The Allowance Allowance for the Survivor - Old Age Security
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Old Age
Security
June 2003
The Allowance
and the
Allowance for
the Survivor
ISPB 124-06-03ETable of Contents
Page
The Old Age Security program 1
The Allowance and the
Allowance for the survivor 3
Qualifying for the Allowance or
the Allowance for the survivor 4
This booklet on the Allowance and the Allowance Applying for the Allowance and
for the survivor contains general information only. the Allowance for the survivor 6
In case of disputes, the wording and provisions
of the Old Age Security Act and Regulations prevail. How we calculate your benefits 10
Available in alternative formats Receiving the Allowance and
Produced by: the Allowance for the survivor 13
Human Resources Development Canada
Income Security Programs Renewing your benefits 18
Communications
Filing your income tax and
June 2003 benefit return 19
Online: www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca Appealing a decision 19
For additional copies of this publication, Protecting your privacy 20
please write or fax us at:
Enquiries Centre Other public retirement benefits 22
Human Resources Development Canada
Hull, QC Contact Us 24
K1A 0J9
Fax: (819) 953-7260
Please ask for catalogue number:
ISPB 124-06-03E
Aussi disponible en français sous le titre
L’Allocation et l’Allocation au survivant
ISPB 124-06-03F
Cat. No. H76-55/1999E
ISPB 124-06-03EThe Old Age
Security program
The Old Age Security (OAS) program is
the cornerstone of Canada’s retirement
income system. It is best known for
its monthly pension for people 65
and older.
OAS is different from the Canada
Pension Plan (CPP). The CPP is
funded through contributions paid by
workers and employers, and provides
benefits to workers and their families.
The OAS is funded from general
government revenues.
OAS and the CPP combine with
company pensions and private
retirement investments to provide
Canadians with one of the best
retirement income systems in
the world.
This booklet describes the Allowance
and the Allowance for the survivor.
1The OAS also offers:
The Old Age Security pension The Allowance and
The Old Age Security pension is paid
each month to most people over 65
the Allowance for
who meet the residence requirements. the survivor
For more information, see the booklet
Old Age Security Pension.
The Allowance and the Allowance
The Guaranteed Income Supplement for the survivor are benefits for seniors
The Guaranteed Income Supplement aged 60 to 64 with low or modest
provides extra money to pensioners incomes. They are designed to bridge
with low or modest incomes. To qualify the gap until these people become
for the Supplement, you must also be eligible for the OAS pension. To receive
receiving the Old Age Security pension. the Allowance or the Allowance for
For more information, see the booklet the survivor, you must meet the
Guaranteed Income Supplement. requirements described later in
this booklet.
What is a spouse?
What is a common-law partner?
For the purposes of OAS, a “spouse”
is a person of the opposite sex to
whom you are legally married. A
common-law partner is a person of
the same or opposite sex with whom
you have been living in a conjugal
relationship for at least one year.
2 3QUALIFYING FOR THE ALLOWANCE OR If you have not lived in Canada for at
least 10 years since you turned 18, but
THE ALLOWANCE FOR THE SURVIVOR have lived or worked in a country that
You may qualify for the Allowance has an international social security
if you have a low or modest income agreement with Canada, you may still
and your spouse or common-law qualify. Call us for more information.
partner receives or is eligible for the
Guaranteed Income Supplement. Can I qualify if I applied before
and was turned down?
You may qualify for the Allowance
If you have previously applied for
for the survivor if your spouse or
the Allowance or the Allowance for
common-law partner has died. (In
the survivor (formerly the Spouse’s
the case of same-sex couples, you
Allowance and the Widowed Spouse’s
may qualify for the Allowance for the
Allowance) but did not qualify, you
survivor if your partner died on or
can apply again. Your circumstances
after January 1, 1998.)
or income may have changed and you
In addition, to qualify for the may qualify now.
Allowance or the Allowance for
Also, since July 1, 2000, changes to
the survivor, you must:
the legislation have made same-sex
1. be 60 to 64 years old; common-law partners eligible for
the Allowance.
2. be a Canadian citizen or legal
resident when your benefit is If you think you may now be eligible,
approved (or have been one when call us at the toll-free number on
you last lived in Canada); and page 24.
3. have lived in Canada for at least
10 years after turning 18.
To receive the Allowance, you
must not be divorced or voluntarily
separated from your spouse or
common-law partner for more
than three months.
