Using your social insurance number
Your social insurance number (SIN) is one of your most important documents you have when you live in Canada. That’s why we’re reviewing some of the best ways to keep this special number safe.
What is a Social Insurance Number?
Your social insurance number (SIN) is a unique string of nine numbers that identifies you to the Government of Canada. Service Canada stores important information under your SIN in the Social Insurance Register. The information that would be in your SIN file would be your full name, date of birth, place of birth and more.
Who needs a Social Insurance Number?
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and even temporary residents need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to be able to work in Canada, file income taxes and access government benefits and services. So, that’s basically everyone in Canada!
Children 12 years of age and older can apply for their own SIN. Parents, or legal guardians and representatives, can apply for a SIN on behalf of children younger than twelve, and for adults in their care.
Using your Social Insurance Number
One of the ways you can keep your SIN safe is to know the right times to use your SIN. Some frauds and scams will try to get your SIN from you in sneaky ways, so here is a list of times you will need, and times you won’t need, your Social Insurance Number.
You do need your SIN
After you’ve been hired, for your employee record
To complete your income tax information
To open an investment account at a bank where you will earn interest
To access government programs and benefits
You don’t need your SIN
To apply for a job
To rent a property
To negotiate a lease with a landlord
To apply for a credit card
To cash a cheque
To complete banking transactions like mortgages, line of credits, and loans
To complete a medical questionnaire or visiting a doctor
To rent a car
To sign up for cell phone, Internet or TV services
To write a will
To apply to a university or college
Protecting Your Social Insurance Number
One of the questions we hear is about keeping your social insurance number on your person. Since you shouldn’t use your SIN as a piece of identification, there’s little to no benefit to keeping it in your wallet or bag. Instead, keep your SIN at home in a secure place.
When you do need to use your SIN, make sure it's on official government forms and documents. In some cases when you’re on the phone with a government employee, you might need to read out your SIN number. The Canadian Government almost never uses email as an official way to gather important information, like your SIN, so we don’t recommend emailing your social insurance number, or documents with that number in them.
Speaking of documents with your social insurance number on them, make sure you shred that old paperwork you no longer need. Dumpster diving does happen! If you want to know more about protecting important documents, you can check out our February 2023 blog here, that’s all about keeping important documents organized and safe!
