Similar to the pattern of OAS benefits, average GIS/Allowance amounts were constant across
years since landing, with the exception of a temporary decline at the 10-year mark for short-term
and immediate elders.35, 36 However, the average amounts were much higher than those reported
for OAS and there was evidence of a positive relationship between average GIS/Allowance
benefits and age at landing. Of the three elderly groups, long-term elders had the lower average
benefits equal to roughly $6 000. Average benefits reported by short-term and immediate elders
were a bit higher and equalled $7 500 and $8 000, respectively, with the exception of the 10-year
mark at which point they temporarily dropped to $5 000.
Figure 17illustrates the incidence of GIS/Allowance benefits for elderly immigrants in tax year
2000 for each immigrant category.37 This figure groups all elderly immigrants within a category
together. Details on the three elderly subgroups within each immigrant category are provided in
the text.
Economic immigrants had different patterns of incidence than those seen in Figure 16. First,
although incidence increased across years since landing, there was no spike in the incidence of
GIS/Allowance at the 10-year mark. Second, economic immigrants, especially Skilled Principal
Applicants, had lower incidence. Long-term elders in the economic categories had at least a 10
percent lower incidence of GIS/Allowance at the twenty year mark. In the case of Skilled
Principal Applicants it was 20 percent lower. Short-term elders had approximately a 15 percent
lower incidence than that seen in Figure 16. The constant pattern of GIS/Allowance benefits
across land years with a dip at the 10-year mark was also observed for economic immigrants.
However, the average dollar amount of benefits was roughly $1 000 lower for long-term and
short-term elders.
Once again, Parents and Grandparents exhibited incidence and average benefits quite similar to
those presented for all immigrant categories taken together. However, there are some noteworthy
differences. Long-term elders in this category had a much higher incidence of GIS/Allowance
which equalled 85 percent at the 20-year mark. Short-term elders did not show a gradual increase
in incidence but rather a spike in incidence at the 10-year mark like immediate elders. Short-term
and immediate elders also had slightly higher incidence from the 10-year mark and on. With
respect to average benefits, the only difference is that long-term elders in the Parents and
Grandparents category reported about $500 more than what was observed in Figure A16 in the
Appendix.