Thank you for the question.
We have accuracy targets for all our benefit programs. This process has been in place for decades. The Office of the Auditor General of Canada audits it every year.
These targets, which we have for each of the major benefit programs—employment insurance, Canada pension plan and old age security—seek to obtain an accuracy rate of 95%. That's our target.
As you said, we managed to obtain a rate of 97.4% for old age security. It's a bit higher for the Canada pension plan, and a bit lower for the employment insurance program. However, it's still quite close to our target. This process is based on how other countries pay out these major benefits.
Payment errors can occur for a number of reasons.
First, Service Canada may make errors. However, the vast majority of errors are the result of a lack of information. Some clients also make errors, even though they don't mean to.
When we discover a payment error, we take the necessary steps to have it corrected.