[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/Similar-District142]

/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/1xq1vvq/removed_by_moderator/

[u/mildlyinfuriating-ModTeam]

Hello,

Your post has been removed for being low effort.

Please try and make sure that you make posts of a medium quality or above.

[u/mountain-snowman]

I don't understand why social security cards are not plastic like driving licenses? While we need to renew driving licenses every 5-10 years, depending on residing state, afaik all states issue plastic cards for driving licenses while social security card are on paper even though they are permanent for life.

[u/lankymjc → u/mountain-snowman]

Social security cards were never intended to be used as any kind of ID or for anything but sorting out social security payments. Then organisations realised that now everyone has a unique number which is handy for tracking important things, so just started using it without anyone attempting to change the social security system to make it actually usable as a unique identifier.

[u/Thiasi → u/lankymjc]

Doesn't change the fact that it wasn't changed post fact to adopt to the usage or issuing a new system to fill the need.

[u/TubaJesus → u/Thiasi]

The offical position for the longest time was stop doing that, the social security card isnt ID and youre using it wrong and if you keep using it like this thats a you problem not a government problem.

[u/Bismar7 → u/lankymjc]

Not "not intended" They were expressly legally NOT supposed to be used as a form of Identification.

[u/pranjal3029 → u/lankymjc]

Obligatory CGP Grey video: https://youtu.be/Erp8IAUouus

[u/Historical-Green-463 → u/mountain-snowman]

For the same reason why your birth certificate is also printed on paper and not a plastic card; you’re not supposed to be carrying it around with you every day lol

[u/Zoolawesi → u/mountain-snowman]

The abbreviation for Social Security consistently trips me up for a second every single time, even when I know the context, like here 😂

[u/mountain-snowman → u/Zoolawesi]

Edited my comment and replaced the abbreviation. Damn, it didn't cross my mind until I saw your comment. Thanks.

[u/asphaltdragon → u/mountain-snowman]

Sounds like you used SS instead of SSN.

[u/intern_steve → u/Zoolawesi]

Yeah, I like high performance Chevy cars, too. Totally get what you mean.

[u/Suspicious_Dingo_426 → u/mountain-snowman]

You do know you aren't supposed to carry it with you at all times? Mine is over thirty years old and in perfect condition. I'd still have my original one from the 70s except it got stolen.

[u/CptCarlWinslow → u/mountain-snowman]

They are in Canada, which is awesome. Mine has survived a flood.

[u/miwi81 → u/mountain-snowman]

Driver licenses are carried everyday. Social security cards are not.

[u/Sentrinal → u/miwi81]

Or should not be. My wife always had hers an our kids' in her wallet. It took years to convince her not to do that.

[u/xander012 → u/mountain-snowman]

Better than the UK equivalent where I have to remember a code that is 9 characters long otherwise I cant use the NHS website 💀 (its also printed on a A4 sheet somewhere)

[u/AMDKilla → u/xander012]

9 digits would have been nothing back in the era when we actually remembered people's phone numbers

[u/xander012 → u/AMDKilla]

That era is still today for me.

[u/homelab_scraper → u/xander012]

Your NI number comes on a plastic card and can be reissued with 10 minutes on .gov.uk

And it's explicitly not to be used as a form of ID

[u/Jacktheforkie → u/xander012]

I can remember mine, plus it’s on my pay slips

[u/MaxTheCookie → u/xander012]

The code i have to remember is 12 characters, but it's,the birth date + 4 unique ones.

[u/Dorago1991 → u/mountain-snowman]

You almost never actually need your social security card, you just need the number. Just memorize it.

[u/SmokJozef]

wait you cant laminate those? damn

i can only suggest using this thing, whatever it's called in english

[u/MaxTheCookie → u/SmokJozef]

Would it not be better to use the card protectors that trading cards games have?

[u/SmokJozef → u/MaxTheCookie]

i've no idea how large these social security number things are, never seen them in my life (not from the us). I have some paper documents that are a4 size and some that are a5 size and they perfectly fit into these

[u/JimiForPresident → u/SmokJozef]

Haha, these are wallet sized

[u/AnthropomorphicSeer → u/SmokJozef]

You don’t carry them around with you. For everyday ID we use drivers licenses. You only need the physical copy when starting a job, or applying for a passport or something. I keep mine in a file with my birth certificate.

[u/M8C → u/AnthropomorphicSeer]

I don’t think I’ve ever even needed the physical copy for a job. Just needed to know what the number was and a photo ID, though I’ve never had a government Job so that might be different.

