Spyke
lemmy.world

My mom laminated mine when I was like 6 years old. It still has my 6 year-old, childish signature on it. Every time I use it someone says "you're not supposed to laminate these", and then they accept it anyways. So who's the fool now?

187
lemmy.world

My ex's dad laminated his whole ass birth certificate. He had a bitch of a time fixing that lmao.

Though I think people ask for birth certificate less often than they do our SIN (and also our SIN cards are actual literal cards in Canada not just pieces of paper).

26

I always thought my birth certificate was the little vanity one with my feet prints on it. I learned it isn't when I actually needed a birth certificate for the first time. Since I live in an entirely different State now it was a bit of a PITA to get the real one.

14

They stopped issuing cards and just print it on a full 8.5"x11" piece of paper now actually lol.

4
sh.itjust.works

Not to defend the social security number system (because it's terrible for unique identification of individuals and when it was created it wasn't even intended to be used for that purpose) but you're not supposed to carry it around with you all the time. It's supposed to be in a drawer/safe/fireproof bag with the rest of your important documents, and only brought out when you need it.

142
sh.itjust.works

Why make it a card then? If it's meant to be stored as a document then it should be the size of an envelope, or a standard A4 sheet.

I keep mine attached to the envelope sized paper it came on. But it shouldn't be a card shape, that encourages people to carry it. My grandpa always carried his.

121
Thorry84reply
feddit.nl

Don't mention A4 paper, it scares the Americans. If any of them could read, they would be very afraid right now.

54

Using entirely reasonable standards that most of the rest of the world has adopted is too hard for us for some reason.

45
fsxyloreply
sh.itjust.works

Today I'm going to use paper to feel superior to someone else.

23

To be fair, simply not having to live in the US already gives that rush.

16

Amateur, we professionals don't have to use anything for that

7
yuriyreply
lemmy.world

This week on “Things Non-Americans Think Americans Don’t Know About!”

18
fsxyloreply
sh.itjust.works

Right?

Like just because we export all our media to you (because it's better) and make fun of our stereotypes in that media, doesn't mean that most of us are like that. Believe it or not we actually have cool stuff that's uniquely American.

And the reason you see Kraft singles is because we don't want to share our BBQ with you.

3

We can't do everything for you guys. We're holding down the imperial system almost single handedly. Help a brother out.

8
IronKrillreply
lemmy.ca

America has the Squid Games reality show and Mr Beast. They're kind of like Taskmaster if the point of Taskmaster was dangling life changing money in front of poor people.

1
fsxyloreply
sh.itjust.works

You're proving my point though? Those all look like C rate game shows that show up in the worst time slots here in the states.

If you said Doctor who, like 15 years ago, then I'd give you a solid maybe.

-2

American here, you’re straight up wrong. We have no equivalent to their panel shows. Comparing them to game shows is like comparing open heart surgery to being stabbed.

4
Ebbyreply
lemmy.ssba.com

sips tea and extends pinky

Am I doing metric right?

11

Actually no, the Brits shit on us for it but by most approaches they're actually even worse than we are

The bruvs be usin' STONE out here and acting like they get to crack wise

17
Kusimulkkureply
lemm.ee

8/11.5

Not sure if a joke or an actual paper size

11
lemmy.world

Actually a size. More commonly referred to as "letter" sized. It's 8x11.5 inches, which is pretty close to A4, but it'll confuse printers if you mix the 2 up.

8

but it’ll confuse printers if you mix the 2 up.

So far all printers I've seen can switch between both. The real problem is your Writer/Word document, because after the slight reformatting it's now all over the place.

6
startrek.website

It's a size of paper with an aspect ratio of 1:√2, and the short edge that is 21cm long. The long edge will then be 21√2 = 29.7cm. The aspect ratio has the interesting property that it can be halved and doubled while remaining constant.

This has been your ISO fact of the day.

6

ISO 7304-2:2008 defines a standard for cooking spaghetti. Subsection 3.9 "Completeness" closely resembles "al denté" but isn't true al denté; as 3.9 states "no white core visible" when a noodle is inspected crosswise with a razor blade. Al denté phase is sensed via the teeth for texture differential of the inner and outer part of a spaghetti. No agreement has been reached by international consortium of Italian food preparers and dentists as to which tooth is to be used. Thus, the standard must be reviewed every 5 years by sensory analysis.

