social security number
Nine digits, lifelong assignment
A social security number is a nine-digit identifier issued by the U.S. government to citizens, permanent residents, and certain temporary residents.
Originally created to track individuals for Social Security benefits, it has become the de facto national identification number used for tax reporting, credit applications, employment verification, and countless other purposes.
The number is formatted as three digits, a hyphen, two digits, a hyphen, and four digits.
Because it serves as a key to so much personal information, protecting one's social security number from theft has become a major concern.
Establishing who someone is
- taxpayerOne who owes government duties
- verificationProving something accurate
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
fraud · credit check · background check · eligibility · enrollment · registration · validation · proof
Organizational oversight and control
- agencyPower to act
- federalDivided governmental authority
- benefitsGains or helpful effects
- retirementLeaving the workforce permanently
disability · Medicare · survivor benefits · public service · civil service · institutional · regulation · entitlement
Stored historical records
- filesStored data collections
- historyRecord of past events
- registryOfficial record of entries
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
log · tracking · employment history · tax records · work history · account · statement · annual statement
Administrative written tasks
- applicationFormal request document
- formShape or document
- filingStoring documents systematically
- red tapeBureaucratic obstacles to action
procedure · formality · documentation · clerical · data entry · processing · W-2 · I-9
Meant to stay secret
- sensitive informationData requiring protection from disclosure
- data protectionSecuring sensitive information
- identity protectionMeasures preventing personal fraud
- encryptionConverting data into code
shredding · secure · non-disclosure · cybersecurity · breach · stolen · exposed · safeguard
identification
Establishing who someone is
- taxpayerOne who owes government duties
- verificationProving something accurate
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
identity theft · fraud · credit check · background check · eligibility · enrollment · registration · validation · proof · documentation
administration
Organizational oversight and control
retirement · disability · Medicare · survivor benefits · public service · civil service · institutional · regulation · entitlement · welfare
archive
Stored historical records
database · log · tracking · employment history · tax records · work history · account · statement · annual statement
paperwork
Administrative written tasks
- applicationFormal request document
- formShape or document
- filingStoring documents systematically
red tape · procedure · formality · documentation · clerical · data entry · processing · W-2 · I-9 · tax return
confidential
Meant to stay secret
- sensitive informationData requiring protection from disclosure
- data protectionSecuring sensitive information
- identity protectionMeasures preventing personal fraud
encryption · shredding · secure · non-disclosure · cybersecurity · breach · stolen · exposed · safeguard · redacted
- ID numbersSSN, employee id, EIN, SIN, PAN
- personal datafull name, first name, last name, middle name, date of birth
- IDsID, ID card, ID badge, national ID, national ID card
- employee paperworkemployment contract, W-2, tax forms, pay stubs, benefits enrollment
- private dataSSN, passwords, password, PII, PHI
- background checkscriminal record, criminal records, criminal check, criminal record check, employment verification
social security numberanonymity
Unknown identity state
untraceability · pseudonym · alias · off the grid · undocumented status
number, social, security, sociable, antisocial, socialize, unsocial, sociability, socializing