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INFORMATION:
- Social Security Number Chronology
Table prepared (1/13/98) by Sandy Cerato of SSA's Office of Legislation & Congressional Affairs
1935 The Social Security Act (P.L. 74-271) is enacted. It did not expressly mention the use of SSNs, but it authorized the creation of some type of record keeping scheme. Treasury Decision 4704, a Treasury regulation in 1936 which required the issuance of an account number to each employee covered by the Social Security program. The Social Security Board considered various numbering systems and ways (such as metal tags, etc.) by which employees could indicate they had been issued a number
1936-1937 Approximately 30 million applications for SSNs were processed between November 1936 and June 30, 1937.
1943 Executive Order 9397 (3 CFR (1943-1948 Comp.) 283-284) required: All Federal components to use the SSN "exclusively" whenever the component found it advisable to set up a new identification system for individuals. The Social Security Board to cooperate with Federal uses of the number by issuing and verifying numbers for other Federal agencies
1961 The Civil Service Commission adopted the SSN as an official Federal employee identifier. Internal Revenue Code Amendments (P.L. 87-397) required each taxpayer to furnish identifying number for tax reporting.
1962 The Internal Revenue Service adopted the SSN as its official taxpayer identification number.
1964 Treasury Department, via internal policy, required buyers of Series H savings bonds to provide their SSNs.
1965 Internal Revenue Amendments (P.L. 89-384) enacted Medicare. It became necessary for most individuals age 65 and older to have an SSN.
1966 The Veterans Administration began to use the SSN as the hospital admissions number and for patient record keeping.
1967 The Department of Defense adopted the SSN in lieu of the military service number for identifying Armed Forces personnel.
1970 Bank Records and Foreign Transactions Act (P.L. 91-508) required all banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions and brokers/dealers in securities to obtain the SSNs of all of their customers. Also, financial institutions were required to file a report with the IRS, including the SSN of the customer, for any transaction involving more than $10,000.
1971 SSA task force report published which proposed that SSA take a "cautious and conservative" position toward SSN use and do nothing to promote the use of the SSN as an identifier. The report recommended that SSA use mass SSN enumeration in schools as a long-range, cost-effective approach to tightening up the SSN system, and consider cooperating with specific health, education and welfare uses of the SSN by State, local, and other nonprofit organizations.
1972 Social Security Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-603): Required SSA to issue SSNs to all legally admitted aliens at entry and of anyone receiving or applying for any benefit paid for by Federal funds; Required SSA to obtain evidence to establish age, citizenship, or alien status and identity. Authorized SSA to enumerate children at the time they first entered school.
1973 Buyers of series E savings bonds are required by the Treasury Department to provide their SSNs. Report of the HEW Secretary's Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data System concluded that the adoption of a universal identifier by this country was not desirable; also found that the SSN was not suitable for such a purpose as it does not meet the criteria of a universal identifier that distinguishes a person from all others.
1974 Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579) enacted effective September 27, 1975 to limit governmental use of the SSN: Provided that no State or local government agency may withhold a benefit from a person simply because the individual refuses to furnish his or her SSN. Required that Federal, State and local agencies which request an individual to disclose his/her SSN inform the individual if disclosure was mandatory or voluntary. (This was the first mention of SSN use by local governments.)
1975 Social Services Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-647) provided that: disclosure of an individual's SSN is a condition of eligibility for AFDC benefits; and Office of Child Support enforcement Parent Locator Service may require disclosure of limited information (including SSN and whereabouts) contained in SSA records.
1976 Tax Reform Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-455) included the following amendments to the Social Security Act: To allow use by the States of the SSN in the administration of any tax, general public assistance, driver's license or motor vehicle registration law within their jurisdiction and to authorize the States to require individuals affected by such laws to furnish their SSNs to the States; To make misuse of the SSN for any purpose a violation of the Social Security Act; To make disclosure or compelling disclosure of the SSN of any person a violation of the Social Security Act. To amend section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the SSN be used as the tax identification number (TIN) for all tax purposes. While the Treasury Department had been using the SSN as the TIN by regulation since 1962, this law codified that requirement. Federal Advisory Committee on False Identification recommended that penalties for misuse should be increased and evidence requirements tightened; rejected the idea of national identifier and did not even consider the SSN for such a purpose.
1977 Food Stamp Act of 1977 (P.L. 96-58) required disclosure of SSNs of all household members as a condition of eligibility for participation in the food stamp program. Privacy Protection Study Commission recommended that: No steps be taken towards developing standard, universal label for individuals until safeguards and policies regarding permissible uses and disclosures were proven effective; and Executive Order 9397 be amended so that Federal agencies could no longer use it as legal authority to require disclosure of an individual's SSN. (No action taken.) The Carter Administration proposed that the Social Security card be one of the authorized documents by which an employer could be assured that a job applicant could work in this country but also stated that the SSN card should not become a national identity document.
