Social Security Card

[DopeyDame]

Some places ASK for your SSN but don't require you show the physical card. Doctor/dentist office is one place that asks for it (probably to verify insurance coverage), but have never asked me to show the actual SS card.

You can always say no. I have never given my or my kids SSN to doctors, schools, etc and it's never been a problem. I just leave the space blank and not once has anyone cared.

 

[Hikergirl]

I had to replace ds's when he was getting his driver's permit. We had to go to the office but if you met certain criteria I believe you can apply for a replacement online.
I haven't had to show mine probably since I got my permit but I believe I will need to when I switch to Real ID. It's always good to have a cpy just in case.

 

[Imzadi]

You can always say no. I have never given my or my kids SSN to doctors, schools, etc and it's never been a problem. I just leave the space blank and not once has anyone cared.

I always thought maybe doctors & dentists ask for the SSN in case they get an alert that they need to identify someone through dental or medical records? How do the authorities find the dentist of a John Doe to be able to find their identity? And if they already know the deceased is Jim Smith, but need the dental records to verify it, what if no one knows his dentist? I would think if there is some central data base listing according to SSN, they can easily locate the dentist & dental records that way.

 

[jerseygal]

If you get your tax returns prepared professionally, it is likely that a tax preparer will ask for your Social Security Card!

 

[minniecarousel]

Timely subject. I declined Medicare in June for my big birthday coming up next month as DH is still working. We will apply for Medicare & get supplemental health insurance when he finally retires. Well I was just notified that they’ll start taking $$$ out of my next SS check for Medicare! They never received the form from me that declines coverage. I’ll be at the local SS office before they open tomorrow...great way to spend the day (or morning, as they’re only open ‘til noon on Wednesday’s)

 

[tvguy]

If you get your tax returns prepared professionally, it is likely that a tax preparer will ask for your Social Security Card!

I've never had that happen.

 

[tvguy]

Timely subject. I declined Medicare in June for my big birthday coming up next month as DH is still working. We will apply for Medicare & get supplemental health insurance when he finally retires. Well I was just notified that they’ll start taking $$$ out of my next SS check for Medicare! They never received the form from me that declines coverage. I’ll be at the local SS office before they open tomorrow...great way to spend the day (or morning, as they’re only open ‘til noon on Wednesday’s)

Any experts? Can you even decline Medicare? And will your husbands employer allow you to decline medicare?

To the untrained eye, it doesn't appear you can decline. https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-ch...e/i-have-employer-coverage.html#collapse-5569

 

[goofyernmost]

A social security card doesn't prove citizenship, so it will do bupkis for you no matter where ICE's thorn lands.

OK, if you say so, but, if it does "bupkis" with one can you imagine the hassle without one. Since it is used as identification of citizenship on the I-9 form for employment, I think it may carry more weight then you are thinking. But, why take the chance. It takes up very little room and is used for ID's in many places of importance, security wise.

 

[Imzadi]

It takes up very little room and is used for ID's in many places of importance, security wise.

Do you guys generally carry your SS card with you at all times?

I only carry it with me when I'm going to be filling out I-9 forms or need to show it. Other wise, it sits in the bottom of a drawer till the next time I need it. It's one of the two pieces of ID needed for identity theft. If I lose my wallet or get pickpocketed or mugged, they get my driver's license & a credit card. But, they won't also get my SSN.

 

[chiamarie]

Mine got lost when I was in high school...that was over 15 years ago, and I haven't needed it. Generally when you get a new job they need two forms of ID, and a birth certificate or passport will do in place of a social security card. So I've always used those instead.

 

[DopeyDame]

I always thought maybe doctors & dentists ask for the SSN in case they get an alert that they need to identify someone through dental or medical records? How do the authorities find the dentist of a John Doe to be able to find their identity? And if they already know the deceased is Jim Smith, but need the dental records to verify it, what if no one knows his dentist? I would think if there is some central data base listing according to SSN, they can easily locate the dentist & dental records that way.

