New OAS Payments Coming on February 25, 2026

Many seniors will receive their next Old Age Security (OAS) deposit on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. This payment follows the same quarterly rate period (January to March 2026), so for most people, the February amount should be the same as January unless something changed in their file.

OAS matters because it is a base monthly pension for eligible seniors, and it is often paid alongside other benefits like GIS. Understanding the timing and what affects your amount can reduce surprises.

When is the February 2026 OAS payment?

The Government of Canada lists the OAS payment date as: February 25, 2026.

The next deposit after that is scheduled for March 27, 2026.

Why your February OAS is usually the same as January

OAS is reviewed quarterly (January, April, July, October), not monthly. For January to March 2026, OAS benefits rose by 0.3%, and that same quarter’s rate applies across all three months.

The next scheduled rate period is April to June 2026, and the government has posted a 0.1% increase for that quarter (based on CPI calculations).

Maximum OAS and GIS amounts for January to March 2026 (Q1)

These are the maximum monthly amounts for Q1 2026 (your actual amount can be lower depending on residence history and income).

Max OAS (age 65 to 74): $742.31/month
Max OAS (age 75+): $816.54/month
Max GIS (single, widowed, divorced): $1,108.74/month
Max Allowance (age 60–64, eligible couples): $1,409.72/month
Max Allowance for the Survivor: $1,680.47/month

If someone receives OAS + GIS, the deposit can look much larger than OAS alone. For example, a single senior at the maximum could receive up to:

$1,851.05/month (65–74 OAS + max GIS)
$1,925.28/month (75+ OAS + max GIS)

Internal guidance: If you receive GIS, remember it can change more often than people expect — GIS is recalculated each July based on the previous year’s income, and it can increase, decrease, or stop if income changes.

OAS indexing vs CPP indexing (why they change at different times)

Many seniors receive both OAS and CPP, but the updates follow different schedules:

OAS: reviewed quarterly (Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct) and won’t decrease if CPI drops
CPP: adjusted once per year in January, and won’t decrease if the cost of living goes down

What to do if your February 25 payment is missing

Before calling, it helps to check the most common causes:

Bank timing: deposits can post at different times depending on your bank
Direct deposit info: confirm your banking details in My Service Canada Account
Cheques: mail delivery can take longer in winter
Messages/alerts: your account may show a notice about a change or delay

If you still can’t identify the issue, Service Canada contact details are listed in the government’s quarterly figures page.

OAS payment dates for the rest of 2026

Here are the remaining OAS deposit dates shown on the federal payment calendar:
Mar 27, Apr 28, May 27, Jun 26, Jul 29, Aug 27, Sep 25, Oct 28, Nov 26, Dec 22 (2026)

FAQs

Will my OAS increase in February 2026?
No separate monthly increase is expected. Q1 rates apply for January–March, and the next quarter begins in April.

Do OAS payments ever go down?
OAS payments are adjusted using CPI and do not decrease if the cost of living goes down.

Why is my OAS lower than the maximum?
OAS can be partial if you have fewer than 40 years of residence in Canada after age 18, and income can affect your net amount.

Can GIS change even if OAS stays the same?
Yes. GIS is recalculated each July based on income, and it can go up, down, or stop.

Reality check (what can change your deposit)

Even in a steady quarter, your payment can differ if:

your income changes (especially for GIS and recovery tax),
your residence history means you receive partial OAS, or
there’s an update to your Service Canada file (bank details, address, status).