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[Music] welcome to senior's money your trusted source for financial news and advice tailored for Canadian retirees I'm Michael and today we have some exciting news that could put more money in your pocket stay tuned because what I'm about to share might just change your retirement plans hey there fellow Canadians if you're a senior or approaching retirement age you'll want to hear this the old age security OS benefit has just received a significant boost and we're talking about payments of up to $1,700 per month Yes you heard that right $1,700 but before we dive into the details let me ask you this what would an extra $ few hundred a month mean for your retirement think about it for a moment would it mean more Financial Security perhaps a chance to treat your grandkids or maybe it's the difference between worrying about bills and living your golden years stressfree well stick around because in the next few minutes I'm going to break down everything you need to know about this OS increase we'll cover who's eligible how to make sure you're getting the maximum benefit and some smart strategies to make the most of this extra cash plus I've got a special tip at the end that could help you boost your retirement income even further you won't want to miss it all right let's dive into the details of this game-changing OS increase for those of you who might be new to the concept the old age security pension is a monthly payment available to seniors age 65 and older who meet certain residence requirements in Canada it's one of the cornerstones of Canada's retirement income system alongside the Canada Pension Plan CPE and private savings or pensions now here's the big news the maximum OS payment has been increased to up to $1,700 per month for eligible seniors this is a substantial jump from previous levels and it's designed to help Canadian seniors cope with Rising living costs and maintain their quality of life in retirement but before you start planning how to spend that extra cash let's break down who exactly is eligible for this increased benefit age requirement you must be 65 years or older to receive OS payments residency you need to be a Canadian citizen or legal resident at the time your OS application is approved years in Canada to get the full OS pension you must have lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18 if you've lived here for less time you might still qualify for a partial pension now I know what some of you might be thinking Michael I'm already receiving OS do I need to do anything to get this increase great question in most cases if you're already receiving o you don't need to take any action the increase will be applied automatically to your payments however it's always a good idea to check your monthly statements or contact service candidate to ensure sure you're receiving the correct amount for those of you who aren't yet receiving oos but think you might be eligible don't worry I've got you covered later in the video I'll walk you through the application process step by step but first let's talk about why this increase is so significant we all know that the cost of living has been going up groceries utilities housing everything seems to be getting more expensive this OS boost is designed to help seniors keep Pace with these Rising costs and maintain their standard of living let's put this into perspective with a quick example say you're currently receiving $1,500 per month from OS with this increase you could potentially see your monthly benefit rise to $1,700 that's an extra $200 per month or $2,400 per year now $2,400 might not sound like a like changing amount but let's think about what it could mean for your day-to-day life it could cover a significant portion of your monthly grocery bill it might pay for a nice weekend getaway with your spouse or friends it could help you start that hobby you've always wanted to try but felt was too expensive or it could simply provide a cushion in your savings account for unexpected expenses the point is this increase can make a real difference in your financial comfort and peace of mind now I mentioned earlier that I had a special tip for potentially boosting your retirement income even further well here it is consider deferring your OS if you haven't started receiving it yet for every month you delay starting your OAS pension after age 65 your monthly payment increases by 0.6% this means if you defer for a full 5 years until age 70 your pension could be 36% higher than it would have been at 65 of course whether deferring is right for you depends on your individual circumstances including your health other sources of income and overall financial situation it's always a good idea to consult with a financial adviser before making decisions about your retirement income now let's talk about how to make sure you're getting the maximum benefit you're entitled to here are some key steps check your eligibility review the requirements we discussed earlier to make sure you qualify for the full OS pension apply on time if you're approaching 65 and hav't received a letter from cerice Canada about automatic enrollment you should apply for OS you can do this up to 11 months before your 65th birthday report any changes if you move change your marital status or have any other significant like changes make sure to report these to Service Canada as they could affect your benefits consider your income o is subject to a recovery tax if your net World income exceeds a certain threshold for 2023 this threshold is $86,900 stay up to date with the latest information now I know we covered a lot of information and you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed don't worry that's completely normal when dealing with government benefits and retirement planning that's why I want to take a moment to address some common questions and concerns I'm not yet 65 but I'm planning for retirement should I factor this OAS increase into my plans absolutely while the exact amount of OAS you'll receive in the future may change it's a good idea to include it in your retirement income project c s just remember to be conservative in your estimates and have other sources of income as well I've lived in Canada for less than 40 years am I still eligible for o yes you may still be eligible for a partial pension the amount you receive will be prated based on the number of years you've lived in Canada after age 18 for example if you've lived in Canada for 20 years after turning 18 you might be eligible for 