Now I get an Insurance form to fill out for LTD (Long Term Dis.) from the Co. and it says on there...."you must fill in your complete name AND SS". If I leave out the SS I know the form will come back to me with a note saying I forgot to fill it out and also cause a problem if I refuse too. Unbelievable! Why can't the Co. HR dept. just go into my file and get it from there and fill it in themselves? Oh, because that's extra work for Them to do. Hmmm, fill it out myself, mail it back to Them and hope the mail does not get lost/OR in the wrong hands or leave that field blank and let Them fill it in.
I think I will take a chance and leave it blank.
Actually it is a violation of Federal law to require or even request your SS# as a requirement for any form not pertaining to the government.
Here's something I found from the Colorado AG's Office:
Requests by businesses
Federal law does not prohibit a merchant or other business from requesting your SSN. However, there is no state or federal law that requires you to provide your SSN to any entity not authorized by law to require it. Businesses, private agencies, etc. are free to request your SSN and use it for any purpose that does not violate state or federal law.
For example, retail stores, prospective landlords, prospective employers, utility companies, and other service providers often ask you your SSN, but they do not need to and you are not required to give it. They can do a credit check or ID their customers by alternative means. Remember that you are under no obligation to provide your SSN to any merchant or other business. However, that merchant or other business is free to decline your business if you refuse to disclose your SSN. Consider asking these questions:
Am I required by some law to provide my SSN?
Why do they need my SSN?
How will they use my SSN?
Will they share my SSN with other businesses or agencies?
What happens if I refuse to give them my SSN?
Are there alternative means of identification they will accept?
I found the same basic information on many other sites regarding SS #'s, but this was the first I found from a government site. Hope it helps.
Can you cite the law that says this? I'd be interested in knowing that because I've seen numerous forms (job applications, applications for utility service, etc) that asked for the SSN that did not in any way pertain to the government. The next time I'm filling out something that asks for a SSN and does not pertain to the government, I'll simply show the applicable persons a copy of it.
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