Trevor Price asked:


The Social Security Number Verification System is a free online tool that allows employers to easily obtain a free Social Security verification for their new employees. Directly from their website, a registered employer can check a potential employee or new hire’s identity and Social Security number.

To learn more about the SSA’s free Social Security verification system, read on.

The Enumeration Verification System Basics for Employers

Employers can register for the Enumeration Verification System by visiting the SSA’s website at ssa.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm. From this page, the employer must first register for a username and password. Once registered, they can obtain instant results by searching for employee Social Security numbers.

Using E-Verify for All Hiring

E-Verify is the free online tool provided by the Social Security Administration. It allows you, the employer, to conduct a free check of a new employee’s status and Social Security number with both the SSA and the DHS.

Essentially, once a job applicant presents their documents showing both their identity and employment eligibility, an employer has 3 days from the official hiring date to perform an E-Verify check. By using the E-Verify tool, an employer is granted civil and criminal immunity for all the employees it runs through the system in good faith. The legal benefits are massive and it’s a free service.

E-Verify is a fantastic way to establish your company as a responsible employer and one that ensures they are in compliance with all immigration and hiring laws. Remember though, an employer can’t just sit back, relax and assume that simply because a new employee or applicant is cleared on E-Verify, that they’re free from future responsibility. A truly diligent employer should take aggressive steps to insure their workplace is free of Social Security fraud.

Using the Enumeration Verification System if You’re a Lender

Loan companies are also often prey to instances of Social Security number fraud. This system allows lenders to input a loan applicant’s Social Security number and name. After processing the request, they will receive a “no match” or “match” which will show if the Social Security number is correct.

This verification service is run through third-party vendors and is not free. However, it’s a critical tool for verifying identity and preventing fraud.

If you’re searching for free Social Security verification tools, your only option is with the Social Security Administration or through a lender’s vendor. To conduct Social Security number checks, you must be registered with the SSA as an employer and have the proper signed documentation from your new hires.

This can be invaluable information to a hiring organization in validating an employment candidate before bringing him or her on board. And since there is no charge for tapping into the data, it only makes sense to do so, helping to ensure there are no substantial problems with the individual. In fact, the SSA website contains a lot of employer-friendly insights that make it worth perusing through anyway.



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Peter Drummond asked:


The Treasury Department, in conjunction with Comerica Bank based in Dallas, has created a social security Direct Express Debit MasterCard as an alternative to paper checks for those persons who do not have bank accounts. The debit card is now available in ten southern states, but is on its way toward the north and western states. Missouri social security lawyers are ready to answer clients’ questions regarding the pros and cons of using this free debit card that will be an option in the coming months. 

The Advantages of the Direct Express Debit MasterCard:

- Will help about 4 million Americans who do not have a bank account, and must receive paper checks.

- Will reduce the vulnerability of check fraud

- Dramatically help the delay of checks mailed in hurricane-ridden states such as Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi

- No sign-up fees

- No monthly fees

- No overdraft fees

- No credit check is required to enroll

- Gain access to cash via an ATM, bank teller or retailer

- Set up free “low balance” alerts via email or phone 

While the advantages look appealing with all the “freebies” and usability, Missouri social security lawyers remind their clients to read the fine print. The same holds true for SSA’s new debit card because there are still fees associated with the little plastic card that all people should be aware of. Nothing is a “one-for-all” payment plan, so be sure to read the small print at the bottom of the agreement for this debit card, even if you have to use those extra strength reading glasses. 

The Disadvantages of the Direct Express Debit MasterCard:

- ATM fees – users can make one free withdrawal from a network ATM per month; all other ATM withdrawals within the network will cost 90 cents.

- Non-network ATM use will incur the 90 cent fee in addition to the surcharge of the other bank, which can be as much as 3 dollars per cash withdrawal.

- Social security debit cards are costly to use outside the U.S. ATM withdrawals can incur both a bank fee as well as 3 percent of the amount withdrawn. Debit purchases also cost an additional 3 percent of your total amount. Your best bet is to use your one month free withdrawal from a network ATM before you travel abroad or to Mexico or Canada and exchange it for the country’s currency.

- Paper statements cost 75 cents a month. Best option is to receive them via email and print them yourself.

- Online billing from Comerica will also incur a 50 cent per bill charge. Use the merchant’s Website to make payments or purchases online.

- Only 1 free replacement card each year; additional replacements cost $4.00, or $13.50 if you require an overnight delivery. 

Obviously many people have several concerns about the fees and limitations of the SSA’s alternative payment system. Even those folks who have not started receiving social security have voiced their disdain about such a program. While others are simply concerned about the amount of social security they receive or may receive in the future to cover daily living expenses such as heat, electricity, food and medical bills. What happens when their monthly checks run out before the end of the month or they require more money to cover unforeseen medical bills? How will the social security administration help those who need it most? 

If you need further information or have greater concerns with this new system, your Missouri social security lawyers are just a phone call away.



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