4 ms·

The SSN was never designed or intended to be an ID number for anything but social security.

scrollaway 11y ago
As a french citizen, and on behalf of everybody I know who doesn't live in the US (and some that do), the idea that knowing somebody's SSN basically puts you in control of their life and gives you the ability to ruin it is unbelievably ridiculous.
- iak8god 11y ago
  > the idea that knowing somebody's SSN basically puts you in control of their life and gives you the ability to ruin it is unbelievably ridiculous Especially since they get passed all around like that's not the case by employers, insurers, creditors, etc, etc.
- __z 11y ago
  Someone fraudulently used my social security number. It is such a sick and terrible feeling knowing that your number is "out there" and can be used by anyone for a whole host of things. It feels horrible and really, really violating.
  - scrollaway 11y ago
    I'm really sorry to hear that. Being a victim of an ill-designed system you're forced to be a part of is not a great feeling. :/
    - __z 11y ago
      Thank you for the empathy. The problem is it wasn't a designed system, it just came about by itself slowly over time. Social security numbers were never designed to be used in any way outside of social security.
  - seanp2k2 11y ago
    And worse, there's no way to rotate it that I know of, so it's like having your password leak and being unable to change it. It's out there forever.
    - scrollaway 11y ago
      Your master password leak. Using the same for everything!
    - __z 11y ago
      You technically can get a new social security number under special circumstances but I think that is really an exception. https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can-I-change-my-Social-Security-number https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can...
    - ryan-c 11y ago
      https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can-I-change-my-Social-Security-number https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can... "We can assign a different number only if: * Sequential numbers assigned to members of the same family are causing problems; * More than one person is assigned or using the same number; * A victim of identity theft continues to be disadvantaged by using the original number; * There is a situation of harassment, abuse or life endangerment; or * An individual has religious or cultural objections to certain numbers or digits in the original number. (We require written documentation in support of the objection from a religious group with which the number holder has an established relationship.)"

As a french citizen, and on behalf of everybody I know who doesn't live in the US (and some that do), the idea that knowing somebody's SSN basically puts you in control of their life and gives you the ability to ruin it is unbelievably ridiculous.

iak8god 11y ago
> the idea that knowing somebody's SSN basically puts you in control of their life and gives you the ability to ruin it is unbelievably ridiculous Especially since they get passed all around like that's not the case by employers, insurers, creditors, etc, etc.
__z 11y ago
Someone fraudulently used my social security number. It is such a sick and terrible feeling knowing that your number is "out there" and can be used by anyone for a whole host of things. It feels horrible and really, really violating.
- scrollaway 11y ago
  I'm really sorry to hear that. Being a victim of an ill-designed system you're forced to be a part of is not a great feeling. :/
  - __z 11y ago
    Thank you for the empathy. The problem is it wasn't a designed system, it just came about by itself slowly over time. Social security numbers were never designed to be used in any way outside of social security.
- seanp2k2 11y ago
  And worse, there's no way to rotate it that I know of, so it's like having your password leak and being unable to change it. It's out there forever.
  - scrollaway 11y ago
    Your master password leak. Using the same for everything!
  - __z 11y ago
    You technically can get a new social security number under special circumstances but I think that is really an exception. https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can-I-change-my-Social-Security-number https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can...
  - ryan-c 11y ago
    https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can-I-change-my-Social-Security-number https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3789/Can... "We can assign a different number only if: * Sequential numbers assigned to members of the same family are causing problems; * More than one person is assigned or using the same number; * A victim of identity theft continues to be disadvantaged by using the original number; * There is a situation of harassment, abuse or life endangerment; or * An individual has religious or cultural objections to certain numbers or digits in the original number. (We require written documentation in support of the objection from a religious group with which the number holder has an established relationship.)"