Learn how much you can get

The amount you can get from Old Age Security (OAS) depends on how long you've lived in Canada when you turn 65 years old.

Getting a full pension

Usually, you can get the full or maximum amount from OAS if you lived in Canada for at least 40 years since you were 18 years old.

Even if you haven't lived in Canada for at least 40 years, you may be able to get the full amount if:

• you were over the age of 25 on July 1, 1977, and
• at or before that time, you lived in Canada with legal status. For example, you have legal status if you're a permanent resident or protected person, or if you have a Temporary Resident Permit.

Getting part of the amount

You can usually get a partial pension if you've lived in Canada for at least 10 years:

• since you were 18 years old, and
• at the time of your application.

You may also be eligible for a partial OAS pension if you:

• lived in Canada for one full year, and
• lived or worked for enough years in a country that Canada has a social security agreement with.

The amount of your partial monthly pension is 1/40, which is 2.5%, of the full monthly pension, for each year you lived in Canada since you were 18 years old.

For example, when you're approved for OAS, if you've lived in Canada for 25 years since the age of 18, you'll get 25/40, which is 62.5%, of the full monthly pension amount.

Changes to the amount you get

The amount of your OAS pension changes 4 times a year. This happens in January, April, July, and October, and is based on the Consumer Price Index.

The current OAS amounts are online.

Taxable income

OAS is taxable income. This means that you may have to pay taxes on it and include it as income on your income tax return.