Investment · Seniors
Allowance for the Survivor calculator.
A separate Old Age Security benefit — monthly, tax-free money for a low-income widow or widower aged 60 to 64, before they're even old enough for their own OAS pension.
If your spouse or common-law partner has died, you're 60 to 64, you live in Canada, and your annual net income is under $30,696, you could get up to $1,702.34/month, tax-free (July–September 2026 quarter). It phases out as income rises and reaches $0 at the cutoff.
Inputs
Result
Fill the form and press Estimate.
How this differs from GIS and the CPP survivor's pension
All three are real but separate programs. CPP survivor's pension is earned from your late spouse's CPP contributions and can start well before 60. GIS requires you to already be an OAS pensioner (65+) with low income. The Allowance for the Survivor exists specifically to bridge the gap: a widow(er) aged 60 to 64 — too young for their own OAS, and possibly not receiving CPP survivor benefits, or receiving them at a low amount — can still get income support if their own income is low enough. You must also separately qualify for GIS and OAS once you turn 65 to keep receiving support without a gap.
A source discrepancy, disclosed
canada.ca's own eligibility page states the income cutoff two different ways: its income-threshold TABLE says "less than $30,696," but a paragraph on the same page says "$30,336." This tool uses $30,696, the figure that also appears on canada.ca's separate "How much you could receive" page for the July–September 2026 quarter and is the FIGURE with the more specific sourcing (a quarterly indexed table, not prose). Confirm your exact cutoff with Service Canada if your income is close to either number.
Sources, read 26 September 2026: canada.ca — Allowance for the Survivor: Do you qualify and How much you could receive, Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when I turn 65?
The Allowance for the Survivor stops. You would then apply for your own OAS pension and, if your income still qualifies, GIS as a regular OAS pensioner.
Is this the same as "the Allowance"?
No. "The Allowance" (without "for the Survivor") is for a 60-to-64-year-old whose spouse or common-law partner is ALIVE and already receiving GIS and the full OAS pension — a different program with its own income test on COMBINED couple income (currently a cutoff of $42,144/year, max $1,428.06/month). This tool models the Survivor version only.
Is this benefit taxable?
No. Like OAS, GIS, and the Allowance, this is a tax-free payment and does not need to be reported as income on your tax return.
How early can I apply?
Up to 11 months before your 60th birthday, according to canada.ca.
Estimate only
This tool uses a LINEAR APPROXIMATION between the published maximum payment and the published income cutoff. Service Canada's real calculation uses a non-linear indexed rate table based on your PRIOR year's income, not a straight line, so your actual payment may differ from this estimate, especially in the middle of the income range. Confirm your real eligibility and amount with Service Canada or a My Service Canada Account.