Social Security Number Use to be Restricted

Congress may soon approve legislation to limit the use and collection of Social Security Numbers (SSNs). The use of SSNs will be restricted to those purposes required by federal law – rather than using them as a convenient but unnecessary identifier.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is trying to educate organizations as to the sensitive nature of SSNs and alternate means to secure identities. Many organizations have been resistant to change due to the cost required to switch identifiers.

The SSA believes that legislation will reduce the display of SSNs, and thus reduce the trafficking in SSNs (and identity theft). Although legislation has been presented before, backers are confident this Bill will get passed this session.

Via fcw ; Tags: ssn, social security number, social security administration, identity theft, id theft