I don't want to make another thread, so I will ask a work related question:

what happens if you put your individual tax payer number instead of a social on a job application, or on your information form for a job ? I mean, are they going to know (aside from the fact that it starts with a 9) that it is not a social or can you get a way with it and keep the job?

I am very pressed right now with tuition (I pay unaided/full resident rates in NY) and need to get a job but I think working off the books is not an option here since it is a suburbian area, unless you are a cook/contractor or something along those lines.