SSN Policy Manual

Policy Manual

them an extra copy. Not only does this save you money, but it makes their job easier because they don't need to run the credit check. Obtain Letters of Recommendation from previous landlords or rental agencies. These letters are actually the best alternative because they tell your prospective landlord exactly what they need to know . . . that you are an excellent tenant.

Utilities Utility suppliers usually ask for a social security number because they want to check your credit worthiness or because they like to use the number as a unique identifier. Most utility suppliers don't press the issue when you decline to provide a social security number. For those that do, you should explain that you don't have a social security and that the Privacy Act (Public Law 93-579) makes it unlawful for any person to require an individual to disclose or furnish a social security number for any purpose, unless the disclosure or furnishing the number was specifically required under federal law. Then ask them to please tell you which law requires disclosure of a social security number in this instance. If they persist, explain that since passage of the Privacy Act in 1974, the federal courts have ruled that it applies equally to the private sector. Their requests for social security numbers must conform to the disclosure requirements of the Privacy Act. See Yeager v. Hackensack Water Co., 615 F. SUPP. 1087, (23. C.N.J. 1985). The utility company cannot use lack of a social security number in any adverse way against anyone, unless they can show that it is required by law.

Insurance Insurance companies use the social security number as a unique identifier. Again very few companies will persist when you decline to provide it. If they do, then follow the advice given above.

Medical Doctors, hospitals and dentists often ask new patients for a social security number because they use the number as a unique identifier for their records, computer entry and to bill the insurance company. They routinely ask you for this information on their forms for new patients. Usually you can quell this request by simply leaving the SSN field blank. Most professional service providers will not ask you for this information directly and simply ignore it or create some kind of substitute number for their computer.