There are social media posts or third-party claims that the Canadian government is increasing the Old Age Security payment to $2800 to support seniors. If you receive the OAS payout from CRA and are wondering whether this payment is real or not, you can clear everything here.
Canada $2800 OAS Increase 2025
The Canadian government supports seniors through Old Age Security and offers them basic income support after they retire. The OAS is a boon for many seniors as it is non-contributory and indexed every quarter.
Now, rumors are circulating online saying that the government is increasing the OAS payment with a lump-sum payment of $2800 to support seniors. Some social media posts and third-party sites are claiming the OAS increase, leaving the seniors wondering if it is real.
So, to clear your confusion, let’s check the facts and rumors about the OAS increase in 2025:
| OAS Rumors | OAS Facts |
| Lump sum increase of $2800 to OAS | $2800 OAS increase is not real |
| The increase was backed by CRA and announced by the government | No, the government and CRA have not announced any such increase |
| Separate application form | No separate application for an increase, as it is fake, and even if it were real, the agency would not announce a separate application process |
What is the current OAS payment for 2025?
The OAS payment is offered to elderly citizens aged 65 or older who are living in Canada or outside the country, but have resided in the country for a specified period before leaving. The CRA manages the OAS distribution and payment increase.
The agency adjusts the OAS payment quarterly to ensure it keeps pace with inflation and helps seniors manage their expenses. Currently, there is no such increase of $2800, but the OAS payments will surely increase from the July to September 2025 quarter.
The agency has adjusted the increase based on the CPI of the last quarter and the recent quarter. The CRA has confirmed the adjustment for the October to December 2025 quarter, that is, 0.7%, which will be reflected in your October 2025 payment:
| Age | Maximum Monthly payment |
| 65 to 74 | $740.09 |
| 75 or over | $814.11 |
Will the government increase the OAS payments?
The Canadian government does not regularly increase OAS payments through large boosts. The OAS payments are already indexed quarterly, so it is adjusted based on the cost of living to ensure the payment is enough.
The increase is to ensure the purchasing power of the recipients can match the price of the goods and services. However, if the government has to increase the Old Age Security pension, it would have to look into the following factors:
- Nation’s economic conditions
- Quarterly adjustment
- Parliament Agreement
The large boosts involve a lot of government work and discussion; hence, such an increase does not happen easily or instantly. So, do not believe any rumors or social media posts until the government or government agencies officially confirm it.
What precautions should you take to stay protected from scams?
The online baseless rumors are a frequent and common way for scammers to scam vulnerable groups of people. Seniors are an easy target for scammers as they are not familiar with the digital world; hence, it is important to take precautions to stay protected from scams, such as:
- You should only believe the official government or the Services Canada website at https://www.canada.ca/, and always cross-check with official sources before believing any such posts.
- If you receive any message, text, email, or notice from a third party or people impersonating as the CRA, saying the payment has increased and you need to apply to receive the payment, always check it on the official website first, and do not engage with such messages or emails.
- Never click the link or website shared on such messages, as it can be a scammer’s way to hack your account and steal your financial information or personal identity.
- If you find any rumors or baseless rumors, you can report them to the CRA at the Scam and Fraud website (https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/scams-fraud/recognize-scam.html) and stay protected. That way, the CRA will also issue a warning against such activities, and other recipients will also get an alert.
The OAS payments are a big support for Canadian seniors, as they also have the GIS, GIS Allowance, and other benefits for the eligible seniors that help them lead a decent life. So, stay vigilant of such rumors and always clear your facts from the official channels.
