why is social security number important

The registration process was largely directed by the local postmasters. Under a few rare circumstances, SSA may legitimately issue a new SSN to a person with a prior SSN. Many said the task was impossible (SSA1952; SSA1965, 26). Each page contained 100SSNs in numerical order. The government will use your Social Security number to make sure youre eligible when you apply for a federal loan, such as a federal student loan. Assigned at birth, the SSN enables government agencies to identify individuals in their records and businesses to track an individual's financial information. The wallet was sold at Woolworth's13 and many other large department stores, and the SSN was widely distributed. DeWitt, LarryW., Daniel Bland, and EdwardD. Berkowitz. Combating identity theft: A strategic plan. Our Guard Your Card infographic is another great resource to understand whether you need to show your card. Only Pennsylvania requires it. There are a number of ways to initiate the application process. This was because the original Social Security Act had excluded some types of employment from coverage, such as agricultural workers, domestic servants, casual labor, maritime workers, government employees, and the employees of philanthropic, educational, and similar institutions. When an individual's identifying information is available, an SSA employee can attempt to locate the SSN using a key based on the Soundex version of the last name, plus the first 4characters of the first name, plus the century, year, and month of birth. You are required to apply for your SSN when you start your first job, and it stays with you from then on! The card was never intended to serve as a personal identification documentthat is, it does not establish that the person presenting the card is actually the person whose name and SSN appear on the card. Why a Social Security Number (SSN) is so important The extent of that reduction will depend on how early you file. Beginning in 1961, the central office in Baltimore issued all new SSNs, but it was not until 1970 that an electronic method of checking for previously issued SSNs (called "EVAN" for "electronic verification of alleged numbers") was devised (SSA 1990, 4). Beginning in 2002, SSA began another pilot program referred to as Enumeration at Entry (EaE) that allows noncitizens admitted for permanent residence to obtain SSNs and Social Security cards based on data collected as part of the immigration process. In August1958, SSA began converting the Flexoline index to microfilm and began capturing new SSN records on magnetic tape, using a special machine to then transcribe the code directly from magnetic tape into a readable microfilm record (Staruch1978, 2930). The Social Security Administration's compliance with Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 provision regarding security of Social Security cards and numbers. Also, a great many unemployed and WPA employees applied for SSNs both during the initial registration and again through WPA or private employment registration. In August1987, SSA began a three-state pilot of the "Enumeration at Birth" (EAB) process in which the parent of a newborn can request an SSN as part of the state's birth registration process. A 1937 publication recounts, "A recent news account states that the Fred Smiths of New York City have had so much trouble in being identified by their creditors, the courts, and even their friends, that they have joined together in forming the 'Fred Smiths, Incorporated,' to serve as a clearing house for their identification problems." These include: Other features added to the card are not apparent to the naked eye and for security reasons are not disclosed to the public. Immigration and welfare reform legislation enacted in August1996 (P.L. However, hiring field staff had to await the results of the "examination for administrative officer" (civil service test) given in August1936. In early November1935, the Social Security Board adopted an identifier composed of 3alphabetic characters representing geographic areas and 5numeric characters. By Dawn Bystry, Acting Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications. Over 3million posters7 were distributed, 50million more pamphlets were dispersed, and three additional newsreel trailers were shown to some 42million people (McKinley and Frase1970, 364366). Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Agricultural Adjustment Act invalid in January1936, raising the possibility that the Social Security Act might also be declared unconstitutional (McKinley and Frase1970, 2223; SSA1952). Ask Larry. . One of the first steps was to distinguish whether cards were valid for work purposes. Social Security Bulletin. In addition, SSA may assign a new SSN to an individual who is a victim of SSN misuse, which means that the number has been used with criminal or harmful intent and the individual has been subjected to economic or personal hardship. The Importance of Social Security Numbers The last four digits of the SSN are the serial number. 