Your application

We may send you a letter to let you know that you will receive the Old Age Security (OAS) pension.

You will need to apply for the Old Age Security pension if:

• you get a letter from us asking you to apply
• information in the letter we send you is incorrect

If you did not receive any letter about the Old Age Security pension the month after you turned 64, contact us to find out if you need to apply.

Step 2: Decide when you want your OAS to start

You’ll be asked to choose 1 of the following:

• start receiving your pension at age 65 (your pension will start the month after your 65th birthday)
• start receiving your pension at a specific date that you choose

You’ll need to understand when is the best time for you to start receiving your pension.

Step 3: Submit your application

Decide how to apply:

Apply online

To be able to apply online, you must:

• be at least 1 month past your 64th birthday
• not be currently receiving an Old Age Security pension
• have not already applied for the Old Age Security pension and Service Canada is not currently assessing your application
• be currently living inside of Canada
• not have an authorized third party on your account (for example, a person acting by proxy)

If you are applying online, you’ll need a My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

If you don’t have a My Service Canada Account (MSCA), you can register for one. You’ll receive a personal access code to complete your registration.

Note: It's important to gather the information you need before you begin, because once you start the application, you cannot save it and continue later. Your session will expire after 20 minutes of inactivity (this time starts when your computer mouse stops moving and resets when your mouse is moved).

Before you begin, please ensure you have:

• your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• information about your spouse or common-law partner if you have one (Social Insurance Number, date of birth)
• information about where you have lived since age 18
• your banking information to sign up for direct deposit
• the date you would like your pension to start
• your reduction in employment or pension income, if applicable

Apply using a paper application

If you are applying by mail you need to:

• print and complete the paper form Application for the OAS and the GIS (ISP-3550)
• include certified true copies of the required documents
• mail the application or bring it in person to a Service Canada office

See the Reference Guide (ISP-3550A) for information on filling in your application form.

If someone is helping you with your application

You must provide consent for someone to help you with your application. You can do this 2 ways:

1. through your My Service Canada Account
   or
2. complete the Consent to Communicate Information to an Authorized Person form (ISP-1603) and mail it to us, or drop it off at a Service Canada office

This does not give the person helping you authority to:

• submit your application
• apply for benefits on your behalf
• change your payment address
• request or change the withholding of tax for you

If you need to apply or act on someone’s behalf

If someone cannot manage their own affairs, another person or agency may act on their behalf.

To apply to administer benefits on someone’s behalf you need to:

• have a medical professional complete the Certificate of Incapability form (ISP-3505)
• complete one of the following forms that applies to you:
• Agreement to administer benefits under the Old Age Security Act and/or the Canada Pension Plan by a Private Trustee form (for administration by an individual)
• Agreement to administer benefits under the Old Age Security Act and/or the Canada Pension Plan by an Agency or Institution form (for administration by an agency, charitable organization or municipality)

You will need to mail it to us, or drop it off at a Service Canada office.

These forms do not give the person applying on someone’s behalf authority to submit an application through My Service Canada Account (MSCA). You must submit a paper application.

Providing Service Canada with your email address

Note: When you apply, you can provide your email address. We may send you an email to provide you with information or ask you to call us if we can’t reach you by phone. Please note that we won't ask you to send information such as SIN, banking, or other personal details by email.

Protecting your information

Step 4: Receive a response from us

We will mail you a letter with either:

• a decision on your application
• a request for more information

Your decision letter

Your letter with a decision will include:

• the amount you will receive each month
• the date for your first payment
• any past payments that may be owed to you

Step 5: Review your application status

To view your application status, you can:

• sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA)
• contact Service Canada

If you don’t have an MSCA account, you can register for one.

Step 6: If you disagree with the decision

If you disagree with the decision, you may ask to have the decision reviewed. You must request this review in writing within 90 days of receiving your decision letter.

Your application will be reviewed by Service Canada staff who were not involved in making the original decision on your application.

Submit a request for reconsideration of a decision

There are 3 ways you can make your request for reconsideration:

Submit your request online using My Service Canada Account (MSCA)

If you complete your request on paper

Sign and date your written request and submit it:

By mail
To the return address on the decision letter

Prepare and submit a written request to review the decision and include:

• your name
• your address
• your telephone number
• your Social Insurance Number or Client Identification Number
• a detailed explanation of why you do not agree with the decision
• any new information that could affect the decision
• your signature and the date

If you complete your request on paper

Sign and date your written request and submit it:

By mail
To the return address on the decision letter

Reconsiderations can take several months to complete, depending on the case. Service Canada will review your application and any new information you submit in support of your request and send you a (new) decision by mail.

Submit an appeal to the Social Security Tribunal of Canada

If you disagree with the new decision, you can contact the Social Security Tribunal (SST). The Social Security Tribunal is an independent administrative tribunal. It’s separate from Service Canada.

There are 2 ways to start an appeal with the Social Security Tribunal:

Social Security Tribunal Website

Using My Service Canada Account (MSCA)

Start the appeal process online in My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

1. sign in or register to MSCA
2. navigate to the "Canada Pension Plan / Old Age Security" section
3. navigate to the "If you disagree with a decision" section
4. select "Appeal to the SST" under "Step 2"

Help to communicate with the Social Security Tribunal

If you would like a representative to help you communicate with the Social Security Tribunal about your appeal, you will need to either:

Complete a form

Call a representative

Call the Social Security Tribunal and provide your representative’s information

You must contact the Social Security Tribunal directly to change or cancel your representative.

Note: If you would like your representative to communicate with both Service Canada and the Social Security Tribunal, fill out section 9 of the Notice of Appeal form and complete the Consent to Communicate Information to an Authorized Person form for Service Canada.