4

Idk. Maybe because there's only a few pieces of info on it. Someone would say "why do you need to use a whole sheet of paper for just this?"

3
lemm.ee

Every time ya try to fix the NatID problem though suddenly it's a surveillance state system and not just an efficient nexus for federal services and permissions.

39
jjjalljsreply
ttrpg.network

There are some people who don't want a national ID system because they think that's like a biblical prophecy. Somehow those people are still allowed to operate heavy machinery.

Some people don't want it because they don't want a functional government.

40
Donkterreply
lemmy.world

That's the thing. At this point, anything that could replace ssn cards will be much more technical and much more invasive.

9

No, it would be less technical since it would cut down the number of cards you have to carry around, and be less invasive since it would drastically raise the difficulty of identity theft

11
Damagereply
feddit.it

Eh... You guys all use credit cards anyway

9

They voluntarily put webcams in their houses with several known security issues which transmit everything open in the cloud. And they purposefully have a listening device which transmits to Amazon whatever they talk about in order to be able to listen to music without having to use a mouse or tap on a screen.

But having an ID with a photo on it? That's where they put the line

2

Does it even matter when data brokers already know everything about you and happily sell that info?

People freak about national IDs while happily giving all their info to websites like amazon or facebook. It’s insane.

2

We have the same issue in Australia, and your driver's licence basically fills the same purpose.

But honestly, we should just have a national ID system, and just make it optional, like a driver's licence already is... (You just get asked for other forms of ID)

1
lemmy.world

Somebody laminated my birth certificate. But what are they going to do about it, unborn me? Wait… will they?

Edit: What if somebody laminates my death certificate? 😭

77

How often are you even using your death certificate? I mean, yeah, the discount at Disneyworld is a sweet deal, but otherwise?

2
lemm.ee

I've heard blur is not destructive. Please use a paintbrush on 100% opacity if you do this

67

When I post pictures with blurred information, I replace the info with something trollish and then blur it. Nobody appreciated that so far. :(

45
lemmy.world

Depends on the kind of blur. Some kinds can indeed be almost perfectly removed if you know the used blurring function, others are destructive. But, yes, don't take that chance. Always delete/paint over sensitive information.

Source: we had to do just that in a course I took a long time ago.

35
Grassreply
sh.itjust.works

I prefer sampling the surroundings, typing out a different number or text over it, then blurring with a non destructive effect.

15
lemm.ee

Name: Phil McCracken

SSN: EAT-MY-NUTS

Just for anyone who tries

13
sunbeam60reply
lemmy.one

Ah man, I remember when they caught some pedo creep who used a non-destructive blur on the CSAM materials he produced that included his face. So satisfying.

8

He only spiral blurred his face... So they just did it in the opposite direction. It was beyond stupid

2
Avicennareply
lemmy.world

wouldn't you also need to know in what kind of pattern the blur was applied. I am sure if you do it multiple times starting from multiple non identical partitioning of the region, it will be impossible.

8

Always paint over sensitive information.

Not in PDF tho. There, the stroke is saved in metadata..

6
feddit.de

Actually not always, there is a script that can recover text from mosaic'd screenshots if the font and pixellation technique is known. I just use a fake mosaic – the easiest way is to paste a bitmap of non-confidential text from elsewhere in the screenshot and then apply the filter.

7

Thanks for that.

I'm glad I use really huge pixels though. Would be hard to crack these:

2
fedia.io

Why do people downvote posts like this? What’s the problem? It’s funny, true, and in the right community.

52
lemmy.world

Some people just downvote for weird reasons, so I figure it's not worth worrying about. Someone once told me they were downvoting every post I share that has bright colors because they use dark mode... Lol

64

I always flip a coin for whether I upvote or downvote. It's not really about trying to make a decision, I'm just trying to get my thumbs in shape for that thumb wrestling tournament I have coming up.

16

Sometimes I feel an odd catharsis from simply existing on the internet, and this comment captures a lot of why

5
M500reply

Sometimes, I try to swipe to go back and accidentally up or downvote things.

