SSN Policy Manual

Dealing With Federal Agencies

There are two ways to approach obtaining a new social security number. The first, and for many, the easiest way is to simply fill out and submit a new application using different historical information. These often get rejected because you don't have the necessary support information, but such applications are also successful often enough to make trymg it worth considering. The greatest disadvantage is that you give up your past social security earnings and credit history. The other way is to ask the Social Security Administration to issue a new number to you because of the problem. The Social Security Administration is very reluctant to issue another number and often do it only afier being ordered to do so by a United States District Court or the Social Security Administration's hearing process. However, with sufficient documentation, such as police reports about physical violence (or the threat), evidence of financial fraud against you and other supporting evidence, they will often issue a new number. If the Social Security Administration is reluctant to issue a new number, and you really need to do this, then file a claim in the District Court. Check with the court about getting your fees waived and talk to a good paralegal who can draft your request. Even without an attorney, the courts are very good at hearing these issues when your need is legitimate; they nearly always grant your request to order the Social Security Administration to issue a new number.

United States Census The law says you can refuse to give a social security number during any census:

The failure or refusal of a person to disclose the person's social security number in response to a request made in connection with any census or other activity under this section shall not be a violation . ..

Violation of the Fifth Amendment The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Constitution prohibits the government from requiring a person to provide any information that could be used against them in court. There are many stipulations within federal law that require various government agencies to share social security numbers with law enforcement agencies for the purpose of possibly accusing you of a crime. You should be aware of these requirements and in many case you may wish to refuse to provide social security number information because