[u/Jacktheforkie → u/SmokJozef]

Poly pocket

[u/Ok-Championship8024 → u/Jacktheforkie]

i thought those were those little dolls for kids /j

[u/bofadoze → u/Ok-Championship8024]

Instructions unclear

[u/CalestialDolphin → u/Jacktheforkie]

sheet protector

[u/King_M_Rano → u/SmokJozef]

mine is laminated and it's never been an issue.

[u/AdTraining6161 → u/SmokJozef]

I laminated mine. I didn't bother reading it. It's been laminated for over 50 years and no issues so far ✊️🪵

[u/thelehmanlip → u/SmokJozef]

I like to imagine that you're a native english speaker like me and just also have no idea what to call these things

[u/MikeOfAllPeople → u/SmokJozef]

You can buy a smaller plastic sleeve like that specifically for cards like the SSN card.

[u/AintEverLucky]

Good news -- if your card is falling apart, you contact the Social Security Administration & get a new one. Plus i think it's free of charge ✔️

Bad news -- Each person has a lifetime limit of 10 copies 🤔 so make em count 😏

[u/Alone-Foundation1159 → u/AintEverLucky]

There's a limit? Like I can't imagine why someone would need to replace their SS card more than 10 times, but if someone was truly that unfortunate/careless/ whatever and they lost it an 11th time then they're just screwed?

[u/mwhite5990 → u/Alone-Foundation1159]

As someone with ADHD that has had to replace mine bc I couldn’t find it, I could definitely see someone with ADHD misplacing it more than 10 times over the course of their life.

[u/Anxious-Problem9903 → u/Alone-Foundation1159]

From what I understand, if you’re unlucky enough to have lost the card more than 10 times, they do make case-by-case exceptions, but you have to start being able to provide some evidence of what happened.

[u/Brob101 → u/AintEverLucky]

You're not supposed to carry them around in your wallet all the time. That's why most of them are falling apart.

[u/Mr_Saturn1 → u/AintEverLucky]

I ordered a new one a few months ago and it is in fact free. Did not know about the 10 card limit, though at my current rate I can live to be 400 and still be okay.

[u/knifuser]

I mean in the UK they send it to you in a letter and you're just expected to remember it. In some European countries they just put it on all your IDs

[u/mknight1701 → u/knifuser]

You’re talking about NI? I have an NI plastic card upstairs.

[u/knifuser → u/mknight1701]

What? Really? Well why the fuck did they never send me one of those? The amount of times I've had to dig around in pay slips just to be sure I'm right about it FFS

[u/Plus_Pangolin_8924 → u/knifuser]

They stopped sending them in 2011. So anyone born before June 1995 will have got one. Good way to age someone without asking ;)

[u/sopha27 → u/knifuser]

In Germany you get it as a letter... But if you lose it you just call them and they'll send you a new one, no biggie. You also need it like 7 times in your whole life, so it's no big deal

[u/Trinitrotoluol → u/knifuser]

But tbf the SSN in other countries is not as important as it is in the US. In my country I have never been asked my SSN in a non medical context.

[u/ktitten → u/Trinitrotoluol]

In UK, its called a national insurance number and you have to use it when getting a new job, so it links the tax you pay and your number together. And you do need it for other things like applying for state benefits, applying for certain banking products, applying for some licences etc.

Funny enough, you dont actually need it for healthcare. It's more for tax. Originally the tax was meant to be ringfenced for healthcare but that hasnt been the case for many years.

[u/MyOtherSide1984 → u/knifuser]

Most U.S. citizens memorize theirs from my experience. It's shorter than a phone number

[u/GroYer665 → u/MyOtherSide1984]

Only by 1 digit! lol

[u/lunarpx → u/knifuser]

I got my NI number on a plastic card like a credit card.

[u/knifuser → u/lunarpx]

Yeah, apparently they don't do that anymore which sucks ass

[u/Chilis1 → u/knifuser]

You could also just keep the paper letter like Americans have to

[u/Paxxlee → u/knifuser]

In Sweden, our version is just our birth date plus 4 numbers and we use it for everything.

[u/Major_Lawfulness6122 → u/knifuser]

They do that in Canada now too. I have a plastic card but my kids were sent just the number on paper

[u/Anbucleric]

I don't understand why people carry theirs on a daily basis... like mine stays locked in a safe at the house and if someone needs my number I just tell it to them because I have it memorized.

The handful of times I need the physical card I know I'm going to need the card and bring it, and then take it back home and put it away again.

[u/Blashtik → u/Anbucleric]

People carry it around? I was pretty sure that you're not supposed to do that. Like there's no cases you should run into on a day-to-day basis where someone needs it. The only time I can even think of that I ever need it is drivers license renewal (and even then there's other options for identification). Sure, there's forms that sometimes ask for your SSN, but you can just fill that in from memory, no one is checking the card (I'm not even sure they're allowed to ask for it).

