Do you give out the kids Social Security #'s ? Why

Parent Cafe
1

<p>My daughter applied to a couple of camps this summer and I noticed the applications asked for her social security number. I do not think they need that number so I put her HS id number instead.</p>

<p>Looking ahead towards real college applications do they all ask for SS#'s and does anyone else have a problem with identifiying your kid by their SS#? </p>

<p>If the college wants a tracking number they can assign a student identification number or what would be wrong with me giving them another number that they can put into their data base and use. </p>

<p>Why should I give them her SS# so that they can start to build their national database?</p>

2

<p>It does bother me that so many schools, banks, even store credit cards, ask for the SS# for identification. I am more concerned about identity theft than a national database. I rarely give mine out anynore, but banks and insurance companies do require it.
My kids did put their SS# on the applications that asked for it. They probably didn’t need to. If you can find a good way around it, go for it.</p>

<p>Just this week my daughter was asked for her SS# to be in a database in order to make an appointment with UCLA Medical Center. It bothered me later when I thought about it. She didn’t even wind up using their services, but was required to sign up before they would even tell her what doctors were available. I think most of us are way too blase about giving out private information.</p>

3

<p>For years I have been writing in the SS# spot “will provide as required” and have NEVER had an issue (as required means if you’ve hired me, and must now have the #); except once, in a temp to hire office. The girl behind the desk (who was so young she could have been my child!) INSISTED I fill it in, because “the computer needs it” so I put in all 5’s and handed the paper back to her. Not a problem. I have taught my D the “will provide as required” statement.</p>

<p>It’s criminal the way we are asked for this valuable piece of information. Just like being told not to let your credit card out of your sight, and yet nearly every restaurant has done away with cashiers, and you pass your card to a server who does god-only-knows-what behind the scenes with it. (well, I know, but you get the point)</p>

4

<p>I’ve gotten quite protect of that SS# and have tried to instill same in my kiddos. It was not placed on any college applications. I’m in "just"aMom’s camp, we only give out that special number when it is absolutely necessary. </p>

<p>Lots of times, early in a process, the asking party does NOT need that information. It only becomes a key piece later, IF the process goes that far. THEN I will provide that key piece if it truly is needed.</p>

5

<p>This is a timely discussion for our family. D just went to apply for a job yesterday and was asked for her SS. I have told her it is not necessary to give to someone until she is hired. The prospective employer told her they needed it for a background check. Is that true??? D was a little stressed out because she didn’t want to be argumentative with a possible employer. </p>

<p>On another note - at one college when she arrived for an interview the secretary asked for her SS#. Once again, D asked if necessary. The secretary said she didn’t have to give it, but if she didn’t the information would not become part of her folder. So - since it was the school of her dreams, she gave it. I do feel sorry for kids in this position. It is difficult to question an adult in authority or one who has some sway over something you want. I think as an adult we are a little more skilled (and at least age-peers) with this issue.</p>

6

<p>“I am more concerned about identity theft than a national database.”</p>

<p>Let me add this re the national database - -</p>

<p>I’ve lived at my current address for over 20 years. During that time I’ve had a valid drivers license and it has been renewed at least 5 times over the years. My license was set to expire again at the end of May so on May 18th I went to a tag agency to get it renewed. I paid the fee and was getting my mug shot taken when the person said “Oh, we cannot renew your license as there is a flag on your record and you will have to go to the Department of Motor Safety for further information”. I was handed a map with a phone number. </p>

<p>I called the phone number and was told they couldn’t give info out over the phone so I drove over, got a number to stand in the line and filled out their required form which asked for my SS# and other info. After about 20 minutes my number was called and I was asked to verify my SS# and if I ever lived in TN.</p>

<p>I said yes I moved away from there in 1986 and have since lived at my current address (in another state). I was handed a phone number to call with no explaination but told I need to call the number and they would “help me”. </p>

<p>The number was to the TN Dept. of Motor safety. The first day I called six times and never got a human being or was even allowed to leave a message as “all agents are busy assisting other people please call again later”. Later I got a humanoid and they wanted my TN drives license #. I told them I haven’t had one in over 20 years and had no idea. Well using my birth date and name they looked up my old drivers license number and told me it had been suspended and now that they are connected to this national database it was showing up on my records and I needed to get it cleared up!</p>

<p>The reason given was because I was on the receiving end of a very minor accident, being hit by a very elderly man (87) who didn’t have a license back in 1985, and some form wasn’t filed properly and the form needed to be completed showing that I had insurance and who my agent was - even though I wasn’t cited or at fault in the accident and my car was repaired 20+ years earlier and the other party was probably dead for at least 15 years and his car wasn’t even damaged in the accident anyway. </p>

