OAS Deferral Calculator
Should you start Old Age Security at 65, or delay it? Pick an exact deferral period — month by month, not just whole years — and see the enhanced payment, the breakeven age, and the lifetime total. For a combined view with CPP, see the CPP & OAS Start Age Calculator.
Your OAS Deferral
OAS can only be deferred — never taken before 65, unlike CPP. Deferral maxes out at 60 months (age 70); there is no benefit to waiting past 70.
Deferring to age 70
Enhanced Monthly OAS
$1,023
vs $752 at 65
Percentage Boost
+36.0%
Enhanced Annual OAS
$12,272
Breakeven vs Starting at 65
Breakeven Age
Age 84
cumulative deferred total first overtakes starting at 65
Difference by Age 90
+$19,852
total lifetime OAS, deferred vs age 65
Stacking with the age-75 top-up: the automatic 10% OAS increase for seniors 75 and older applies to whatever amount you're actually receiving — including a deferral-enhanced payment. If you defer to 70 and later turn 75, your payment would rise further to roughly $1,125/month (illustrative — uses the 2026 75+ ratio).
OAS Deferral by Month
| Deferred to | Boost | Monthly | Annual | Breakeven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 65(standard) | — | $752 | $9,024 | Age 65 |
| Age 65y 6m | +3.6% | $779 | $9,348 | Age 80 |
| Age 66 | +7.2% | $806 | $9,673 | Age 80 |
| Age 66y 6m | +10.8% | $833 | $9,998 | Age 81 |
| Age 67 | +14.4% | $860 | $10,323 | Age 81 |
| Age 67y 6m | +18.0% | $887 | $10,648 | Age 82 |
| Age 68 | +21.6% | $914 | $10,973 | Age 82 |
| Age 68y 6m | +25.2% | $941 | $11,298 | Age 83 |
| Age 69 | +28.8% | $969 | $11,622 | Age 83 |
| Age 69y 6m | +32.4% | $996 | $11,947 | Age 84 |
| Age 70 | +36.0% | $1,023 | $12,272 | Age 84 |
Cumulative OAS: Age 65 vs Your Deferral
Also planning your CPP start date?
Compare CPP and OAS start ages together →How it works: OAS increases 0.6% for every month you defer past 65, up to 36% at age 70 (0.6% × 60 months). There is no benefit — and no further increase — to waiting past 70. These figures assume a constant OAS rate without future indexation and do not account for inflation, tax, or the OAS Recovery Tax (clawback) on your other income.
How to actually defer OAS
1. Enrollment is automatic by default. If Service Canada has your eligibility information on file, you'll receive an enrollment letter around your 64th birthday and start collecting at 65 without applying.
2. Deferring requires an active step. To delay instead, sign in to My Service Canada Account and select "Delay Receiving OAS/GIS pension" under your OAS profile — or submit the paper Application for the OAS and the GIS (ISP-3550) and choose a later start date.
3. You can change your mind. If you're already deferring and decide you want to start collecting, you apply with your chosen start date. If you've already applied and want to change the date, you contact Service Canada directly.
4. 70 is the deadline. There's no further increase past age 70 — Service Canada recommends applying by then if you haven't already, since retroactive payments during a deferral period are not available.
Worked example
A retiree entitled to the standard $752/month OAS at 65 (Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep 2026)) decides to defer the full 60 months, to age 70.
$752 × (1 + 0.006 × 60) = $1,023/month
That's $12,272/year instead of $9,024 — a permanent 36% increase. Because they collected nothing for 5 years, the deferred total only overtakes the age-65 total at age 84; by age 90 the deferred choice is ahead by $19,852.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I start OAS before age 65?
No. Unlike CPP, which can start as early as 60, OAS can only start at 65 or be deferred — never taken early. The earliest possible OAS start age is 65.
How much does OAS increase if I defer it?
OAS increases by 0.6% for each month you defer past 65, up to a maximum of 36% at age 70 (0.6% × 60 months). Deferring by 12 months (1 year) adds 7.2% — worth about $54 more per month on a $752 base.
Is deferring OAS automatic, or do I have to request it?
Most people are enrolled automatically — Service Canada sends a letter around your 64th birthday. To defer instead, you must actively choose to: in My Service Canada Account, select "Delay Receiving OAS/GIS pension," or submit the paper ISP-3550 form. If you don't take that step and you're already over 65, you can still request a retroactive start date of up to 11 months from your application date.
Is there any benefit to deferring OAS past age 70?
No. The maximum increase (36%) is reached at age 70, and payments do not grow any further after that. Canada.ca explicitly advises applying once you turn 70 if you have not already.
Does deferring OAS avoid the clawback?
Deferring OAS while you still have high employment income means you are not collecting a benefit that could be clawed back during those years. Once you start collecting — deferred or not — the 15% OAS Recovery Tax still applies above the $95,323 (2026) net-income threshold. See the OAS Clawback Calculator to check your own exposure.
Does the age-75 OAS increase stack with a deferred pension?
Yes. The automatic 10% increase for seniors 75 and older applies to whatever OAS amount you are actually receiving, including a deferral-enhanced payment — the two increases combine rather than one replacing the other.
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