The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a federally funded social benefit paid to low-income Canadian seniors 65 years or older.
Tips & Links
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is available to Old Age Security (OAS) pensioners (65 years or older) with low income. It is a monthly, non-taxable benefit that supports seniors to help meet their basic needs.
Learn About
- Know that if you are eligible, you should receive a letter one month after you turn 64, stating when you may receive your first payment. This process is the same as the process to receive your OAS. In some cases, you may have to apply.
- Learn more about the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) eligibility, benefit amount, and the application process from the Government of Canada.
- Talk to your financial planner or qualified care partners about eligibility criteria and other benefits you might be able to receive. Learn about benefits for people on income assistance from the Government of BC.
How to Apply
- To apply for GIS create your My Service Canada Account at any age. You need to provide personal information such as your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, and other identifying details to verify your identity. Once your account is created and verified, you can log into your account to view your CPP, EI, and OAS information, update your personal details, and access other online services offered by Service Canada.
Explore Other Benefits
- Understand that Wayfinder is an online tool provided by the Canadian government to help people with disabilities and their families navigate various federal and provincial programs and services. It is specifically aimed at helping individuals with disabilities find the support they need in areas like health care, financial assistance, and community services. Whereas the Benefits Finder is broader and not limited to individuals with disabilities—it helps all Canadians find benefits they might be eligible for, based on their personal circumstances. See the list of benefits offered by the Government of Canada.
- Explore the Benefits Finder to learn more about publicly funded benefits and those you might be eligible to receive.
- Know that having a chronic health condition, dependent on your physical and mental health capacity, may also qualify you for disability benefits such as the Disability Tax Credit, Registered Disability Savings Plan, and Canadian Pension Plan-Disability.
- Learn about benefits specifically design for people with disabilities (including people with limiting chronic health conditions) by using the Disability-Benefits-Compass from Prosper Canada.
- Check out the government of Canada Retirement Hub to learn about how to plan for, apply, and manage your public benefits.
- Use the Canadian Retirement Income Calculator to learn about some of your potential retirement income by combining your expected OAS pension and CPP Disability pension.
- Work with an accountant to ensure your income tax is filed every year. Know that an income tax assessment is required for most government benefits and services.
If you have a chronic health condition or disability, explore all available pensions and benefits early to support your financial and lifestyle plans while managing your health. Mywell Health lists potential benefits under My Financial Plan, with more details in the resource kit.
Tools & Videos
Categories: My Financial Plan, Senior
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