The next Old Age Security (OAS) payment date is October 29, 2025.
These payment dates are typically at the end of each month. Anyone who chooses to receive their payment via cheque can expect it to arrive in the mail up to two weeks after the scheduled payment date.
This guide lists all OAS payment dates for 2025 and explains payment amounts, eligibility requirements, and more.
Key Takeaways
- The maximum benefit amount you can receive is $800.44 per month.
- These payments are taxable and must be reported on your tax returns.
- You likely won't have to apply for OAS benefits but you'll receive a notice before you turn 65 if you're eligible.
OAS payment dates for 2025
Here are all the upcoming payment dates for 2025:
January 29, 2025February 26, 2025March 27, 2025April 28, 2025May 28, 2025June 26, 2025July 29, 2025August 27, 2025September 25, 2025- October 29, 2025
- November 26, 2025
- December 22, 2025
When will I receive my OAS direct deposit?
You should receive your direct deposit on the precise payment date as listed above.
When will I receive my OAS cheque?
Cheques are mailed out on these dates too, so if this is your chosen payment method, you can expect it to come in the mail up to two weeks after the payment date.
What is Old Age Security (OAS)?
Old Age Security, or simply OAS, is a monthly benefit payment provided to Canadians who are 65 and older. It's meant to provide a basic level of income for seniors.
Individuals are usually automatically enrolled, but if you haven't received a letter regarding your OAS pension by the month after you turn 64, contact Service Canada to apply.
OAS eligibility
To receive OAS, you'll need to be at least 65 years old and have an income that's less than the threshold set by the federal government. You can defer your payments if you like, up to a period of 5 years (60 months) after you turn 65.
There are a few other eligibility criteria to consider as well. If you live in Canada, you'll have to:
- Be a Canadian citizen or legal resident when you apply
- Have lived in Canada for at least 10 years (after the age of 18)
This may surprise you, but you don't actually need to be living in Canada anymore to receive your payments. If you’re not considered a Canadian resident in regards to income taxes, 25% of your OAS payment will be withheld, but you’ll receive the rest. You'll still be eligible living abroad, as long you:
- Were a Canadian citizen or legal resident when you left Canada
- Lived in Canada for at least 20 years since you were 18
Even if neither of the above scenarios applies to you, you may still qualify for an OAS pension if you lived in certain countries or contributed to their social security system.
For more information, see: "Do you qualify."
OAS payment amounts for 2025
While payment amounts and eligibility details are different for individual recipients, the maximum OAS payment amount you can receive is $800.44.
Here's a quick look at how the payment amounts are broken down by age group and income level:
| Age of recipient | Net income | Max monthly OAS payment |
|---|---|---|
| 65 - 74 | Less than $142,609 | $727.67 |
| 75+ | Less than $148,179 | $800.44 |
How much will I receive from OAS benefits?
Your OAS payment amount depends on 3 things: how long you've been living in Canada past the age of 18, your current age, and your income.
Length of time in Canada: More time in Canada means more benefits.
You can receive a partial OAS pension, but the full OAS pension typically requires 40 years of residence since you turned 18.
Age at enrollment: The longer you wait to receive your OAS benefits, the higher the payout will be.
You are eligible at age 65. Your benefit increases 0.6% for each month you delay, up to 60 months. If you wait, that could mean an increase of more than $200 per month.
Current income: If your income is too high, you may not be eligible. You may have to repay some or all of your OAS benefits.
If your income is higher than the allowable recovery threshold, you’d owe a repayment. You owe 15% of the difference between your income and the limit. These repayments are called "clawbacks." Speak with a financial advisor to learn about ways to avoid OAS clawbacks.
To receive the full amount, a person must have lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18, wait the longest to receive benefits, and make less than the minimum income recovery thresholds.
OAS payment calculation resources
"How much you could receive" page on the Government of Canada website: This section of the federal OAS website provides additional details on eligibility criteria for individuals, factors influencing your Old Age Security pension amount, and includes maximum payment limits and income thresholds.
Benefits calculator: This can help you calculate your OAS benefits amounts, whether it's your first time receiving it or you've already been getting it for a while. You can find this tool by visiting the "Estimate your monthly benefits" section.
Are OAS payments taxable?
Since OAS payments contribute to your annual income, they are taxable.
However, you can request to have the tax amount automatically deducted from your OAS payments. Simply sign into your Service Canada account and make the request there, or fill out an ISP-3550 form and send it via Canada Post.
Will OAS payments go up in 2025?
As of March 2025, the Government of Canada has not announced any OAS payment increases for 2025.
OAS payments are reviewed on a quarterly basis in January, April, July, and October of each year to ensure OAS payments reflect cost of living increases, as reported by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). If the cost of living rises, quarterly payments will increase as well.
How to apply for OAS payments in Canada
Most Canadians are automatically enrolled for OAS benefits. If you don't receive a confirmation of enrollment letter, you can follow these instructions:
- Decide when you want to begin receiving OAS: You can begin receiving this benefit once you reach the age of 65 or you can defer until a date of your choosing.
- Gather your personal info and documents: This includes your name, address, SIN, spouse's SIN (if applicable), banking information, etc.
- Log into your My Service Canada account: If you don't already have an account, you'll need to register for one. This may require waiting for a personal access code.
- Fill out the application form: This can be done online, or you can print the form and fill it out by hand.
- Submit the application: If you prefer not to do this online, you can bring it to Service Canada location or send it via Canada Post – you may need to include copies of certain personal documents.
How to apply for retroactive OAS
To receive retroactive payments, simply follow the instructions above to apply for OAS. You may be eligible for up to 11 months of retroactive payments, based on the day Service Canada receives your application.