4 5APPLYING FOR THE ALLOWANCE AND Can I apply on behalf of someone
else?
THE ALLOWANCE FOR THE SURVIVOR
Normally, individuals must apply for
How do I get an application kit? the Allowance and the Allowance for
Normally, we will send you an the survivor on their own behalf. If you
application kit when our records show are applying for someone else, please
that you may be eligible for the contact us for more information.
Allowance. You should complete the
application and return it to us as soon What documents will I need
as possible. Since there are restrictions to provide?
on retroactive payments, you could Depending on your situation, you
lose some benefits if you don’t apply will have to provide some or all of
right away. the following documents:
If your spouse or common-law Seniors with a spouse Seniors whose spouse
partner has died, please contact us or common-law or common-law
(see page 24). We will send you an partner who receives partner has died
application kit for the Allowance for or is eligible for the
Guaranteed Income
the survivor. Again, you should Supplement
complete and return it quickly. If you
do not apply right away, you may miss • Birth/baptismal • Birth/baptismal
some benefits. certificate certificate
• Marriage certificate/ • Marriage certificate/
If you haven’t received an application statutory declaration statutory declaration
kit, but you think you may qualify for and proof of and proof of
the Allowance or the Allowance for cohabitation cohabitation
the survivor, please contact us (see • Citizenship/ • Citizenship/
page 24). immigration immigration
documents documents
• Death certificate
What if I need help? of spouse or
If you need help completing your appli- common-law partner
cation, please call us. A service agent
will answer your questions or make an
appointment for you to come in to one
of our offices to meet with an agent.
6 7Birth or baptismal certificate — Couples married outside Canada —
Normally, you have to submit a birth or If you don’t know how to get a copy
baptismal certificate to prove that you of your marriage certificate, call us.
are between 60 and 64 years of age. You
do not have to send these documents if Common-law relationships — You
you have already applied for a Canada must provide a statutory declaration
Pension Plan benefit and provided that gives the date when you and your
us with proof of your age at that time. partner began living together. Call us
If you cannot obtain one of these for a copy of this form and for help to
certificates, call us for information complete the declaration.
about other documents that you may
be able to use instead. You must also provide objective proof
that you and your partner have been
Marriage certificate or statutory living in a conjugal or marriage-like
declaration and proof of cohabitation relationship for at least 12 months.
— If you are married, you must provide Some examples of documents that
a marriage certificate. Common-law you could use are listed below. The
couples must sign a “statutory documents you choose should
declaration” and prove that they have indicate your marital status or give
been living together for at least one your shared address.
year. See below for more details.
Documents you can use to prove cohabitation:
Couples married in Canada — If you • tax returns
don’t have your marriage certificate,
• Guaranteed Income Supplement applications
there are two ways to get it:
• joint bank accounts
• You can get a certificate from the • wills
institution in which you were • investments
married.
• bills
• You can contact the Registrar of
Vital Statistics in the capital city of
the province or territory in which If you have any questions about proving
you were married. your common-law relationship, please
call us.
8 9Citizenship or immigration Maximum monthly
documents — If you were not born benefit (January –
in Canada, you must prove your legal March 2003)
status in Canada by showing us your
Allowance $804.31
citizenship or immigration documents.
If you have not lived continuously in Allowance for the
Canada since the age of 18, you must survivor $887.98
submit proof of all the dates when you
arrived in or left Canada. Usually, you
do this with a passport. Most seniors get less than the
maximum amounts because they have
The application kit contains more income from other sources.
detailed information about these
requirements. What do you consider to be income?
When applying for the Allowance or
the Allowance for the survivor, you
HOW WE CALCULATE YOUR BENEFITS must report the following income:
The Allowance is based on your income
for the previous year plus that of your • Canada Pension Plan or Quebec
spouse or common-law partner. The Pension Plan benefits
Allowance for the survivor is based on • private pension income and
your previous year’s income. superannuation
The following chart shows the • foreign pension income
maximum monthly benefits you • RRSPs that you cashed
can receive as of January 1, 2003.
• Employment Insurance benefits
Benefits are based on annual income,
excluding the Old Age Security pension • interest on any savings
and the Guaranteed Income • any capital gains or dividends
Supplement.
• income from any rental properties
These amounts may rise four times per • any employment income
year to keep up with inflation.
