Updated October 1, 2026. If you receive or are planning for Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), or the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), the first thing to know is that the maximum amounts you see online are not what every Canadian senior receives.
CPP, OAS and GIS are three different programs. Your payment can depend on your work and contribution history, your age, how long you have lived in Canada, your income and your marital status.
This guide explains the current amounts in plain language and shows practical examples so you can see how the programs fit together.
Important: OAS and GIS amounts shown below are the official October to December 2026 rates published by the Government of Canada.
CPP, OAS And GIS At A Glance
| Benefit | Who it is for | Taxable? | What affects the amount? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPP | People who contributed to the Canada Pension Plan | Yes | Contributions, earnings and the age you start |
| OAS | Most Canadians age 65+ who meet residence rules | Yes | Age, years of Canadian residence and income |
| GIS | Lower-income OAS recipients living in Canada | No | Income and marital status |
How Much CPP Can You Get In 2026?
For 2026, the maximum new CPP retirement pension at age 65 is $1,507.65 per month.
But the average for a new age-65 CPP retirement pension is much lower: $858.34 per month.
| CPP retirement pension at age 65 | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum new CPP | $1,507.65 | $18,091.80 |
| Average new CPP | $858.34 | $10,300.08 |
That difference matters. Seeing the maximum CPP amount does not mean you should build your retirement budget around receiving it.
Your CPP retirement pension depends on how much and how long you contributed, your average earnings and the age you choose to start receiving CPP. You can see your personal estimate through My Service Canada Account.
Government source: Canada Pension Plan monthly payment amounts.
What Happens If You Start CPP At 60, 65 Or 70?
You can start CPP as early as age 60 or delay it as late as age 70.
- Starting before 65 reduces CPP by 0.6% for every month before your 65th birthday.
- Starting exactly at 60 means a maximum reduction of 36% compared with starting at 65.
- Delaying CPP after 65 increases it by 0.7% per month.
- Waiting until 70 can increase the age-65 amount by as much as 42%.
There is no one age that is right for everyone. Health, employment, other income, savings and how long you expect to need the money can all matter.
Related: CPP at 60 vs 65 vs 70: How Much Difference Does Waiting Make?
How Much OAS Can You Get?
Old Age Security is different from CPP. You do not need to have worked or paid CPP contributions to qualify for OAS.
OAS eligibility is based mainly on your age, legal status and how long you have lived in Canada after age 18. Someone living in Canada generally needs at least 10 years of residence after age 18 to qualify. A full OAS pension generally requires 40 years of residence after age 18, although international social security agreements and other rules can affect eligibility.
For October through December 2026, the maximum monthly OAS pension is:
| Age | Maximum monthly OAS |
|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | $762.50 |
| 75 and older | $838.75 |
OAS benefits are reviewed every January, April, July and October for changes in the cost of living. The October to December 2026 rates are 1.4% higher than the July to September rates.
Government source: Old Age Security payment amounts.
How Much GIS Can You Get?
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is additional tax-free income for qualifying lower-income seniors who receive OAS and live in Canada.
For October through December 2026, the maximum GIS amounts and current income thresholds are:
| Your situation | Annual income must be | Maximum monthly GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Single, divorced or widowed | Less than $23,112 | $1,138.90 |
| Spouse/common-law partner receives full OAS | Less than $30,528 combined | $685.56 |
| Spouse/common-law partner receives the Allowance | Less than $42,768 combined | $685.56 |
| Spouse/common-law partner does not receive OAS or Allowance | Less than $55,392 combined | $1,138.90 |
These are maximums. Your actual GIS payment can be lower depending on income and marital status.
Government source: Guaranteed Income Supplement payment amounts.
How Much Could A Single Low-Income Senior Receive From OAS And GIS?
Here is a simple example using the current maximum amounts.
Assume a single 68-year-old qualifies for a full OAS pension and the maximum GIS and has no other income that reduces GIS.
- OAS: $762.50
- GIS: $1,138.90
- Total: $1,901.40 per month
This example is useful for understanding the programs, but it is not a promise of what any individual will receive.
How Much Could A Low-Income Retired Couple Receive?
Now consider a couple where both people are age 65 to 74, both qualify for full OAS and their combined income is low enough to receive the maximum GIS amount for spouses who each receive OAS.
- OAS for each spouse: $762.50
- GIS for each spouse: $685.56
- Total for each spouse: $1,448.06
- Total for the couple: $2,896.12 per month
Again, actual payments can differ because GIS is income-tested.
Do Not Add Maximum CPP, OAS And GIS Together
This is one of the most important points in this article.
You may see someone add the maximum CPP, maximum OAS and maximum GIS and present the result as if that is what one senior can automatically receive. It does not work that way.
GIS is income-tested. CPP is taxable income and can reduce your GIS entitlement. Other income, including many pension and RRSP/RRIF withdrawals, can also affect GIS.
A person receiving maximum CPP would therefore not normally receive maximum GIS at the same time.
Can You Receive CPP And GIS At The Same Time?
Yes. Receiving CPP does not automatically disqualify you from GIS.
For example, the 2026 average new CPP pension at age 65 is $858.34 per month, or $10,300.08 per year. A single senior may still fall under the GIS income threshold depending on their other income and circumstances.
The important part is that CPP income can reduce the amount of GIS you receive.
I am preparing a separate guide explaining what income reduces GIS in Canada, including CPP, RRSP and RRIF withdrawals, employment income, investment income and TFSAs.
Does A TFSA Withdrawal Reduce GIS?
Generally, TFSA withdrawals are not included as taxable income and do not affect federal income-tested benefits such as GIS in the same way an RRSP or RRIF withdrawal can.
That difference can be very important for lower-income retirees. We will cover the GIS, RRSP, RRIF and TFSA interaction in more detail in the dedicated GIS-income article.
Are CPP, OAS And GIS Taxable?
- CPP: taxable
- OAS: taxable
- GIS: not taxable
This matters when you build a retirement budget. A gross monthly pension amount is not always the same amount you will have available to spend.
Why Did My GIS Payment Change?
GIS is generally recalculated each July using income information from the previous calendar year. Your benefit can increase, decrease or stop when your income or marital situation changes.
If your current income has dropped significantly because you retired or another pension stopped, contact Service Canada. In some situations, Service Canada may be able to use an estimate of your current-year income instead of waiting for the next tax return.
How Do You Find Out What You Will Actually Receive?
Do not build your retirement budget using someone else’s pension payment or a social media graphic showing maximum benefits.
- Check your CPP estimate through My Service Canada Account.
- Use the Government of Canada’s OAS Benefits Estimator.
- Keep filing your income tax return every year so income-tested benefits such as GIS can be calculated correctly.
Your actual retirement income can depend on your age, CPP contribution history, when you start CPP, years of residence in Canada, marital status, employment income, pension income, RRSP/RRIF withdrawals and investment income.
Build A Retirement Budget Around Your Actual Numbers
CPP, OAS and GIS can form an important part of a Canadian retirement budget, especially for people with little workplace pension or retirement savings.
But there is a big difference between a maximum benefit and what most people actually receive. In 2026, maximum CPP at age 65 is $1,507.65 per month while the average new age-65 CPP pension is $858.34.
That is why I always suggest working with your own benefit estimates before deciding what you can afford in retirement.
Related CBB reading:
- How To Estimate Your Canadian Retirement Budget
- How To Retire With Little Money In Canada
- How Not To Retire Poor In Canada
- How To Apply For CPP Disability Benefits
Discussion: If you are comfortable sharing, do CPP, OAS and GIS cover your basic monthly expenses, or have rising costs made it harder to make your retirement income stretch?