What to do with the Social Insurance Number card of a deceased person

When a person dies, there is a risk of someone committing fraud with the deceased's Social Insurance Number (SIN). Informing Service Canada of the death reduces the possibility of anyone fraudulently using the SIN.

When you provide us with the SIN, we will record that information. However, you will still be able to use the deceased's SIN for estate purposes. If you do not have the card or you cannot remember the SIN, you can make a request to obtain a Confirmation of SIN from 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.

Note: You are no longer required to inform Service Canada of the death if the death occurred in the following provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island or Quebec. The notification of death is received electronically from the Vital Statistics Agencies of these provinces. For these specific provinces, you can destroy the deceased person’s SIN card if you have it in your possession.

Returning the SIN card to Service Canada

This applies to deaths that occurred in provinces that do not send electronic death notifications to Service Canada.

In person

Bring the deceased person's SIN card and a copy of the death certificate or 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.

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
PO Box 7000
Bathurst NB  E2A 4T1

For information about the Social Insurance Number program, call 1-800-206-7218 and select option “3”.