<p>The department was 10 days behind in processing paper work so I had to wait and I had to fax them info on different occasions and it was the second week of June before I got all of this cleared up and got my license renewed.</p>

<p>So I can see where this national database and turning ones drivers license into basically a national indentification card is going and everything is being put in it based on your SS# and I think it isn’t a good thing for the majority of law abiding citizens.</p>

<p>Where is it going to end? Your education records, medical records, driving records, etc. etc. Who gets to see it all and why and then someone leaves a computer with all of this in the back seat of their car and it gets stolen.</p>

7

<p>A friend who is a finacial advisor told me to have my kids put a freeze on their credit with the credit reporting agencies that requires a personal call to their cell phone in order to process any requests for credit. I guess there are some criminal types who obtain the new adult’s social security number (from god knows where… the college data bases would be fertile grounds) and apply for credit cards, etc under their name. Since the 18 year old may not apply for credit or check his/her report regularly, the fraud can go on for quite some time before being discovered. We all need to be vigilant.</p>

8

<p>bessie - how do you do that - the freeze you mention? It sounds like a great idea!</p>

<p>Also - do students ever need their actual SS card? My son has been asked for it, and to be honest, I’d rather he not carry it.
Thanks for all the info on this thread!</p>

9

<p>orjr - my son needed (according to them) his social security card when he applied for his job at his college.
No reason to carry it around in general, though.
Not when he applied, but when he filled out the forms after he was hired…</p>

10

<p>Cressida - YIKES!</p>

<p>Really - what a bizarre story! </p>

<p>I once went for an ultrasound for a thyroid problem and the technician talked about something in my records from 15+ years earlier that had been done at another hospital. Turns out - the most recent place bought one facility, which bought another, etc. It was a little creepy. So much for privacy.</p>

11

<p>We ask for social security number when people apply to work for us. We could use it for a background check–if we did them–but mainly it’s to verify that they can work legally in this country.</p>

12

<p>I’ve been asked for my SS# many times, but I have NEVER been in a bad situation as a result of refusing to comply.</p>

13

<p>A lot of applications explain that the SS number is required if you are applying for financial aid, as well.</p>

14

<p>Well, in Michigan the highschool ID numbers are only 6 digits. I think most people just give it out without a problem. Or atleast that’s what I thought before seeing this thread, maybe the people in favor of protecting it are most vocal? </p>

<p>Someone trying to steal my identity would be very disappointed with what they could do with it.</p>

15

<p>For medical records I would at least provide the last four of your social. Years ago I was employed at Yale. I went into the medical center for a routine appointment. The nurse looked at my chart then at me. She was puzzled. Said “you aren’t 35 are you?” Turns out they had another patient with the same name. Our records were completely intermingled. Some of mine in her chart, some of hers in my chart. The social security number identifies you more uniquely than just your name. Give them the last four so there is some identifier on your records.</p>

16

<p>I have known my social security number since I was about 14 or so. Just for like working purposes and testtaking APs SATs etc.</p>

17

<p>We simply won’t allow it. Usually when one of mine has to give the SS# either H or I talk to whoever’s “in charge” and explain why we will not give it out. Invasion of privacy. If you disagree, fine, but don’t expect us to associate with you.</p>

18

<p>We didn’t give it when DS took SATs or on his college apps. One of his colleges - oh, why not give out the name, it was Colby - sent him an email that they didn’t have his SAT’s. We’d had them sent directly from the College Board and no other school reported a problem. So S called Colby, who said they might have them but they couldn’t be matched to S because they didn’t have his SS#. S explained that 1) the SAT didn’t have his SS# either, and 2) we have a very unusual last name and we know every other person with that last name in the USA (at least according to Google and online phone directories). The Colby person insisted they needed the SS#. So S gave it to them, and miraculously they were able to match up his SAT score - even though the College board didn’t have his SATs.</p>

<p>Still debating whether to put D’s SS# on her apps, as she will be applying to much larger schools.</p>

<p>I always give out the SS# at the doctor’s office, I figure they need it to confirm insurance. But I told my kids when they applied for jobs to write “will provide when hired” in the SS# spot on the applications. I don’t think you can run a background check on a minor anyway, so the “background check” thing is just an excuse.</p>

19

<p>^^^ too late to edit, but the end of first paragraph should read “even tho the College Board didn’t have his SS#”. Of course the CB had his SAT’s… lol</p>

20

<p>Over the past couple of weeks, I have had to fill out what seems like endless forms as my D prepares to enter college. Almost all of them required her SS # and I was really surprised. She is attending a conservatory which is a part of a larger university, so there is paperwork required for both ( health services, insurance, work-study,etc) and some of the forms asked for the number in 3 or 4 places. I asked why and no one had a really had an answer for me. Wasn’t it supposed to be illegal to tie a student’s SS# to them on college forms by now?</p>