FAQ: I am Already Receiving CPP/OAS, Why is the Estimate Page Showing Zero?

If your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits are showing as zero in Adviice, there are a few key areas to check. Here’s how to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Ensure CPP and OAS Start Dates Are Entered

  • Go to the Income section.
  • Check if CPP and OAS benefits have been added.
  • If missing, enter the appropriate amounts for each benefit.
✅ Why? If no values are entered, the system won’t project any CPP or OAS income.

2. Verify Financial Snapshots Cover Retirement Years

  • Stay in the Income Section and check if a snapshot exists from age 65 onward.
  • If missing, create a new snapshot named "Retirement" and set it to run from 65 to 95 (or expected lifespan).
  • Enter monthly CPP and OAS amounts to ensure they carry through the projection.
✅ Why? Without an active financial snapshot covering retirement, income may not appear in your plan.

3. Check OAS Eligibility Under Tax & Benefits

  • Go to Tax & Benefits and review the Old Age Security eligibility section.
  • Make sure the number of years lived in Canada between ages 18-65 is correctly entered.
✅ Why? OAS requires at least 10 years in Canada for partial benefits and 40 years for full benefits. If left blank, OAS will not calculate.

4. Understand Why Estimates Might Be Missing

  • If CPP and OAS have already started, the system stops estimating future benefits.
  • However, if a person hasn’t started benefits, an estimate should appear—unless missing details prevent the calculation.
✅ Solution: If some benefits show zero but shouldn’t, recheck the Tax & Benefits section to ensure all necessary data is entered.