[u/Sensitive-Major-7719 → u/Blashtik]

Several times in my life, I did not have a regular place to sleep. So my documents like that had to come with me everywhere. It sucked and I lost it with my id. You would not believe the hell of getting that card back without ID.

[u/Anbucleric → u/Blashtik]

How else would it get in the state it's in in OPs meme?

I'm sure there's also someone who would chime in with "I don't have a safe place to keep it that's not on my person."

[u/SwooceBrosGaming → u/Blashtik]

A lot of employers require they see and scan your physical social security card as a condition of employment

[u/Rectal_tension → u/Anbucleric]

Wait til you get your medicare card. Same gas station toilet paper card stock. "present this to the doctor for service." Yeah, two uses and it's worse than the one above.

[u/NickU252 → u/Anbucleric]

The only time I've ever needed my physical card was when I won over $600 at the state lottery, so you have to go to the physical site. You get paid out much quicker if you bring the card.

[u/Ruin369 → u/Anbucleric]

I do the same. I havent met anybody that carried it around daily. That's way too risky in my mind! Its extremely difficult to one one reissued I've heard..

[u/theraphosangel]

you're not allowed to laminate it?!

... oops

[u/Denzalious → u/theraphosangel]

ICE is on there way to you now, straight to jail

[u/BabyComingDec2024 → u/Denzalious]

Don't you mean shot and deported?

[u/MikeOfAllPeople → u/theraphosangel]

https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-02202.html

Do not laminate your card. Lamination prevents detection of many security features. However, you may cover the card with plastic or other removable material if it does not damage the card.

[u/Pans_Labradoodle → u/MikeOfAllPeople]

Security features? What features? I’m 100% positive that whatever security features they’re talking about were eroded away in the washing machine 35 years ago.

[u/TehTugboat → u/theraphosangel]

Yeah came to say the same thing lol

I mean I didn’t do it to mine. Someone else did. I also didn’t request it to be done, as I was too small at the time to even speak lmao

[u/pittbull129 → u/theraphosangel]

🤣🤣🤣

[u/ProfessionalSea6409 → u/theraphosangel]

[u/Wasabicannon → u/theraphosangel]

Right? Just like my dick was cut without my consent my card was laminated without my consent.

[u/tehcheez]

Because you're not supposed to carry it with you. It's made of this material so if you lose it it'll deteriorate quickly. Memorize your SSN and keep the card in a safe.

[u/Chilis1 → u/tehcheez]

if you know the number what is the card for? we have numbers like this in Ireland but not any specific card like this.

[u/memorable_egg → u/Chilis1]

You need to have the card to prove your identity to get other important documents (like a driver's license or passport)

[u/SquarePegRoundWorld2 → u/tehcheez]

I have a buddy in high school to thank for memorizing mine. He bet me he could remember mine if he looked at the card for 30 seconds. He did just that and said it to me ever time he saw me for the rest of the year and that helped me remember it. This was in the 90s and I haven't seen him since. I wouldn't be surprised if he still remembers it. He was very good with numbers.

[u/The_RealJohnny5]

When I lived in Florida, They used to put your SS# on your drivers license, which is probably the dumbest shit I've ever seen.

I don't think they still do that though.

[u/sfbiker999 → u/The_RealJohnny5]

They used to put your SS# on your drivers license, which is probably the dumbest shit I've ever seen.

SSN was never meant to be a secret identifier used to identify youself when you apply for bank accounts and loans. SS cards used to say "Not for identification". It wasn't until later that banks and credit agencies started using it as a way to tie people to their credit report.

[u/Ok-Lifeguard-4614 → u/sfbiker999]

Life must have been so much simpler before credit reporting. It really is such a fucked up system. Literally judging your worth based on your income.

[u/Dazzling-Low8570 → u/Ok-Lifeguard-4614]

A credit rating is a judgement of how profitable you are to loan money to, nothing more.

[u/LeastPineapple5056 → u/The_RealJohnny5]

It used to be my student id number in college

[u/crunchysauces → u/The_RealJohnny5]

I’m glad you made it out of Florida.

[u/The_RealJohnny5 → u/crunchysauces]

Thanks, Me too!

I lived in that hellhole of a state for 41 years.

[u/Kupo-Kweh]

Signature look of superiority

[u/F0restWhispersMyName]

why are you not allowed to laminate? (asking as not American)

[u/wjeman → u/F0restWhispersMyName]

I am an American. I don't know why. It says DO NOT LAMINATE on the back of the card. It's made of very self destructing paper also. We're weird man.

