My dad Applied for OAS/GIS application, got approved while overseas, what should we do?

[Jacklo]

I sponsored my dad in 2010 and came in 2015, he finished 10 years in Canada. He wanted to know if he is eligible for OAS and GIS, he applied and left Canada, he supposed to be back after 5 months, it is been 10 months now and not sure when he will come back, and his GIS was approved and Service Canada started depositing money in his account.

What should we do? Shall we call Service Canada to cancel those payments because he is outside Canada although his home is Canada ?

Shall we withdraw the application and apply again when he comes back? if he withdraws OAS, will it withdraw the GIS with it? I know if we withdraw we need to payback the amounts deposited, will there be any penalties or interest? he is been approved 3 months ago, and we didn't know till he checked online his Canadian bank account and I opened his mail to see what's the story.

 

[pooky73]

I sponsored my dad in 2010 and came in 2015, he finished 10 years in Canada. He wanted to know if he is eligible for OAS and GIS, he applied and left Canada, he supposed to be back after 5 months, it is been 10 months now and not sure when he will come back, and his GIS was approved and Service Canada started depositing money in his account.

What should we do? Shall we call Service Canada to cancel those payments because he is outside Canada although his home is Canada ?

Shall we withdraw the application and apply again when he comes back? if he withdraws OAS, will it withdraw the GIS with it? I know if we withdraw we need to payback the amounts deposited, will there be any penalties or interest? he is been approved 3 months ago, and we didn't know till he checked online his Canadian bank account and I opened his mail to see what's the story.

Receiving your payments while living outside Canada​

You can receive OAS payments while living abroad if:

• You lived in Canada for at least 20 years after turning 18
• You lived and worked in a country with a social security agreement with Canada, and your combined time in both countries is at least 20 years

Leaving or returning to Canada​

Your Old Age Security (and Guaranteed Income Supplement) may stop if you're away for more than 6 months and don't qualify for receiving your payments while outside Canada.

• Before you leave Canada for more than 6 months
  • Call us to let us know (This helps prevent overpayments that you may have to repay later.)
• When you return to Canada after more than 6 months away
  • Call us to restart your payments

We compare information with the Canada Border Service Agency. You could be fined for giving false or misleading information, or purposely omitting information.

Cancel or delay your payments​

Steps for cancelling or delaying your OAS pension:

• Submit: Submit your request in writing within 6 months of receiving your first payment
• Repay: Repay any benefits within the next 6 months - if your request is approved
• Reapply: You may reapply later and may receive a higher pension

 

[canuck78]

I sponsored my dad in 2010 and came in 2015, he finished 10 years in Canada. He wanted to know if he is eligible for OAS and GIS, he applied and left Canada, he supposed to be back after 5 months, it is been 10 months now and not sure when he will come back, and his GIS was approved and Service Canada started depositing money in his account.

What should we do? Shall we call Service Canada to cancel those payments because he is outside Canada although his home is Canada ?

Shall we withdraw the application and apply again when he comes back? if he withdraws OAS, will it withdraw the GIS with it? I know if we withdraw we need to payback the amounts deposited, will there be any penalties or interest? he is been approved 3 months ago, and we didn't know till he checked online his Canadian bank account and I opened his mail to see what's the story.

He doesn’t qualify for GIS either so should make sure he is not receiving it and if he has make arrangements to pay it backs. He also should be aware that he may no longer qualify for healthcare in your province due to his absence and will have to reapply when he returns. A valid card does not mean you qualify for healthcare you also must meet the residency obligation in that province. How long you can be out of Canada to still qualify for health coverage varies by province.

 

[Jacklo]

He doesn’t qualify for GIS either so should make sure he is not receiving it and if he has make arrangements to pay it backs. He also should be aware that he may no longer qualify for healthcare in your province due to his absence and will have to reapply when he returns. A valid card does not mean you qualify for healthcare you also must meet the residency obligation in that province. How long you can be out of Canada to still qualify for health coverage varies by province.

Sorry but why he does not qualify for GIS if he does have any income and I support my dad and we passed the 10 years sponsorship obligation?

How did Service Canada approve his GIS if he does not qualify then?

 

[pooky73]

Sorry but why he does not qualify for GIS if he does have any income and I support my dad and we passed the 10 years sponsorship obligation?

How did Service Canada approve his GIS if he does not qualify then?

They approved it because he did not let Service Canada know that he is outside of Canada. The rules are clear, I copied and pasted them directly from the Federal website.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/b...ncome-supplement/while-receiving.html#wb-cont

Old Age Security (OAS) is a universal, taxable monthly pension for Canadian seniors aged 65 and older. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a non-taxable, additional monthly benefit added to OAS payments exclusively for low-income OAS recipients.

 

[canuck78]

Sorry but why he does not qualify for GIS if he does have any income and I support my dad and we passed the 10 years sponsorship obligation?

How did Service Canada approve his GIS if he does not qualify then?

Did you not read the rules about who qualifies for OAS/GIS? They were even reposted. The goal of OAS/GIS is to support longterm residents in Canada and typically those who actually primarily live in Canada. The fact that PGP applicants qualify when they have never worked in Canada and likely never paid taxes and the PGP is sold to the general population as children will be required to financially supported their parents is already incredibly generous. To expect to receive OAS/GIS while also not living in Canada after being sponsored is pretty outrageous. The fact that it is technically possible after 20 years living in Canada while likely never working or paying taxes also would shock most Canadians. Same goes for healthcare. There are residency requirements that typically ensure that people are primarily living in Canada and are tax residents. If your father is receiving any form of government payment or benefit from any government program you need to verify whether he is still entitled to them if he is out of Canada for 10 months.

 

[Jacklo]

Guys,

When he applied he didn't know that he will get it or not, he traveled and he knew about it when he checked his bank account online overseas.

He was confused on the presence and residency? He thought as long as he maintains less than six months outside Canada, he should be eligible. He didn't know that he NEEDs to maintain physical presence in Canada for at least six months to be eligible for payments.


So, what should he do now?

Withdraw the OAS application online and apply again when he comes back? Will withdrawing the OAS will withdraw the GIS too? if he does that within six months of approval will there be any penalties or interest? We are thinking to do it online as he is still overseas and if OAS withdrawal also withdraws GIS, we will do it.

 

[Buletruck]

Did you not read the rules about who qualifies for OAS/GIS? They were even reposted. The goal of OAS/GIS is to support longterm residents in Canada and typically those who actually primarily live in Canada. The fact that PGP applicants qualify when they have never worked in Canada and likely never paid taxes and the PGP is sold to the general population as children will be required to financially supported their parents is already incredibly generous. To expect to receive OAS/GIS while also not living in Canada after being sponsored is pretty outrageous. The fact that it is technically possible after 20 years living in Canada while likely never working or paying taxes also would shock most Canadians. Same goes for healthcare. There are residency requirements that typically ensure that people are primarily living in Canada and are tax residents. If your father is receiving any form of government payment or benefit from any government program you need to verify whether he is still entitled to them if he is out of Canada for 10 months.

Jesus H tap dancing Christ......cut the guy some slack! He obviously came here looking to correct a potential error and looking for advice how to do that. Not a lecture on who or what qualifies ( although it seems the government disagrees with your assessment and provided the benefit). You don't get to make those determinations, despite your "interpretation".

My advice: Don't spend the money and contact Service Canada. They may ask for the funds back until he returns. I'd also ask them to confirm his eligibility for GIS. Just be up front with them. Better than finding out later they want the money back.