I don't think I've been asked to show an actual social security card anytime in the last 40 years. You need to supply the number of course when opening new financial related accounts, or for healthcare providers or insurance, etc., but it's rare to be asked to produce a card. I don't have one to show if I were asked.

A tax return preparer, if that's who you were dealing with, has no need to see a social security card. But, they should in all cases ask to see each taxpayer's prior year return (if they don't already have it) and the social security number should be visible on every page of those returns.

Ours are kept in the lock box.

We never carry them.

Curious, if you were having your Mom's Taxes done, why would they need your SSN?

Mine lives in my bank deposit box. I've been asked for the original card when completing new employee paperwork, but at no other time.

I just had to search for mine for this new job. I finally found it in our wedding photo album, along with our marriage certificate. The last time I had to show it, I guess, when we got married 29 years ago.

Ours are in a floor safe. We never carry them on our person. Come to think of it....when you start a new job you have to show one.

"when you start a new job you have to show one."

Not true.

It's been a while since I started a new job but I remember needing to allow employers to photocopy my Social Security card in the document signing flurry that accompanies a new job.

Do a search for Form I-9 of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

An employer needs to verify the prospective employee's identity and right to work. If the individual has a US Passport (list A), that's all that's needed. Otherwise, there are two lists (B and C), one doc from each list needs to be shown. As a for instance, a driver's license and a birth certificate are enough. If those two are shown, the Soc Sec card isn't necessary. There are other choices that also take the place of a Soc Sec card and make it unnecessary to show.

No I still have the original paper one I got when I had to get one with my new married name in 1973.

Those cards had a clear statement on them, Not to be used for identification. Hah!!!

Times have changed since 1973.

As I said above, "An employer needs to verify the prospective employee's identity and right to work. " A Social Security Card is one choice, not the only one, that can be used for the second requirement, showing a right to work. Not for identification.

When a foreigner gets a social security card for tax purposes only but without the right to work, the card will say " Not valid for employment". So only a card without that limitation would work.

I have mine. It is probably in my safe with our other important things. I did have one of those metal ones too. It may be in one of my wallet or purses. After the flood I am not sure of anything. I still have not found some of my medical records and DVD, mri, cat scans etc I packed them in a safe place when we were boxing up everything so I know they are around. If I ever get through all of the boxes....

I'm a CPA.

You can't speed read materials like this, the words and the sentences they form have precise meanings. Let me help. And remember, this is for Form W-2, that may be happening as much as 12 months after an employee is hired. The I-9 form is what's involved for hiring and which I previously explained

What you found says:

-"You should ask" to see the social security card . That means it's not required to be seen.

-"The employee may show the card if it is available". The employee also may not show it. A copy isn't required and doesn't need to be retained or sent in. And if the card isn't available, nothing more is required.

This guidance, for small businesses (who often don't handle payroll matters correctly), is an effort to help people who may not otherwise know what they're doing find their way to getting their employees correct social security numbers. It's not for any other reason.

And as an FYI, IRS's written materials are notoriously sloppy and often inaccurate.

I have never carried mine as it is a way of holding out the information in case of an attempted identity theft. If, for instance, you were purse-snatched, name, address, DL, banking and credit information is in there. The last thing they would need to open accounts in your name would be the SS. Were they to have that you could be wiped out. ( I had an attempted purse-snatch once years ago )

I keep mine in my checkbook so I know where it is :-) But then I don't carry my checkbook around with me so unless a burglar ransacks my home, it should be quite safe. I can't remember the last time I was asked to show my card - certainly not for any employment opportunities in recent memory.

I don't recall ever having to show my actual card. I have my original from when I changed to my married name ...... back when the earth cooled.

I keep postage stamps in my checkbook as they always seem to go together. I don't carry a checkbook anymore either.

Still have my original card and had to show it to get a driver's license when I moved to Florida.

It is in a 'safe' place. No need to carry it with me.