15
derf82reply
lemmy.world

Because they are being stupid. You are not supposed to carry it with you. You only take it when you need to for something like the DMV. Otherwise it should just be filed away. A social security card is NOT ID.

Also, you can get a FREE replacement.

12

Thanks for the link! The last time I looked into replacing my long lost SSA card the government was much less "online" and it was going to involve spending money and traveling long distances. Thanks to you, I'm expecting a letter from SSA in the next few weeks to confirm my ID, and then I'll get a new card issued.

3
sh.itjust.works

Some people just need a reason to hate and avoid any personal accountability. They’ll take anything they can get, they’ve had a shitty day/year/life and somehow beating up on a faceless stranger feels morally acceptable to them. The truth is, they are in fact just awful people, looking to justify their shitty behavior by correcting grammar or downvoting a complete stranger. Trying their damndest to avoid looking in the mirror. Whilst the rest of us humans, have a shitty day but roll with it. Because if you can’t let it roll off, you will never be happy.

6

Yes, however

they are in fact just awful hurt people

Some are less familiar with kindness than others.

0

Except it’s not true. Social Security cards are useless for identification purposes. I haven’t seen my SS card in 30 years. I’ve never been asked for it or needed it in any way for at least that long. 

5
zarkanianreply
sh.itjust.works

It’s funny, true, and in the right community.

That's never stopped anybody before.

Seriously, more than once I've posted something completely benign, innocuous, and appropriate in a niche community that gets maybe one post a month, and that post receives a score of -10 or something. I don't understand it, but if you want niche communities to thrive, you have to quit caring about downvotes.

Personally, I think that they should only have upvotes, because downvotes are a negative experience for users, and they're too easy to game. You can have bots, sock puppets, you name it. And having a post with a negative score tells you nothing about why it has a negative score. Was it offensive? Who knows?

1
lemmy.dbzer0.com

Fun fact, there is a lifetime limit for the number of replacements you can get for these (I forget but I think it's like 12), if you lose too many no more social security card for you

47
Maggotyreply
lemmy.world

It's not impossible, just harder. They're going to need documentation for it.

12
chickenreply
lemmy.dbzer0.com

But SSN is the root of all identity documentation, except birth certificate I guess

2

Well it's more like proving you need it issued again. Although they are going to ask for supporting ID documents too.

3

True story if you run out of attempts they give you a poncho and deport you to Australia

4
lemmy.ssba.com

I'm getting "wallet" vibes which should absolutely not be where one keeps important documents. I had mine in a shoe box under my bed as a teen and it survived unscathed.

Heck, I have a 15 year old free pizza stamp card from a shop that permanently closed in better condition. Haha!

Edit: someone came through and downvoted every comment for the heck of it? Haha! Youuu get an updoot, and yooou get an updoot... etc.

42
lemmy.world

I got mine in 1986 and it pretty much looks like the picture.

Fun side note: back then, you didn't get a social security number until you were old enough to get a job. I was fourteen when I got my social security number.

35
Son_of_dadreply
lemmy.world

My wife found out you can get one earlier as long as your parents sign off on it. They then used her social security to scam some loans while she's a child, which fucked her up later when she moves out on her own and tried to get an apartment.

25

This is extremely common, and one of the reasons that using SSN for credit reports is a horrible practice. The only way for someone to dispute the debts is to report their parents to the authorities, which is a horrible position to be in when you’re freshly 18. The real solution would be a simple age check, to verify if the person applying for the loan is actually 18. But that is apparently too difficult would prevent banks from saddling literal children with mountains of debt.

36
shalafireply
lemmy.world

LOL, no. I was born in '71 and my parents got me one immediately. I remember them showing me as a child and thinking, "Why do I care about this?"

11
Got_Bentreply
lemmy.world

Good for you and your parents, but it wasn't common until 1986 when Reagan's new tax code suddenly required social security numbers for dependents. It was 1987 when they started rolling it out as part of the birth at the hospital.

Your lol no tone implies I don't remember my own teen years.

