How to Maximize OAS
Prior to turning 65 years old, Canadians must decide whether to take Old Age Security (OAS) benefits or defer them until a later time. For each month that benefits are deferred past age 65, an individual's benefits are increased by 0.6%.
For more information on retirement planning, the book Elmer's Nine & Dine: A Guide to Retirement Planning is available on Amazon.
The following table shows the age at which OAS benefits begin (horizontally) and life expectancy (vertically). The highlighted rows are where the amounts cross over.
For those with a life expectancy of less than 79, beginning OAS at age 65 would be beneficial.
For those with a life expectancy of 87 years or higher, delaying OAS benefits until age 70 would be optimal.
Maximizing OAS benefits is a function of an individual's life expectancy and current needs. The following table details the increase offered to those aged 65 and up.
| Age | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | $8,908 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 66 | $17,815 | $9,549 | - | - | - | - |
| 67 | $26,723 | $19,098 | $10,190 | - | - | - |
| 68 | $35,631 | $28,647 | $20,381 | $10,832 | - | - |
| 69 | $44,539 | $38,196 | $30,571 | $21,664 | $11,473 | - |
| 70 | $53,446 | $47,745 | $40,762 | $32,495 | $22,946 | $12,114 |
| 71 | $62,354 | $57,294 | $50,952 | $43,327 | $34,419 | $24,229 |
| 72 | $71,262 | $66,844 | $61,143 | $54,159 | $45,893 | $36,343 |
| 73 | $80,169 | $76,393 | $71,333 | $64,991 | $57,366 | $48,458 |
| 74 | $89,077 | $85,942 | $81,523 | $75,823 | $68,839 | $60,572 |
| 75 | $98,876 | $96,446 | $92,733 | $87,737 | $81,459 | $73,898 |
| 76 | $108,674 | $106,950 | $103,942 | $99,652 | $94,080 | $87,224 |
| 77 | $118,473 | $117,454 | $115,152 | $111,567 | $106,700 | $100,550 |
| 78 | $128,271 | $127,958 | $126,361 | $123,482 | $119,321 | $113,876 |
| 79 | $138,070 | $138,462 | $137,571 | $135,397 | $131,941 | $127,202 |
| 80 | $147,868 | $148,966 | $148,780 | $147,312 | $144,562 | $140,528 |
| 81 | $157,667 | $159,470 | $159,990 | $159,227 | $157,182 | $153,854 |
| 82 | $167,465 | $169,974 | $171,199 | $171,142 | $169,803 | $167,180 |
| 83 | $177,264 | $180,478 | $182,409 | $183,057 | $182,423 | $180,506 |
| 84 | $187,062 | $190,982 | $193,618 | $194,972 | $195,043 | $193,832 |
| 85 | $196,861 | $201,486 | $204,828 | $206,887 | $207,664 | $207,158 |
| 86 | $206,659 | $211,989 | $216,037 | $218,802 | $220,284 | $220,484 |
| 87 | $216,458 | $222,493 | $227,247 | $230,717 | $232,905 | $233,810 |
| 88 | $226,256 | $232,997 | $238,456 | $242,632 | $245,525 | $247,136 |
| 89 | $236,055 | $243,501 | $249,666 | $254,547 | $258,146 | $260,462 |
| 90 | $245,853 | $254,005 | $260,875 | $266,462 | $270,766 | $273,788 |
All amounts in the table are as of the first quarter of 2026, rounded to the nearest dollar.
This page was last updated in January 2026.
The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice.