BC Seniors Supplement 2026: payment dates, rate table and how much you get

What is the BC Seniors Supplement?

The BC Seniors Supplement is a monthly payment from the Government of British Columbia that adds to the federal income of low-income seniors. It is funded and administered by the province, not by Service Canada, but it is calculated from the federal Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) amounts you already receive.

In practice it is a small, steady top-up. The B.C. government lists it as the Senior's Supplement; most people search for it as the BC Seniors Supplement or BC senior supplement.

BC senior supplement payment dates for 2026

The BC senior supplement payment dates for 2026 are January 27, February 27, March 27, April 27, May 27, June 29, July 27, August 27, September 28, October 27, November 27 and December 22, as published by the B.C. government.

These are not always the same days as the federal OAS and GIS deposits, so many seniors see two separate credits near the end of the month. The table sets the September to December 2026 provincial dates beside the federal ones.

The 2027 dates are not yet announced. The federal side is covered on OAS payment dates; the provincial dates are posted on gov.bc.ca, usually before the new year. If a payment is missing, the province asks you to allow at least two business days for missed or in-transit payments before contacting the Senior's Supplement Program.

How much is the BC Seniors Supplement?

The BC Seniors Supplement pays a single senior between $1.00 and $99.30 a month, and a senior couple between $2.00 and $220.50 a month, according to the gov.bc.ca Senior's Supplement page. A person aged 60 to 64 whose spouse receives the federal Allowance can get between $1.00 and $99.83 a month.

Why your amount is often much lower than the maximum

The province works out each payment from how much OAS and GIS you receive, and those federal amounts depend on the income on your previous year's tax return. A senior whose only income is OAS and the full GIS is closest to the $99.30 maximum. Someone with a modest CPP pension receives a smaller GIS and usually a smaller supplement, sometimes only a few dollars.

For context, the maximum GIS for a single person from October to December 2026 is $1,138.90 a month, for annual income under $23,112. The federal amounts are explained on GIS amount.

BC Seniors Supplement rate table by income

The B.C. government's rates-by-income table, updated July 1, 2026, shows how the payment falls as income rises. A single senior on a full OAS pension gets $99.30 a month with yearly income under $24 for GIS purposes, about $1.00 less for each further $24 of income, and $1.00 at $2,256 to $2,279.99. For a couple who both receive OAS and GIS, the province's rate table shows up to $110.25 for each spouse. B.C. says the table is for reference only: the payment is actually set from the GIS or Allowance you receive.

Who is eligible for the BC Senior's Supplement?

To receive the supplement, gov.bc.ca says you must meet all of these conditions:

Travel does not end eligibility as long as you remain a B.C. resident; the province allows vacations of up to six months. Seniors who have not yet been approved for GIS should start with what GIS is and how to get it, since the provincial payment cannot begin until the federal one does.

Is the BC Seniors Supplement automatic?

Yes. You do not need to apply. Once Service Canada pays you GIS or the Allowance and your address is in British Columbia, the province calculates and sends the supplement on its own. It is delivered by the same method you use for OAS and GIS, so if your federal payments go by direct deposit, so does the supplement.

What to do if it does not start

1. Confirm your GIS is being paid; check your Service Canada account or your latest GIS letter.
2. Make sure Service Canada has your B.C. address, since the province relies on federal records.
3. File your tax return each year, because a missing return can stop GIS and, with it, the supplement.
4. If everything is in place and no payment arrives, contact the Senior's Supplement Program through the contact details on the gov.bc.ca page.

Other help for B.C. and Alberta seniors

The BC climate action tax credit, which many seniors used to receive with the GST/HST credit, ended after April 2025; see BC climate action tax credit. Federal programs for older Canadians are gathered on benefits for seniors in Canada.

Seniors moving east should know that Alberta runs a larger, application-based program; see Alberta Seniors Benefit. Every province's payments are compared on provincial benefits in Canada.