Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)

Contact Info: 1‑866‑668‑8297

The Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) ensures a guaranteed minimum income for Ontario senior citizens by providing monthly payments to qualifying pensioners.

You are eligible to receive GAINS payments if:

  1. You are age 65 or older and receive the full or partial federal Old Age Security (OAS) and the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS);
  2. You are and have been a permanent resident of Ontario for the past 12 months or you previously lived in this province for a total of twenty years after the age of eighteen; and
  3. Your total income from all sources is below the level guaranteed by the province.

Effective July 2000, you are also eligible to receive GAINS payments if you are a recipient of OAS and GIS benefits under the federal International Social Security Agreement (ISSA) program, have ten or more years of Canadian residency and meet requirements 2) and 3) above.

For more information:

Phone: 1-866-668-8297 (Toll-free) or 1-800-263-7776 (TTY)

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Disclaimer: The MS Society is an independent, voluntary health agency and does not approve, endorse or recommend any specific product or therapy but provides information to assist individuals in making their own decisions. For specific information and advice, please consult your personal physician. Read our full privacy policy.