Question Period Note: GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPLEMENT (GIS)

How is Service Canada supporting seniors in receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)?

Service Canada supports seniors by ensuring they receive their benefits, including the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Service Canada has made the Guaranteed Income Supplement renewal easier. Seniors who file their taxes with the Canada Revenue Agency will have their benefits entitlement automatically reviewed without resubmitting a the Guaranteed Income Supplement application.

Service Canada prioritizes the processing of client files when the income information is received and is committed to proactively communicate with clients to ensure timely benefits.

Clients can contact Service Canada at any time if they have questions about their benefits, including the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

IF PRESSED (Reduction in payments for clients)

The Guaranteed Income Supplement is an income tested benefit. An individual’s net income is used to determine the amount of Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor benefit.

Every January, the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan amounts are reviewed and the benefits to clients are adjusted according to the Consumer Price Index. This may result in a reduction to a client’s Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor benefits.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides financial assistance to seniors who have little or no income other than the Old Age Security (OAS) pension. Currently, GIS provides up to $1,097.75 per month for a single, widowed, or divorced OAS pensioner (July to September 2025).

A person with a spouse/common-law partner could receive up to $660.78 per month of GIS if their spouse/common-law partner receives the full OAS pension or Allowance, and up to $1,097.75 if the spouse/common-law partner does not receive an OAS pension

(July to September 2025).

With no other income, seniors receive the maximum GIS benefit. However, for every $2 of other income, the maximum benefit is reduced by $1. Calculating the GIS based on all sources of income allows the benefits to be targeted to those most in need.

For the GIS benefit to be automatically renewed each July, seniors should file an individual Income Tax and Benefit return with the Canada Revenue Agency. Alternatively, individuals can provide their income information directly to Service Canada by mail or in-person.

Seniors informed that their benefits were suspended are:

Informed that they can call Service Canada to provide information to reinstate their benefit in a timely manner.

Sent a form to complete reinstate benefits.

To date, over 98% of GIS recipients have been reassessed. Service Canada continues to prioritize GIS reassessments as income information becomes available.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides financial assistance to low-income seniors who have little or no income other than the Old Age Security (OAS) pension. The GIS is not taxable.

In 2023-24 Service Canada supported vulnerable seniors by delivering $18 billion in GIS benefits to 2.5 million low-income seniors.

GIS is an income-tested benefit. Entitlement for the GIS is reassessed every year in July. This is based on the previous year’s income, which is completed automatically if seniors have filed their income tax on time.

In August 2025, 98% of recipients were reassessed and eligible Canadians will automatically receive the GIS.

Service Canada makes every effort to communicate with the remaining clients who did not have their GIS reassessed automatically because of missing income information. Service Canada encourages clients who were not automatically reassessed to file their taxes or contact Service Canada to avoid an interruption in their payments.