You don't need to (nor should you) carry it with you, take it along when you think you'll need it.

When we moved to PA, we had to get new drivers' licenses. PA accepted our CA licenses without needing to take any tests (except eye test). We had to provide a social security card, plus other ID and proof of residence. And yes, they CAN ask for SS card as form of ID.

From Penndot: " In addition, you will need to show
proof of identification and residency and your Social Security card. "

"

Social Security Card

(must be original; card cannot be laminated) and

ONE

of

the following:

•

Birth Certificate with raised seal

(U.S. issued by an authorized government

agency, including U.S. territories or Puerto Rico.

No other birth documents

will be accepted.

•

Certificate of U.S. Citizenship

(BCIS/INS Form N-560)

•

Certificate of Naturalization

(BCIS/INS Form N-550 or N-570)

•

Valid U.S. Passport (Only valid U.S. Passports and original

documents will be accepted.)

pudgeder, I am executor of her estate with POA. At this AARP tax return help center, a lady has a list with your name and appointment. The appointment was under my mother's name, but also mine. It's practice for them to ask for "something with your social security number on it" when you check in. I only had Mom's past return and info with me, none of my own, didn't think to bring any. The lady was probably told to make sure the correct person is filing the return. In this instance it would have been good to have my SS card with me.

Schoolhouse same happened to me when I did my moms taxes. I had to show drivers license/Pa state ID and something with my name and SS#on it. As my SS# was on the executor paperwork and will.

I always found it strange that one isn't supposed to carry the SS card because someone might get hold of the number. However, one is supposed to carry the medicare card with exactly the same number on it.

Yep, me too.

I don't carry my Soc. Sec. card, but yes...the number is right there on the Medicare card you have to present to all kinds of 'staff', who make copy's 'for the medical records'. The number is 'out there', regardless. (I only carry the Medicare card when I expect I will need to present it.)

We recently watched the TV series, "The Night Manager", where a character's *iris* was the ID for a Swiss bank account.

DH's Soc. Sec. card is laminated. Never had a problem -- probably because he's never had to present it!

I was going to say the same thing about the Medicare card. I've never really understood why it must be on that card that you have to carry with you.

I couldn't find my SS card when I went to file for Medicare, so I had to first file for a replacement SS card. Of course that required waiting in the SS office line for an hour or so. Then a couple of weeks later I was back waiting in line to apply for Medicare, which I don't even want, but the Government says I must have (and pay for again) every month. I'm so mad my number is on there because I guard my identify as if it were Ft Knox!

Next year (2018) I'll be 65, so maybe it's a good thing to have the new SS card. However, isn't signing up for Medicare mostly done over the phone? Maybe that subject should be thread of it's own.

Frequently I'm asked for the last four digits of my SS number over the phone.

OutsidePlaying, when you're sent the application for Medicare I believe you have the option of declining Part A as well as Part B. The assumption is that you would at least take Part A and had to respond otherwise if you did not. That's what I recollect.

>>signing up for Medicare mostly done over the phone? >>

It's easier to sign up for Medicare on the website. Medicare's website is fast and easy to use, since the record keeping and rules are simpler than SocSec. I did it all on-line, no problems. But the window is short--from the time you receive the letter from Medicare to the date you must sign up, was about 3 wks for me.

I signed up for Social Security at age 62. I applied online. A day later a Social Security worker phoned me to ask one question and told me the amount I would receive and the date SS would start. Painless.

Then about three months before I turned 65 I received my Medicare card through the mail. Because I was already getting SS I was automatically sent a Medicare card. Both Part A and Part B are shown on the card. If I chose not to pay for Part B the instructions said to mail back the card and they would send me a card for Part A only. If I chose to keep Part B with premiums deducted from my SS checks I was to separate the Medicare card from the rest of the paperwork they sent and put it in my wallet. Nothing more needed to be done. Easy peasy.

I never drove anywhere to stand in any line to sign up for either Social Security or Medicare.

Kessala