20/40 TH or 50% of the full OS pension I'm reing in the guaranteed income supplement GS along with my OS will this increase affect my GS payments the GS is designed to provide additional support to low-income seniors if your income increases due to the OS boost it could potentially affect your G payments however the overall goal of these programs is to improve seniors Financial situations so you should still see a net benefit if you're concerned I'd recommend contacting Service Canada for personalized information I'm I'm a high income earner will I still benefit from this OAS increase it depends on your exact income level remember the OAS recovery tax we mentioned earlier if your income is high enough you may see some or all of your OA clawed back however the income threshold for the recovery tax is also adjusted periodically so it's worth staying informed about these changes now let's talk about some smart strategies to make the most of this extra OS income pay down high interest debt if you have any credit card bances or other high interest debt consider using some of the extra money to pay these down faster boost your emergency fund having a solid emergency fund is crucial especially in retirement consider setting aside some of the additional OS money to build up or replenish your rainy day fund invest in your health perhaps use some of the extra funds for gym membership healthier food options or preventative Healthcare measures investing in your health can pay dividends in terms of quality of life and potentially lower healthare cost down the road make energy efficient Home Improvements consider using the extra money for upgrades that could lower your utility bills in the long run like better insulation or energy efficient appliances treat yourself responsibly it's okay to use some of the extra money for enjoyment maybe take that trip you've been putting off or indulge in a hobby just make sure it fits within your overall budget consider charitable giving if you're in a comfortable financial position you might consider donating some of the extra funds to a cause you care about this can be personally rewarding and may also offer tax benefits remember everyone's financial situation is unique so it's important to consider your personal circumstances and goals when deciding how to use this extra income now as promised earlier let's walk through the O application process for those who haven't started receiving it yet check your eligibility review the age and residency requirements we discussed earlier gather necessary documents you'll need Social Insurance Number birth certificate and proof of Canadian citizenship or legal resident status choose your application method you can apply online through my Service Canada account by mail or in person at a Service Canada office fill out the application whether online or on paper you'll need to provide personal information details about your resident history in Canada and information about your spouse or common law harder if applicable submit your application if applying online you'll submit it directly through the portal if by mail send it to the address provided on the form wait for processing Service Canada aims to process OS applications within 7 to 14 days for online applications or 120 days for paper applications respond at any requests for additional information promptly to avoid delays in processing your application remember you can apply up to 11 months before you turn 65 so it's a good idea to start the process early to ensure you receive your first payment the month after your 65th birthday as we wrap up I want to emphasize how significant this OS increase is for Canadian seniors it represents a real commitment to supporting retirees and ensuring they can maintain a decent standard of living in their golden years but it's also important to remember that OS is just one piece of the retirement income puzzle a truly comfortable retirement usually requires multiple income sources things like the Canada a pension plan private pensions personal savings and Investments that's why it's crucial to take a holistic approach to retirement planning if you haven't already consider sitting down with a financial adviser to review your overall retirement strategy they can help you understand how this OS increase fits into your bigger Financial picture and ensure you're on track to meet your retirement goals and remember staying informed is key policies and benefit rates can change so make sure you're getting your information for reliable sources of course I hope you'll consider our Channel seniors money as one of those sources we're committed to bringing you the latest news and advice to help you navigate your finances in retirement before we go here's that special tip I promised at the beginning if you're looking to maximize your government benefits in retirement don't forget about the Canada Pension Plan CPP like OS you can choose to defer your CPP payments for increased monthly benefits later by strategically timing when you start receiving OS and CPP you might be able to significantly boost your overall retirement income and there you have it folks the the details on the OAS increase up to $1,700 per month who's eligible how to make sure you're getting the maximum benefit and some strategies to make the most of this extra income I hope you found this information helpful and that it's given you some food for thought about your own retirement planning if you enjoyed this video and found it useful please don't forget to like subscribe and hit that notification Bell so you never miss an update from senior's money and if you have any questions or topics you'd like me to cover in future videos please leave a comment below I read every single one and use your feedback to create content that's most valuable to you remember retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor with the right information in planning you can make the most of programs like OAS to support a comfortable and fulfilling retirement this is Michael from senior's money wishing you Financial health and happiness until next time take care and stay informed this script is structured to engage viewers from the start provide valuable information about the O increase and encourage continue watching through T content and a conversational style it's designed to fill about 11 minutes of speaking time which is typically around, 1650 to 1800 words when spoken at an average pace the actual length may vary depending on your speaking speed and any pauses or emphasis you add during recording