Guide to Government of Canada services for seniors and their families

The Government of Canada provides a number of services for seniors and their families. A comfortable retirement may require a certain amount of money. People who choose early retirement can have a fulfilling life in some of Canada's most alluring retirement locations. But for others it’s important to know about the benefits and services that government provides.

What are the main benefits/services?

The federal government offers the following three main pensions and benefits:
Canada/Quebec Pension Plan (CPP/QPP)
Old Age Security (OAS) pension 
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) 

A person's total retirement income is correlated with their CPP and OAS benefits, which together make up around 40% of their retirement income. They so make up the first and second pillars of Canada's framework for retirement income.
Canada/Quebec Pension Plan (CPP/QPP)

In order to be eligible for CPP payouts, contributions paid at the government-specified annual rate during one's working years are required. This contributing programme is available starting at age 60 and continuing into older years.

Although one can start a CPP claim at age 60, the full pension benefits are only paid out to people aged 65 and above. The length of their employment and contributions, the total amount of their and the employer's contributions, and the age at which they intend to apply for their CPP pension determine how much of a pension they are eligible for.

The CPP retirement pension also offers several additional benefits to senior individuals including CPP Post-Retirement Benefits (PRB), CPP Survivor Benefits, CPP Death Benefit, and International Pension Benefits.

Old Age Security (OAS) pension
Old Age Security (OAS) is a monthly payment made to people 65 and older who are Canadian citizens or have permanent status in Canada. OAS does not require prior employment history or pension plan contributions. The only requirement is that one should have spent at least ten years of their adult life living in Canada.

OAS payment is divided up according to how long one has been a resident of Canada after turning 18.

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
The OAS project and the GIS programme are similar, although there are a few subtle differences. It entails an additional payment that low-income Canadian seniors can get.

Specific requirements must be met in order to qualify for the GIS. The main criteria are residence in Canada, current OAS beneficiary status, and an annual income below the government-specified minimum income criterion. The combined income with a person's spouse determines their eligibility.

Benefits for spouse or common-law partner

A spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to receive the Allowance benefit if:
-They are between the ages of 60 and 64.
-They have legal residency or Canadian citizenship.
-They reside in Canada and have done so for at least ten years, beginning with the year they turned 18.
-The couple's combined annual income is less than the allowance's maximum annual income cap.