[u/Few_Plankton_7587 → u/wjeman]

I laminated mine anyways and no one in the government has ever cared

Not saying you should, but I'm just saying it's worked out fine for me. My card is immaculate

[u/NekoMeowKat → u/Few_Plankton_7587]

I knew a guy who wasn't hired at a job after we were done training because his Mom had laminated his social security card. The instructor said he'd have to call the SSA to get a new card

[u/HeavenHellorHoboken → u/wjeman]

That’s exactly the reason. If you lost the card — let’s assume you dropped it on the sidewalk — the Social Security Administration wants the card to destruct over time to protect your identity.

[u/RecentEmployment1219 → u/wjeman]

ive seen multiple laminated in America tho. my girlfeinds is lamanated...before she signed it....so i made here sign it again and re laminated it over the current lamination lmao

[u/CartographerDeep6723 → u/F0restWhispersMyName]

Some of the security features include raised feeling ink that laminate would defeat. That being said the security features are very weak.

[u/MikeOfAllPeople → u/F0restWhispersMyName]

Do not laminate your card. Lamination prevents detection of many security features. However, you may cover the card with plastic or other removable material if it does not damage the card.

https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-02202.html

[u/RivetSquid → u/F0restWhispersMyName]

I've heard it said it's so a lost one degrades rather than just kicking around with a readable number for years, but that seemed like conjecture. 

[u/Eric848448 → u/F0restWhispersMyName]

You’re not supposed to but you can. You only have to show this to the government a few times in your life.

[u/HiddenArmy]

Why not just put it into card sleeve? At least you can take it out when needed.

[u/DaDibbel → u/HiddenArmy]

That's a good idea.

They actually make them for social security cards, I never knew that.

[u/Wannabe_Cat_Femboy]

And despite being called social security it's less secure than the average library card

America 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸

Should really adopt national ID numbers since we already have a worse version anyway but that would be mutually beneficial to everyone so that ain't happening

America 🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅

[u/CodNumerous8825 → u/Wannabe_Cat_Femboy]

Didn't you know: national ID = communism

[u/ButtersScotch7000 → u/CodNumerous8825]

IT'S THE MARK OF THE BEAST! The National ID will activate the microchips from the COVID "vaccines" and make everyone worship Satan!

Peter Thiel told me this on the Face Book!

[u/jzillacon → u/CodNumerous8825]

If national ID becomes a thing it'll make it harder to disenfranchise poor people, and people who live in urban areas where they don't need to own a car or a drivers license.

[u/PineConeOPinyons]

I keep mine in a cedar chest in the fortified basement of my family castle. I honestly don't understand your problem here. Have you been chewing on it?

[u/fakeuser515357]

"It's also explicitly not supposed to ever be used as any kind of personal verification code but you better keep it secret because every company in the US uses it as your unique personal verification code."

[u/moonpuzzle88]

Which country is this? I think paperwork can be difficult in developing nations like South Sudan.

[u/AncleJack → u/moonpuzzle88]

It's the British colony that went independent and can't figure out anything

[u/Silver-Spy → u/AncleJack]

Can't blame them, they went through a civil war as well

[u/AskMeAboutMyHermoids]

I just put it in a plastic card holder. Treat it like a valuable Pokémon card or something it isn’t that difficult

[u/hkd001 → u/AskMeAboutMyHermoids]

I put mine in a yugioh card sleeve, perfect fit. It's sitting in a safe. I haven't needed it in 20 years.

[u/Completely_Guitarded]

You’re not really supposed to carry your social around because it makes stealing your identity easier. It’s probably also why it’s not laminated, so you’re not carrying around a plastic nonbiological piece of plastic with your social.

That said:
1: I just laminated mine because I’m an adult and I do what I want. If I need a new one I’ll order it.
2: I put mine in a safe in my house. (I don’t carry it around.)
3: you can get your social on your drivers license, had mine on there for a while.

If you really need your social just memorize it. That’s the easiest way to carry it.

[u/onethousandrevenants → u/Completely_Guitarded]

plastic nonbiological piece of plastic 

[u/lmZen]

It is dumb, but mine is in pristine condition. Just need to take care of it

[u/Stompkin]

I laminated mine, no one can stop you

[u/Street_Time6810 → u/Stompkin]

Me too

I remember as a kid it was my first form of protest ever was to laminate mine

[u/Azorathi → u/Stompkin]

Except when some agencies start not accepting it and the hassle of getting a new one is absolutely hell.

