Should i put ssn on application

Is it legal for employers to ask for Social Security numbers on job applications? Should your company do so? What are the pros and cons of asking for SSNs, and what are your responsibilities for protecting this sensitive data? Get answers to the most common questions about SSNs and job applications and what to consider during the hiring process.

But there are still a few lingering questions that are often asked amongst both hiring managers and candidates, and many relate to Social Security numbers SSNs.

Questions like:. These questions are asked for good reason; with the number of data breaches consistently on the rise, candidates want to ensure their most sensitive personal information is secure. In just the first six months of , 4. In , First American Financial Corp. Beyond data exposure and the impact it has on consumers, these breaches are costly for employers.

So, what should employers do when it comes to asking for Social Security numbers from candidates? GoodHire is digging into the most commonly asked questions about SSNs and job applications and what to consider during the hiring process.

It is legal for employers to ask for SSNs on job applications. Scammers may even set up fake job postings in order to lure prospective applicants into providing sensitive personal information. She agreed that there is no reason for employers to ask for Social Security numbers so early in the application process.

Unfortunately in Massachusetts, Samuels said, there are no laws or regulations preventing employers from asking for such information. Leases or electric bills can also be presented as proof of address. You will need to provide your Social Security number when applying for a credit card, because the bank associated with your card will want to track your credit score.

Source: Finance. To attend schools or colleges According to the US Department of Justice , all children living in the US are entitled to attend public school, and schools cannot require children or their parents to provide a Social Security number in order to enroll.

At supermarkets and other retailers You will need to provide your Social Security number when applying for a credit card, because the bank associated with your card will want to track your credit score. Yes--and no. If the job requires a credit check which most do not , then you need a social security number to run the check.

You also need the candidate to sign a specific release. And you should not be running any of this at the application stage. You're going to wait until after you've interviewed a candidate to run these checks, so why not wait until that point to ask for their social security number? Any system you have can be hacked. Big companies, with more money and tech know-how than your company probably has, have been hacked, exposing confidential information.

Do you want to have your applicant tracking system be a rich source for identity thieves? And it's not just the thieves. New laws put additional burdens on companies that have such confidential information.

The California Consumer Privacy Act also applies to employment records in some situations.