So I know it’s probably just me who finds it weird to still call it a Social Security Number when the system is in the tank. The system is so overwhelmed that its taking forever for people to win their cases for disability benefits, sometimes taking two years before a payment is made. Anyone who thinks this is going to sustain the Boomer Generation coming in and the Gen Y’er too is just asinine. The spike in the number of applications recently can be attributed to the economic status of the country. The system is dangerously close to being swamped yet again.
But that’s not what we need to cover today. Consider that rant a historical background. What we need to cover today is how you can protect the you withholdings from criminals so you can give it to other people you don’t know instead. Okay, okay…Turning the cynicism off.
People send us emails all the time asking what they can do now that their credit, identity and life are all in jeopardy. The answer is: very little with a lot of patience. The fact of the matter is, a lot of times fraudulent SSNs are just made up and happen to correspond to a real individual. This we have no control over. What we can do is lower the risk on the other percentage of the cases of identity theft. So once again:
- By law, your Social Security number is only required for opening new financial accounts or lines of credit, obtaining a job or for governmental purposes such as taxes or benefits. (That’s it! It’s okay to decline giving it out in other cases.)
- Ask questions: If a company asks for your number, ask under what law they need the number and offer an alternative identification. Only give it out if you feel comfortable with the company, and if you don’t, be prepared to do without its services.
- Don’t carry your Social Security card on a daily basis. Memorize the number. If your Medicare card had your number, make a wallet-sized photo copy for your wallet or purse and black out the final four digits.
- Shred any financial documents that might have your Social Security number before trashing them. Monitor your financial statements closely. And be wary of entering your Social Security number on web sites. (Again if it isn’t registered as secure and is not a job app, gov. site, or financial/credit institution don’t give it out.)
- Your Social Security number can be changed if you can prove you have been the legitimate victim of identity theft.
For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html
Sources: Social Security Administration, Identity Theft Resource Center.
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