Direct deposit for Service Canada

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

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Using direct deposit, the Government of Canada can deposit payments automatically into your bank account.

Direct deposit is a way to receive your payments without any postal delay. Not only will you be able to access your payments more quickly, you can also be sure they will never be lost, stolen or damaged.

Sign up for direct deposit now! It is convenient, secure and reliable.

If you have signed up for direct deposit in the past, take a few minutes to review your information in My Service Canada Account and update it if necessary. Keeping your direct deposit information up to date ensures you will get paid as quickly as possible.

What you need before you sign up

To sign up for direct deposit, you will need to gather the following personal information:

  • your social insurance number
  • the name of your bank or financial institution
  • the branch/transit number and
  • your account number

Your banking information can be found at the bottom of any cheque for the account in which you would like to have your payment deposited.

If you do not have a chequing account you can ask your financial institution for this information.

When to sign up for direct deposit

The easiest and most convenient way to sign up for direct deposit is when you first apply for benefits. Complete the direct deposit section on your application.

If you receive benefits (Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security benefits) by cheque, or if you recently applied for benefits, you can easily sign up for direct deposit online through My Service Canada Account.

Online

Using My Service Canada Account is the most convenient way to register for direct deposit.

My Service Canada Account is a secure website that allows you to:

  • view and change your personal information, including your address, telephone number(s), and banking information for direct deposit Currently unavailable
  • view and print your tax slips
  • view all Records of Employment that your employers have submitted electronically in the last 2 years
  • delay receiving your Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement after receiving a notification letter of automatic enrolment
  • view, start, change or stop your federal voluntary tax deduction
  • give consent for someone to communicate with Service Canada about your CPP/OAS account
  • view the status of your application for CPP and OAS benefits and
  • view details and print an official proof of payment report of your CPP and OAS benefits

Note

If you have an address outside of Canada, you will only be able to view your address and direct deposit online. It is not yet possible to change the information for foreign addresses and direct deposit online. To change your information, contact us and speak with one of our agents over the phone.

Other ways to sign up for direct deposit

EI applicants

By telephone

Call 1-800-206-7218 (press "0" to speak with an agent) (TTY: 1-800-529-3742).

Canada Pension Plan (CPP), including Post-Retirement Benefit, and Old Age Security (OAS) applicants

By telephone

  • 1-800-277-9914 (press "0" to speak with an agent)
  • From outside Canada and the United States, call 613-957-1954. Collect calls are accepted Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Eastern time. (TTY: 1-800-255-4786)
  • To sign up for direct deposit by phone, we usually have to speak directly to you. If someone calls on your behalf, make sure you are with them when they call. Keep in mind that we have to have trusteeship or power-of-attorney forms on file before we can take the call from your legal trustee or someone with power of attorney

By mail

Complete and print a Direct Deposit Enrolment Request Form. This form is also available at Canadian banks and financial institutions.

Mail your completed form to:

Direct Deposit
PO Box 5000
Matane QC  G4W 4R6
Canada

Canada Pension Plan (CPP), including Post-Retirement Benefit, and Old Age Security (OAS) applicants living abroad or having a foreign bank account

If you live outside Canada or have a foreign bank account, you can apply by phone or by mail.

By telephone

  • 1-800-277-9914 (press "0" to speak with an agent)
  • From outside Canada and the United States call 613-957-1954. Collect calls are accepted Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Eastern time. (TTY: 1-800-255-4786)
  • To sign up for direct deposit by phone, we usually have to speak directly to you. If someone calls on your behalf, make sure you are with them when they call. Keep in mind that we have to have trusteeship or power-of-attorney forms on file before we can take the call from your legal trustee or someone with power of attorney

By mail

You can complete and print the enrolment form for your country of residence and mail it to the address below. You can also request a form by mail:

International Direct Deposit
PO Box 7000
Matane QC  G4W 4T5
Canada

Check the list of countries where direct deposit is offered to see in which countries the Receiver General of Canada can issue payments by direct deposit in local currency.

Check the list of countries where OAS and CPP payments are made in foreign currency to see in which countries the Receiver General of Canada issues payments by cheque in local currency.

Processing time

If your account is in Canada and you sign up for direct deposit through My Service Canada Account or by phone, we can usually start your direct deposit payments the month after you submit a request.

If you enrol by mail, you should receive your first direct deposit payment within three months.

Separate accounts for each payment

If you receive Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security payments separately, you do not have to deposit both benefits into the same account. If you like, you can ask us to deposit your Canada Pension Plan payments into one account, and your Old Age Security payments into another.

However, we cannot split a single Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security payment between two accounts.

For Apprenticeship Grants applicants

You can sign up for direct deposit if you inform us before we process your payment.

By phone

Speak with one of our agents Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Call toll-free: 1-866-742-3644. (TTY: 1-866-909-9757).

By mail

Apprentices registered in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon:

Apprenticeship Grants Western Processing Centre
Service Canada Centre
Harry Hays Bldg.
220 4th Avenue SE, Room 270
Calgary AB T2G 4X3

Apprentices registered in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia:

Apprenticeship Grants Eastern Processing Centre
Service Canada Centre
139 Douglastown Blvd
Miramichi NB  E1V 0A4

Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime

Direct deposit is available to applicants upon completion of a paper or online application for the benefit.

You can apply for the benefit online by completing the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime Application Form or you can print, complete and submit a paper application to the following address:

By mail

PYVC Processing Centre
Service Canada
PO Box 8232, STN T
Ottawa, ON  K1G 3H7

Wage Earner Protection Program applicants

The easiest and most convenient way to sign up for direct deposit is when you complete your WEPP online application. If you do not wish to apply online, you can obtain a paper application form at your nearest Service Canada Office.

By phone

  • Toll-free: 1-866-683-6516 (TTY: 1 800 926-9105)
  • The telephone support staff responds to enquiries Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time

By mail

WEPP Processing Centre
PO Box 5900
Cornwall, ON  K6H 6J6

Canadian Government Annuities

To have your payments deposited directly by bank account or to change your direct deposit information, contact the Annuities Branch by telephone or in writing. You will need to provide:

  • your Annuity Contract Number or your social insurance number
  • the name and number of your bank or financial institution
  • the number of the branch where you have your account
  • your bank account number

By telephone:

  • 1-800-561-7922 (toll-free in Canada and United States)
  • 1-506-548-7972

By mail:

Canadian Government Annuities Branch
Employment and Social Development Canada
PO Box 12000
Bathurst, NB  E2A 4T6

In person

Visit the nearest Service Canada Office.

Related information

Watch the direct deposit video produced by Public Works and Government Services Canada

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