Canada GIS Eligibility Checker

Allowance for the Survivor

Complete eligibility guide for widowed individuals aged 60–64

1. Your marital status after the loss

The first and most important condition is that your spouse or common-law partner has died, and you have not remarried or entered into a new common-law relationship.

• The death must have actually occurred. Separation or divorce does not count.
• If you remarry or begin living with a new partner in a conjugal relationship, you lose eligibility immediately.
• Common-law partners are treated the same as married spouses under this benefit.

Why this matters: The Allowance for the Survivor is meant specifically for widowed individuals who have not found a new partner to share household expenses with.

2. Age requirement: 60 to 64 years old

You must be between the ages of 60 and 64 inclusive.

• If you are 59 or younger, you do not qualify.
• If you are 65 or older, you should apply for regular Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) instead.

This age window is the entire purpose of the Allowance for the Survivor. It fills the gap between the typical retirement age (60–64) and the standard OAS/GIS start age (65).

3. Citizenship and legal residency

You must be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada.

• Legal residents include permanent residents and protected persons (refugees) with valid status.
• Tourists, temporary foreign workers, and people without legal immigration status are not eligible.

4. 10 years in Canada after age 18

You must have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18.

This is a cumulative requirement. It does not need to be 10 consecutive years. For example:

• Lived in Canada from age 20 to 25 (5 years)
• Then left, returned at age 40 and lived another 5 years → Total = 10 years → requirement met

5. Income limit – the most common disqualifier

Your annual income must be less than the maximum annual income threshold set by the government for the Allowance for the Survivor.

For 2025, the approximate threshold is between $29,000 and $31,000 of individual annual income, excluding OAS but including most other sources like:

• Employment earnings
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits
• Private pensions (RRIFs, annuities)
• Investment income (interest, dividends, rental income)
• Foreign pensions and Employment Insurance (EI) benefits

Tip: The GIS Eligibility Checker above asks for your income. If it says you are not eligible for GIS due to age, but your income is low enough, check the Allowance for the Survivor separately.

6. No active sponsorship agreement

You must not currently be under a sponsorship agreement.

This applies to immigrants who were sponsored by their late spouse. If the sponsorship period (usually 3 years) has not ended, the government will deny the application. Once the period expires, you become eligible.

How much could you receive?

The monthly payment varies based on your income. In 2025, the maximum monthly Allowance for the Survivor is approximately $1,600–$1,700 for a single survivor with no other income. The benefit is non-taxable.

How to apply

You must apply through Service Canada. Steps:

1. Gather your SIN, marriage certificate, partner's death certificate, immigration records, and last year's tax return.
2. Complete the application form (ISP-3025 for the Allowance for the Survivor).
3. Submit online via My Service Canada Account, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada centre.

Apply as soon as possible after your partner's death. The benefit can be retroactive for up to 11 months.

Final checklist – print this

• Spouse or common‑law partner has died
• You have not remarried or started a new common‑law relationship
• You are 60, 61, 62, 63, or 64 years old
• You are a Canadian citizen or legal resident
• You have lived in Canada for 10+ years since age 18
• Your annual income is below the current threshold (approx. $29k–$31k)
• You are not under an active sponsorship agreement

If you checked every box, you may be eligible. Use the GIS Eligibility Checker above, then contact Service Canada to begin your application.