Hello,
Now that we’re seeing the first signs of spring, I’m feeling that renewed energy a new season brings—and I hope many of you are feeling it too.
This month, as we highlight National Caregiver Day, let’s recognize and celebrate the amazing contributions of caregivers across Canada, including family members, friends and community support workers who provide unpaid or informal care.
In this edition of the newsletter, you’ll find tips to help you file your taxes, access benefits, avoid fraud, and make smart decisions about your health and safety.
If you know someone who might find this newsletter helpful, feel free to share it with them. You can also subscribe to receive future editions!
Thank you,
Stephanie McLean
Secretary of State (Seniors)
Making it easier for older Canadians to apply online for OAS and GIS benefits
Applying for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) can feel overwhelming .
To make it easier to access federal pension benefits, we are sharing some helpful online application tools available through My Service Canada Account (MSCA).
To guide you through your pension applications, we’ve gathered:
- Step-by-step factsheets to help apply for OAS and GIS benefits
- Resources to help plan for retirement and better understand benefits
Why apply online?
Applying for pension and benefits through MSCA is quick and easy, and has many advantages:
- Apply at any time
- Access tools and information to help you make informed decisions
- Get instant confirmation that your application has been received
- Access accurate and up-to-date information about your benefits
- Find help and information on additional benefits you may qualify for
It’s never been easier to stay informed and in control of your public pensions. Why wait? Log in or sign up for MSCA to explore all your options today!
As a reminder, if you are having issues with your payments or other matters related to OAS, we encourage you to contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.
The tax-filing deadline is approaching! Here’s information to help you file before April 30
The tax-filing deadline is approaching! Make sure to file your income tax and benefit return to receive any benefit and credit payments you’re entitled to. You may even get a refund!
The deadline for most individuals to file their tax return and pay any taxes owed is April 30, 2026. If you, or your spouse or common-law partner, are self-employed, you have until June 15, 2026, to file. But if you owe money, you will still need to pay by April 30, 2026, to avoid interest.
If you have been doing your taxes on paper in previous years, consider filing online this year using certified tax software. It’s fast, easy and secure!
However, if you need tax-filing assistance, the Canada Revenue Agency has services and resources to help. You may be able to get your taxes done by a volunteer at a free tax clinic.
In addition, if you have a lower income and a simple tax situation, you may be able to use SimpleFile (digital or by phone) to file your tax return. If you didn’t receive an invitation to use these services, you can complete our eligibility questionnaire to find out whether SimpleFile Digital is available to you.
For more helpful tax-filing information, visit Taxes when you retire or turn 65 years old.
Do you need to change your tax return? Skip the paper request—do it online!
Sometimes mistakes happen when filing an income tax and benefit return. If you made a mistake or forgot to include important information on your return, you don’t need to file a new one.
Once you receive your notice of assessment, you can request a change online through your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) account using Change my return, or through certified tax software. It’s fast, easy and secure!
By submitting a request online instead of paper, you can receive your notice of reassessment and any refund you may be owed much sooner. The CRA’s online processing times tool provides more information on how long it may take to process these types of requests.
Once you submit your change request, you can find updates on its status without having to call the CRA. The Progress Tracker in your CRA account displays processing times and expected completion dates for specific requests.
So, if you need to change your tax return, don’t choose the slower option of submitting a change request by paper. Submit your change request online for faster service!
For more information about online request options and processing times, visit Changing a tax return.
Palliative care: Support for living well at any stage of serious illness
National Hospice Palliative Care Week (May 3 to 9) is an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of palliative care and the important role it plays in supporting people living with serious illness and those closest to them.
Palliative care is for anyone living with serious illness, at any age and at any stage. It can be provided alongside treatments aimed at curing or managing illness.
It focuses on improving quality of life and helping people live as fully as possible by addressing physical symptoms as well as emotional, psychological, social and spiritual needs. It also supports families and caregivers through the challenges of serious illness.
A palliative approach to care can be provided by your family doctor, nurse, palliative care specialist or others.
Starting the conversation early with your health or social service provider can help you better understand your options. Learn more from Health Canada’s helpful guide, What to Do When Facing a Serious Illness, and visit Canada.ca/palliative-care.
Healthy habits: The choices you make today may shape your tomorrow
As we get older, our risk of developing diseases or health conditions increases.
The good news is that there are many healthy lifestyle choices you can make right now to help you stay strong, confident and connected to the life you enjoy.
Here are a few everyday habits that can support healthy aging:
- Eating a variety of healthy foods
- Being physically active on a regular basis
- Getting enough sleep and rest
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Avoiding smoking or choosing to quit
- Managing and reducing stress
- Limiting alcohol use
- Challenging your brain by choosing to learn new things
Follow the Seniors in Canada Facebook page as we shine a spotlight on a different health condition each month. We’ll share easy to understand, practical tips that can help reduce your risk of developing common issues and diseases such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, and more. These tips are helpful for older adults as well as for family members, caregivers, and organizations that support healthy aging in their communities.
