3 (1) Subject to this Act and the regulations, an increment may be paid to every eligible person for each month in a fiscal year, such that the first payment shall be made for the month following the month in which the beneficiary’s qualifying date occurs or, where an application is received after the applicant’s qualifying date, for the month following the month in which the application is approved. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.17, s. 3 (1). Amount (1.1) The increment is an amount equal to, (a) if the increment is payable for a month before July 2024, the amount by which one-twelfth of the guaranteed income limit applicable to a beneficiary exceeds the beneficiary’s basic monthly income for the month for which the payment authorized under this Act is being made; or (b) if the increment is payable for July 2024 or a subsequent month, an amount calculated in the same manner as a “monthly benefit” under subsection 2 (4). 2023, c. 8, Sched. 8, s. 4. When increment not payable (2) No increment may be paid to any eligible person for any month in any fiscal year unless an application therefor has been made by the person or on his or her behalf and payment of the increment for months in that fiscal year has been approved by the Minister, and except as otherwise provided in this Act and the regulations, no increment may be paid to any eligible person, pursuant to an application therefor, for, (a) subject to clause (d), any month more than eleven months before the month in which the application is received; (b) any month before the 1st day of July, 1974; (c) any month throughout the whole of which the beneficiary is absent from Ontario, having absented himself or herself from Ontario, either before or after becoming a beneficiary, and having remained out of Ontario before that month for six consecutive months, exclusive of the month in which he or she left Ontario; or (d) any month before the month following the month in which his or her qualifying date occurs.  R.S.O. 1990, c. O.17, s. 3 (2). Waiver of application (2.1) Despite subsection (2), if, under subsection 11 (4) of the Old Age Security Act (Canada), the Minister of Human Resources Development for Canada waives the requirement for an application for payment of a supplement under that Act for any month or months, no application need be made by or on behalf of the same person for payment of an increment under this Act for the same month or months.  1999, c. 9, s. 170. Suspension of payments (3) Where, after becoming a beneficiary, a person remains out of Ontario for six consecutive months, exclusive of the month in which the person left Ontario, payment of the person’s increment in any subsequent month during which the person is only temporarily resident in Ontario may, without a hearing, be suspended, but payment may be resumed with the month in which he or she returns to Ontario to become principally resident in Ontario. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.17, s. 3 (3). Idem (4) Where a beneficiary, either before or after becoming a beneficiary, is convicted of an offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment exceeding ninety days, payment of the beneficiary’s increment for any period he or she continues to be imprisoned shall be suspended, but may be resumed upon his or her release from imprisonment. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.17, s. 3 (4). Idem (5) Where a beneficiary fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or the regulations, payment of his or her increment may, without a hearing, be suspended, and where payment of an increment is so suspended, it shall be resumed when the beneficiary has complied with such provisions, and shall be paid in accordance with the amount of any increment to which the beneficiary is then entitled. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.17, s. 3 (5). Approval where applicant entitled to full pension or supplement (6) When an applicant is, on the applicant’s qualifying date or on the last day of the month in which his or her application is received, whichever is the later day, entitled to receive a full pension or a supplement for which the applicant has not applied, the applicant’s application shall not be approved until his or her entitlement to receive a full pension or a supplement is determined. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.17, s. 3 (6). Reduction of increment where beneficiary entitled to full pension or supplement (7) Where a beneficiary becomes entitled to receive a full pension or a supplement and does not apply therefor, the beneficiary’s increment shall be reduced to that amount that would be payable to the beneficiary were he or she receiving the full pension and, where applicable, the supplement to which he or she would be entitled upon making an application as provided in the Old Age Security Act (Canada).  R.S.O. 1990, c. O.17, s. 3 (7). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1999, c. 9, s. 170 - 1/07/1999 2023, c. 8, Sched. 8, s. 4 - 18/05/2023