It would be appropriate to say that upon birth, your social security number is equally important with your other vital records like the birth certificate. As early as you were born, your parent can already get your own social security number. It is within this level of importance that every transaction you will make while at the country, you will need to present your social security number and card as a form of identification. That is why; bank account and health information, to name a few, are tied with the Social Security Number. Seeing this imperative use, many crimes and offenses are done by fraudulently obtaining it. Identity theft is one of the most common crimes committed through the use of stolen social security number by creating false identities and making transactions like loans in your behalf. With the use of SSN, anyone can already conduct background checks and verification on you which could disclose private and confidential information about you including credit and financial records. Moreover, the social security number is important in order for one to collect Social Security benefits and to avail government services. It is also deemed when one seeks employment.

With this happening, the need for you to protect your Social Security Number and card should be top of your priority list. It is in your hand to protect and guard your own SSN; otherwise, you don’t have anyone to be blamed if someone stole your identity. It is important that you know when you should be required to present you SSN under the law or not. You should ask why your number is needed, how it’s going to be used or does the law requires you to give out your number. If you are not convince with the answer to this question, ask what will happen if you refuse to give it.

You should also know that there is a Privacy Act of 1974 enforced that incorporates the limit of any government agencies to ask for your social security number should there is no written disclosure why there is a need for you to surrender your SSN. If there is no written disclosure presented to you, you have the right to refuse giving it even if it’s a government official who is asking for it. You must not worry however since it also stated that any government agency cannot deny you service and benefits should you refuse to give it to them.

Even if there is an existing law that protects you against revealing your SSN by force, the decision is always yours of whether giving it or not. It would be wiser to be vigilant about freely giving it just to anyone. Be strict about it and you must not carry it if you don’t need it for the possibility of being lost to avoid it being put into the wrong hands. Even if it is true that what you don’t know cannot hurt you, but what you know can improve and protect your life.