You can also explore a wealth of helpful health and well-being information tailored specifically for older adults.
Healthy aging is a journey, and every small step counts. Whether you’re supporting an older adult or embracing these habits yourself, the choices you make today can help you enjoy a healthier tomorrow!
Shining a spotlight on amazing volunteers!
Nominations are opening soon for the 2026 Canada’s Volunteer Awards! These awards honour the incredible contributions of volunteers in our communities, who bring people together while both building and sharing skills.
Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in supporting social services, arts, or local sports? Maybe it’s that neighbour who organizes community clean-ups or the friend who helps kids learn to read. Maybe they give their time to those navigating life’s most challenging milestones, like Jim Mulcahy, the special mention recipient of the Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award 2024. This is your chance to celebrate how they build community and create a better society.
Let’s come together to celebrate the amazing contributions of volunteers, especially during the United Nations International Volunteer Year 2026. Volunteers impact Canadians’ lives in so many ways, and their achievements deserve to be celebrated.
Learn more about the nomination requirements and process for the Awards. Your nominations help to promote a strong culture of volunteering across Canada!
Participate in Transport Canada survey on headlight glare
While new headlight technology in vehicles can help drivers see better, they can also cause problems for other road users. Transport Canada wants to learn how headlight glare affects road users and what vehicle or lighting features may influence how people experience it at night.
We want to hear about your experiences, opinions and behaviours with vehicle headlight glare.
Click here to learn more and to participate in the survey before April 20, 2026.
Reflecting on National Caregiver Day 2026
On April 7, 2026, we commemorated National Caregiver Day by recognizing the over 10 million caregivers whose compassion and dedication make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Whether supporting someone living with illness, disability, or age-related needs, caregivers play an essential role in strengthening our communities and health and social systems.
Caregivers come in all forms. Some may be professionals in the field, such as personal support workers, and some may be close friends, family members or neighbours. Often, they are balancing many responsibilities—work, family and personal well‑being.
Federal supports are available—including the Canada caregiver credit and Employment Insurance caregiving benefits—and can help ease financial pressures and offer flexibility during challenging times.
Caregivers and care providers: your hard work does not go unnoticed. Thank you.
For more support, visit: Programs and services for seniors.
Learn more about National Caregiver Day by reading the joint statement.
Protecting yourself from fraud
March marked Fraud Prevention Month, and this year’s theme—“Fraud: The Hidden Crime”—highlighted how fraud often remains out of sight, hidden behind convincing technology, across borders, within everyday online interactions, and because it is under-reported.
Fraud continues to be one of the leading crimes affecting older adults, and scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they target people. That’s why this month serves as an important reminder to look out for one another and stay aware of the latest tactics scammers are using.
Talking about fraud can feel uncomfortable or even upsetting. That’s completely normal. It’s also important to remember that fraud can happen to anyone regardless of their age, education or background. You are not alone!
Common scams targeting older Canadians include grandparent or emergency scams, investment scams, romance scams, bank investigator scams and recovery scams.
Here are five ways to protect yourself and others:
1. Watch our short video on some of the most common scams targeting older adults.
2. Listen to our Fraud Prevention Month podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
3. Talk to your loved ones about fraud prevention.
4. Report fraud or suspicious contact.
5. Follow us on Facebook at Seniors in Canada for the latest information.
No matter what new technologies or methods scammers use, your best defence against fraud is to recognize, reject and report!
Nominate a volunteer who supports Canadian veterans
Volunteers play a key role in supporting and commemorating veterans. By giving their time and effort, they make a real difference in veterans’ lives. Their contributions take many forms, such as organizing Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day activities, volunteering with veterans groups, offering peer support or engaging youth in remembrance.
Volunteers of all ages serve the veteran community in a variety of ways. People like Antoine Chiasson from New-Brunswick, who is on his school’s student council and helps organize activities throughout Veterans’ Week, or Donna Murakami from Ontario, who works with several Veteran organizations, following a distinguished career in the Royal Canadian Navy. Both have been recognized with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for their outstanding volunteer service to Canadian veterans.
Now is the time to recognize this type of work. If you know someone, like Antoine or Donna, who goes above and beyond for veterans, nominate them for the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. The commendation honours volunteers of any age who serve Canadian veterans.
To learn more or to submit a nomination, visit the Veterans Affairs Canada website.
Insights on aging in place: The What We Heard Report on 2SLGBTQI+ Older Adults is here!
Thanks to everyone who participated and shared the online consultation focused on helping 2SLGBTQI+ older adults to age in place launched May 2024. The What We Heard Report is now available!
The report highlights the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQI+ older adults living in Canada and emphasizes the need for safety, stability, social support, and social inclusion. The diverse perspectives shared during this consultation are vital for shaping future initiatives.
Explore the report and share it widely within your networks. Together, let’s work toward a brighter future for all older Canadians!