Seniors’ poverty in Canada: Why it exists and why it doesn’t have to

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

Why does seniors’ poverty persist?

Despite being one of the most robust income support systems in the country, Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) are failing to protect many older adults from poverty. Our report identifies two key reasons: 

• 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: In high-cost cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, even the maximum available supports leave seniors thousands of dollars below the poverty line. 

Who is most affected? 

Poverty among seniors is not evenly distributed. It is more likely to affect: 

• Seniors living alone – especially women 
• Seniors with disabilities 
• Racialized and immigrant seniors
• Seniors in large urban centres where the cost of living is highest

What needs to change? 

We can and should end seniors’ poverty in Canada. The federal government has the tools – and the responsibility – to act. Our report offers three key recommendations: 

1. Relax residence requirements so that all low-income seniors in Canada qualify for OAS and GIS. 
2. Address barriers to accessing benefits through automatic enrollment, better outreach, and more supports to help people navigate the system. 
3. Increase the maximum GIS benefit to ensure that all seniors, regardless of where they live, can receive enough support to escape poverty.