Government benefits for seniors in Ontario: the plain checklist

Old Age Security (OAS) pension

A monthly pension from the Government of Canada from age 65. The maximum for July to September 2026 is $751.97 a month from age 65 to 74 and $827.17 a month from age 75.

You must be 65 or older. If you live in Canada you must have lived here for at least 10 years since the age of 18; if you live outside Canada, at least 20 years. In most cases Service Canada enrols you automatically and sends an enrolment letter around your 64th birthday. If a month has passed since your 64th birthday and no letter has arrived, you may need to apply. You can also delay your start date after 65; the apply page explains how. The pension rises by an automatic 10% the month after your 75th birthday. If your net world income for 2025 was more than $93,454, you repay 15% of the amount above that threshold through the OAS recovery tax for July 2026 to June 2027; the full pension is recovered at $152,062 (age 65 to 74) or $157,923 (age 75 and over).

• 65+
• 10 years in Canada since age 18

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

A monthly payment added to the Old Age Security pension for pensioners whose income is below the limits Service Canada publishes.

You must be 65 or older, receive the OAS pension, live in Canada, and not be under a sponsorship agreement. On 7 September 2026 the Service Canada page gave these annual income limits: less than $22,800 if you are single, divorced or widowed; less than $30,096 combined if your spouse or partner receives the full OAS pension; less than $42,144 combined if your spouse or partner receives the Allowance; and less than $54,624 combined if your spouse or partner does not receive OAS. The limits change, so check the current figures on the linked page. Service Canada tries to enrol you automatically and writes shortly after your 64th birthday. Otherwise you apply online through My Service Canada Account, or by mail using form ISP-3550 for OAS and GIS together, or ISP-3025 for GIS only.

• 65+
• the OAS pension

The Allowance

A monthly payment for people aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common law partner receives the OAS pension and is eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The Service Canada page listed a maximum of $1,428.06 a month on 7 September 2026.

You must be 60 to 64 and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18, and your combined annual income as a couple must be less than $42,144. That limit changes, so check the current figure on the linked page. Service Canada says you should apply for the Allowance 6 to 11 months before you turn 60.

• 60 to 64
• a spouse or partner on OAS and GIS

Allowance for the Survivor

A monthly payment for people aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common law partner has died and who have not remarried or entered a new common law relationship.

You must be 60 to 64 and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18. Service Canada says you will have to apply. On 7 September 2026 the eligibility page showed the annual income limit as less than $30,696 in its income table, while a second figure of $30,336 also appeared on the same page, so check the current figure on the linked page before you count on either.

• 60 to 64
• an application

The income limit on the government page was stated two ways on the day we checked. We have not picked one for you.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension

A monthly taxable pension that replaces part of your income when you retire, paid for the rest of your life. The maximum at age 65 for January 2026 is $1,507.65 a month; the average for new pensioners at 65 from July to September 2026 is $877.01 a month.

You need to be at least 60 and have made at least one valid contribution to the CPP. The standard age to start is 65. You can start as early as 60 or as late as 70: payments decrease by 0.6% for each month before 65, up to a maximum reduction of 36% at 60, and increase by 0.7% for each month after 65, up to 42% at 70. Service Canada says you may have to apply.

• 60 to 70 to start
• at least one CPP contribution

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Federal dental coverage for residents who have no access to private dental insurance. Applications for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period are open.

Four requirements: you cannot have access to private dental insurance or coverage; your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000; you and your spouse or common law partner must have filed your tax returns in Canada; and you must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes. Coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program does not rule you out. Under $70,000 of adjusted family net income the plan covers 100% of eligible services at its established fees; from $70,000 to $79,999 it covers 60% and you pay 40%; from $80,000 to $89,999 it covers 40% and you pay 60%. Apply online through My Service Canada Account, or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342.

• adjusted family net income under $90,000
• a filed tax return

Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)

A monthly Ontario payment on top of OAS and GIS for seniors with very low private income. Eligible seniors can receive up to $92 a month for the 2026 benefit year, which runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

You must be 65 or older, have been a Canadian resident for 10 years or more, have lived in Ontario for the past 12 months or for a total of 20 years since turning 18, receive the federal OAS pension and GIS, and have annual private income of up to $4,416 as a single senior or up to $8,832 as a senior couple. There is no separate application if you already receive OAS and GIS; Ontario works it out from Employment and Social Development Canada’s information. You do need to file an income tax return every year by 30 April, even with no income to report. Payments arrive on or about the 25th of each month.

• 65+
• OAS and GIS
• a filed tax return

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) at 65

Prescription drug coverage that starts automatically on the first day of the month after you turn 65.

Ontario sends a letter about 3 months before your 65th birthday to say you will join the program. Under the standard seniors’ terms you pay the first $100 of total prescription costs each program year as a deductible, then up to $6.11 for each prescription filled or refilled. Seniors with lower income can apply to the Seniors Co-Payment Program, described in the next card, and pay less.

• 65+

Seniors Co-Payment Program

Lower prescription costs under the Ontario Drug Benefit: no annual deductible, and up to $2 for each eligible prescription filled.

