Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System payments for seniors
If you’re a low-income senior, you may qualify for monthly Guaranteed Annual Income System payments.
Information
The 2023 Ontario Budget: Building a Strong Ontario announced that starting in July 2024, the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) program will be expanded, meaning more seniors can be eligible for GAINS payments. Learn more about the changes to the GAINS program.
The Ministry of Finance hosts free information sessions to help you learn about Ontario taxes, tax credits and benefits.
About the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)
GAINS provides a monthly, non-taxable benefit to low-income Ontario seniors.
Information
The Ontario government is doubling the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) payment for all recipients for 12 months beginning January 2023.
This measure will increase the maximum GAINS payment to $166 per month for single seniors and to $332 per month for couples, a maximum increase of almost $1,000 per person in 2023.
Starting January 2023 until December 2023, the doubled payment will be automatically issued as part of your regular monthly GAINS payments.
If you have any questions about your monthly GAINS payment, call us at
Payment amounts
Monthly GAINS payments range between $2.50 and $83.
If you have no private income, you'll receive the maximum benefit of $83 a month.
Your payment can change if your income or marital status changes.
GAINS payments are provided on top of the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments you may receive from the federal government.
Together, the total maximum benefits from OAS, GIS and GAINS is the guaranteed income level. The Province guarantees that eligible Ontario seniors will have at least this minimum level of income.
The guaranteed income level is updated every three months to reflect inflation.
Eligibility
You qualify for GAINS payments if you:
- are 65 years or older
- have lived in Ontario for the past 12 months or for a total of 20 years since turning age 18
- have been a Canadian resident for 10 years or more
- receive the federal OAS pension and GIS payments
- have an annual private income of up to $1,992 if you are a single senior or up to $3,984 if you are a senior couple.
Private income may include money from a private pension, the Canada Pension Plan, bank interest, etc.
How to apply
If you currently receive the OAS pension and GIS, you do not have to apply. Your GAINS benefits will be determined based on information received from Employment and Social Development Canada and the details provided on your personal income tax and benefit return.
To receive your GAINS payments you must:
- file your return every year by April 30, even if you don't have income to report, or
- complete a GIS application and send it to your nearest Service Canada office
Get your monthly payments
Payments are issued on or about the 25th day of each month, starting in July and ending in June of the next year.
To sign up for direct deposit of your GAINS payments, visit the Service Canada or call
Objections
If you are not satisfied with a decision regarding your GAINS eligibility or payments, contact the Ontario Ministry of Finance at:
If you are still not satisfied, you can complete a formal Notice of Objection form within 90 days from the written decision was mailed to you.
For example, if the decision was mailed to you on June 1, we must receive your Notice of Objection by August 29.
Once you have completed the form send it by registered mail to:
Ministry of Finance
c/o Director, Advisory, Objections, Appeals and Services Branch
33 King Street West, Post Office Box 699, Station A
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8S6
Other tax credits and benefits
Find out about Ontario benefit programs you may be eligible for, or calculate your tax credits.
You can also visit the Canada Revenue Agency site for more information on credits and benefits or call