DCHP-2

SIN DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• n. — abbreviation, Administration

  = Social Insurance Number, a nine-digit number used to identify persons who have (financial) interactions with the Canadian government.

  Type: 1. Origin — In 1942, the Unemployment Insurance Commission (UIC) began issuing numbered cards to individuals, called UIC cards. With the adoption of the widespread use of computers in the 1960s, the SIN was created by the UIC in 1964. A unique SIN is issued to all persons who pay money to the government, in the form of taxes or other payments, and to all who receive benefits from the government (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference). Internet domain searches indicate that the term is most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
  See COD-2, s.v."SIN", and Gage-5, s.v. "SIN", which are marked "Cdn."

  See also: Unemployment Insurance Commission