How is GIS calculated?
According to the Human Resources and Social Development Canada website http://www.sdc.gc.ca (search the A-Z index), there are two basic rates of payment. The first applies to single pensioners – including widowed, divorced or separated persons; and to married pensioners whose spouses or common-law partners do not receive either the basic Old Age Security pension or the Allowance. The second applies both to legally married couples and couples living in common-law relationships, where spouses or common-law partners are pensioners. The GIS single rate is higher than the married rate. However, each spouse or common-law partner in a couple is entitled to a benefit, so the combined benefits for a couple are higher than those for a single person. Consult the website for current payment rates.
