Most Canadians approaching retirement know that they will be able to receive retirement income from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) programs. Many, however, are unaware that there is a third federal program — the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) — which provides an additional monthly income amount to eligible individuals who already receive Old Age Security.
The problem is, automatic enrollment in GIS is something that is planned for future implementation, but is not yet in place, which means that anyone who wishes to receive the GIS must apply for it. As such a number of Canadians are not taking advantage of it.
The good news? Where individuals receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, whether the full benefit or partial amounts, all such amounts received are non-taxable.
Am I Eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement?
The rules governing eligibility for GIS, and the amount which a particular individual will receive, are more complex than OAS.
The first and most basic rule of GIS eligibility is that GIS is paid only to individuals who are already receiving the Old Age Security benefit. Canadians can begin receiving such OAS benefit at age 65, or can defer receipt of that benefit up until the age of 70. However, regardless of the age at which an individual chooses to begin collecting OAS, he or she cannot receive the GIS until that OAS benefit has started.
And while eligibility for GIS is tied to income, it is not only to seniors with the lowest of incomes.
In reality, single (or divorced or widowed) individuals who have less than $17,688 in net income for the previous year are eligible to receive at least partial GIS benefits each month. Once net income exceeds the $17,688 threshold, eligibility for GIS is completely eliminated.
That figure is somewhat deceiving, however, as not all income sources are treated the same way when it comes to determining net income for purposes of assessing GIS eligibility. When determining such eligibility, the sources from which income is received is nearly as important as the amount of that income.
Generally, in calculating net income for purposes of determining GIS eligibility, the following income amounts are included:
- CPP or QPP (Quebec Pension Plan) amounts;
- amounts received from a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or a registered retirement income fund (RRIF);
- amounts received from a registered pension plan (i.e., an employer-sponsored pension plan); and
- investment income (interest, dividends, etc.) from all sources.
In addition to these amounts income from employment is also included. However, the government recognizes that many retirees work part-time, whether out of financial need or for social reasons so, in calculating net income to determine GIS eligibility, an exemption is provided for the first $3,500 in employment income earned each year. In other words, the first $3,500 in employment income earned is not included in net income for GIS eligibility purposes.
Other income amounts that are excluded in net income for purposes of determining GIS eligibility are:
- Old Age Security amounts; and
- any withdrawals from a tax-free savings account (TFSA).
Theses exclusions and partial exclusions from the net income calculation for GIS purposes can mean that someone who would not seem to be eligible by reason of his or her total income may in fact be able to receive at least partial GIS benefits, as in the following example.
A single individual who is over age 65 receives the following income amounts in 2016:
- $7,200 in Canada Pension Plan retirement benefits;
- $6,840 in Old Age Security benefits;
- $6,000 of income from part-time employment;
- $5,000 in TFSA withdrawals; and
- $3,000 in RRIF withdrawals.
Total income for the year — $28,040
That total income would seem to put the individual well over the eligibility threshold for receiving even partial GIS. However, for purposes of determining such eligibility, not all of the income amounts adding up to that $28,040 in total income will be included. Specifically, the $6,840 in OAS benefits is excluded, as is the $5,000 amount withdrawn from the individual’s TFSA. As well, the first $3,500 in employment income is excluded in computing net income for this purpose. As a result, more than half of the taxpayer’s income amounts received during 2016 are excluded from the computation of net income, and that computation, for purposes of determining GIS eligibility looks like this:
- $7,200 in Canada Pension Plan retirement benefits;
- $3,000 in RRIF withdrawals;
- $2,500 in employment income (the first $3,500 in such income being exempt)
Net income for GIS eligibility purposes — $12,700
Once the adjustments required to determine GIS eligibility are made, the individual’s income is cut by more than half, and the resulting $12,700 in net income is $5,000 below the $17,688 income cut-off for GIS eligibility of $17,688.
In 2017, an individual who is single, divorced, or widowed and is eligible for a full GIS amount will receive $871.86 per month. That amount is reduced as income increases and is eliminated entirely where the individual’s net income exceeds the $17,688 cut-off.
What if I am Married? Can I Still Be Eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement?
Of course.
A calculation, similar to the one above, is required for taxpayers who are married. The net income calculation is the same, but the cut-off amount above which GIS eligibility for both spouses is eliminated, where both spouses are receiving OAS, is $23,376.
Where one of the spouses does not receive OAS, the combined income threshold for GIS eligibility is $42,384.
More information on the benefit and income cut-off amounts for the current quarter (July to September 2017), as well as links to tables which will show the exact amount of GIS payable at different income levels, can be found on the Canada.ca website.
For more information about CPP, OAS, or GIS contact us today. We look forward to helping you take full advantage of the benefits, credits and deductions available to you so that you can maximize your after-tax position!