7

I mean, for sure you could. In my country would didn't get an ID card/number until you needed to get a job or travel by plane. I got mine when I was 12. But nowadays babies always get their I'd card after birth.

3
glimsereply
lemmy.world

Security features used to verify the validity get covered when you add a plastic film.

I've been asked for the number many times, of course, but I didn't think I've ever had to show my physical card to someone in my entire life.

28
anonymousereply
lemmings.world

Every job I've had has made a copy of the card for payroll/tax purposes.

18

I've scanned my driver's license but never my social security card!

7
IninewCrowreply
lemmy.ca

And this is where the weirdness starts. I'm in Canada and early in I learned from a relative who was in government and finances told me that your SSN is only meant for the government and government services and nothing else.

Banks, companies or corporations do not need to see your SSN no matter what they say. The number was only ever supposed to be used with the government, taxation, government benefits and services.

Banks and companies just started using it as a shortcut to identify people and connect them to government services and taxation. But it was never a requirement, no matter what they said. It's the banks and the companies job to verify who you are.

I started my bank accounts as a teen in the 90s and with a bit of help, I was able to start them without a submitting a SSN. Every job I had, I actively refused to submit a SSN and told them why which with a bit of arguing they agreed. Funny part is, even though I never submitted one, the bank and every major employer I had already had the number anyway.

7

Your employer pays a portion of your social security taxes and generally withholds your portion to give to the government on your behalf. How do they correctly do that without your social security number?

7

From the link you've provided.

Documents that may be used under "List C" of the I-9 to establish employment eligibility include:

  • A U.S. Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration
  • birth certificate issued by the U.S. State Department
  • Etc
3
glimsereply
lemmy.world

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110201060

One or more of the following security features appear on SSN cards issued since 10/31/1983:

• Tamper-proof background

• Color-shifting ink

• Intaglio printing in some areas on the front of the card

• Latent image on the face of the card visible only when viewed at specific angles

• Red fluorescent nine-digit alphanumeric number on back (beginning February 1996)

• Intaglio microtext in signature line (when magnified, the line is actually letters spelling out SOCIAL SECURITY)

• Yellow, pink, and blue planchettes (small discs) randomly displayed on the front and back of the card

• Anti-copy pattern that is discernable when the card is photocopied

• For original cards, a dash in each column on the same line as the SSN

• Date the card is issued [i.e., Cycle Date (CYD) from the Numident] is printed under the signature line on the face of the card (beginning April 2007).

12
lemmy.world

That's interesting, I had no idea they modernized it.

But none of that is on in the photo. Mine doesn't have that either. (Pre 1983)

5
Got_Bentreply
lemmy.world

I've had to provide the physical card at the start of most jobs I've had. What's that form you fill out? I-9?

Looking at the list of required documents, I may have used a passport at some point as that appears to trump everything, but mine has long since expired and I haven't been bothered to get a new one.

2

The jobs I've had have been w9 or 1099

I needed two forms of ID for my current job and I used my license and passport

2
WarmSodareply
lemm.ee

You never had a job in your entire life?

-7
glimsereply
lemmy.world

You've had to present your physical social security card when accepting a job?? I have never and I've worked for a dozen different companies

14
WarmSodareply
lemm.ee

Yes. For taxes. You work under the table or something? Lol

-8
sh.itjust.works

Maybe it's regional? They don't ask for my card in Michigan. But I do need to present it for a few things done at the SOS office. That's the DMV in Michigan.

9

That's possible. Pretty sure it's for state and federal taxes though.

1

Never had to show the physical card myself either. Put the number in the online form and done. And yes I am taxed

7
WarmSodareply
lemm.ee

I mean, when every place specifically asks for your social and ID, yeah you do necessarily need to present it.

I ain't carrying my birth certificate around with me.

2

You shouldn't be carrying your social security card around with you either.

0
WarmSodareply
lemm.ee

That's a US ss card in the thumbnail. We're obviously talking about the US

-3

Just knowing the number has been enough for every job I've ever had. The only place that has ever cared about the physical card is the DMV.