• income from other sources
10 11Old Age Security pension payments you remarry, your Allowance for the
and Guaranteed Income Supplement survivor will end. It will also end if you
benefits do not count as income. live in a common-law relationship for
Consult the application form for at least one year. You must notify us
more details about what to include of any changes.
as income.
What happens if my/our income RECEIVING THE ALLOWANCE AND
drops? THE ALLOWANCE FOR THE SURVIVOR
In some situations, such as when
you stop working or when your When will my benefits begin?
other pension income drops, we can Once we approve your application,
calculate your benefits by estimating your Allowance will begin the month
your income for this year, instead of after one of these dates, whichever
using last year’s income. If you or your is latest:
spouse or common-law partner have a
lower income this year, you should let • your 60th birthday; or
us know. Your benefits may increase. • when you meet the residence and
income requirements; or
What if we separate? • when your spouse or common-law
If you and your spouse or common- partner qualifies for the Guaranteed
law partner separate voluntarily Income Supplement.
for more than three months, your
Allowance will end. If you and your If you apply for the Allowance or the
spouse are separated for reasons Allowance for the survivor sometime
beyond your control (for example, after becoming eligible for benefits,
if one of you has to live in a hospital you can receive a retroactive payment
or nursing home), please call us for of up to 11 months in addition to
more information. a payment for the month in which
you apply.
What if I remarry?
You qualified for the Allowance for
the survivor because your spouse
or common-law partner died. If
12 13When will my payments arrive? Personal information
Payments usually arrive in the last • your social insurance number
three banking days of each month. • your telephone number, including
If your payment is more than a week the area code
late, or if you lose it, please call us.
• your current home address,
Can you send the payment to my including the postal code
bank?
Yes. We can deposit your payment into Banking information
your bank account through our direct • the name of your bank or financial
deposit service. Although payment by institution
cheque is still possible, direct deposit • the branch number of your bank
offers several advantages:
• your account number
• Your deposit is always on time and
you can immediately start using the If you have a chequing account,
money or earning interest. you can find the bank information
on your cheques.
• Your payment is never lost, stolen
or damaged. What happens if I move?
• Your payment is automatically If you are planning to move, please tell
deposited into your account if you us your new address and postal code
are ill or away. as soon as possible. This will allow us
to update our records and make sure
Call us to learn more about this free your payment gets to you on time.
service. If you wish to sign up for the Even if your payments are deposited
service by telephone, be sure to have directly into your bank account, we
the following information when you need to know your new address so we
call: can send you information and your
yearly income tax slip or renewal form.
14 15Can I receive my Allowance or Can my benefits stop?
Allowance for the survivor benefits We stop paying the Allowance and the
outside Canada? Allowance for the survivor if one of the
The Government of Canada designed following occurs:
the Allowance and the Allowance for
the survivor to support low-income • You do not reapply for the benefit for
seniors living in Canada. If you spend the coming year.
more than six months in a row outside • Your income, or the total income
Canada, we will make payments for the of you and your spouse or common-
month you leave and for six months law partner, is above a certain level.
after that. Then payments will stop.
• You leave Canada for more than six
For example, if you left Canada in months in a row (see page 16).
January, we would send payments until • If you qualified for the Allowance
the end of July. After July, the payments for the survivor because your spouse
would stop. or common-law partner died, then
you remarry or begin living in a
If you stay outside Canada for a longer common-law relationship.
period, then return, you can always
reapply when you come back to live in And, of course, your benefits will end if
Canada. Whether you live in Canada or you die.
abroad, the payments will be made in
Canadian dollars. What happens if my spouse or
partner dies?
Will I get cost-of-living increases? If you are receiving the Allowance
We will increase your pension and your spouse or common-law
payments to reflect increases in the partner dies, you will be switched to
cost of living as measured by the the Allowance for the survivor. Your
Consumer Price Index. We apply any benefits will then be calculated on
increases every three months – in the basis of your income alone.
January, April, July and October.
Your monthly payment will not go
down if the cost of living falls.
16 17What happens when I turn 65? from us, you must complete and return
At the age of 65, most people who it as soon as you have all the necessary
receive the Allowance or the Allowance income information.
for the survivor have their benefit
automatically changed to an Old Age Each July, you will receive a letter that
Security pension. At this point you tells you the amount of your new
may also be eligible for the Guaranteed monthly payment.
