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(the following information was prepared by the Social Security Administration, September 2002)
Protecting Social Security Numbers
The Social Security number is perhaps the most frequently used record-keeping number in America.
Your Social Security number is used to report your earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service. Your future Social Security benefits are based on your total earnings.
The Social Security Administration also uses the Social Security number to pay Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Additionally, your Social Security number is used by financial institutions, agencies that pay unemployment benefits, and educational loan organizations for their accounting systems. And, your Social Security number is used by other government agencies to identify your record for benefits such as Medicare and Medicaid.
The Social Security Administration is taking steps to make it harder for someone to get or use your Social Security number. They can't prevent others from asking for your number. And they can't control what uses are made of your number once you give it to someone. However, you should know that giving it to them does not give them access to your Social Security records. The privacy of your records is guaranteed unless the SSA is required by law to disclose information to another government agency or the information is needed to conduct Social Security or other government health or welfare program business.
For more information about getting a Social Security number and card, ask for the factsheet, Social Security--Your Number And Card (SSA Publication No. 05-10002).
Social Security Numbers for Driver's Licenses
The SSA does not issue a Social Security number to non-citizens for the sole purpose of applying for a driver's license. This change makes Social Security numbers less accessible to someone who may use that number for fraudulent purposes. They do issue numbers to non-citizens who have USCIS permission to work.
Checking Birth Records
Before assigning a new Social Security number, Social Security will contact the office that issued your birth record to make sure the record you provide is valid. This affects people born in the U.S. who are one year or older and are either
This means that it could be five to 12 weeks for Social Security to issue a card.
Verifying Immigration Documents
When non-citizens request a Social Security number, the SSA will verify their documents with the U.S. of Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) if verification is not available on USCIS' online system. This may delay receipt of a Social Security number by several weeks or months.
How Long Will It Take To Get A Social Security Number?
Social Security must verify your documents with the USCIS before they assign a number to you. Social Security will issue you your number and card within two days of receiving the verification from USCIS. Most of the time, they can verify your documents quickly with USCIS online. If your documents cannot be verified online, it may take the USCIS several weeks or months to respond to Social Security’s request.
Need More Information?
For more information, please see the Social Security Administration web pages on Immigration at http://www.ssa.gov/immigration/. |