2

There are other forms of id that are valid; for most jobs I've provided my driver id and my passport

2
667reply
lemmy.radio

The intent is for it to completely disintegrate by the time you need to claim benefits and can’t remember your SSN.

j/k, the completely disintegrating part is true, the last part is that there won’t be any SSN benefits by the time Gen Y and later gets around to retiring.

17

The whole design of the SS system is that current workers pay benefits for current retirees. The trust fund was created later in preparation for retiring boomers.

At worst, it goes back to the original system and benefits get reduced to match what workers are putting in. That might be as high as a worst case 20% reduction, but it's not going to go away entirely. As others have mentioned, even that is completely avoidable.

8

There will be benefits. Congress has at least five courses of action they can take but will just leave it till the last minute for drama and to make people vote.

8

This is right wing rhetoric meant to convince people that cuts to social programs are needed as a way to make social services solvent, fyi.

Social security is funded by the current tax payers, taxes were raised so that the social security could have some extra money to buy us bonds, allowing them to cash in those bonds later when boomers retire en masse. Eventually the bonds will be gone and social security will be 'insolvent' but this is ok! Social security is always being paid into and social security can be paid out with general funds, or by increased tax rates, or by increasing the cap on SS taxes.

There is not actually any indication that social security is going anywhere other than Republican fear mongering.

6

I laminated mine, never had an issue.

Punish me, daddy government

8
lemmy.world

I believe the primary reason is that there are counterfeiting counter measures, and if you laminated it, it would make it hard to use verification methods that allow you to make sure it’s a real one. They want to know that it is not copied, altered, or otherwise illegally fabricated.

Also, it should be noted that this is an identification card that can allow you to do crazy things like apply for official documents and loans. This number is extremely helpful for people wanting to steal your identity. I believe the idea is that if you lose it, it should degrade and disintegrate so you can get a new one without worrying that your identity will be stolen. Although, this is just my speculation.

7

Also, you’re not really supposed to carry it around with you, the ideas that you would put this in a safe document storage place until you need it for something specific.

5

I googled it, they say it might obscure security features which would mean it wouldn't be accepted. They recommend a plastic case that can be removed.

4

I've heard that it was in the event you lost it, it would eventually disintegrate from the weather. It always to help prevent it from being used by others if found.

1
andrewtareply
lemmy.world

Try using a laminated ss card to get a drivers license. (Real ID).

0
WarmSodareply
lemm.ee

I obviously did and there was zero issues.

0
WarmSodareply
lemm.ee

The only thing anyone's ever done with it is photocopy it. Lamination doesn't affect that at all.

There's no "security measures" on mine. Maybe there is on more recent ones though.

1
andrewtareply
lemmy.world

I was born in the seventies. So not much in the way of security there. Maybe the newer ones have something for security and it's just a blanket policy.

2

They probably just say to not do it so people don't mess with the card at all. Blanket policy is the perfect way to put it.

1
Raxielreply
lemmy.world

They can't run it under a tap and see if it falls apart like a real one

48
spezreply
sh.itjust.works

That's a joke right, not something American authorities do?

4

Yes. It's a joke. But it is a special type of cardboard-like paper that they use, which is crappy to save money.

12

The explanation I've heard, is if you lose it (outside), you want it to decompress; not float around eternally for someone to fake your Identity with.

1
lemmy.ca

Plastic sleeve, boom problem solved, I'm 34 and I've only ever had one birth certificate because I keep it in a sleeve.

But hopefully y'all Americans can phase out the physical cards like we did in Canada.

26

I'm 39 but I had to pay for a new copy of my birth certificate in my 20s because mine was literally falling apart due to just being old and folded up and printed on weird paper and the seal was messed up so the dmv wouldn't take it

I got it from my mom like that :x

1
lemmy.world

Wait are we supposed to carry these around? I became a permanent resident back in 2010 and I don't think I've ever taken mine out of my filing cabinet.

23
danareply
lemmy.world

No, you don't need to carry it around. Memorizing it and keeping it safe for the few occasions you do need the card itself is fine.

31
aehardingreply
lemmy.world

When do you ever need it? I just remember the number. I don’t think I’ve ever had to scan

7
lemmy.world

The last several jobs I have taken, they've wanted a scan of it for tax purposes.

