Do Not Give Your Social Security Number at These Places (2024)

FAQs

Do Not Give Your Social Security Number at These Places? ›

Hospitals or medical and dental offices. Pharmacies. Public schools. Sports clubs.

There are times when you will need to give your social security number. These include: Anything that requires tax reporting, such as employers reporting your income. Banks for monetary transactions such as getting a loan or opening a line of credit.

A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, it damages your credit.

Should you write those nine digits down? Generally, no, say privacy experts. “Having Social Security numbers at the doctor's office is a data breach risk, and it's one that's increasing,” says Pam Dixon, executive director of the nonprofit World Privacy Forum.

There is no law that prevents businesses from asking for your SSN. And you may be denied service if you don't give the number. If giving your SSN to a business doesn't seem reasonable to you, ask if you can show another form of identification. Or ask if the business can use another number as your customer number.

Never type your SSN into an email or instant message and send it. The majority of such messages can be intercepted and read. Also, don't leave a voicemail that includes your SSN. If you need to contact someone and give them your number, it's best to do it in person.

Would Ticketmaster ask for a Social Security number? If you resell tickets through their site, Ticketmaster will only ask for your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to complete a Form 1099-K. This complies with tax reporting regulations.

The Social Security Administration does allow you to change your number, but only under limited circ*mstances, such as identity theft or if your safety is in danger. You will also need to supply appropriate documentation to support your application for a new number.

Some employers (including state hiring agencies and the federal government) require applicants to list their Social Security number (SSN) when completing job applications. 1 Employers may want your Social Security number to conduct a background check or credit check.

You can also place what's known as a self-lock on your SSN through E-Verify^® at www.e-verify.gov, a government service that employers use to confirm a job applicant's eligibility to work.

Is it normal for a doctor's office to ask for your Social Security number? ›

The answer isn't particularly endearing: Your doctor's office wants your Social Security number so it can better track you down if you don't pay your bill. But no, you don't legally have to provide it unless you are a Medicare or Medicaid recipient.

To verify your identity and prevent fraud. Because the Fire and EMS Department charges fees for service, ambulance crews are instructed to verify patient identity including name, social security number, birth date, home address and telephone number.

The marketplace uses applicants' SSNs to confirm that they are lawfully present residents. So you'll need to provide SSNs for all household members who are applying for coverage, regardless of whether you're applying for financial assistance.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): It is not unlawful for employers to request an SSN on an application form; however employers should request SSN only when absolutely necessary, such as in conjunction with a background check, completing a W-4, or enrolling an employee into benefits plans.

Footnote: It is true that the application form for an SSN asks for identfying information, such as date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and (optionally) the applicant's race. But none of this identifying information is encoded in the SSN itself--not the person's date of birth, place of birth, or race.

There is no charge for correcting your Social Security card or getting one for the first time.

Measures You Can Take To Prevent Identity Theft

Someone illegally using your SSN and assuming your identity can cause a lot of problems. There are several things you should do to prevent identity theft: Do not routinely carry your SSN. Never say your SSN aloud in public.

Federal law basically lets anyone ask for your Social Security number, but that doesn't mean you need to give it out. You should use your Social Security number as infrequently as possible. Just because someone asks for it doesn't mean they truly need it.