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Social Security: Use of the Social Security Number is Widespread

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date May 9, 2000
Report No. T-HEHS-00-111
Subject
Summary:

The social security number was created in 1936 as a way to track workers' earnings and eligibility benefits. Today, more than 277 million persons have a unique social security number, and these numbers are used for myriad purposes unrelated to social security. Both private businesses and government agencies often ask people for their social security numbers, in some cases because they are required to, in others because they are a convenient way to track and exchange information. Perceived widespread sharing of personal information and instances of identity theft have heightened public concern about the use of social security numbers. This testimony describes (1) federal laws and regulations directing the numbers' use, (2) the nonfederal purposes for which the number is used, and (3) what businesses and state government believe the impact would be if federal laws were passed to limit the use of social security numbers.

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