How much OAS do I get?

Your Old Age Security amount is not based on how much you worked or contributed. It depends mainly on how many years you lived in Canada after age 18, when you start the pension, your age, and whether the OAS recovery tax applies to your income.

You generally receive the full basic pension if you have 40 years of Canadian residence after age 18. If you qualify with fewer than 40 years, your partial pension is normally calculated as your years of residence divided by 40. For example, 20 eligible years generally means 20/40, or half, of the full basic amount. Different minimum residence rules apply depending on whether you live in or outside Canada, and an international social security agreement may help you qualify.

Starting OAS after age 65 increases the monthly pension by 0.6% for each month you delay, up to 36% at age 70. Eligible recipients also receive an automatic 10% increase after age 75. Higher income can cause some or all of OAS to be repaid through the recovery tax.

Because maximum payments and income thresholds are updated regularly, check the current OAS amount and use the official estimator. Your Service Canada approval letter or My Service Canada Account shows the amount calculated for your own record.