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$25 GeniusCash + Delicious meal choices with fresh ingredients + Front-door delivery.Should I defer my OAS benefits?
OAS payment amounts increase by 0.6% for each month you delay after turning 65, up to a maximum of 36%. This may encourage people who are still working to defer their OAS payments, so they can receive a higher monthly payment during the years when they no longer have employment income. After age 70, your payments will no longer increase and you may lose benefits if you continue to defer.
This table shows how that can play out at different ages:
| Age you begin to receive OAS payments | Amount of OAS payment increase | Maximum payment amount for ages 65 - 74 |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | 7.2% | $780.06 |
| 67 | 14.4% | $832.45 |
| 68 | 21.6% | $884.85 |
| 69 | 28.8% | $937.24 |
| 70 | 36% | $989.63 |
Can I collect OAS while working?
Yes, you can receive OAS while still working because your employment history does not factor into your eligibility. Even if you aren’t working, you can still collect OAS.
Can my OAS be "clawed back"?
An OAS clawback (aka) "recovery tax" may occur if your income exceeds a certain threshold. If so, your monthly payment amounts begin to decline.
With clawbacks, each taxable dollar you make over the threshold reduces your pension amount by 15%.
The threshold for OAS clawbacks changes each year since it’s indexed for inflation. Here are the current amounts:
| Recovery tax period | Income year | Income threshold |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 to June 2025 | 2023 | $86,912 |
| July 2025 to June 2026 | 2024 | $90,997 |
| July 2026 to June 2027 | 2025 | $93,454 |
How to calculate your OAS clawback
If your income in a given year is higher than the thresholds listed above, 15% of the difference will be clawed back.
For example, if your income in 2024 was $117,000, the amount you have to repay is 15% of the difference between $117,000 and $90,997. First, find the difference.
$117,000 - $90,997 = $26,003
Then, calculate what 15% of that difference is.
$26,003 X 0.15 = $3,900.45
Your OAS clawback for the July 2025 to June 2026 period would be $3,900.45 in total, split up into monthly chunks of $325.
How to minimize OAS clawbacks
- Defer OAS payments: If your income is too high because you're still working, you can defer receiving OAS until you retire and your income is lower.
- Try income splitting: You can share your CPP or other pension income with your spouse (if they have a lower income) so you no longer reach the clawback threshold.
- Use a TFSA: Since income earned in a TFSA doesn't count towards your net income for tax purposes, you can receive income investment without it affecting your OAS benefits.
- Use your RRSP: Making RRSP contributions can lower your net income and help you avoid clawbacks. If you're currently withdrawing and using RRSP funds, consider withdrawing less so that you don't reach the OAS threshold.
Other benefits you might qualify for with OAS
If you're eligible to receive OAS benefits, you may also be eligible for one of 3 other supplements:
- Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
- Spousal Allowance
- Survivor Allowance
Just as with OAS, payment amounts for these supplements can vary depending on certain eligibility criteria. But you should receive all payments on the scheduled OAS payment dates.
Here's what these 3 supplements can offer to beneficiaries:
| Supplement type | Details | Possible monthly payment amounts |
|---|---|---|
| GIS | * Provided to low-income seniors (and therefore is income based) * Payments begin the month after you turn 65 * Payment amounts are based on your annual income level and relationship status * Can apply for this at the same time you apply for OAS | * Single, widowed, or divorced: $1,086.88 * Have a spouse or partner: $654.23 - $1,086.88 |
| Spousal Allowance | * Provided to those with a spouse/partner who receives GIS * Your combined annual income with your spouse/partner must be less than $40,800 | * $1,381.90 |
| Survivor Allowance | * Provided to those whose spouse/partner has died * You can apply after the death of your spouse/partner, but not earlier than 11 months before your 60th birthday * Your annual income must be less than $29,712 | * $1,647.34 |
You can find more details about these programs on the individual pages:
FAQ
What are the OAS payment dates for 2025?
OAS payments are usually made near the end of each month. The next payment will be on October 29th.
Does OAS start at 65 or 67?
You can begin receiving OAS payments at age 65, but some people choose to defer until a later age. The payment amount increases by 0.6% for each month you defer after you turn 65 years old.
Are OAS payments taxable?
Yes, OAS payments are taxable. It counts as part of your annual taxable income and therefore should be claimed on your income tax return each year. These taxes can be auto-deducted if you make the request.
Can I collect OAS payments while living abroad?
Yes, you can receive OAS while living elsewhere as long as you lived in Canada for at least 20 years after age 18, or you lived and worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada.
Does OAS have spousal benefits?
Unfortunately, no, there are no spousal benefits associated with OAS for Canadians. However, GIS Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor are other spousal benefits that do provide assistance for spouses of GIS recipients or former recipients.
Who needs to apply for OAS benefits?
If you don't receive a letter from Service Canada shortly after your 64th birthday to inform you that you've been registered for OAS, you'll need to apply yourself by logging into My Service Canada and filling out a form.
Can I collect OAS payments while working?
Yes, you can collect OAS benefit payments no matter your employment status, as long as you're 65 or older. Some prefer to defer their OAS benefits until after they've retired, but this isn't required.
What is the monthly OAS payment at age 65?
Qualifying OAS recipients between the ages of 65 and 74 will receive a max payment of $727.67 each month. This amount increases to $800.44 per month for qualifying recipients who are age 75 and up.
How much will OAS increase in 2024 Canada per month?
Based on CPI change, OAS benefit payments increased by 1.3% from October to December 2024. That’s a 2.8% total increase from 2023. If you’re asking how much your individual payments increase per month you delay, it’s 0.6% to a max of 60 months.
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