3 min read. . OASIS. Your monthly Social Security benefit is calculated by taking your average monthly wage during your 35 highest-paid years of earnings, adjusting that wage for inflation, and then applying it to a special formula. /julyaugust1985.pdf. Steps taken by SSA to improve the card are detailed later. 2003. Meaning of the Social Security number. For replacement cards, field office staff manually typed the SSN and name on a blank card. 3 min read. Hello, Ive lost my social security card and do not remember social security number. On February26, 1937, the Board issued a press release warning employers against distributing unauthorized questionnaires that appeared to be required by the Social Security Board (Wyatt and Wandel1937, 57). SSA contends that doing so would ensure a reliable supply of SSNs for years to come, and would also reduce opportunities for identity theft and SSN fraud and misuse. (Barron and Bamberger1982, 29). Identity theft has reached such proportions that President GeorgeW. Bush issued Executive Order13402 on May10, 2006, establishing the President's Identity Theft Task Force. Generally, those with multiple SSNs are the "very old" on the Numident; a study conducted in 2002 showed a weighted average age of 82.9(SSA 2002). Hi, Herman. If you've worked and paid taxes into the Social Security system for at least 10 years and have earned a minimum of 40 work credits, you may be eligible for your own benefits. 10 For a more detailed explanation of the early SSN records maintenance process, see the June1938 Social Security Bulletin at www.socialsecurity.gov/history/fay638.html and Your Social Security Record1955 at www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssa/yourss55.html. The paper form a person completes to apply for an original SSN or a replacement card or to make changes to SSA's Numident record is still the SS-5. Even SSA, which created the SSN for its program use, has ceased to print the full SSN on some of its correspondence with beneficiaries (Lockhart2002). SSA is a member of the Identity Theft Task Force and will continue to work with other members to protect, to the maximum extent possible, the integrity of the SSN. Social Security U.S.Athe program & its administration. I know I have one. Some non-citizen U.S. residents can also qualify for an SSN. To stem the problem, some experts are calling for an end to social security numbers, suggesting we should replace them with some otherand less inherently vulnerableway of proving one's. You don't need it at the . A series of press releases outlined the procedure for assigning SSNs and carried sample Forms SS-4 and SS-5, as well as a Social Security card specimen. . There are some situations where you must provide your Social Security number (SSN)mainly when a government agency requests it for identification. Tips to Prevent Social Security Number Identity Theft - Investopedia By that time, some 35million SSNs had been issued at a cost of $5.7million (SSA1990, 1; McKinley and Frase1970, 372). Committee on Ways and Means Serial No. Since 1970, the federal government has required banks to obtain customers Social Security numbers or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You dont want to risk losing your card or having it stolen since thieves can use this number, in combination with your other personal data, to apply for credit, take out loans, get a job, or even get healthcare in your name, creating a potentially massive identity theft problem for you to clean up. Social security | Definition, History, Benefits, & Facts Even at this early time, the public was concerned about privacy and confidentiality issues. One of the first steps in administering the Social Security Act was to devise a means to track the earnings of each individual, as Social Security benefit computations consider a worker's earnings from 1937 on. This pilot was expanded worldwide in early 2003. I have called the main number after being on hold 2 hrs Inwas told to contact local office(port st lucie Florida) Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us, but we will never: Threaten you with arrest of legal action. In 1983, SSA implemented the Enumeration Verification System (EVS) for verifying batches of SSNs; EVS employed a series of verification routines that are still in use. You can also contact yourlocalSocial Security office. Policy Guidance Regarding Inquiries into Citizenship, Immigration Status and Social Security Numbers in State Applications for Medicaid, State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Food Stamp Benefits., Social Security Administration. Serial number 0000 is not assigned. OASIS News 12(1). Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. Permanent Residents.. Initial estimates were that 22million SSNs would be issued immediately, with 50million ultimately to be issued (McKinley and Frase1970, 15). The use of the Social Security number (SSN) has expanded significantly since its inception in 1936. Permanent Residents. . SSA interpreted this provision as calling for consideration of techniques that could link the card to the assigned number holder, such as including identifying information about the card holder on the card itself, or adding the number holder's picture, fingerprint, biometric identifier, or some combination of such features in or on the card (Donnelly 1999). Those for external entities generally indicate whether the data submitted match SSA records, and whether the SSN holder has died, but will not disclose additional information to the requestor. Employers are one of the few organizations that need social security numbers as you have to pay employees, withhold taxes, and pay taxes. In 1973, SSA began converting its legacy SS-5 records to the Numident electronic database, completing the conversion in 1979. Age 70 is when credits for delaying your benefits stop accruing. Form W-9 is an Internal Revenue Service form which is used to confirm a person's taxpayer identification number (TIN). /about-identity-theft.html. Available at www.socialsecurity.gov/history/oasis Many businesses will ask for your Social Security number simply because its a convenient way for them to identify customers. We hope this helps. The Social Security Board also enlisted the Treasury Department to assure employer cooperation. State and local entities have begun to delete SSNs on electronic versions of public records. Sequence 700 through 728 was assigned to railroad workers until July1963. Some seniors sign up for Medicare and Social Security at once, not realizing that in doing so, they're filing for benefits at least a full year early. Social Security numbers are comprised of nine-digits, which can be broken down into three groups: the area number, the group number, and the serial number. Study results and options for the MULTX file. The Social Security Act in operation: A practical guide to the federal and federal-state Social Security programs. Establishing the Social Security infrastructure was impeded for 3months by the lack of funds due to a filibuster of the 1936Deficiency Bill (a government-wide appropriation bill similar to current Omnibus Budget Reconciliation bills) by Senator Huey Long (DLA). 1 In addition, effective January1, 1937, workers attaining age65 could apply for a lump-sum payment (equal to 3.5percent of wages earned after December31, 1936) in lieu of monthly benefit payments. In May, the executive committee of the interdepartmental committee on enumeration had recommended that the Bureau could handle the registration by setting up 202field offices and hiring 12,000 to 16,000employees. People may change their names and addresses throughout their lives, but their SSNs generally will remain the same. . For example, to qualify for federal student loans, you must not be in default on another federal loan, you must have eligible citizenship or visitor status, and most male applicants must have registered with Selective Service. Not all U.S. workers obtained SSNs during the initial registration period. So in November1936 the Board instead assigned headquarters staff to 56 Bureau field offices, covering all but one of the cities where the Post Office Department had set up its "central accounting" offices. In June1936, the Social Security Board decided that its Bureau of Old-Age Benefits would handle the registration and that the registration process would begin after the November3, 1936, presidential election (McKinley and Frase1970, 29). , please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say help desk. We hope this helps. What Is Social Security? - Forbes Advisor McKinley, Charles, and RobertW. Frase. Passage of the Social Security Act in August1935 set in motion a huge effort to build the infrastructure needed to support a program affecting tens of millions of individuals. Learn More. Congress has also considered legislation that would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to use an alternative to the SSN as the Medicare claim number. The state then submits this information to SSA's Help America Vote Verification (HAVV) system to verify that the submitted data match SSA records. Latent images that can be seen when the card is viewed at an angle. If you choose to apply online you'll need to submit clear, legible digital copies. In 2004, the IRTPA legislation required SSA, in consultation with DHS, to form an interagency task force to establish requirements for further improving the security of Social Security cards and numbers and to provide for implementation of those requirements. In 1974, SSA began assigning SSNs for nonwork purposes when such use of an SSN was authorized by law. A Social Security number is a numerical identifier assigned to U.S. citizens and other residents to track income and determine benefits. We'll run through the major use cases here, so you can understand how to take advantage of its benefits as soon as you arrive: Employment and taxes The primary reason why a SSN is important is its role in employment and taxation. If you are still unable to access your account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say help desk. We hope this helps. Stewart Creek Elementary Staff, Articles W