GN 03325.

005 Use of SSN by Government

Agencies
A. Policy-General
In some instances, an Executive Order (EO) of the President or a specific Federal law may
authorize a government agencys use of the SSN. However, the fact that there is no specific
Federal statutory authority for a government agency to use the SSN does not preclude an agency
from doing so. See RM 10201.010 for a discussion of non-program uses of the SSN.

B. Policy-Authorized Uses Of The SSN

Listed below are uses of the SSN that are authorized by either EO of the President or by a
specific Federal law. The listing is not intended to be all inclusive.
NOTE: The fact that a Federal law may authorize a government agency to collect and use the
SSN is not the same as a law authorizing or requiring SSA to disclose or verify an SSN. See GN
03325.002, GN 03325.003, and GN 03325.004 for a discussion of the disclosure and
verification of SSNs.

1. Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a, Note)

All Federal, State, and local government agencies must comply with the provisions of Section 7
of the Privacy Act. This provision states that it is unlawful for any Federal, State or local
government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit or privilege provided by law
because the individual refuses to disclose his/her SSN, unless disclosure was required by statute
or regulation prior to January 1, 1975, or is required by Federal statute.
Any government agency that asks an individual to furnish his/her SSN must inform the
individual:
whether furnishing the information is mandatory or voluntary,
by what law or other authority the agency is requesting the number, and
the uses that will be made of the information.
SSA complies with this requirement by including a Privacy Act Statement on all SSA standard
forms.
SSA does not have any implementation or enforcement authority for Section 7 of the Privacy
Act. That authority rests with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Other government
agencies that question how the Privacy Act might affect their collection and use of the SSN
should be referred to OMB or the appropriate State's Attorney General's office.

2. Executive Order (EO) 9397 (1943)

EO 9397 mandates that whenever a Federal agency establishes a system of numerical personal
identifiers, the agency should use the SSN. EO 9397 does not require SSA to disclose or verify
SSNs. SSA limits the disclosure of information to SSN verification.

3. Social Security Act (Act)

a. Section 1137 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b7)

Provides that States shall require, as a condition of eligibility for benefits under certain federally
funded welfare programs, that each applicant or recipient of benefits under such programs
furnish his/her SSN (or SSNs if he/she has been issued more than one number) to the State to
enable the association of the records pertaining to the applicant or recipient with his/her SSN.
These programs include:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Medicaid
Unemployment compensation
Food stamps
State adult assistance programs (Social Security titles I, X, XIV, and XVI which apply to
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa).

b. Section 205(c)(2)(C)(i) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(c)(i)) State Uses of SSNs

Provides that State agencies may, in the administration of any tax, general public assistance,
drivers license, or motor vehicle registration law within the agencies jurisdiction, use the SSN
for the purpose of establishing the , identification of individuals affected by such law, and may
require any individual to furnish his/her SSN.
NOTE: Even though the Social Security Act permits State agencies to require the use of the SSN
for the programs discussed in Section 205(c)(2)(C)(i) of the Act, SSA does not disclose SSNs
without written consent for use in any of the programs except general public assistance programs
and State tax rebate programs that meet SSAs criteria for income-maintenance programs (see
GN 03301.002B., Glossary Jargon and Special Terms, for definition of income-maintenance
program).
SSA will verify SSNs without consent for States use in the administration of drivers licenses
laws, State tax rebate programs that meet SSAs criteria for income-maintenance programs and
for general public assistance programs. Written consent is required in all other cases.

c. Section 205(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(ii) Parents SSN, Child
Support Enforcement (CSE)

Provides that each State require parents to furnish their SSNs when applying for a child's birth
certificate.
NOTE: The parents SSN will not appear on the child's birth certificate and can only be used for
CSE purposes.

d. Section 205(c)(2)(C)(iii) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(iii), Food Stamps

Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to require participants in the food stamp program (i.e.,
retailers and wholesalers) to furnish their SSNs and to use the SSN for other administrative
purposes or enforcement of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. SSA policy allows verification of food
stamp program participants SSNs for the Department of Agriculture without written consent.

e. Section 205(c)(2)(C)(viii) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(viii)), New Government

Programs (10/90)

Provides that SSNs and related records that are obtained or maintained by authorized persons
pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990, shall be confidential, and
no authorized person shall disclose any such SSN or related records.
This provision of the Act defines authorized person and related record as follows:
Authorized person means an officer or employee of the United States, an officer or employee
of any State, political subdivision of a State, or agency of a State or political subdivision of a
State, and any other person (or officer or employee thereof), who has or had access to [SSNs] or
related records pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. For
purposes of this sub clause, the term officer or employee includes a former officer or
employee.
Related record means any record, list, or compilation that indicates, directly or indirectly, the
identity of any individual with respect to whom a [SSN] or a request for a [SSN] is maintained
pursuant to this clause.
NOTE: This provision of law does not have any impact on Social Security Act programs. It may
affect other new government programs enacted after September 1990. Any questions concerning
this section should be referred to the Office of Public Disclosure.