Ontario says you should apply if you have an Ontario health card number, you are 65 or older, and your income is under the threshold. For the program year 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027 the threshold is $25,480 for a single senior and $42,290 for a senior with a spouse. Complete the Seniors Co-Payment Program Application on the Ontario Drug Benefit Program online applications and forms website, or call 416-503-4586 or 1-888-405-0405.

• 65+
• an Ontario health card

Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit

A tax credit of up to 25% of claimable medical expenses up to $6,000, for a maximum credit of $1,500 a year.

You can claim it if you turned 70 or older in the year, or your spouse or common law partner did. Ontario’s page lists examples such as hearing aids, wheelchairs and electric scooters, hospital beds, and renovation or construction that improves mobility, access or functioning at home because of a severe and prolonged impairment. The credit is reduced by 5% of family net income over $35,000 and fully phased out by at most $65,000. Claim it on form ON479, Ontario Credits, in your personal income tax and benefit return, starting with the 2022 tax year.

• 70+
• a filed tax return

Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant

Up to $500 a year towards property tax for senior homeowners with low to moderate income. The maximum 2026 payment is the lesser of $500 and the eligible property tax paid for 2025.

For the 2026 grant you must have been at least 64 years old on 31 December 2025 and have owned and occupied a principal residence in Ontario for which property tax was paid for 2025. If you are single, separated, divorced or widowed, the grant is reduced by 3.33% of your adjusted net income over $35,000, and you are not entitled to a grant once adjusted net income is $50,000 or more. If you are married or in a common law relationship, it is reduced by 3.33% of your adjusted family net income over $45,000, and you are not entitled to a grant at $60,000 or more. Apply for the 2026 grant on your 2025 income tax and benefit return by completing the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant area of form ON-BEN and entering your total property tax paid for your principal residence for 2025.

• 64+
• a filed tax return

Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

Ontario pays 75% of the approved price of equipment such as mobility aids, hearing aids, communication aids and visual aids. You pay the remaining 25% plus any optional accessories.

You must be an Ontario resident with a valid Ontario health card and a physical disability that requires the equipment or supplies for 6 months or longer. Each device category has its own qualifying, application and vendor steps on the linked page. Questions go to 416-327-8804, toll free 1-800-268-6021, TTY 1-800-387-5559.

• a valid Ontario health card
• Any age

Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program

Dental care for lower income seniors: check ups including scaling, fluoride and polishing, x rays, repairing broken teeth and cavities, and treating infection and pain.

You must be 65 or older, a resident of Ontario, have an annual net income of $25,480 or less as a single senior or a combined annual net income of $42,290 or less as a couple, and have no other form of dental benefits apart from the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Apply online or by mail, or contact your local public health unit for help. Phone 416-916-0204, toll free 1-833-207-4435, TTY 1-800-855-0511.

• 65+

Property Tax, Water and Solid Waste Relief Programs

Four City programs for low income seniors and low income people with disabilities: Property Tax Increase Cancellation, Property Tax Increase Deferral, Water Rebate and Solid Waste Rebate.

The City’s page says a senior applicant must be over 65 years of age, or between 60 and 64 and receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Combined household income must not exceed $62,000, and you must have owned and occupied the property as your principal residence for one year or more before 31 October 2026. For the Cancellation program the residential assessment must be below $975,000. The Water Rebate requires consumption of less than 400 cubic metres a year. Deadline to apply for the 2026 tax year: 2 November 2026. Apply online, or by paper application to Revenue Services.

• over 65, or 60 to 64 on GIS
• household income of $62,000 or less

Sidewalk snow clearing (the former seniors’ program)

The City now clears approximately 98% of all sidewalks itself, so there is no longer a separate snow clearing program for seniors and persons with disabilities.

City crews start clearing all public sidewalks when the snow is 2 cm deep and has stopped falling, or when icy conditions dictate. Sidewalk clearing after a snowfall takes approximately 12 hours and can continue up to 72 hours after the snow has stopped. For help with private property, the City says to contact 211 Ontario for community supports.

• Separate program ended

Other websites still describe a seniors’ snow clearing application. The City’s own pages say the separate program is no longer needed because sidewalks are cleared city wide.

TTC senior fare

Seniors aged 65 and older pay $2.25 a trip with a PRESTO card, or $2.30 cash, against adult fares of $2.35 and $2.40.

The TTC Senior Monthly Pass and Senior 12-Month Pass were discontinued on 31 August 2026. Senior fares paid with the same PRESTO card count toward monthly fare capping: once you reach 47 eligible paid TTC trips in a calendar month, the rest of your trips that month are free. Carry photo identification as proof of age: a driver’s licence, an Ontario Photo Card, or a TTC Senior’s Photo ID if you already have one.

• 65+
• photo identification

Toronto Seniors Helpline

One phone number for seniors and caregivers to reach community supports, care at home and crisis services: 416-217-2077, or 1-877-621-2077 long distance.

Calls are answered 365 days a year: Monday to Friday 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays 10 am to 6 pm. The helpline connects callers to community supports such as Meals on Wheels, transportation and adult day programs, crisis services, care at home such as nursing and personal support, supportive counselling over the phone, and caregiver resources. The City of Toronto’s seniors’ health services page lists the same number.

• Any age, seniors and caregivers