Private companies can now enroll in the Social Security Administration’s Consent-Based Social Security Number Verification Service to obtain instant, automated SSN verification and handle large volume requests for a fee.
Using the service, participating companies can verify the SSNs of their customers and clients. An Employer Identification Number is required to enroll and become a CBSV user.
CBSV verifies whether a name and Social Security Number (SSN) combination match the data in SSA’s records. The submitted information is matched against SSA’s Master File of Social Security Numbers. The matching elements include: Social Security Number, name, date of birth and a gender code if available. Each SSN and name combination submitted to CBSV will be returned with a “yes” or “no” verification code indicating that the submission either matches or does not match SSA’s records. If applicable, the SSA will report a death indicator when their records reflect that the SSN holder is deceased. The SSA cautions that the results obtained from CBSV do not confirm or authenticate “proof of identity.”
CBSV requires the written consent of the SSN holder and the verification results may only be used for the reason which the number holder specifies.
Users must pay a one-time non-refundable enrollment fee of $5,000 and then pay a transaction fee per SSN verification request. The transaction fee is $5.00 per verification request, effective Oct. 1, 2009.