Income Supplement. See the booklets
Old Age Security Pension and If you do not reapply for the Allowance
Guaranteed Income Supplement or the Allowance for the survivor in
for more information. the spring, or if your income is higher
than a certain level, your payments will
end in July of that year. Your benefits
RENEWING YOUR BENEFITS will also stop when you reach 65 and
become eligible for the Old Age
The Allowance and the Allowance for Security pension.
the survivor are based on annual
income. Since your income can change
from year to year, you must renew your FILING YOUR INCOME TAX AND
application for these benefits each year.
BENEFIT RETURN
In most cases, you can renew your Neither the Allowance nor the
Allowance or your Allowance for the Allowance for the survivor is considered
survivor when you file your income taxable income. However, you must
tax return. If you file your income tax still report them on your tax return.
and benefit return by the April 30th
deadline, the Canada Customs and
Revenue Agency will give us the APPEALING A DECISION
income information we require.
If you disagree with a decision that
If you do not file an income tax and affects your Allowance or Allowance
benefit return, or if we need more for the survivor, you have the right to
information, we will send you a an explanation.
renewal form. If you receive a form
18 19Call us first and we can usually settle of your records. Personal information
the matter. If you are not satisfied with in your file cannot be given to other
our response, you can request a agencies or individuals without your
“reconsideration.” To do this, you must consent.
send a letter to the Regional Director
of Income Security Programs as soon The Access to Information Act also
as possible after receiving notice of prevents the release of information
our decision. You can call us for the about you without your consent.
mailing address for your region or look There are two exceptions: information
up the address on our Web site. can be released if it has already been
made public or if the release is allowed
In your letter, tell the Regional under the Privacy Act. The government
Director: can use information only for the
purpose for which it was collected,
• your name; except to comply with a warrant or
• your address; subpoena or to enforce a law.
• your social insurance number; and
Can I have access to information
• your reason(s) for requesting a on my file?
reconsideration. You have the right to review
information about you that is kept on
If you are not satisfied with the file by the Government of Canada.
Regional Director’s response, you
can appeal the decision to a Review To help Canadians find information
Tribunal. about themselves, the Government of
Canada publishes Info Source: Sources
of Federal Government Information.
PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY
Your privacy is protected by law. To make a request, you must fill out
an information request form. These
The Old Age Security Act and forms and Info Source are available in
Regulations ensure that only specific government offices open to the public,
agencies authorized by the Minister such as Human Resources Development
of Human Resources Development Canada offices. They are also available
are entitled to review the relevant parts at public libraries, at most rural post
20 21offices, at Canadian missions abroad For more information on the Quebec
and on the Internet. You can find Pension Plan, contact:
the Info Source Web site at: La Régie des rentes du Québec
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/ P.O. Box 5200
gospubs/forms/priv-request-frm_e.doc Québec, QC G1K 7S9
Employment Insurance
OTHER PUBLIC RETIREMENT BENEFITS You may be eligible for benefits under
If you contributed to either the the Employment Insurance program.
Canada Pension Plan or the Quebec Please contact your local Human
Pension Plan in at least one year since Resources office.
January 1966, you may be eligible for
a retirement pension at the age of 65. War Veterans Allowances
You may also be entitled to benefits
If you have retired or substantially from other federal programs such
reduced your hours of work, you as War Veterans Allowances. Contact
could qualify for a reduced retirement Veterans Affairs Canada for more
pension as early as the age of 60 if you information.
have made sufficient contributions.
Disability and survivor benefits are Provincial and municipal programs
also available under both plans if Your provincial and municipal
sufficient contributions have been governments may offer income
made. assistance and services to seniors.
For more information, please contact
You must apply to receive any of these these governments directly.
benefits.
Call us for more information about the
Canada Pension Plan.
22 23Old Age Security
Contact Us • Old Age Security Pension
• Guaranteed Income Supplement
By telephone (toll free)*
1 800 277-9914 General
If you use a TTY machine • Canada’s Retirement Income System
1 800 255-4786 • Overview (of the Canada Pension
On the Internet or by e-mail, Plan and Old Age Security programs)
please visit Summaries and fact sheets on
www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/isp social security agreements are also
available.
* Our lines are busiest at the beginning and
end of the month. If your enquiry can wait,
it’s best to call at other times. Please have
your social insurance number ready.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS (available in print
and/or online)
Canada Pension Plan
• Annual Report
• Retirement Pension
• Disability Benefits
• Survivor Benefits
• Disability Vocational Rehabilitation
Program
• Credit Splitting upon Divorce or
Separation
24 25Notes
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