An amusing story arose from our application for an RDSP for our son, in 2010. We had applied in November 2009, and the account was set up. For more details on that saga, see New Programs are Never Easy. All was fine, but I was unable to access it via my TD Waterhouse online login. Things are not as they seem regarding some interesting programs.
After a while, we received a phone call asking us to resubmit some of our identification documents. There seemed to be a problem with our application to the RDSP (specifically the government grant portion), so we resubmitted them without much thought. Later, we received a letter stating that we had been rejected from the grant portion of the program due to identification irregularities.
As background to this story, my wife never officially changed her name when we got married. She simply started using my last name. For the past 22 years, it has not been an issue with the CRA or any other government agency. However, that has changed. We were informed that she must change her SIN card to match her married name. Otherwise, she would not be eligible to receive CPP benefits. Additionally, our son would not qualify for the RDSP grant program either.
I am actually chuckling at this whole thing. It did force my wife to officially take my last name as hers (at least on her SIN card). I am curious to know when they will make her change her Birth Certificate to match. This will probably happen at another inopportune moment in our lives, no doubt.
Never assume that just because the Government hasn't complained about something that they are not displeased with you, seems to be the moral of this story.
You actually can change your birth certificate to be able to show your married name and your maiden name. That I refuse to do. The issue with the SIN number has only come up now after 23 years because the government has finally gotten around to having it’s data-bases talk to each other.
BCW
You don’t ever change your birth certificate! It’s the name you were born with, forever. Then again, it’s only been 18 years for me, so who knows? Maybe they’ll be rejecting me for something soon and I’ll have to change it.