1978 SSA required evidence of age, citizenship, and identity of all SSN applicants.
1981 Reagan Administration stated that it "is explicitly opposed to the creation of a national identity card" but recognized the need for a means for employers to comply with the employer sanctions provisions of its immigration reform legislation. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-35) required the disclosure of the SSNs of all adult members in the household of children applying to the school lunch program. Social Security Benefits Act (P.L. 97-123) Section 4 added alteration and forgery of a Social Security card to the list of prohibited acts and increased the penalties for such acts. Section 6 required any Federal, State or local government agency to furnish the name and SSN of prisoners convicted of a felony to the Secretary of HHS, to enforce suspension of disability benefits to certain imprisoned felons. Department of Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 97-86) required disclosure of the SSNs to the Selective Service System of all individuals required to register for the draft.
1982 Debt Collection Act (P.L. 97-365) required that all applicants for loans under any Federal loan program furnish their SSNs to the agency supplying the loan. All Social Security cards issued to legal aliens not authorized to work within the United States were annotated "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" beginning in May.
1983 The Social Security Amendments of 1983 (P.L. 98-21) required that new and replacement Social Security cards issued after October 30 be made of banknote paper and (to the maximum extent practicable) not be subject to counterfeiting. The Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act (P.L. 98-67) requires SSNs for all interest-bearing accounts and provides a penalty of $50 for all individuals who fail to furnish a correct TIN (usually the SSN).
1984 Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-369) Amended the Social Security Act to establish an income and eligibility verification system involving State agencies administering the AFDC, Medicaid, unemployment compensation, the food stamp programs, and State programs under a plan approved under title I, X, XIV, or XVI of the Act. States were permitted to require the SSN as a condition of eligibility for benefits under any of these programs. Amended Section 6050I of the IRC to require that persons engaged in a trade or business file a report (including SSNs) with the IRS for cash transactions over $10,000. Amended Section 215 of the IRC to authorize the Secretary of HHS to publish regulations that require a spouse paying alimony to furnish IRS with the taxpayer identification number (i.e., the SSN) of the spouse receiving alimony payments.
1986 The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-603): Required the Comptroller General to investigate technological changes that could reduce the potential for counterfeiting Social Security cards; Provides that the Social Security card may be used to establish the eligibility of a prospective employee for employment; and Required the Secretary of HHS to undertake a study of the feasibility and costs of establishing an SSN verification system Tax Reform Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-514) requires individuals filing a tax return due after December 31, 1987, to include the taxpayer identification number--usually the SSN--of each dependent age 5 or older. Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-750) authorized the Secretary of Transportation to require the use of the SSN on commercial motor vehicle operators' licenses. Higher Education Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-498) required that student load applicants submit their SSN as a condition of eligibility.
1987 SSA initiated a demonstration project on August 17 in the State of New Mexico enabling parents to obtain Social Security numbers for their newborn infants automatically when the infant's birth is registered by the State. The program was expanded nationwide in 1989. Currently, all 50 States participate in the program, as well as New York City, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
1988 Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-242) authorized the Secretary of HUD to require disclosure of a person's SSN as a condition of eligibility for any HUD program. The Family Support Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-485): Section 125 required, beginning November 1, 1990, a State to obtain the SSNs of the parents when issuing a birth certificate. Section 704(a) required individuals filing a tax return due after December 31, 1989, to include the taxpayer identification number--usually the SSN--of each dependent age 2 or older. The Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-647): Authorized a State and/or any blood donation facility to use SSNs to identify blood donors (205(c)(2)(F)). Required that all title II beneficiaries either have or have applied for an SSN in order to receive benefits. This provision became effective with dates of initial entitlement of June 1989 or later. Beneficiaries who refused enumeration were entitled but placed in suspense. Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-690) deleted the $5,000 and $25,000 upper limits on fines that can be imposed for violations of section 208 of the Social Security Act. The general limit of $250,000 for felonies in the U.S. Code now applied to SSN violations under section 208 of the Social Security Act. Also, penalties for misuse of SSNs apply as well in cases where the number is referred to by any other name (e.g., taxpayer identification number (TIN)).
1989 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (P.L. 101-239) required that the National Student Loan Data System include, among other things, the names and SSNs of borrowers. Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989 (P.L. 101-147) requires the member of the household who applies for the school lunch program to provide the SSN of the parent of the child for whom the application is made.
1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508): Section 7201 (Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Amendments of 1990) provided that no adverse action may be taken against an individual receiving benefits as a result of a matching program without verification of the information or notification of the individual regarding the findings with time to contest. Section 8053, required an SSN for eligibility for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Section 11112, required that individuals filing a tax return due after December 31, 1991, include the taxpayer identification number--usually the SSN--of each dependent age 1 or older. Food and Agricultural Resources Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-624), Section 1735: Required an SSN for the officers of food and retail stores that redeem Food Stamps. Provided that SSNs maintained as a result of any law enacted on or after October 1, 1990, will be confidential and may not be disclosed.
