A social security number is a unique number that is assigned to an individual when they are born. It helps to identify the individual and their benefits under Social Security law.
Yes, you may refuse unless you are legally compelled to provide your Social Security number (SSN). However, if you don’t provide it, businesses are not prevented from asking for it or refusing you service.
Who has the right to ask for your Social Security number? Federal law says that state Department of Motor Vehicles, tax authorities, and other government offices must request your SS number as proof of identification.
Before proceeding with the application, some websites require you to fill in the Social Security box. If that’s the case, feel free to input your number as long as you see a green “HTTPS” or a green company name, a padlock, you’re using an up-to-date browser with antivirus, and so on.