I think it's ironic how this super private personal number that is unique to you and not to be shared is what you have to share with every job, college, financial institution, etc.

34

This is why I think that temporary SSNs should be a thing . It would be a number that links to your real SSN and would be used to verify your identity, but would stop working after a day or two. That way if a company has a data breach, any SSNs that get stolen would no longer work.

15
andrewtareply
lemmy.world

Real ID drivers licenses. In Minnesota it's one of the forms they accept and if it's laminated... They say.. No

2
lemm.ee

Interesting, my wife and I just got Real IDs in Maryland and didn't take our social security cards...but now that I think about it, we used our passports for ID, so maybe that's why.

1

Been a while but I do believe that was another option for that section if the requirements

1
fubarxreply
lemmy.ml

That and your citizenship papers, in case of Papiere, Bitte. 🤷🏻‍♂️

2

I carry around a dormant volcano of anger and contempt, if they try and pull this shit it'll be known in a several mile radius, and the ash cloud of retribution will do damage for years to come. Hell, at this point they don't even need to come for me, I just need a diminishing number of additional tipping points.

I probably need therapy lol

1
lemmy.world

Oh, you forgot the part where you are only allowed a fixed number of replacements in your lifetime.

22
lemmy.world

Yep. There’s no reason to carry this around with you on the daily. Stick it in a file in a safe file box of some sort. I can’t remember the last time someone asked for a physical SS card…maybe when we applied for my kids’ passports? No idea.

4

Maybe OP applies for a lot of jobs and is brown enough to be told they need to actually see it? Iunno

4
lemdro.id

What’s the reason behind not being allowed to laminate it? Asking as a non American

17
Xtallllreply
lemmy.blahaj.zone

You aren't allowed to laminate the card, because the card says do not laminate.

22
Macallanreply
lemmy.world

Mine is old enough that it doesn't say not to laminate it... I laminated it... lol

12
lemmy.world

Because it’s meant to biodegrade if lost outside so your identity is harder to steal

22
jlai.lu

Normal countries: "there is a picture on the ID to make it harder to use someone else's"

USA: "it's so flimsy no one will use it for fear of it falling apart"

17

Well it’s not meant for all it’s used for. We’re culturally resistant to government ID cards (aside from driver’s licenses, passports, and social security cards, no this isn’t rational and it’s often from the same group because they fear both government and immigrants) and our social security cards were an early form of government ID. So basically you wind up with one of the only proofs of citizenship besides birth certificates or passports, and the only one that’s free, uniform, and everyone has being a number meant to be used to track your status with the government universal pension program that basically doesn’t exist anymore and very explicitly says not to use the way we constantly and primarily use it.

Is this stupid? Beyond a doubt. But it’s America as a whole being stupid not the social security administration. As far as the social security administration is concerned this is just a pension ID.

8

Everyone knows. You're not supposed to laminate it so if it gets lost it will biodegrade instead of being perfectly preserved for someone to steal your identity with.

Just don't keep it in your wallet in the first place. There's a very limited number of times you should need to have it.

4
lemmy.world

That's United States property and cannot be modified in any way.

The given reason is that you can't see the security features on the card if it's laminated.

8

Well they do tell you to sign it, you know so if it stolen they can have that too, so there is one little modification they want. Also taring from a larger piece of paper might count.

2

Slip it into one of the thicker plastic baseball card sleeves. It's a perfect fit, can be easily pulled out, and provides excellent protection.

16

I work at a DMV. I have seen 10 yr old cards shredded to shit and 80 year cards in near mint condition. If great grandpappy can do it, yall can too.

14
4gramsreply
awful.systems

back in high school I stuck mine in a hard plastic card case. Wherever it is now that I lost it, should at least be in good shape almost 30 years later.

16
smackjackreply
lemmy.world

The idea is that if it gets lost outside somewhere, then the paper will degrade to the point that it's no longer readable. You can always get another card if you lose yours.

21

For the vast majority of people who keep their cards safely stowed away in a drawer, this will likely never be an issue.

For someone who doesn't have a safe place to keep one (for instance, homeless), this can get to being an issue pretty quickly.

That said, there are hardship exceptions to this rule.

