Your Social Security number is a critical piece of information that in the hands of an identity thief can readily lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft which can be devastating.  Certainly it is important to safeguard your Social Security number as much as possible.  For instance, you should not keep your Social Security number in your wallet or purse.  But what about when companies or institutions with which we do business ask for your Social Security number as a verifying piece of personal information?  Do you have the right to refuse?

Certain government forms such as your income tax return require you to provide your Social Security number and if you are applying for a credit card or a loan, you will need to provide your Social Security number.  However, many other companies and institutions which you do business with will ask for your Social Security number as an easy method of verifying your identity.  The problem is that with a myriad of data breaches every year, the privacy of your Social Security number is only as good as the cybersecurity of the companies that hold this information and overall, many of them do not do a good job of protecting their data.  Years ago, Nancy Reagan coined the phrase, “Just say no” in an anti-drug campaign and it is a good idea to use those words when asked for your Social Security number by a company or institution that doesn’t need it.  For instance, your physician doesn’t need it.

The problem is that there is no law that prohibits these companies and institutions from asking for your Social Security number and they are allowed by law to refuse you their services if you fail to provide it.  Fortunately, more and more companies and institutions are recognizing that they don’t need your Social Security number and, in fact, are better off, not having it and having it be vulnerable in the even of a data breach.

TIPS

The best course of action when asked to provide your Social Security number by a company or institution that doesn’t need it is to politely refuse and offer some other form of identification number such as your driver’s license or passport number.  More and more we are finding that companies are willing to accept these forms of identification.  In the even that the company won’t accept an alternative form of identification and refuses to provide you with their services unless you provide your Social Security number, you merely need to decide whether or not you need their services so much that you are willing to compromise your personal security.  The choice is yours.

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