Ontario: What Happens to Ontario Works at Age 65? OW, OAS and GIS Explained

Who administers what

Ontario Works (OW) is a provincial social assistance program administered by the Government of Ontario. It provides money for food and housing, plus health benefits, to people in financial need. Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) are federal programs administered by Service Canada. They are separate levels of government with separate application channels and eligibility rules.

Ontario Works

According to the Ontario website, you can apply for Ontario Works if you need financial assistance for food and housing and are in financial need. Ontario Works offers:

Money to help you and your eligible family members with living expenses, including food and rent
Health benefits for you and your eligible family members

The page states that in most cases you must participate in employment-related activities to receive financial help. If you are single, you could receive up to $733 a month for basic needs and shelter. You may receive more if you have a spouse or child, or for benefits such as transportation to medical appointments.

The page also states that the Canada Disability Benefit is exempt as income for social assistance. Receiving it will not affect your eligibility for Ontario Works or the amount of your payment.

OAS and GIS

According to Canada.ca, in most cases Service Canada will automatically enroll you for the OAS pension if it has your eligibility information, and will inform you by mail. The page states that if it has been one month since your 64th birthday and you still have not received an enrollment letter, you may need to apply.

Maximum OAS amounts (October to December 2026): $762.50/month at age 65; $838.75/month at age 75.

GIS is a monthly, tax-free payment for people 65 or older who qualify. Maximum amounts listed:

Single, widowed or divorced: up to $1,138.90/month
Spouse/common-law partner receives full OAS: up to $685.56/month
Spouse/common-law partner receives Allowance: up to $685.56/month
Spouse/common-law partner does not receive OAS or Allowance: up to $1,138.90/month

The page states that to qualify for GIS, you must also qualify for OAS.

Filing taxes

Both the OAS and GIS pages state that if you have not filed your 2025 taxes with the CRA, your GIS payments may stop or be reduced. The pages advise filing as soon as possible, or reporting your income directly to Service Canada to renew or confirm eligibility.

How to apply

The Ontario website lists three ways to apply for Ontario Works:

Online: 20 to 30 minutes, one application for you and your immediate family members who live with you
By phone: Social Assistance Support Line
Through your local Ontario Works office, in person or by phone

Before applying, the page asks you to have identification and tax documents ready, such as social insurance numbers (SIN, if applicable), OHIP cards, birth certificates, immigration papers, tax returns and banking information.

For OAS and GIS, the pages state that in most cases Service Canada will automatically enroll you and inform you by mail; if it has been one month since your 64th birthday and you have not received an enrollment letter, you may need to apply.