YSK that if you lose your Social Security Card (USA) more than 10 times, the Social Security Administration will have to, by law, refuse to issue anymore replacement cards, for the rest of your life.

en.wikipedia.org

Social Security number - Wikipedia

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.

180 comments

Yeah, but who cares? I mean, really? I haven't had a physical copy of my social security card in ages, since it disintegrated in my wallet in college. Memorize the number and move on with your day.
- 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.
  
  it's not like you're usually going to be expected to produce on the spot during your daily routine.
  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.
  
  Actually experts believed FDR had GBS, instead of polio. Which is Guillian barre syndrome. Which cause flaccid paralysis. It often occurs after severe viral and some bacterial infection, it was mostly known to European doctors and. Not a widespread diagnosis in the us
  
  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.
  
  I'm going to trust the person that does this for a living over your wild claims that asking for a SS card (something literally every job that I've had -and I've had a lot- required) is illegal.
  
  My “wild claim” is the law, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency of the Department of Homeland Security. And I’m going to trust the very agency requiring this documentation in the first place over some random HR person on Lemmy who does their job poorly.
  4. Can I ask an employee to show a specific document when completing Form I-9?
  No. The employee may choose which document(s) they present from the Lists of Acceptable Documents. You must accept any document (from List A) or combination of documents (one from List B and one from List C) listed on Form I-9 and found in Section 13.0 that reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the person presenting them. To do otherwise could be an unfair immigration-related employment practice that violates the anti-discrimination provision in the INA.
  I’m sorry you’ve dealt with illegal employment practices at what is evidently every job you’ve ever held. I’ve not had that experience as every job I’ve worked has properly followed the law and collected required documentation appropriately. Maybe next time you switch jobs if they try to demand your social security card you can share with them The official Employers Handbook for I-9 document collection that is freely available on the USCIS website.
  
  Are you fucking kidding me? This is some pedantic shit. No, they can't ask for a specific form of ID. I'm familiar with the list of documents and the ones that the vast majority of people starting a job are going to have is their driver's license and SS card.
  I'm sorry you feel the need to make such a big deal over nothing to the point of making multiple obtuse comments, maybe next time you can just keep your mouth shut.
  
  Yeah the pedantry on your behalf is a bit much, but the bending backwards you’re doing to make the claim that “Employers can require your social security card” seem true requires it so I see why you’re doing it.
  No, they can't ask for a specific form of ID
  A social security card is quite literally a specific form of ID. Therefore your wild claim that employers are allowed to require it is wrong. They can only require that you provide them an acceptable document from a predefined list. Providing your social security card is merely one of the documents from the list you can choose to provide. No employer is allowed to require it. End of discussion.
  My comments have been extremely straightforward and clear up to this point so I don’t know what you’re whining about.
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  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
  
  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.
  
  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)
  
  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.
- I had to get mine replaced to get a passport. That was ten years ago, and the passport just expired. I've got 9 replacements left and I just turned 60, so I think I'm good.

180 comments