OAS Payment January 28: $742 Max + 0.3% Boost

Your January OAS payment arrives with a 0.3% increase

On This Page You Will Find:

• The exact January 28 OAS payment amounts with the new 0.3% increase
• Complete 2026 OAS payment calendar for budgeting your monthly deposits
• Maximum OAS amounts for ages 65-74 vs. 75+ (there's a significant difference)
• Why your deposit might be much higher than the basic OAS amount
• Income thresholds that trigger OAS clawbacks for higher earners
• Eligibility rules for newcomers and partial pension calculations

Summary:

The first OAS payment of 2026 hits bank accounts on January 28 with a confirmed 0.3% increase for the January-March quarter. Maximum monthly amounts rise to $742.31 for seniors 65-74 and $816.54 for those 75+. Unlike CPP's annual adjustments, OAS increases quarterly based on inflation but never decreases when costs fall. Many recipients will see deposits well above these maximums because OAS payment dates also include GIS, Allowance benefits, and survivor payments. Higher-income seniors earning over $95,323 annually should prepare for potential clawbacks, while newcomers with 10-39 years of Canadian residence receive partial pensions calculated differently than standard maximums.

---

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• OAS payments increase 0.3% for January-March 2026, with maximums of $742.31 (ages 65-74) and $816.54 (75+)
• January 28 is the first of 12 monthly payment dates, always arriving near month-end
• Your actual deposit may exceed OAS maximums due to GIS and Allowance benefits included
• Income over $95,323 triggers OAS recovery tax (clawback) that reduces your net benefit
• Newcomers with 10-39 years in Canada get partial OAS calculated on residence history, not maximum tables

Margaret Torres refreshed her banking app for the third time that Tuesday morning, waiting for her January OAS deposit. At 67, she'd learned to count on that end-of-month payment arriving like clockwork – but this January felt different. Her neighbor mentioned something about an increase, and after years of watching grocery prices climb while living on fixed income, even a small boost would help stretch her budget.

If you're like Margaret, wondering exactly what's changing with your January 28 OAS payment, you're not alone. Thousands of Canadian seniors are asking the same questions: How much is the increase? When exactly will it arrive? And why do some people seem to get much larger deposits than others?

The reality is that OAS operates quite differently from CPP, with quarterly adjustments that can catch people off guard. More importantly, what actually hits your bank account on payment day often includes multiple benefits bundled together – which explains why your deposit might be significantly higher than the basic OAS pension amounts you see published online.

What Makes January 28 Different: The 0.3% OAS Increase Explained

For the January-March 2026 quarter, OAS benefits increased by 0.3% based on Consumer Price Index changes. While that might sound modest, it represents a 2.0% increase over the full year from January 2025 to January 2026.

Here's what makes OAS unique compared to other retirement benefits: it's reviewed and adjusted every three months in January, April, July, and October. When inflation rises, your payments go up. When inflation falls, your payments stay the same – they never decrease.

This quarterly indexing system means you don't have to wait a full year for cost-of-living adjustments like you do with CPP. It also means January, April, July, and October payments often bring small surprises (usually pleasant ones) that many seniors don't expect.

The January 28 payment will be the first deposit reflecting these new quarterly rates, so if you've been receiving OAS for a while, you should notice a slight increase compared to your December payment.

Complete 2026 OAS Payment Calendar: Mark Your Budget Dates

Planning your monthly expenses becomes much easier when you know exactly when OAS payments arrive. Here are all 12 OAS payment dates for 2026:

Q1 2026 (0.3% increase confirmed):

• January 28, 2026
• February 25, 2026
• March 27, 2026

Q2 2026 (rates to be determined in April):

• April 28, 2026
• May 27, 2026
• June 26, 2026

Q3 2026:

• July 29, 2026
• August 27, 2026
• September 25, 2026

Q4 2026:

• October 28, 2026
• November 26, 2026
• December 22, 2026

Notice how payments always arrive near month-end? This timing helps most seniors because it aligns with monthly bill cycles and rent payments. However, Service Canada warns that it may take a few business days for deposits to appear in your account, and cheque recipients typically wait longer than direct deposit users.

💡 Pro tip: Set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Cheques can be delayed by weather, postal issues, or processing backlogs – especially problematic when you're counting on that money for monthly expenses.

Maximum OAS Amounts: Why Age 75 Makes a Huge Difference

For January-March 2026, the maximum monthly OAS pension amounts are:

• Ages 65-74: $742.31 per month
• Ages 75+: $816.54 per month

That $74 monthly difference ($888 annually) reflects a permanent 10% increase for seniors 75 and older that began in July 2022. The government recognized that older seniors often face higher healthcare costs and reduced ability to supplement their income through part-time work.

However, these are maximum amounts – not what everyone receives. Your actual payment depends on how many years you lived in Canada after age 18. You need 40 years of Canadian residence after age 18 to qualify for the full amount.

What this means for your planning: If you're currently 73 or 74, you can expect a meaningful jump in your OAS payment when you turn 75, beyond the regular quarterly indexing increases.

Why Your Deposit Might Be Much Higher Than $742

Here's where many people get confused about their OAS payments. When you check your bank account on January 28, you might see a deposit that's significantly larger than the basic OAS pension maximums listed above.

