December is never a normal month to the Canadian seniors who depend on the Old Age Security (OAS) pension. As the holiday season approaches, and brings higher costs and closures of financial institutions, the federal government makes adjustments to the payment schedule by allowing money to be available before Christmas. You will be happy to know that your December 2025 payment will come earlier than usual should you be expecting your deposit.
The following is a breakdown of the confirmed payment dates, the exact amounts that you should anticipate, and why the schedule differs with the rest of the year.
December 2025 Confirmed Early Payment Date
The OAS payments are usually issued on the last three business days of the month. Nonetheless, it is December that becomes the exception to the rule. Service Canada advances the date of payment to prevent delays that are brought by statutory holidays such as the Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The payment of old age security will be made on the 22nd of December 2025, Monday. This advance deposit guarantees the elderly that they can get their money way before the bank holidays.
Known Reimbursement Amounts per Age Group
You will get it according to your age and level of income. The December 2025 payments are pegged on the rates set in the October to December 2025 quarter that experienced a slight increment as a result of indexing through inflation. The highest payment amount that is paid per month by seniors between the ages of 65 and 74 is 740.09. In the case of persons above the age of 75, they can receive the maximum monthly payment of 814.10. These are the upper limits, you might pay less, depending on your history of residence in Canada.
The Income Recovery Tax
Although the majority of the seniors are entitled to the full benefit, high-income earners may pay less which is commonly known as the OAS clawback. In this payment period (which will be between July 2025 and June 2026), you are eligible on the basis of your net world income in the tax year 2024. In 2024, you are probably having a chunk of your pension deducted in case your net annual income exceeded about $90,997. In case your earnings were above upper limit (approximately, 148,000-154,000 according to your age group) you would not have received the OAS payment this month.
Direct Deposit and Mail Delays
Direct deposit will be the most secure and quickest option to get your money as the payment date is now in December 22. Around the time of the holidays, the postal system is usually under a huge burden creating the chances of lost paper cheques. In case you are already a direct deposit customer, you do not need to do anything, the cash will come automatically. In case you realize that your payment is not received on December 22, Service Canada usually recommends three days of waiting before you call them, just in case of slight processing by the banking institution.
Looking Ahead to January 2026
This payment in December is critical and should be budgeted well. Since the money will be received in early years (December 22), the difference between this payment and the January 2026 payment will be increased as compared to the normal- it will span about five weeks. The January payment will resume normal schedule landing somewhere towards the end of the month, probably around Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Quick Data Overview
| Category | Details |
| Payment Date | Monday, December 22, 2025 |
| Max Amount (Age 65-74) | $740.09 |
| Max Amount (Age 75+) | $814.10 |
| Reason for Early Date | Christmas / Statutory Holidays |
| Next Payment | January 28, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. Does the December pay come with a Christmas bonus?
No, the federal OAS program does not usually have a definite Christmas bonus. What you have received in December is your monthly regular pension, but received early.
2. Why did I get a different amount of payment this month?
When the value of your amount has been different, then it is probably not the month but could be that there was a change in your income or marital status or quarterly inflation adjustment. The rates, however, will keep at the same level as in October 2025, in December 2025.
3. What will happen in case I will not receive my money on the 22th of December?
In case of direct deposit, you should enquire with your bank. When you are issued with a cheque, add a few spare days to the delay of the holiday mail. In case it is usually delivered on time and it is not received within the course of over three working days, call Service Canada.
Disclaimer
The information is aimed at being informative. You may verify that we have the official intention of giving you the correct information at all costs.
