No, there is no nationwide $500, one-time payment for all Canadian seniors scheduled for this month. A one-time $500 payment was previously issued in August 2021 to OAS pensioners aged 75 or olderCanada - Open Government PortalHealthy Aging CORE. Current 2026 updates involve regular quarterly adjustments for inflationCanada.ca and increased monthly paymentsREALnorth Opportunities Fund, rather than a new $500 bonus.
This measure was implemented in two steps: a one-time payment of $500, which was issued in August 2021, to OAS pensioners who were 75 or over as of June 30, 2022; and a permanent 10% increase to the OAS pension for this group of seniors, beginning in July 2022.
Old Age Security Payment Updates
For December 2025, OAS payments reflect a 1.2% quarterly indexation increase tied to the Consumer Price Index. Maximum monthly amounts now stand at $740.82 for ages 65-74 and $814.90 for those 75 and older, up from previous quarters.
The maximum amounts are not guaranteed. Your actual pension amount may be different depending on your age, income, and the number of years you have lived in Canada. Cost of living increases: Each January, April, July, and October pension amounts are increased to reflect any increases in the cost of living.
Today, Canada's Minister of Seniors, Deb Schulte, announced the highest quarterly adjustment to existing OAS payments since July 2014. She also confirmed that the Government of Canada will deliver the $500 one-time payment to older seniors, announced in Budget 2021, during the week of August 16, 2021.
The $1,200 payment is a one-time direct deposit issued by the Canada Revenue Agency for seniors classified as low income based on their most recent tax return. The payment is not a loan, does not need to be repaid and does not replace existing monthly benefits.
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a monthly payment you can get if you are 65 or older. The Supplement is based on income and is available to Old Age Security pensioners with low income. It is not taxable. In many cases, we will let you know by letter when you could start receiving the first payment.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2026
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for 75 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2026.
CPP payments are adjusted annually based on changes in Statistics Canada's Consumer Price Index, which tracks how much Canadians pay for goods and services. This year's increase is based on inflation data from November, 2024, to October, 2025, compared with the previous year.
Who Will Receive the $1,100 Centrelink Bonus. The bonus will be automatically issued to eligible Australians receiving approved Centrelink payments. Those expected to qualify include: Age Pension recipients.
The $2,200 payment is a one-time, tax-free financial benefit provided by the federal government through the CRA. Unlike monthly pension programs, this payment is not ongoing but instead offers immediate relief to help seniors weather current financial pressures.
The new tax deduction for seniors 65 and older allows you to reduce your taxable income by up to $6,000. Taking the new senior deduction can mean less tax or potentially an even bigger tax refund when you file your return.
President Donald Trump's "big beautiful" tax law provides a new senior "bonus" or deduction of up to $6,000 per individual or $12,000 for married couples. The temporary deduction applies to taxpayers ages 65 and over whose income is within certain thresholds.
Eligibility and details for the $250 rebate.
To qualify, individuals must meet criteria such as working in 2023, earning under $150,000, filing a tax return, and being a Canadian resident on March 31, 2025. Payments will be issued automatically via direct deposit or cheque by the CRA.
The $1,000 "Welcome to Canada Bonus" is a General Motors (GM) program for new Permanent Residents or Temporary Workers, requiring a valid PR card (arrival date generally 2022 or later) or a valid work permit, plus a Canadian driver's license, for the purchase or lease of a new eligible Chevy, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle. Eligibility hinges on your status at the time of purchase, with specific arrival year requirements for Permanent Residents.
The Government of Canada has distributed a one-time, non-taxable, non-reportable payment of $600 to Canadians living with disabilities. If you have an existing Disability Tax Credit certificate on file with the CRA, you should have received this amount in October 2020.
Yes, Social Security recipients received a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025, but the bigger news is that they are getting a larger 2.8% COLA for 2026, announced in October 2025, which began with January 2026 payments, increasing average benefits by about $56 per month. The 2025 COLA was a smaller 2.5% increase, while the 2026 adjustment reflects moderating inflation, leading to higher payments starting in the new year.
The extra $144 added to Social Security usually comes from the Medicare Part B Giveback benefit, offered by some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which pays back some or all your Part B premium, showing up as extra money in your check if it's deducted from your Social Security. To qualify, you need Original Medicare (Parts A & B), pay your own Part B premium, live in a plan's service area, and enroll in a specific Medicare Advantage plan that offers this "rebate," with the amount varying by plan and location.
If you are retired and receiving social security benefits, you will get the payment automatically. If you are retired, not receiving benefits, and did not file taxes in 2018 or 2019, you will need to submit your payment info to the IRS. You can do that on their website.
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Monthly CPP in 2024: $1,000. 2025 increase (2.6%): +$26. New monthly payment: $1,026.
For information about the OAS program, visit canada.ca/OAS or call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914. - Apply online at any time for available Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits and services. - Access accurate and up-to-date information about your CPP and/or OAS benefit entitlement.
Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025.