The Allowance for the Survivor, aimed at providing financial support to eligible Canadians whose spouse or common-law partner has died, remains at a maximum of $1,647.34 monthly.
As surviving spouses face financial challenges following the loss of their partner, the Canadian government has stepped up its initiative to support affected individuals and give them greater financial security.
This guide discusses this benefit, who qualifies for it, how to apply, how much you can get, and when.
Allowance for the Survivor Benefits Increase
The Allowance for Survivor is a benefit under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), which is also part of Old Age Security (OAS). Using the Consumer Price Index data (CPI), OAS benefits are adjusted quarterly to reflect cost of living expenses.
For the April to June 2025 quarter, the OAS benefits remains stagnant.
Overview of the Allowance for the Survivor Benefit
The Allowance for Survivor, the third supplemental benefit under the OAS program, pays out low-income Canadian residents who have lost their spouse or common-law partner.
The financial assistance aims to help surviving spouses or partners experiencing financial challenges due to their partner’s passing. To receive the benefit, they must not have remarried or become someone else’s common-law partner.
Related: OAS Allowance Benefits Have Increased
Maximum Payment and Income Threshold
The payment amount you receive depends on your income from the previous year. If your annual net income is less than $29,712, you can get the maximum monthly payment amount of $1,647.34.
Allowance for the Survivor Benefit Payment Dates
Below are the dates to receive payments for the Allowance for the Survivor benefit, as well as for the OAS, GIS and the Allowance:
- January 29, 2025
- February 26, 2025
- March 27, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- May 28, 2025
- June 26, 2025
- July 29, 2025
- August 27, 2025
- September 25, 2025
- October 29, 2025
- November 26, 2025
- December 22, 2025
How to Receive the Allowance for the Survivor Benefit
You can choose to receive the payment in cheque form or have it deposited directly into your account.
You can sign up online for the direct deposit or visit a Service Canada location to set it up.
Eligibility Requirements
You may be eligible for the Allowance for the Survivor benefit if you meet the following:
- Your spouse or common-law partner passed away and you have not remarried or have not entered into a common-law union
- You are 60 to 64 years old
- Your annual income is less than $29,712
- You are a Canadian citizen or a legal resident
- You have been a resident of Canada for at least 10 years since you turned 18
Related: Top Retirement Party Ideas
How to Apply for the Allowance for the Survivor Benefit
If you are 60 to 64 years old, apply for this benefit when your spouse or common-law partner has passed away. Prepare the following first:
- Information about your deceased spouse or partner
- Social Insurance Number
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Foreign income (include the types of income and annual amounts converted to Canadian dollars)
- Your banking information for when signing up for direct deposit
- Information about your countries of residence since you turned 18
- Information about your employment or pension income
- For your foreign income, the income types and annual amounts in Canadian dollars
When applying for this benefit, choose between these two methods:
- Online through My Service Canada Account (you must be age 60 to 65), or
- Through paper application by printing and completing the form and mailing it or bringing it in person to a Service Canada office
Wait for a response from Service Canada. If the agency approves your application, you will receive a letter detailing the payment date and the amount you will get.
If Service Canada turns down your application and you disagree with their decision, you can request a review within 90 days after receiving the decision letter.
Other OAS Benefits
Below are the other OAS benefits eligible Canadians can receive on top of their OAS payments.
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
The GIS is a monthly benefit for low-income Old Age Security pensioners aged 65 or older. This income-based supplement payment is added to OAS pension payments every month.
If you are single, divorced, or widowed and your annual income is below $22,056, the maximum monthly payment you can receive is $1,086.88.
GIS Allowance
If you are 60 to 64 years old and your spouse or common-law partner receives the GIS, you may receive an Allowance benefit of up to $1,381.90. Your combined annual income as a couple must be less than $40,800.
The GIS Allowance benefit is a non-taxable monthly payment targeted at helping low-income seniors. The Allowance payments stop after you turn 65, when you will start receiving the OAS benefits.
Seniors need more money to be able to live properly…especially single seniors…the government should be ashamed of themselves on how they force seniors to live
I’m a widow living on pension from one month to the other barely. How can the government even think that anyone can survive on $22,000 a year. Compare that to seniors eligible for dental coverage if their income is under $90,000 a year. My income is just over very little so I don’t qualify for the suppliment. I want to stay in my own home but it’s getting hard to keep up.
If you could get any political party to repeal MP’s pension agreement and revise it to double what every other Canadian is eligible for you would have my blessing and evry other Canadian citizen.