GN 03325.025 Request for SSN Printout and/or Numident Printouts
A. Policy
Under the Privacy Act, an individual has the right to access any SSN information pertaining to him/her in SSA records, including a copy of Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Number) and the Numident printout. A Numident is a query displaying information taken from an individual's application for an original SSN card and subsequent applications for replacement cards. See GN 03340.010 and GN 03340.015 for the requirements that must be met by an individual seeking access to his/her personal information in SSA's possession.
At times, various third parties request Numident printouts and/or SSN printout from SSA, both with and without the consent of the number holder (NH). The only official SSA document verifying an individual's SSN is the SSN card. Various third parties are familiar with SSA jargon and terminology and will ask individuals to obtain a Numident for verification of their SSN for third parties’ purposes. However, they may also be seeking the valuable private information contained on the Numident. While the NH is entitled to his or her Numident, he or she is unwittingly disclosing more information than is necessary to verify his or her SSN. Once Numident information is placed in a third party's file, it becomes available to anyone with access to that file which greatly increases the NH's vulnerability to identity theft and SSN fraud. Additionally, the Numident can be easily duplicated or altered.
B. Process
1. Requests for SSN Printout
Use the SSN Printout, available through the Numident Query screen for all requests for SSN printout (see RM 10225.005 and RM 10225.020B.3.).
2. Requests for Numident Printouts
Requests for Numident printouts, including those that pertain to deceased individuals, should be sent to Central Office for processing (see GN 03325.025C.3. for address information).
EXCEPTION: A Numident printout may be disclosed to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as discussed in GN 03313.095A.2.a. Also, regional offices may, if necessary, issue special instructions to address rare, urgent situations where a full Numident should be released to third parties from the FO, where such disclosure is authorized in POMS Chapter GN 033.
NOTE: If there is a death entry on the Numident record, the SSN Printout will be suppressed and the message “DOD ON NUMIDENT - INVESTIGATE” will be generated to the printer. These situations should be investigated and any appropriate action taken.
C. Procedure
1. Access Requests from the Number Holder (NH) (or His/Her Legal Guardian or the Parent of a Minor Acting on the NH's Behalf) for SSN Printout
Verify the individual's identity and, as necessary, relationship to the NH. See GN 03340.015B. for instructions on verifying identity via mail, telephone, or in person; see GN 03340.025B. for instructions on establishing a parent’s/legal guardian’s relationship to a minor or legally incompetent individual; see GN 03360.005A.1.c. and GN 03360.005B. for instructions and procedures for verifying the identity of the NH requesting access via the telephone.
NOTE: Do not disclose any information to the caller if the special indicator “6” appears in the ESI field on the numident. This also applies to requests for information made in person, by fax, or in writing. See GN 03360.005A. and GN 03380.005B.2.
As necessary, explain to the requester that the SSN card is the official verification of an individual's SSN and that if the card has been lost, he/she should apply for a replacement card (see RM 10210.015).
If the requester does not know the NH's SSN, and
If the request is made via the telephone, advise the requester that he/she must submit a written request to, or visit, any Social Security office. See GN 03360.005B.
If the request is written or made in person, the request must include the NH's full name, date and place of birth, and both parents' names (including mother's maiden name) in order to permit a search for the SSN, e.g., by using Alpha-Index Query. See also GN 03340.015A.1.b.
See GN 03311.005 and
http://www.ssa.gov/foia/ for fee information.
NH requests for full numident queries containing all identifying information must be requested in accordance with existing FOIA procedures. See GN 03340.015B.2. for the requirements to be met when making these requests.
Advise the NH that a fee is charged for providing the numident if it is for a non-program purpose and that additional information about the fees we charge can be accessed from our Internet website at:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/h...#_Toc517745431
Send the request to:
SSA, OEO DERO (FOIA Workgroup)
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, MD 21290-3022
or
Express Mail to:
SSA, OEO, DERO (FOIA Workgroup)
300 N. Greene Street
Baltimore, MD 21290-0300
NOTE: These requests can take up to 30 days or more to process and are processed on a first come basis regardless of the mailing method used.
If the NH wishes to follow-up the numident request after waiting 30 days, obtain all the information related to the request including the NH's name and telephone number. Advise the individual that someone from the FOIA workgroup will call them back within 5 business days. Contact the FOIA workgroup's voice messaging service at (410) 966-4034. Provide all the information related to the request and ask the FOIA workgroup to contact the NH directly. DO NOT give the FOIA workgroup's telephone number to the NH.
2. Third Party Disclosure Requests for SSN Printout
a. Without Written Consent
Determine if SSA can verify the SSN (see GN 03325.003 and GN 03360.005B.).
If SSN printout is allowed, provide the requester with the SSN Printout.
See GN 03325.025B. if the third party is entitled to and insists on receiving full identifying information, i.e., all of the information contained on a Numident, see GN 03325.025C.1. (and there are no local pre-existing arrangements), advise the third party that there will be a charge for the information and to submit a written request to the address in GN 03325.025C.3.
If SSN printout is not allowed, process in accordance with GN 03350.005 and GN 03350.015.
b. With Written Consent
A written consent must describe the specific information (not a query) the NH is authorizing SSA to disclose, and meet other requirements in GN 03305.001B. and GN 03305.005B.
If the consent statement authorizes SSA to verify the SSN, provide the requester with the SSN Printout.
If the consent statement identifies the Numident printout for disclosure, return the request to the requester and ask him/her to obtain a new consent statement stating the specific information to be disclosed, not a query printout.
c. Fees for third party requests for SSN Printout
See GN 03311.007 for fee charging instructions.
3. Third Party Requests for Numident Printouts
Advise the requester to submit a written request and fee, if appropriate, to the following address:
OEO FOIA Workgroup
300 N. Greene Street
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, MD 21290-3022