That's because "OAS payment day" actually includes deposits for multiple programs:

• OAS pension (the base amount we've been discussing)
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for lower-income seniors
• Allowance for certain 60-64 year olds
• Allowance for the Survivor for widowed spouses

For January-March 2026, the maximum monthly amounts for these additional benefits include:

• GIS for single person: up to $1,108.74
• Allowance: up to $1,409.72
• Allowance for Survivor: up to $1,680.47

So if you're a single senior receiving both maximum OAS ($742.31) and maximum GIS ($1,108.74), your January 28 deposit could be over $1,850. This explains why some seniors see deposits that seem much higher than the published OAS maximums.

Important timing difference: While OAS adjusts quarterly with inflation, GIS amounts can change every July based on your previous year's income. This sometimes creates confusion when your July payment suddenly increases or decreases even though OAS rates haven't changed.

Income Thresholds That Trigger OAS Clawbacks

OAS isn't free money for high-income seniors. If your net world income exceeds certain thresholds, you'll face the OAS recovery tax (commonly called the "clawback") that reduces or eliminates your benefit.

For 2026, the repayment ranges are:

• Ages 65-74: Income between $95,323 and $154,708 triggers partial clawback
• Ages 75+: Clawback starts at $95,323, complete elimination at $160,647

The higher elimination threshold for 75+ seniors accounts for their 10% pension increase – you can earn slightly more before losing all OAS benefits.

Real-world impact: Let's say you're 68 years old with $110,000 in annual income. You'll receive your full monthly OAS payments throughout the year, but when you file your tax return, you'll owe back approximately 15% of the excess income over $95,323. In this case, that's about $367 in recovery tax.

Many higher-income seniors strategically time RRSP withdrawals, RRIF payments, and capital gains realization to manage their income around these thresholds.

Newcomers and Partial OAS: How Residence History Affects Your Payment

If you immigrated to Canada as an adult, your OAS calculation works differently than the maximum amounts we've discussed. You need at least 10 years of Canadian residence after age 18 to qualify for any OAS, but you need 40 years for the full amount.

Partial OAS calculation: Your pension is prorated based on your years of residence. For example, if you lived in Canada for 20 years after age 18, you'd receive 20/40ths (50%) of the maximum OAS amount.

This is crucial for financial planning because:

• The standard maximum tables don't apply to your situation
• Your payment will be lower, but you might qualify for GIS to supplement income
• International social security agreements with certain countries might help increase your benefit

For newcomers still working: Every additional year you live in Canada after age 18 increases your future OAS entitlement. If you're currently 45 with 5 years of Canadian residence, working until 65 would give you 25 years total – qualifying you for 25/40ths (62.5%) of maximum OAS.

Should You Defer OAS Past Age 65?

Unlike CPP, which many people claim early, OAS can be delayed for significant benefit increases. For every month you postpone OAS past age 65, your eventual monthly payment increases by 0.6%. Wait until age 70, and your monthly payment is 36% higher for life.

When deferring makes sense:

• You're still working with strong income between 65-70
• You want higher guaranteed income in your later years
• You're trying to minimize early retirement taxable income
• You have longevity in your family (the break-even is around age 83)

When to start at 65:

• You need the income immediately
• You qualify for GIS (deferring OAS can reduce near-term support)
• You have health concerns affecting life expectancy
• You prefer guaranteed money now over potentially higher payments later

Example calculation: Maximum OAS at 65 is $742.31 monthly. Wait until 70, and that becomes $1,009.54 monthly ($742.31 × 1.36). Over a 20-year retirement, starting at 65 gives you $178,154 total. Starting at 70 gives you $181,717 – but you miss five years of payments worth $44,539.

How to Check Your Exact Payment and Troubleshoot Missing Deposits

The most accurate way to confirm your January 28 payment amount is through your Service Canada account online. The government has moved away from generic rate tables to personalized calculators that account for your specific residence history and income situation.

If your January 28 payment doesn't appear:

1. Verify your direct deposit information – outdated banking details are the most common cause of payment delays
2. Allow 2-3 business days – payments can take time to process, especially after weekends
3. Check for mail if you receive cheques – postal delivery adds several days
4. Review any recent changes to your address, banking, or marital status that might affect processing

Red flags requiring immediate attention:

• No payment by February 1st with no explanation
• Significant unexpected decrease in your deposit amount
• Complete stoppage of payments you were previously receiving

Planning Beyond January: What Changes Throughout 2026

While your January 28 payment reflects the new quarterly rates, several other changes could affect your OAS throughout 2026:

April 2026: Next quarterly rate review – could bring another small increase if inflation continues

July 2026: GIS recalculation based on your 2025 tax return – this could significantly change your total monthly deposit

Tax season 2027: If your 2026 income exceeded clawback thresholds, you'll repay some OAS benefits when filing your return

Planning tip: Track your 2026 income monthly if you're anywhere near the $95,323 clawback threshold. Small adjustments to RRIF withdrawals or capital gains timing can sometimes keep you below the line.

The January 28 OAS payment marks more than just the first deposit of 2026 – it's the beginning of a year where small quarterly increases can meaningfully impact your purchasing power over time. While a 0.3% increase might seem modest, it represents the inflation protection that makes OAS uniquely valuable among Canadian retirement benefits.

Your personal outcome depends on factors beyond the basic pension amount: your residence history, income level, and eligibility for supplementary benefits like GIS. The key is understanding how these pieces fit together for your specific situation.

If you're unsure about your exact entitlement, use Service Canada's online tools before January 28 to confirm what you should expect. And remember – OAS is designed to provide predictable, inflation-protected income that never decreases, making it a reliable foundation for retirement planning regardless of what happens with markets or other income sources.

---

---