Do I need to notify Service Canada's SIN Program if there is a death in my family?

It is important to inform Service Canada of a death in your family. It reduces the possibility of someone else using the deceased individual's Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Please note that you can make a request to obtain a Confirmation of SIN from Service Canada for estate purposes.

Why inform Service Canada of a Death?

When a person dies, there is a danger of someone committing fraud with the deceased's Social Insurance Number (SIN). The SIN is used to manage various Canadian government programs. A SIN is assigned to a person living in Canada who wishes to work in Canada or receive benefits and services from government programs. Each nine-digit number is issued to one person only and cannot legally be used by anyone else. However, when a person dies, his or her SIN may be used to gain access to personal information or to fraudulently obtain work or government benefits.

Stolen, lost, or borrowed SIN s have been used to defraud governments, businesses and individuals. Alerting Service Canada can greatly reduce the possibility of anyone using the deceased's SIN to commit fraud. When you provide us with the SIN of the deceased person, we will record that information and any fraudulent use of that SIN will be stopped. You will be able to use the deceased's SIN for estate purposes.

How do you Alert Service Canada?

The next-of-kin should send the deceased person’s SIN card along with a copy of the Death Certificate or a Statement of Death to Service Canada. These documents should be sent to:

Notification in person

Provide the deceased person's SIN card and a copy of the Death Certificate or a Statement of Death to your nearest Service Canada Centre. If you do not have the SIN card but know the number, please provide a proof of death (as previously stated) with the SIN clearly written on it.

Notification by mail

Send the deceased person's SIN card and a copy of the Death Certificate or a Statement of Death to the address below. If you do not have the SIN card but know the number, please send a proof of death (as previously stated) with the SIN clearly written on it.

Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
P.O. Box 7000
Bathurst, New Brunswick
E2A 4T1

For specific information about the Social Insurance Number program dial toll-free 1 800 208-7218 and select option “3”.