Pension
benefits

Streamlined pension benefit processes

Together, Canada’s public pensions, namely the Old Age Security program (OAS) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), assist in providing income security to seniors, persons will disabilities and survivors. Accessing these benefits needs to be simple, seamless and timely. We’re making that happen through improvements to pension benefits processes.

Expanded automatic enrolment for OAS and GIS

Since 2013, eligible Canadians have been sent letters advising them they will be automatically enrolled for their OAS pension, saving them the time and effort of having to manually apply — and ensuring that people receive the benefits to which they’re entitled. In December 2017, this auto-enrolment was expanded to include the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Now more than half of people turning 65 are enrolled automatically for the OAS pension and the GIS.

Combined OAS and GIS application testing

For people who aren’t eligible for OAS and GIS auto-enrolment, we implemented a combined OAS and GIS application in August 2018 to simplify the process and ensure that seniors receive all the benefits they are entitled to.

More CPP and OAS services available online

Canadians have more and more services related to CPP and OAS available online, including applying for their CPP retirement pension, deferring their OAS/GIS pension, and viewing and updating their personal information through their My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

Retirement benefits made easy

As a senior living on a fixed income, you want to be sure you’re getting all the financial benefits to which you’re entitled. In the past, you would have had to apply to receive OAS and GIS benefits — and if you weren’t sure how, or if there was an issue with your application, your benefits could have been delayed.

Now, as soon as you turn 64, if Service Canada has sufficient information to confirm your entitlement, you’ll get a letter in the mail to let you know you’re automatically enrolled for OAS and GIS — no effort needed on your part.