The next Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) payments land on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 – the first payment day of the October-to-December quarter, when OAS rose 1.4%. The maximum OAS pension is now $762.50 a month at age 65 to 74 and $838.75 at 75 and over, and the maximum new CPP retirement pension at 65 is $1,507.65. After that, only two more payment days remain this year: November 26 and December 22 – and the December one comes just three days before Christmas.
CPP and OAS payment dates for the rest of 2026
These are the official Government of Canada payment dates. CPP and OAS are paid on the same day.
CPP and OAS (first payment at the new Oct–Dec OAS rates)
CPP and OAS – the day before Black Friday (November 27), so a good day to set your gift budget
CPP and OAS – paid early, before the holidays
Date not yet listed on the Government of Canada calendar – check closer to the time
Other dates this quarter: the Canada Child Benefit is paid on November 20 and December 11. The October 5 Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment has already gone out – see our Groceries and Essentials Benefit breakdown.
How much you can get from October 28
| Benefit (maximum monthly) | Jul–Sep 2026 | Oct–Dec 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAS, age 65–74 | $751.97 | $762.50 | +$10.53 |
| OAS, age 75+ | $827.17 | $838.75 | +$11.58 |
| GIS, single person receiving OAS | $1,123.17 | $1,138.90 | +$15.73 |
| Allowance | $1,428.06 | $1,448.06 | +$20.00 |
| CPP retirement at 65 (new, 2026) | $1,507.65 all year | indexed yearly | |
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada quarterly tables. OAS and GIS are indexed every quarter; CPP is indexed once a year in January. Most people receive less than the CPP maximum – your amount depends on your contributions and the age you started.
What the quarter adds up to (illustrative examples)
Here is the number to sit with: the OAS rise this quarter is $10.53 a month at age 65 to 74 – about $31.59 over the whole quarter. That is real help, but it is small next to what December can cost. And because the December payment arrives on December 22, many retirees will be spending January's money before January arrives: there is no CPP or OAS payment between December 22 and the first 2027 payment date.
Who gets what on October 28
Not everyone receives every benefit. OAS is paid from age 65 to most people who have lived in Canada long enough after age 18. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is added only for low-income OAS recipients, and the Allowance is for some 60-to-64-year-olds whose spouse or common-law partner receives OAS and GIS. CPP depends on what you paid in during your working life: the $1,507.65 maximum is for a new pension started at 65 with maximum contributions, so many people receive considerably less. If your deposit looks wrong, compare it with your latest Service Canada statement rather than with the maximums in the table.
"An early December payment feels like extra money. It isn't – it's January's rent arriving three days before Christmas."
Plan the three payments
Three payment days are left before the holidays – the easiest way to keep December from eating January is to decide now what each one pays for.
The Holiday Spending Planner helps you:
- set one holiday total and split it across the October, November and December payments;
- list every gift, meal and trip with a limit, so nothing is added on impulse;
- keep January's essentials ring-fenced from the December 22 deposit.
100% digital PDF – nothing is shipped. Download right after purchase, print it or use it on your phone, tablet or computer. One-time purchase, no shipping fees.
The OAS recovery tax: does it affect me?
If your net world income (including OAS) is above $95,323 in 2026, OAS is reduced by 15% of the amount above that threshold. It is fully clawed back at $155,320 for ages 65 to 74 and $161,320 at 75 and over.
| Net income (2026) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Up to $95,323 | No OAS clawback |
| $105,000 (example) | Repay about $1,451.55 a year (≈ $120.96 a month) |
| $155,320+ (age 65–74) | OAS fully clawed back |
If you are on a low income, check you are getting the Guaranteed Income Supplement: the maximum for a single person is $1,138.90 a month this quarter, and the annual income cut-off for a single person is $23,112 (not counting OAS).
Your October 28 checklist
- Check the deposit on October 28 in your bank account or My Service Canada Account. Allow a few business days before contacting Service Canada if it is missing.
- Compare with July–September. OAS and GIS should be about 1.4% higher; CPP stays the same until January.
- Write down the three dates – October 28, November 26, December 22 – in your bills calendar.
- Decide what each payment covers before it arrives, especially December's.
- Watch the federal budget on November 5 – our Canada budget timeline has what to look for.
Prices are still the bigger story: see what September's inflation figures mean for a household budget, and if you still carry a variable mortgage into retirement, our Bank of Canada October 28 explainer. For free, unbiased budgeting help, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has tools and guides.
A simple three-payment split (illustrative)
Suppose your combined CPP and OAS is $1,800 a month and you want to keep holiday spending to $600 in total. One way to split it: $150 from the October 28 payment for early gifts and cards, $250 from November 26 for the main shopping, and $200 from December 22 for food and last-minute costs. That leaves every payment covering its usual bills, and it means the December 22 deposit still has $1,600 left for January's essentials. Your numbers will differ – the method matters more than the amounts.
FAQ
What day is CPP paid in October 2026?
Wednesday, October 28, 2026. OAS is paid the same day.
How much is OAS in October 2026?
Up to $762.50 a month at age 65 to 74 and up to $838.75 at 75 and over, for October to December 2026 – about 1.4% more than July to September.
Why is the December CPP payment early?
The December payment is scheduled for December 22, before the holidays. The next payment is in January 2027, so the December deposit has to stretch further.
Sources
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Educational content only. Not personalised financial advice.