RM 10205.425 Exception to SSN Card Limits Due to Hardship

When a number holder (NH) reaches his or her yearly or lifetime SSN card limits, an SSN replacement card may still be issued if failure to receive an SSN card will cause a hardship.

To receive an exception due to hardship, the NH must present a letter from a third-party provider, such as a State public assistance agency or an employer, indicating that the NH must present his or her SSN card to receive employment or a benefit.

So you're not completely fucked, it's just some extra leg work.

17
Patchesreply
sh.itjust.works

In what way is not replacing an SSN a non-hardship?

It's required for so much shit.

6

It is, but you don't need the physical card for very much. I've only ever needed the card for jobs. I've never had to apply for welfare, but I do belive you need a physical card to apply. But in most situations, you just need the number.

2

I read somewhere they send a denial letter. Not sure what implications that has.

5

Shitty for us dungeon dwellers. We don't go outside but coffee stains are a real threat.

4

I understand social security to mean paying into a state pension, a national healthcare service, and provision of education.

What does social security mean in the American context?

11
Anticorpreply
lemmy.world

Irrelevant to the topic at hand. This is a social security card, which displays your social security number, which is the closest thing we have to a national ID. It is used for all things financial and for identity verification & background checks. If someone gets your name, address, and social security number, you can be in for a real bad time.

17
lemmy.world

Which is unfortunately easy to do. There are some of those search sites that include SSNs on them. Haven't seen one that detailed in a few years, but still. Just today I found a site that had addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and relatives. All accurate and all freely available, no registration required.

11
lemm.ee

Especially when Equifax leaked nearly half of all Americans' names, social security numbers, addresses, birthdays, and driver license number in 2017. That info is just out there and we can never remove it.

8
InputZeroreply
lemmy.ml

To add to the problem, social security was never meant to be an national ID number. It was just really useful for a whole lot of things. However, numbers are handed out sequentially, not randomly. So take your SIN and add or subtract one from it and that is another person's SIN. Knowing just a few simple things about a person can reveal most if not their entire SIN.

7
shottymcbreply
lemm.ee

When I was a food service manager I inexplicably had access to the social security numbers of everyone who had ever applied to work there. Thousands.

5

Yeah, it became a sort of federal identification since the US government didn't want to make a federal ID and now we are stuck with a much more inferior system than if they just did anything. Since everyone got a SS card it became the de facto ID.

8

In the US Social Security is retirement income. SS tax comes out of every paycheck then when you retire you will get monthly income. So state pension but none of the other good stuff.

5

It was originally just a number to track contributions to quasi-pension system. However, because it was the only number universally assigned to people, it stated getting used way more often, most notably for credit issuers and reporting agencies.

5
s_sreply
lemmy.one

It pays the state pension which is good for a tiny fraction of retirement.

0

Depends what your spending is like. Someone who earns like 30K/year should get about 65% of their earning if they retire at 65. You'd have to save like another $1500/year (including company matches) to make up the difference.

If I kept working til I was like 70 and my pay only keeps up with inflation, I'd get about 130% of my spending via social security.

2

Please don't give your SSN to health care institutions, they don't need it. They like to ask for it on their intake forms so that they can find you more easily if they need to send your debt to collections, but most will accept a blank entry anyways.

2
lemm.ee

I've had mine laminated for almost fifty years.

7
lemmynsfw.com

I'm pretty sure that they removed the restriction on lamination at some point. But I'm not really sure.

7

Canada issues their SSN cards in hard plastic, which IME is far superior to any credit card plastic. It’s been in my wallet since 1990 and while it looks old, it’s in better shape than almost all of my credit cards - none of which are older than 5 years.

6
lemmy.today

I've kept mine in a tight card slot in a leather wallet for longer than some of these commentators have been alive and it honestly still looks great.

6
reddthat.com

SSA will give you a free replacement card. I think TRUMP wanted to charge money for it, but not sure if that plan went through.

5

There are a few (difficult, but possible) ways to get extra copies despite the limit though, like changing your name

3

There was an antiterrorism law that was passed in 2004 (as a result of 9/11), that went into effect in 2005 that set this limit.

