How to apply for GIS

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If you are not automatically enrolled (see the next page), you apply for GIS yourself. There are two routes, and they lead to the same decision.

Route 1: online through My Service Canada Account

Sign in to My Service Canada Account and apply for GIS there. This is the fastest route: the application goes straight into Service Canada's system, and you can check its status in the same account. You will need your Social Insurance Number, your spouse or common-law partner's income information if you have one, and your direct deposit details if you want payment by direct deposit.

Route 2: paper form by mail

If you are already receiving OAS and are applying for GIS alone, the paper form is ISP-3025. If you are applying for OAS and GIS together at 65, use the combined form ISP-3550 (Application for the Old Age Security Pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement). Mail the completed form to Service Canada at the address printed on the form. Paper applications take longer than online ones, so if you can apply online, do so.

What to have ready before you start

Your Social Insurance Number and date of birth.
Your marital status and, if you have a spouse or common-law partner, their Social Insurance Number and income information — couples are assessed on combined income.
Your income information from last year (and your partner's), since GIS is normally based on the previous year's tax return.
Your banking information for direct deposit, or a mailing address for cheques.
Proof of residence in Canada if Service Canada asks for it.

When will you hear back, and when does payment start?

Service Canada sends a decision letter. If approved, your first GIS payment arrives either the month after you turn 65 or on the date stated in your decision letter, and it is added to your OAS payment as one combined deposit. There is no separate GIS payday: GIS rides along with OAS. If you applied late, ask Service Canada about backdating — do not assume months you missed will be repaid automatically, because the rules for retroactive GIS payments are strict and depend on when you applied and when you qualified.

Apply even if you are unsure. GIS has no application fee and no penalty for applying and being refused. If there is any chance your income is below the threshold for your situation, apply: the worst outcome is a refusal letter, and the best outcome is hundreds of dollars a month you would otherwise have missed.

General information only. This page explains the Guaranteed Income Supplement in plain English. It is not legal, financial, or tax advice, and it cannot decide whether you qualify. Only Service Canada can decide a claim. Rates and rules change over time — the figures here are for October to December 2026 unless another period is stated — so always confirm the current position with Service Canada or Canada.ca before you act on it. Contact: hello [at] tapetoolhq.com.