Why YSK: If you are a US Resident, don’t lose your Social Security card more than 10 times, or else you might need to respawn 💀
Excerpt from Wikipedia:
In accordance with §7213 of the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 2004 and 20 CFR 422.103, the number of replacement Social Security cards per person is generally limited to three per calendar year and ten in a lifetime.
Most employers will request the original copy to make their own copies from as part of any onboarding process. Just knowing the numbers isn’t enough.
I have my paper one in a safety deposit box, with my original birth certificate. I carry around a useless laminated copy for normal BS.
And yes, I say useless laminated, because for some dumb fucking reason, the US issues paper social security cards, and cannot be used officially if you do so. No government agency will accept it, because they expect a piece of paper to last 70+ years like dumb fucks.
My understanding (and it’s very possible that this is just urban legend) is that they’re intentionally made of paper so if they do get lost they’re more likely to fall apart instead of getting stolen.
They’re not really intended to be something you carry around with you all the time, it’s not like you’re usually going to be expected to produce on the spot during your daily routine. It’s more the sort of thing you’d keep at home with your birth certificate and other such personal documents.
IMO the real boneheaded move was making it a wallet-sized card instead of something more like a birth certificate. If you make something in that form factor, people are going to stick it in their wallets and carry it around with them and it’s going to fall apart.
Not yet anyway
Originally, they didn’t expect them to last 70+ years. It’s just that the law hasn’t been updated as life expectancy and technology have.
But your point remains valid
Obligatory life expectancy was only low due to child mortality, so people who survived childhood could reasonably expect to make it to 70.
Child mortality was only so high because child labor was in widespread use around the time that Social Security was first implemented.
Yet, Social Security was established around the same time as the end of child labor in this country. It took a few decades to correct (then, lengthened further with the advancements in medical technology), but the laws never kept up.
And all enacted by our first Democratic socialist president who was so popular, he helped pass the constitutional amendment to limit presidential terms so that he didn’t have to serve a fourth time…
… polio is a real motherfucker. Thankfully, he was one of the last generation to ever suffer from it in their developed world.
I wouldn’t say most, most will just ask for your SSN. They absolutely do not need the card for any reason whatsoever. If a job asked me to provide it I just wouldn’t take that job lol.
When I onboard people, I’m required to see proof of identity and proof of authorization to work in the US, as well as make copies for INS audit purposes. A passport covers both of those requirements, but for people that do not have a passport, a DL and a social security card are the most common, followed by a DL and birth certificate. One is a photo ID from an official source, the other shows either US citizenship or something saying you’re allowed to work as a non citizen (aka a green card).
You’re required to see proof of identity and authorization to work, however you are NOT required to see the social security card specifically, nor are you legally allowed to require it of your new employees. And even if they do bring their social security card for you to verify, you are NOT required to make your own copy of it unless you’re reviewing it remotely.
It sounds like some employers/HR outfits are just grossly misinformed then. The I9 form directions are pretty clear in what is required and/or acceptable, and this documentation is only required for I9 purposes, other than a DL for a driving related job. Companies are not necessarily required to have copies of the I9 identity documents used on file, but it is good practice in case of an audit, which is why most companies do it (a CYA basically). In theory, if someone reports a company because they suspect they’re employing people unauthorized to work in the US, providing copies of the documents you used for the I9 verification shows that your did your due diligence and they’re more likely to leave you alone.
Pretty much every company I ever worked for took a copy of my passport, and I see no harm in that as long as their storage is reasonably secure.
Yes, any employer/HR outfits that tell you that they require your social security card are grossly misinformed, as that would not be legal.
Editing comment for clarity.
All employers in the US need proof of two things: proof of identity, and proof of employment eligibility. A passport takes care of both.
But most people in my experience provide a state ID/driver’s license (identity), and either a social security card or birth certificate (employement.)
So, you can be on your high horse all you want, but you’re gonna provide the documents above if you want to work legally.
The employer can view a social security card or birth certificate, but they DO NOT need to retain a copy of it. And you can provide a number of documents in place of a social security card. It is absolutely not legal to require a social security card for work eligibility, it’s simply one of the options an employee may present. And if presented in person, they are not obligated to retain a copy of it.
I have worked many jobs legally in the U.S, several of which required extensive background checking and identity verification. Never once have I been required to present a social security card. They can only ask for the number itself, if they’re using E-Verify.
We’re splitting hairs here. It is a legal requirement to provide work elibility. If you provide a passport, or if you provide an ID and birth certificate, that sufficies. But many people choose ID and social security card. And yes, employers keep copies of work eligibility on file.
So I guess my question is, is your objection really to the act of asking for a lightweight cardboard card?
Then I would suggest you not try to split hairs. It is not a legal requirement to provide an employer with your social security card, and they do not need to keep copies of any of your identifying documents on file. These two preceding statements are objectively and inarguably true. Any argument of “Well you can always CHOOSE to provide them” is neither here nor there. I can choose to provide my social security card to a crackhead on the street corner, but that has nothing to do with legal requirements either.
I have never provided a social security card to an employer and can never be made to. This will never result in an inability for me to work legally, nor anybody else in this country lol.
I guess my confusion comes from why you are so adamantly against specifically providing the social security card, when providing proof of employment eligibility is a legal requirement. Clearly, you have no problem providing employment eligibility, why do you have such strong feelings about providing the social security card specifically?
And while agree, the fact that other documents can be provided to prove employment eligibility means that technically providing the SS card isn’t required, I’d caution you against saying “never” in our current political environment.
Because the context of the thread here is a scenario where you’ve lost your social security card.
I’ve changed a few employers and so far no one has ever asked me to bring my physical SSN to show them
You don’t need it if you have other documents. In general if you have your passport or your birth certificate you won’t need it. (Requirements to fill out an I9 form, which is used to decide deductions for your taxes)
Really? I’ve only had one job that required my social security card. I’ve worked in multiple school districts, as well as food and hospitality jobs and only 1 of the school districts wanted to see my social security card.
Usually a birth certificate will suffice if you don’t have one. They have to verify they can legally employ you. I didn’t have my social for awhile and used my birth certificate. Became a problem when Puerto Rico invalidated all birth certificates though for a time. Had one idiot say they couldn’t accept a PR birth certificate for citizenship once though.
Yep, my job now was not going to let me work until I brought it in. Had to drive 5 hours in one night lol
Social Security Card is one form of identification but not the only form.
Passport is a great one because it doesn’t require additional verification.
I-9 has all the ways you can verify.