Old Age Security (OAS)
Old Age Security
A federal pension paid from age 65 based on your years in Canada, whether or not you worked.
The 2026 numbers
- $751.97
- Maximum per month, ages 65 to 74 (July to September 2026)
- 40
- Years in Canada after 18 for the full pension
- $95,323
- 2026 net income where repayment starts
Numbers checked against the official sources on September 29, 2026.
What it’s for
- A base income in retirement, adjusted for inflation.
- It comes on top of the or , your workplace pensions and your savings.
Who it’s for
- People 65 and older who lived in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18.
- With a high income, you pay part or all of it back.
How it works
Full pension after 40 years in Canada after 18; otherwise, 1/40 of the maximum for each year you lived here (minimum 10 years).
Maximum: $751.97 a month from 65 to 74 and $827.17 from 75 (a 10% increase), for July to September 2026. Amounts are reviewed every quarter.
Delaying past 65 raises it by 0.6% a month, up to 36% at 70.
Above a net income of $95,323, you repay 15% of the excess: the OAS recovery tax, or “clawback”.
An example
Moved to Canada at 45
At 65, Nadia will have lived in Canada for 20 years after turning 18.
- Years that count
- 20 of 40
- Her OAS per month, ages 65 to 74
- $375.99
Another case: with $100,000 of net income, you’re $4,677 over the threshold and repay $702 of OAS for the year.
Fictional example, round numbers.
Common mistakes
- Assuming it’s all automatic: Service Canada enrols many people on its own, but not everyone. Read the letter you get before 65.
- Making big or withdrawals in the same year: they can push you over the repayment threshold.
- Delaying without doing the math: it only pays off if you don’t need that money in the meantime.
In Huard & Co
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General information to help you understand, not personalized advice. Rules change: every number links to its official source.