action to correct it |
| OAS approved, GIS not requested | OAS applied for, GIS never applied for | Take action to request GIS |
When are GIS amounts recalculated?
Benefits, including the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), are recalculated each July based on the previous calendar year’s net income. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is paid alongside OAS and is also tied to annual income. GIS is reassessed each July on the same basis, so the previous year’s net income is the figure to have ready.
Current rate period. The latest figures in the sheet cover October to December 2026. For that period, OAS benefits rose 1.4%, and the maximum GIS for a single, widowed or divorced person is $1,138.90 per month, with annual income below $23,112. These amounts apply to that period only.
Annual income basis. Because the OAS recalculation uses the previous calendar year’s net income, that year’s income is the figure that sets the reassessment. Treat the annual income threshold as the number to monitor.
Mid-year income changes. If your income falls during the year, contact Service Canada directly to find out how to report it and whether the change can be reflected before the next scheduled recalculation.
Frequently asked questions
What if I turned 64 and no GIS enrolment letter arrived?
Wait one full month after your 64th birthday. If no letter has arrived by then, contact Service Canada. Contact them sooner if the letter contains incorrect information, or if you applied for Old Age Security (OAS) but never applied for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Can I apply for GIS online if someone manages my pension?
Not through My Service Canada Account. Online applications are only possible when no third party, such as a power of attorney or trustee, manages your OAS account. In that case, apply by mail: use form ISP-3550 for OAS and GIS together, or ISP-3025 for GIS only, and sign every required section by hand.
Which information should I have ready before applying?
Have your Social Insurance Number and date of birth, plus those of your spouse or partner if you have one, and a list of every place you have lived since age 18. Also note any drop in employment or pension income over the last two years, any foreign income, and the bank details for direct deposit.
