Old Age Security benefit amounts remain unchanged for April to June 2013

OTTAWA, March 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Human Resources and Skills Development Canada today announced the quarterly benefit amounts for Old Age Security (OAS) for April to June 2013.

The maximum basic OAS pension benefit paid to people 65 years of age and older will remain unchanged at $546.07 per month from April 1 to June 30, 2013. Payments under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor will also remain unchanged.

The OAS program consists of the basic pension, the GIS and the Allowances. The GIS and the Allowances provide additional benefits to eligible low-income pensioners and their spouses or common-law partners, as well as to eligible survivors. OAS benefit amounts are reviewed quarterly (in January, April, July and October) and revised as required to reflect increases in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) set by Statistics Canada.

The last time OAS benefit amounts increased was in January 2013, when benefits were raised in response to an increase in the average CPI. Since then, the average CPI has decreased. The Old Age Security Act guarantees that OAS benefits do not go down, even when there is a decrease in the CPI.

If the average CPI surpasses the previous level in the future, OAS benefits will go up again. However, if the average CPI goes down, OAS benefits will remain the same.

The OAS program is funded through general tax revenues and enhances the quality of life of Canadian seniors by providing a modest base upon which to build additional income for retirement. In 2011-2012, it provided 5 million seniors with $38.1 billion in benefits.

For further information, please consult the Service Canada website at www.servicecanada.gc.ca.

IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.

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MAXIMUM OLD AGE SECURITY BENEFIT RATES AS OF APRIL 1, 2013
Type of Old Age Security benefit	Maximum monthly benefit rates April to June 2013	Previous quarter January to March 2013
Basic Old Age Security pension	$546.07	$546.07
Guaranteed Income Supplement*
Single	$740.44	$740.44
Spouse or common-law partner of
• a non-pensioner	$740.44	$740.44
• a pensioner	$490.96	$490.96
• an Allowance recipient	$490.96	$490.96
The Allowances
Regular Survivor	$1,037.03 $1,161.01	$1,037.03 $1,161.01

* The Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowances amounts listed above include a top-up benefit.

SOURCE: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

This news release is available in alternative formats on request.

(media only):

Alyson Queen
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.