Guaranteed Income Supplement calculator
Enter your situation and last year’s income without OAS to see the monthly GIS paid on top of your Old Age Security pension.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
From October to December 2026 the Guaranteed Income Supplement pays up to $1,138.90 a month to a single, widowed or divorced Old Age Security pensioner whose income, OAS excluded, stays under $23,112 a year. The amount depends on the household. When the spouse also receives OAS, each partner can get up to $685.56, and the supplement ends once the couple’s combined income reaches $30,528. When the spouse receives the Allowance, the pensioner’s ceiling is the same $685.56 but the combined cut-off rises to $42,768. When the spouse gets neither benefit, the pensioner can receive up to $1,138.90 and keeps some GIS until combined income hits $55,392. Income means the previous year’s income as assessed by the CRA: CPP, workplace pensions, RRIF withdrawals, interest and wages, after the employment exemption of $5,000 plus half of earnings up to $15,000. The GIS is not taxable and its amounts are raised each quarter.
GIS per month, October to December 2026
$681.67
on top of the OAS pension
| Income counted after the work exemption | $8,000 |
| Basic supplement | $629.67 |
| Top-up | $52.00 |
| Maximum for this situation | $1,138.90 |
Model fitted to Service Canada’s quarterly table: exact at the maximum and at each published threshold, within about a dollar a month in between. Estimate only: the CRA, Service Canada or your province sets the amount actually paid.
What the calculator works out
It returns the monthly GIS for October to December 2026, split into the basic supplement and the top-up reserved for the lowest incomes, for the four situations of the ESDC quarterly table. Employment and self-employment income goes through the exemption before the threshold test, so a part-time job weighs less than the same amount of pension. To qualify you must be 65 or older, receive the OAS pension, live in Canada and not be under a sponsorship agreement (Service Canada eligibility page).
Typical cases, monthly GIS
| Income without OAS | Single | Spouse with OAS (each) | Spouse with Allowance | Spouse without OAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $1,138.90 | $685.56 | $685.56 | $1,138.90 |
| $4,000 | $931.67 | $602.67 | $685.56 | $1,138.90 |
| $8,000 | $681.67 | $477.67 | $643.89 | $1,097.23 |
| $12,000 | $463.00 | $386.00 | $635.56 | $997.67 |
| $16,000 | $296.33 | $302.67 | $557.67 | $872.67 |
| $20,000 | $129.67 | $219.33 | $474.33 | $747.67 |
| $25,000 | $0.00 | $115.17 | $370.17 | $633.17 |
| $30,000 | $0.00 | $11.00 | $266.00 | $529.00 |
| $40,000 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $57.67 | $320.67 |
For couples, the income in the first column is the combined income of both partners. In the third column the pensioner’s GIS stays near its ceiling over a wide range, while the spouse’s Allowance is the amount that falls. The couples guide works through each case.
Maximum and cut-off, quarter by quarter
| Quarter | Single: maximum | Single: cut-off | Spouse with OAS: maximum | Couple cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. to Mar. | $1,108.74 | $22,488 | $667.41 | $29,712 |
| Apr. to June | $1,109.85 | $22,512 | $668.08 | $29,760 |
| July to Sept. | $1,123.17 | $22,800 | $676.09 | $30,096 |
| Oct. to Dec. | $1,138.90 | $23,112 | $685.56 | $30,528 |
What it does not do
It does not handle couples who live apart for reasons beyond their control, such as long-term care, which Service Canada asks recipients to report and which can change the amount. It does not estimate the Ontario GAINS top-up or other provincial supplements, and it ignores sponsorship exceptions. Large RRIF withdrawals count as income the following year: the RRIF and GIS guide shows the effect. File your return by April 30 each year to keep payments flowing (Service Canada, receiving the GIS).