Claimant Denied Permission to Appeal GIS Overpayment
📌 In brief
The Social Security Tribunal denied the claimant's request to appeal the General Division's decision regarding an overpayment of GIS. The Tribunal found that the General Division correctly calculated the GIS and the claimant failed to present an arguable case or new evidence to warrant an appeal.
⚖️ Legal holding
The General Division correctly calculated the GIS and the claimant failed to present an arguable case or new evidence to warrant an appeal.
📖 Technical summary
The Social Security Tribunal denied the claimant's request to appeal the General Division's decision regarding an overpayment of GIS.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Social Security Tribunal denied the claimant's request to appeal the General Division's decision regarding an overpayment of GIS. The Tribunal found that the General Division correctly calculated the GIS and the claimant failed to present an arguable case or new evidence to warrant an appeal.
📚 Full judgment Official document
[TRANSLATION] Citation: MA v [NAME_1] , 2026 [NAME_2] 70 Social Security Tribunal of Canada Appeal Division Leave to Appeal Decision Applicant: [redacted] Respondent: [redacted] Decision under appeal: General Division decision dated December 22, 2025 (GP-24-2049) Tribunal member: [NAME_3] Decision date: January 30, 2026 File number: AD-26-33 On this page Decision Overview Issues I am not giving the Applicant permission to appeal Conclusion Decision [ 1 ] Permission to appeal is refused. The appeal won’t go ahead. Overview [ 2 ] The [NAME_1] (Minister) started paying the Applicant an Old Age Security ( OAS ) pension in October 2017. Footnote 1 The Minister also started paying the Applicant the Guaranteed Income Supplement ( GIS ) in October 2017. Footnote 2 [ 3 ] On June 7, 2023, the Minister determined that the Applicant had received a GIS overpayment of $5,612.58. Footnote 3 The Applicant asked the Minister to reconsider this decision. Footnote 4 In a reconsideration letter, the Minister essentially upheld this decision, indicating an overpayment of $5,585.58. Footnote 5 [ 4 ] The Applicant filed her appeal with the Social Security Tribunal (Tribunal) on November 27, 2024. Footnote 6 On December 18, 2025, the General Division found that the Applicant’s GIS had been correctly calculated. The Applicant applied for permission to appeal this decision to the Appeal Division. Footnote 7 Issues [ 5 ] The issues are as follows: a) Is there an arguable case that the General Division made an error in determining that the Minister correctly calculated the Applicant’s GIS between January 2019 and June 2023? b) Does the application contain evidence that wasn’t before the General Division? I am not giving the Applicant permission to appeal [ 6 ] I can give the Applicant permission to appeal if her application raises an arguable case that the General Division: didn’t provide a fair process decided an issue it didn’t have the power to decide, or didn’t decide an issue it should have decided misinterpreted or misapplied the law made a mistake about the facts Footnote 8 [ 7 ] I can also give the Applicant permission to appeal if her application contains evidence that wasn’t before the General Division. Footnote 9 [ 8 ] Since the Applicant hasn’t raised an arguable case and hasn’t presented any new evidence, I have to refuse permission to appeal. The Applicant hasn’t raised an arguable case for error by the General Division [ 9 ] First, the Applicant [translation] “challenges the decision” of the General Division because she “confirms that she didn’t receive the calculations that led to this total for the last data recorded in [her] account.” Footnote 10 [ 10 ] In my view, the General Division carefully examined the Minister’s calculations. In several places in its decision, it refers either to the calculations themselves, or to any explanations the Minister’s representative may have provided, in writing or at the hearing, in response to the Applicant’s questions. Footnote 11 [ 11 ] The fact that the Applicant didn’t receive these calculations doesn’t amount to a ground of appeal under the law. This ground doesn’t raise an arguable case for error by the General Division. [ 12 ] The same is true of the Applicant’s second ground of appeal, which concerns the money she received from the CNESST and the fact that it was counted as income. Footnote 12 [ 13 ] At paragraph 20 of its decision, the General Division said that “the amount of money the Appellant had received from the CNESST had to be considered in calculating the GIS under the OAS Actand Old Age Security Regulations .” Footnote 13 [ 14 ] The General Division referred to the relevant sections of the OAS Act and Regulations. These provisions state that income from a pension plan is to be counted as income, and that such income includes “compensation under a federal or provincial employee’s or worker’s compensation law in respect of an injury, disability or death.” Footnote 14 [ 15 ] I sympathize with the Applicant, who would like [translation] “these amounts to be neither taxable nor attributable to a reduction in the GIS [because] seniors [are] already forced to support themselves in a national context of economic outbidding where the cost of living is skyrocketing, [which is] in stark contrast to seniors’ incomes.” Footnote 15 [ 16 ] Unfortunately, that is how the law is made. The Applicant’s disagreement isn’t a ground of appeal under the law. This ground doesn’t raise an arguable case for error by the General Division. [ 17 ] I also reviewed the record. Footnote 16 I am satisfied that there is no arguable case that the General Division ignored or misinterpreted other evidence that could support an arguable case for error by the General Division. [ 18 ] Finally, the Applicant didn’t submit new evidence before the Appeal Division. [ 19 ] Since the Applicant hasn’t raised an arguable case and hasn’t presented any new evidence, I have to refuse permission to appeal. Conclusion [ 20 ] Permission to appeal is refused. This means the appeal won’t go ahead. Footnotes Footnote 1 GD5-3 Return to footnote 1 referrer Footnote 2 GD5-3 Return to footnote 2 referrer Footnote 3 GD2-56 Return to footnote 3 referrer Footnote 4 July 25, 2023, GD2-60 Return to footnote 4 referrer Footnote 5 October 11, 2024, GD2-72 Return to footnote 5 referrer Footnote 6 GD1-1 Return to footnote 6 referrer Footnote 7 January 10, 2026, AD1-1 Return to footnote 7 referrer Footnote 8 See sections 58.1(a) and 58.1(b) of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act ( DESD Act). Return to footnote 8 referrer Footnote 9 See section 58.1(c) of the DESD Act. Return to footnote 9 referrer Footnote 10 AD1-5 Return to footnote 10 referrer Footnote 11 Paragraph 15 deals with the calculations themselves. Paragraphs 16 and 17 indicate that the Minister provided a table before the hearing with the details and reason for the amount claimed. Paragraphs 18 to 22 deal with the Applicant’s questions at the hearing that were answered, including at the hearing. Return to footnote 11 referrer Footnote 12 This second ground of appeal is discussed in the second and third paragraphs of the Applicant’s reasons for appeal at AD1-5. Return to footnote 12 referrer Footnote 13 AD1A-5 Return to footnote 13 referrer Footnote 14 Section 14(g) of the Old Age Security Regulations ; and section 14 of the Old Age Security Act , which the General Division referred to correctly. Return to footnote 14 referrer Footnote 15 AD1-5 Return to footnote 15 referrer Footnote 16 For more information on this type of review by the Appeal Division, see [NAME_4] v Canada (Attorney General) , 2016 FC 615. Return to footnote 16 referrer
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Social Security Tribunal denied the claimant's request to appeal the General Division's decision regarding an overpayment of GIS.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about an overpayment of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the claimant's challenge to the calculation of this benefit.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to deny the claimant's request to appeal because the General Division correctly calculated the GIS and the claimant failed to present an arguable case or new evidence.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Old Age Security Act, s. 14 and the Old Age Security Regulations, s. 14(g) were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was that the General Division correctly calculated the GIS and the claimant failed to present an arguable case or new evidence.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the person who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have a strong case and new evidence before requesting permission to appeal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify any specific evidence or documents that mattered.