1994 Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-296): Section 304, authorized the use of the SSN for jury selection. Section 314, authorized cross-matching of SSNs and Employer Identification Numbers maintained by the Department of Agriculture with other Federal agencies for the purpose of investigating both food stamp fraud and violations of other Federal laws. Section 318, authorized the use of the SSN by the Department of Labor in administration of Federal workers' compensation laws.
1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) (Welfare Reform): Section 111 required the Commissioner of Social Security to develop and submit to Congress a prototype of a counterfeit-resistant Social Security card that: is made of durable, tamper-resistant material (e.g., plastic); employs technologies that provide security features (e.g., magnetic stripe); and provides individuals with reliable proof of citizenship or legal resident alien status. Section 111 also required the Commissioner of Social Security to study and report to Congress on different methods of improving the Social Security card application process, including evaluation of the cost and workload implications of issuing a counterfeit-resistant Social Security card for all individuals and evaluation of the feasibility and cost implications of imposing a user fee for replacement cards. Section 316 required HHS to transmit to SSA, for verification purposes, certain information about individuals and employers maintained under the Federal Parent Locator Service in an automated directory. SSA is required to verify the accuracy of, correct, or supply to the extent possible, and report to HHS the name, SSN, and birth date of individuals and the employer identification number of employers. SSA is to be reimbursed by HHS for the cost of this verification service. This section also required all Federal agencies (including SSA) to report quarterly the name and SSN of each employee and the wages paid to the employee during the previous quarter. Section 317 provides that State child support enforcement procedures require the SSN of any applicant for a professional license, commercial driver's license, occupational license, or marriage license be recorded on the application. The SSN of any person subject to a divorce decree, support order, or paternity determination or acknowledgement would have to be placed in the pertinent records. SSNs are required on death certificates. Section 451 provides that, in order to be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, an individual must include on his or her tax return an SSN which was not assigned solely for non-work purposes. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 (P.L. 104-208) ( Division C (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) (Immigration Reform): Sections 401-404 provide for 3 specific employment verification pilot programs in which employers would voluntarily participate. In general, the pilot programs would allow an employer to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of the individual. SSA and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) would provide a secondary verification process to confirm the validity of the information provided. SSA would compare the name and SSN provided and advise whether the name and number match SSA records and whether the SSN is valid for employment. Section 414 requires the Commissioner to report to Congress every year, the aggregate number of SSNs issued to noncitizens not authorized to work, but under which earnings were reported. Also requires the Commissioner to transmit to the Attorney General a report on the extent to which SSNs and Social Security cards are used by noncitizens for fraudulent purposes. Section 415 authorizes the Attorney General to require any noncitizen to provide his or her SSN for purposes of inclusion in any record maintained by the Attorney General or INS. Section 656 provide for improvements in identification-related documents; i.e., birth certificates and driver's licenses. These sections require publication of regulations which set standards, including security features and, in the case of driver's licenses, require that an SSN appear on the license. Federal agencies are precluded from accepting as proof of identity, documents which do not meet the regulatory standards. Section 657 provides for the development of a prototype Social Security card. The requirements are the same as in Section 111 of the Welfare reform legislation (described above) with the exception that the Comptroller General is also to study and report to Congress on different methods of improving the Social Security card application process.
1997 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 (P.L. 104-208) (Division C--Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) (Immigration Reform): Sections 401-404 provide for 3 specific employment verification pilot programs in which employers would voluntarily participate. In general, the pilot programs would allow an employer to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of the individual. SSA and INS would provide a secondary verification process to confirm the validity of the information provided. SSA would compare the name and SSN provided and advise whether the name and number match SSA records and whether the SSN is valid for employment. Section 414 required the Commissioner of Social Security to report to Congress every year the aggregate number of SSNs issued to noncitizens not authorized to work, but under which earnings were reported. Also required the Commissioner of Social Security to transmit to the Attorney General a report on the extent to which SSNs and Social Security cards are used by noncitizens for fraudulent purposes. Section 415 authorized the Attorney General to require any noncitizen to provide his or her SSN for purposes of inclusion in any record maintained by the Attorney General or INS. Section 656 provided for improvements in identification-related documents; i.e., birth certificates and drivers licenses. These sections require publication of regulations which set uniform standards, including security features, and, in the case of drivers licenses, require that an SSN appear on the license. Federal agencies are precluded from accepting as proof of identity documents which do not meet the regulatory standards. Section 657 provided for the development of a prototype Social Security card. The requirements are the same as in Section 111 of the Welfare reform legislation (described above) with the exception that the Comptroller General is also to study and report to Congress on different methods of improving the Social Security card application process. 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-34) Section 1090 requires an applicant for an SSN under age 18 to provide evidence of his or her parents' names and SSNs in addition to required evidence of age, identity, and citizenship. Report to Congress on "Options for Enhancing the Social Security Card" released on September 22, 1997.
Related Item: The Social Security Research Compendium
Wishing you a numbered-free day,
The Tax Freedom 101 Staff
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