OAS payment amounts for 2026
The maximum OAS pension for October to December 2026 is $762.50 a month at ages 65 to 74 and $838.75 a month at 75 and over. Service Canada reviews the amount every three months, so it can change four times a year.
Last updated
| Period | Ages 65 to 74 | 75 and over |
|---|---|---|
| January to March 2026 | $742.31 | $816.54 |
| April to June 2026 | $743.05 | $817.36 |
| July to September 2026 | $751.97 | $827.17 |
| October to December 2026 | $762.50 | $838.75 |
| January to March 2027 | Not yet announced. Expected December 2026. | |
OAS changes every quarter
Most retirement figures are set once a year. OAS is different. Service Canada reviews it in January, April, July, and October and raises it when the Consumer Price Index has gone up. It does not reduce the pension when prices fall.
That is why a single figure for 2026 is always an approximation. The amount for January to March 2026 was $742.31. By October to December 2026 it was $762.50.
Who receives the maximum
The amounts above are for someone with 40 years of residence in Canada after age 18. With fewer years the pension is prorated: years lived in Canada divided by 40. Someone with 30 years receives 30/40 of the maximum, which for October to December 2026 is $571.88 a month at ages 65 to 74.
The higher amount at 75 is automatic. It starts the month after your 75th birthday and is a permanent 10% increase. OAS is also taxable income, and it is reduced through the recovery tax once net income passes an annual threshold.
Deferring OAS past 65
You can delay the start of OAS for up to five years. Each month of delay adds 0.6% to the pension for life, up to 36% at age 70.
| Start age | Increase | Maximum monthly pension, ages 65 to 74 |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | None | $762.50 |
| 66 | +7.2% | $817.40 |
| 67 | +14.4% | $872.30 |
| 68 | +21.6% | $927.20 |
| 69 | +28.8% | $982.10 |
| 70 | +36.0% | $1,037.00 |
The last column is arithmetic on the October to December 2026 maximum. Deferring OAS does not increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and you cannot receive the supplement while OAS is deferred.
Common questions
How much is OAS per month in 2026?
For October to December 2026 the maximum OAS pension is $762.50 a month at ages 65 to 74 and $838.75 a month at 75 and over. The amount is reviewed every three months.
How often does OAS increase?
Service Canada reviews OAS every January, April, July, and October against the Consumer Price Index. The amount goes up when the cost of living rises and does not go down when it falls.
How much does OAS go up at 75?
The OAS pension increases by 10% automatically in the month after your 75th birthday. For October to December 2026 that is $838.75 a month, compared with $762.50 at 65 to 74.
How much more OAS do I get if I defer to 70?
OAS increases by 0.6% for every month you delay after 65, which is 7.2% a year. Waiting until 70 is the maximum, a 36% increase. There is no benefit to waiting past 70.
Does everyone get the maximum OAS?
No. The full pension needs 40 years of residence in Canada after age 18. With fewer years you receive a partial pension equal to your years in Canada divided by 40, and you need at least 10 years to qualify while living in Canada.
Run your own numbers
- CPP and OAS breakeven calculatorCompare starting OAS at 65 with deferring to any age up to 70.
- Retirement income calculatorSee how OAS fits with CPP, savings, and other income.
Related reading
Sources
- Service Canada: Old Age Security payment amounts (current quarter)Retrieved
- ESDC: Maximum benefit amounts, January to March 2026Retrieved
- ESDC: Maximum benefit amounts, April to June 2026Retrieved
- ESDC: Maximum benefit amounts, July to September 2026Retrieved
- ESDC: Maximum benefit amounts, October to December 2026Retrieved
- Service Canada: How much Old Age Security you could receiveRetrieved
- Service Canada: When to start your OAS pensionRetrieved
Loonie Nest provides financial education, not financial, tax, or legal advice. The official source governs if a figure here differs from it.