Still left behind: Why 430,000 seniors in Canada live in poverty – and how to fix it

Many Canadians assume that poverty among seniors is a minor issue. That the system provides enough for the elderly to live with dignity. But a new report from Maytree reveals a different reality: 430,000 seniors in Canada are living below the Official Poverty Line.

While Canada’s income security system has helped reduce seniors’ poverty in the past, progress has stalled. The number of seniors in poverty is growing as the population ages, and the current system has not kept pace.

The report, Seniors’ poverty in Canada: Why it exists and why it doesn’t have to, finds that most low-income seniors rely on Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Yet for many, these programs fall short.

Maytree identifies two key reasons why seniors continue to live in poverty:

• Access barriers: Barriers include complex application processes, lack of awareness, and administrative hurdles. Some seniors are ineligible altogether because they have not met residence requirements.
• Inadequate benefit levels: Even when seniors receive the maximum available OAS and GIS, the total support sometimes does not cover the cost of living – especially in cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

“A country as prosperous as Canada can fulfill everyone’s right to an adequate standard of living,” said Alexi White, Director of Systems Change at Maytree. “The complete eradication of poverty among seniors is a realistic goal for the next federal government.”

The report offers practical, immediate solutions. It calls on the federal government to:

• Address access barriers through automatic enrollment, improved outreach, and support for benefit navigation.
• Relax residence requirements so that all low-income seniors in Canada can qualify for OAS and GIS.
• Increase the maximum GIS benefit, ensuring that seniors across the country – regardless of where they live – can access an income floor that lifts them above the poverty line.

For the full analysis, read the report: Seniors’ poverty in Canada: Why it exists and why it doesn’t have to.