The social security number is issued by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA). The social security number is a unique identifying number that U.S. citizens and some non-U.S. citizens need for several significant purposes.
You must have a social security number to obtain a job. The social security number is used to identify employees for tax purposes and for eventual receipt of social security retirement money.
Your social security number is also used for some other government services and by banks and credit issuers for identification. Historically, before identify theft became so common, your social security number was used by everyone from universities as a student ID number to energy companies, telephone service companies, and even, libraries.
How to Apply for a Social Security Number
You can apply for a social security number by following these directions. To apply for a social security number and card, you will need to bring certain documents to your local SSA office. These document must prove your age and your identity.
- To prove your age, you will need your birth certificate.
- You must also establish your identity. The SSA accepts identification documents that are current, that show your name, other identifying information, and a recent photo. These identification documents include:
--U.S. driver’s license
--state-issued, non-driver identification card,
--U.S. passport - If these identification documents are not available, the Social Security Administration will ask to see:
--Employee ID card;
--Health insurance card (not a Medicare card);
--Employee ID card;
--U.S. military ID card;
--School ID card;
--Adoption decree;
--Life insurance policy; or
--Marriage document (only in name change situations).
The documents that you use to prove your age and identity must be originals or copies that have been certified by the agency that issued the document.
You will receive your social security number and card as soon as the SSA has verified your documents at an issuing office.
See additional thoughts about having to provide your social security number during a job search. Find more about employers and identity theft from About.com's identity theft expert, Jake Stroup.
