CRA Announces Double Payments in March 2025 – Seniors Get $1,700 OAS & $650 Bonus

Starting in March of 2025, seniors in Canada will receive huge financial support under the Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) programs.

With this plan, an OAS amount of up to $1,700 as well as an additional $650 will be provided, which will help bolster retired citizens with the necessary financial support.
The Government of Canada is going to send double payments to eligible individuals through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). In this article, we will understand these benefits in detail, review the eligibility criteria, and explain how seniors can apply for this assistance.

What is the $1,700 OAS and the $650 Additional Support?

Benefit	Age Group	Maximum Monthly Amount (2025)	Eligibility Criteria
Old Age Security (OAS)	65 to 74	$727.67	Canadian citizen or legal resident, Resided in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18
Old Age Security (OAS)	75 and over	$800.44	Same as above
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)	All ages	Up to $1,086.88	Receiving OAS, Annual income below specific thresholds
Couples Receiving OAS & GIS	Married/Common-law	Up to $654.23 each	Both partners must be receiving OAS and have low income

What is meant by Old Age Security (OAS)?

The Old Age Security (OAS) program is a government pension for older citizens above the age of 65 years. An individual, however, is not required to have worked up in the past to qualify for it, because it is funded through taxation. from general tax revenue by the government.

Eligibility Criteria for OAS:

Seniors must be at least 65 years of age.
They must be Canadian citizens or legal residents.
They must have resided in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18 (if they live outside Canada, the time limit will be 20 years).

OAS Payment Amount (2025):

65 to 74 years: $727.67 per month

75 years and above: $800.44 per month

This amount is adjusted on a quarterly basis according to inflation so that the purchasing power of seniors is maintained.

What is Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)?

GIS is an additional financial assistance program provided to seniors who have very low income. It is a non-taxable amount for OAS recipients.

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Eligibility Criteria for GIS:

The person must be receiving OAS.
Their annual income is below a government-set limit.

GIS payment amount (2025):

Single, widowed or divorced seniors: $1,086.88 per month
Married or in a common-law relationship (both receiving OAS): $654.23 per person per month
GIS payments are adjusted on a quarterly basis to take into account inflation.

Total Monthly Payments for Seniors

Seniors who are eligible for both OAS and GIS can receive the following monthly payments:
Single seniors aged 65 to 74 (no other income): $1,814.55 per month ($727.67 OAS + $1,086.88 GIS)
Single seniors aged 75 and older (no other income): $1,887.32 per month ($800.44 OAS + $1,086.88 GIS)
These combined payments help cover rent, health care, and other essential daily living expenses.

CRA Announces Double Payments in March 2025 – Seniors Get $1,700 OAS & $650 Bonus

CRA Doubles Payments in March 2025

For March 2025, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is scheduled to issue double payments for OAS and GIS.

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Payment date: March 27, 2025
Double payment benefit: Seniors will receive additional support to better meet their financial needs.

How to apply for $1,700 OAS and $650 Extra Assistance?

Process for applying for OAS:

Automatic Enrollment: Some seniors are automatically enrolled and receive notification from Service Canada.
Manual application: If notification is not received, seniors must apply online through My Service Canada Account or complete and submit a paper form.
Application process for GIS: GIS is not automatically applied. Eligible seniors must apply for GIS separately.
The application can be submitted to Service Canada online or by post.

What is the OAS Recovery Tax (Claw back)?

If a senior’s annual income exceeds $86,912, a portion of the OAS amount can be withdrawn.
The government may partially reduce OAS payments if the income is higher than this.

Conclusion

In March 2025, the proposed financial aid for seniors, consisting of a $1,700 OAS and an additional $650 in assistance, is definitely going to be a wonderful benefit.

The better the seniors understand the eligibility criteria and application procedures, the easier it becomes for them to maximize the benefit and assist in their daily expenditure.

The double payment and retroactive payments planned in March 2025 ensure that all eligible seniors will be receiving this much-needed financial assistance.

FAQs

1. What is the maximum amount I can receive under OAS and GIS in 2025?

A. If you are 65 to 74 years old, you can receive $1,814.55 per month.
If you are 75 years old or older, you can receive up to $1,887.32 per month.

2. How to apply for OAS and GIS benefits?

A. There may be automatic enrollment for OAS, but if not, apply manually through Service Canada.
You will need to apply separately for GIS.

3. What is the OAS Recovery Tax (Claw back)?

A. If your annual income is more than $86,912, you may have to return some of your OAS to the government.

4. Do seniors need to apply to receive the March 2025 double payment?

A. No, eligible seniors will automatically receive the increased OAS and GIS payments in their registered bank accounts or by mailed cheque.

5. Will the OAS payment increase permanently after March 2025?

A. OAS payments are adjusted quarterly based on inflation, but the March 2025 double payment is a special financial support initiative and not a permanent increase.