GIS Payment Amounts Canada 2026
The current GIS payment amounts Canada pays in 2026 — the Guaranteed Income Supplement maximum and income cut-off for every marital situation, plus the Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor for people aged 60 to 64.
Last updated: July 2026 · Service Canada · Amounts for July to September 2026
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How to Read This Table
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is a monthly top-up for people already receiving OAS whose income is low. Unlike OAS it is not taxable, and unlike CPP it depends entirely on income rather than contributions. Which row applies to you is decided by your marital situation and, if you have a partner, by your combined income rather than yours alone. Read across: find your situation, check that your income sits under the threshold, and the right-hand column is the most you could receive. GIS reduces as income rises, so the maximum goes to those with the least other income.
July to September 2026
GIS maximum, single: $1,123.17/month · Allowance: $1,428.06 · Allowance for the Survivor: $1,702.34 · All three are tax-free
GIS Maximum Amounts and Income Thresholds 2026
| Your situation | Annual income must be under | Maximum monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Single, widowed or divorced | $22,800 | $1,123.17 |
| Partner receives a full OAS pension | $30,096 (combined) | $676.09 |
| Partner receives the Allowance | $42,144 (combined) | $676.09 |
| Partner receives neither OAS nor the Allowance | $54,624 (combined) | $1,123.17 |
Note the fourth row: if your partner receives no OAS pension of their own, you are treated much like a single person for GIS purposes and can receive the full maximum, on a considerably higher combined-income ceiling. This is the row most couples overlook.
The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor
Two smaller benefits bridge the gap for people aged 60 to 64 — too young for OAS, but living in a low-income household affected by it. Both require at least 10 years of residence in Canada since age 18, Canadian citizenship or legal residence, and neither is taxable.
| Benefit | Annual income must be under | Maximum monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance — partner receives GIS and a full OAS pension | $42,144 (combined) | $1,428.06 |
| Allowance for the Survivor — partner has died, not remarried | $30,696 | $1,702.34 |
Understanding Your GIS Payment
GIS exists to lift the lowest-income seniors above a floor, so the design is deliberately steep: the maximum goes to those with essentially no income beyond OAS, and it tapers away as other income arrives. That taper is why an RRSP withdrawal or a part-time job can cost a GIS recipient more than it first appears — the extra income is taxed and shrinks a tax-free benefit at the same time. For someone on the full supplement this is one of the highest effective marginal rates in the Canadian system.
Three conditions are easy to trip over. You must actually be receiving OAS — which is why deferring your OAS pension past 65 is the wrong move if you qualify for GIS, since deferring the pension defers the supplement with it. You must live in Canada; unlike OAS, GIS stops after an extended absence. And you must be free of a sponsorship agreement, which excludes some sponsored immigrants during the sponsorship period.
Finally, GIS is re-determined every year from your tax return, which makes filing non-negotiable even with no tax owing. File late and payments can be interrupted; file on time and the renewal is automatic, with amounts recalculated each July. Because GIS is not taxable it does not appear as income on your return, and it is excluded from the income that determines the OAS recovery tax — a household on GIS is nowhere near those thresholds in any case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is GIS per month in 2026?
For the July to September 2026 quarter the maximum is $1,123.17 a month for a single, widowed or divorced person with income under $22,800. Couples where both partners receive OAS have a lower maximum of $676.09 each, on a combined income under $30,096. These are maximums — the actual amount falls as income rises.
Is GIS taxable?
No. GIS, the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are all non-taxable and are not counted as income. The OAS pension underneath them is taxable, which is why a low-income senior can receive both a taxable and a tax-free payment in the same deposit.
Can I get GIS if I have not applied for OAS?
No. GIS is only paid alongside an OAS pension, so your OAS must be started and active. This is the single strongest argument against deferring OAS to 70 for anyone with a low income — waiting increases the eventual pension but gives up GIS entirely in the meantime.
Do I need to reapply for GIS each year?
Not if you file your tax return. Entitlement is recalculated annually from your return and renews automatically, with new amounts taking effect each July. Failing to file is the most common reason GIS payments stop unexpectedly.
Related pages:
📋 Rates verified — Official sources: Service Canada — OAS and GIS payment amounts · Service Canada — Guaranteed Income Supplement
⚠️ This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. KnowMyGovt is an independent service with no affiliation with or endorsement by Service Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency or the Government of Canada, and is not responsible for decisions you make based on it.
