/ Universal social programs

Unclaimed Benefits: Too many missing out on Old Age Security in Toronto

• Christine Sheppard and Brenda Roche
older adult using walking aid in downtown Toronto. Several other people are pictured on the street.

Old Age Security is a powerful poverty reduction program. The payments can be a significant portion of an older adult’s overall income, especially if they are low-income. However, more than 10,000 low-income older adults in Toronto are not accessing their OAS benefits, even though they are eligible. Furthermore, certain groups, including racialized individuals and those with limited proficiency in English or French, are the most likely to be missing out. 

This report, done in partnership with Open Policy Ontario, draws upon 2021 survey and census data from Statistics Canada to examine OAS uptake among Toronto residents and breaks this data down by sociodemographic factors. The report suggests action must be taken to increase awareness of OAS among all older adults and remove barriers to accessing it among hard-to-reach populations. 

Looking to learn more about eligibility for the Old Age Security program? Visit:

Unclaimed Benefits: Too many missing out on Old Age Security in TorontoDownload publication
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Christine Sheppard

Christine Sheppard

Dr. Christine L. Sheppard holds a Master’s in Social Work, specializing in gerontology, from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Health Studies and Gerontology, with a focus on aging, health and well-being, also from the University of Toronto. Prior to starting at Wellesley Institute, she was a CIHR-funded post-doctoral fellow at Sunnybrook Research Institute, specializing in knowledge translation in urban housing and health.

Brenda Roche

Brenda Roche

Dr. Brenda Roche is Director of Research at the Wellesley Institute. She was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Anthropology and Health at the Gender, Violence and Health Centre of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She comes with academic and community-based research experience exploring social and health issues in urban settings, including homelessness, sexual health, violence and psychological trauma and distress. Her doctorate, through the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, examined discourses on trauma that operate within the context of refugee resettlement, and how these influence health and social care practices for women (and their families) seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom.