Social Security Testifies Before Congress

Acting Commissioner Nancy A. Berryhill testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security on May 17, 2018. Speaking on the topic “Securing Americans’ Identities: The Future of the Social Security Number,” she said the following:

“While not intended, the SSN has become the personal identifier most broadly used by both government and the private sector to establish and maintain information about individuals. Before the widespread use of the SSN outside of Social Security programs (for purposes such as establishing credit), there were few incentives to obtain fraudulent SSNs or counterfeit cards. However, as the use of the SSN expanded, so too did incentives to obtain fraudulent SSNs, giving rise to concerns about the integrity of the number and card. Working with Congress, we have made changes to protect the integrity of the number. These efforts focus on increasing the security of the SSN and card, confirming the authenticity of the SSN and card through SSN verifications, and educating the public.”

You can read the entire testimony at www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/testimony_051718.html.

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®