Personal Loss
Dealing with the death of a loved one is difficult. This list, prepared by Service Canada, helps you identify some of the steps to take when someone passes away.
1. Contact a Funeral Home or Transfer Service
Funeral directors and funeral boards can help you make all the arrangements for funerals. Consult your local yellow pages, or contact your provincial or territorial funeral board.
2. Obtain a Death Certificate
In some cases, you can obtain death certificate forms on-line from your province or territory’s Web site.
3. Cancel Personal Documents or Cards of the Deceased
Cancel the Passport:
The passport should be returned to Passport Canada with a copy of the death certificate and a letter indicating if the cancelled passport should be destroyed or returned to you. We recommend that you send the documents by registered mail to:
Passport Canada
Foreign Affairs Canada
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0G3
Canada
or by courier to:
Passport Canada
70 Crémazie Street
Gatineau, Quebec J8Y 3P2
Canada
Cancel the Social Insurance Number (SIN):
The next-of-kin should return the SIN card along with a copy of the death certificate or a Statement of Death to Service Canada. If you do not have the SIN card but do know the number, please send proof of death (as previously stated) with the SIN clearly written on it. These documents should be sent to:
Social Insurance Registration
P.O. Box 7000
Bathurst, New Brunswick E2A 4T1
Canada
Other provincial or territorial personal documents and cards, such as health cards and driver’s licenses, should also be cancelled. Further information can be obtained through your province or territory’s Web site.
4. Notify the Canada Revenue Agency of the Death
The Canada Revenue Agency Web site provides information about how to notify the Canada Revenue Agency of a death. The Web site also provides information on cancelling benefit payments in the name of the deceased. It will also help you determine if you are the legal representative of the deceased.
Documents you will need to complete these steps include the deceased person’s:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Date of birth
- Tax and Benefit Information
- Name of surviving spouse or common law partner
- Surviving spouse’s or common-law partner’s Social Insurance Number (SIN)
5. Cancel Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan Benefits
The Service Canada Web site provides information on how to cancel benefits following the death of a pensioner or beneficiary.
Notify the department of the death of an Old Age Security beneficiary or Canada Pension Plan pensioner as soon as possible by calling:
Toll-Free: 1 800 277-9914
TTY: 1 800 255-4786
If possible, have the person's Social Insurance Number (SIN) on hand when you call.
Note: If the deceased was receiving a benefit from the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), contact the Régie des rentes du Québec.
6. Apply for Benefits
Service Canada provides information about dealing with death, and the programs that you may be eligible for as a survivor.
See all Life Events.
