A social insurance number (SIN) is required for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or temporary residents who wish to work in Canada or access health benefits and services from government programs.
Tips & Links
- You need a 9-digit number known as a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada or to access government and health services, benefits, and programs.
- Your SIN is private, and it is illegal for anyone else to use it.
- If needed, learn how to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
- Learn how your SIN gives you access to benefit programs, employment pensions, Canadian Pension Plan, Disability income, Old Age Security, and special supportive programs.
- Record your Social Insurance Number (SIN) in your Mywell Health planner.
- Service Canada is responsible for issuing a SIN, which comes in a paper format (Confirmation of SIN letter). If you have a plastic SIN card that has not expired, it is still valid.
- Seniors are often targets for fraud – follow these steps to protect your SIN from being used.
- If you require a home care assessment, have your (and your partner’s, if living together) SIN written down for your home care assessment as it is required for any home care public funding.
- Be aware that when someone dies – if outside of Canada – the death needs to be reported to the government. If the death occurs in Canada, the provincial vital statistics agency automatically notifies the SIN Program, so there is no need to report.
Tools – Handouts & Videos
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