Pensions and Income - FAQ

I receive the Old Age Pension and Supplement (OAS and GIS). My cheque is usually about $1000 per month. Last month my cheque was only $479.00.Why did this happen and what can I do about it?

This likely happened because your income changed last year, or you did not file your income tax return this past year. If you are receiving the Old Age Pension and Supplement, and you file your tax return in April, your pension will be continued if there has been no change in your income. If there was a change in your income then the Supplement portion will be automatically adjusted. If your income is too high then you will receive the Old Age Pension ($479.07 in October of 2008) but no Supplement or a smaller amount for the Supplement. You may have had a change in income if you cashed in an RRSP or RRIF, or you began to receive a pension or income from some other source. You may also lose the Supplement part of your pension if you do not file your income tax return or you have been living outside of Canada for more than 6 months. If you lose part of your Old Age Pension or Supplement and you do not know why, you should immediately contact your nearest Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) office. To find out where your nearest office is located, check your phone book or visit the HRDC website at www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca. You may wish to contact HRDC toll free at 1-800-277-9914 (1-800-255-4786 for TDD/TYY) - you should have your social insurance number available when you call.