3
lemmy.nz

That's how the man himself writes his name.

Are you assuming his capitalisation?

6
lemmy.world

Was Trump a SovCit this whole time? Does he think TRUMP the corporate entity created by his birth certificate was elected President in 2016 rather than he the living person, and thus he can't be prosecuted for crimes that the corporate entity created in his name ^allegedly^ committed?

4

I never knew you couldn’t laminate them? Why would they do something like that?

4
Sydreply
lemm.ee

Any verification requires the physical document.

5
lemm.ee

Eh, I can't remember the last time I needed to show my social security card. It might have been 2006, when I moved to this state. It's EXTREMELY rare that we need the physical card. We need the number more often, but most people will have memorized that.

2
feddit.de

Still, you cannot change the number and it's a disaster if it leaks, which is very easy. Instead, our country uses IDs with chips that can be used with standard readers to securely authenticate with government and private services online. There is also a changeable PIN and optional third-factor authentication. People who cannot or don't want to use the system need to visit the institution or a CzechPoint site and show the physical card and their face.

4
lemm.ee

Yeah. In our case it's worth noting that the social security number system wasn't designed to be used the way it is used. It was just meant for retirement tracking.

Now if we tried what you described, we'd probably have people screeching about the number of the beast and new evil Democrat deep state conspiracy theories. Sigh.

1

If you pitch it as “authority of a driver's license combined with the convenience and security of a chip-based credit card”, it may not be hard to get people on board. It might help to bundle it with benefits such as more automated direct tax filing.

Our country’s post office operates a Datová schránka (“Digital Mailbox”) system where you can basically send email-like messages to people, businesses and institutions that carry the authority of registered mail but delivered in a minute and 10x cheaper. This is optional for individuals and mandatory for businesses, and you need to authenticate with your ID card online or at post offices (which also accept driver's licenses and passports) to access it (though you can get email/SMS notifications of new mail). The cost is there to limit spam, and to send a message, you need to know the recipient’s address (public for companies, private for individuals unless they choose to publish it). Most people don't use it but businessmen love the speed and reduction in paperwork. Because right-wing people tend to adore business efficiency and this makes contracts fast and secure, this might help the US ID adoption too.

1

ukraine just relies on electronic signatures (usually issued by banks) for online identity verification. (these are usually just jks keystores)
you can put them on hardware keys if you want to

alternatively, bankid or diia can be used

  • bankid pulls info directly from your bank, using online banking credentials

  • diia is an electronic ID app and comes with built-in identity verification and signing features (authenticated by biometry/phone pin + a face scan with specified action (e.g. blink or tilt your head) + 5 digit pin).
    the app can be activated by scanning the NFC chip in passport or id card + doing a face scan, or by using the BankID system. (if you already have a bank account, or your phone doesn't support nfc), which is slightly faster as the face scan is quite annoying (as it requires perfect lighting conditions)
    the key used by the app cannot be exported tho, if you need a jks keystore, the only option is to get one from the bank.

(By the way, the app's name, "дія," is quite clever. It stands for "action," but it's actually an acronym for "держава і я" which translates to "government and me.")

1

I need it for filling out I9s. There is probably an easier way but driver's license of social security card is the easiest way for me. If I had a passport that would work too.

1
lemmy.ml

Get married and change your last name! You'll get a brand new one. Works for men too, trust me!

4
Anticorpreply
lemmy.world

Or, you can just order a new one without changing your name.

2

Or you could get a social security card with the name Turd Ferguson on it. I mean, if you’re already going through the trouble of doing paperwork, what’s a little more?

4
lemmy.ml

There was a fad a long while ago where people would get their number stamped onto a metal card. Only ever got to see one of them after years working at a casino where we collected SSNs for jackpot payouts.

4

Where I live people just have the number memorized. Fairly easy when it's just date-of-birth and some three numbers and a letter.

4

like, you can get a new one though to be fair, I just got a brand new one, granted it was after legally changing my name but I'm certain you can just have one reprinted without a name change, I don't even think it costs anything.

I also don't understand carrying it around, my partner does, but I just have my number memorized, and the card itself is kept safe, for the few times in my life I will need the actual physical card.

2