I'm not sure what they do with the info - my guess is it's just left over from when insurance usually used your SSN, but no one has ever cared that I don't provide it. Here's hoping I don't end up in an unidentified grave someday.

 

[DopeyDame]

OK, if you say so, but, if it does "bupkis" with one can you imagine the hassle without one. Since it is used as identification of citizenship on the I-9 form for employment, I think it may carry more weight then you are thinking. But, why take the chance. It takes up very little room and is used for ID's in many places of importance, security wise.

Your i-9 is intended to prove that you are legally allowed to work in the US, not that you are a citizen. Your SSN proves only that - that you are legally allowed to work here. Green card holders and other non-citizen immigrants have SSNs, and they aren't citizens.
If you're a citizen you have lots of other ways to prove that you're here legally, and if you're an immigrant, your visa is far more important/valuable to ICE than your SSN card.

 

[jerseygal]

I've never had that happen.

Your preparer most certainly should; tax identity theft is rampant!

 

[jerseygal]

Do you guys generally carry your SS card with you at all times?

I only carry it with me when I'm going to be filling out I-9 forms or need to show it. Other wise, it sits in the bottom of a drawer till the next time I need it. It's one of the two pieces of ID needed for identity theft. If I lose my wallet or get pickpocketed or mugged, they get my driver's license & a credit card. But, they won't also get my SSN.

IMO, not a good idea to carry your social security card in your wallet or otherwise for reasons that you have stated, agree!

 

[bcla]

Do you guys generally carry your SS card with you at all times?

I only carry it with me when I'm going to be filling out I-9 forms or need to show it. Other wise, it sits in the bottom of a drawer till the next time I need it. It's one of the two pieces of ID needed for identity theft. If I lose my wallet or get pickpocketed or mugged, they get my driver's license & a credit card. But, they won't also get my SSN.

I used to do it, but that was decades ago. Everyone strongly suggests against it - especially the SSA.

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/
You need a Social Security number to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and get some other government services. But you don't often need to show your Social Security card. Do not carry your card with you. Keep it in a safe place with your other important papers.​

It used to be common to use the SSN as an identification number for something totally unrelated, since it was a unique number that most people had and could remember. I remember one college ID that used my SSN as the student ID number, but that was a while ago. Some states apparently used it as their driver license or state ID number.

 

[DopeyDame]

If you get your tax returns prepared professionally, it is likely that a tax preparer will ask for your Social Security Card!

They'll need your SSN, but I've never had one ask for the actual card.

 

[tvguy]

Your preparer most certainly should; tax identity theft is rampant!

Why? My SSN is on every income document I give him.
Plus, he has been doing my taxes since 1975 so I think he would know if I had a pattern of tax identity theft.

 

[bcla]

Your i-9 is intended to prove that you are legally allowed to work in the US, not that you are a citizen. Your SSN proves only that - that you are legally allowed to work here. Green card holders and other non-citizen immigrants have SSNs, and they aren't citizens.
If you're a citizen you have lots of other ways to prove that you're here legally, and if you're an immigrant, your visa is far more important/valuable to ICE than your SSN card.

Yep. I know plenty of people who became naturalized US citizens, but they could use the same SSN card they obtained before naturalization. There's nothing different between the SSN card of a permanent resident and that of a US citizen (or national). However, apparently the SSA wants to know if someone's status changed. There are some SSN cards that require additional authorization to work. I think these are issued for various reasons such as for temporary workers where there will be a work authorization document like this one:

 

[jerseygal]

Why? My SSN is on every income document I give him.
Plus, he has been doing my taxes since 1975 so I think he would know if I had a pattern of tax identity theft.

To confirm identity for a client that is not known to the preparer, two pieces of identification is customarily requested, Social Security Card and Drivers License. There are support documents such as W-2's which are fraudulent, so just having a social security number on those documents is no proof of identification.

 

[bcla]

To confirm identity for a client that is not known to the preparer, two pieces of identification is customarily requested, Social Security Card and Drivers License. There are support documents such as W-2's which are fraudulent, so just having a social security number on those documents is no proof of identification.

The name on photo ID should match up with the SSN in the database.