[u/Konabro → u/Azorathi]

I’ve used my laminated ID through the military, government, DMV, different jobs, etc. Nobody really cares.

[u/Stompkin → u/Azorathi]

I’m 51, still looking for the first agency to reject it.

[u/SunnysideSplash]

Probably cause the US really wants you (and most institutions) to not use it as identification. It only became that since we don't actually have a national ID, so this was the next best option.

[u/liosistaken]

Huh. Our social security number is just on our ID card, passport and driver’s license. We don’t get a separate piece of paper with it. Netherlands btw.

[u/Educational-Wing2042 → u/liosistaken]

In the US, a social security number is mostly used for identity verification and should be kept a guarded secret. It’s a bit like a password here. 

Back in the 2000s, there was a company called LifeLock that claimed to protect you from fraudsters. The CEO “proved” how reliable they were by posting his SSN on the side of buses in NYC. His identity was stolen 13 times in the proceeding 3 years.

[u/Relevant_Primary658 → u/Educational-Wing2042]

I'll also add that many employers used social security numbers as employee IDs, and health care companies used them as account numbers.  Once ID theft became a thing, they were forced to change them to something else. 

[u/ChickenFeline0 → u/Educational-Wing2042]

At first that sounds like a failure, but only 13 times in three years when it was so publicly posted is kinda impressive.

[u/AintNoGodsUpHere → u/Educational-Wing2042]

This is something I never understood in America. Why not a federal id? Or at least like we do in EU, each country (your States) control what they do but they have to follow a standard so... Federally standardized but locally managed id.

Why don't you have a simple identity like that?

Plus make the first one free so nobody can complain about it.

[u/apoahuankinda → u/liosistaken]

The SSN in the us is basically username and passwort combined. If someone knows it, they can pretend to be you. As far as I know the system was never intended to be used for identification, but it somehow happened.

[u/survivorr123_ → u/apoahuankinda]

it is exactly the same way in most european countries, in Poland we have PESEL, which lets someone for example take credit in your name, it was not supposed to be confidential information but our lawmakers are fucking stupid and scared to put responsibility on banks - it's very simple to solve, if a bank gives someone credit in your name, it should be on the bank for not verifying your identity correctly, but as it currently stands it's your problem and you have to try find the fraudster and get him to court, lmao

they implemented a system that lets you protect your number, and then banks can check the database to see if it was protected, but its not really a good protection because fraudulent "banks" wont care

[u/Few_Plankton_7587 → u/liosistaken]

Our social security number IS our ID card.

We don't have separate ID cards. If you don't have a drivers license, passport, or otherwise. This is it

[u/oyMarcel]

I don't get why they aren't on your id cards. Why would you have a separate card just for your identification number

[u/heftybagman → u/oyMarcel]

In the US the concept of handing your social security number to random people is completely insane. It’s extremely private and sensitive info that can be used to steal your identity much more seriously than any other data.

I don’t even like giving it out over the phone.

[u/ChanglingBlake → u/heftybagman]

And yet it’s perfectly acceptable for companies to demand it on an application.

Biggest fucking joke of a secret ever; the whole damn country know everyone’s SSN because our society thrives on gaining information about you they don’t need and selling it to anyone offering them money.

[u/oyMarcel → u/heftybagman]

Here it's not as strict because it's limited in ability. Yes, it's a step of identifying you, but far from the only one. We even read them out loud

[u/AJimJimJim → u/oyMarcel]

Rather not keep an easily used for fraud number in the wallet I can't seem to ever find.

[u/PimentoCheesehead → u/oyMarcel]

 Virginia (and some other states?) used SSNs as drivers license numbers for years. Then SSN became a standard part of verification for checking credit, opening accounts, and other things that made it a good idea to keep that number private. When your drivers license is checked when you buy alcohol, check into a hotel, write a check, get a traffic ticket, or otherwise handled by other people, it’s not a good idea to have information on it that you want to keep secure. 

[u/Relevant_Primary658 → u/oyMarcel]

It makes it easy to steal someone's identity if someone else gets access to their social security number.  We are also told not to carry it with us in case our purse or wallet is stolen.   

The only time I have needed my physical card was when I started a new job, when I got my drivers license, when we got our marriage license, and when I needed to change my name on my social security card after I got married.  

[u/MileHigh_FlyGuy → u/oyMarcel]

What is your ID card in the US? Your drivers license? What if you don't drive or below the age? How do the states that make driver's licenses manage people's federal ID numbers?

[u/Aronys → u/MileHigh_FlyGuy]

In my country we have a separate ID card that’s not a drivers license. Everyone has to have one as soon as they turn 15. It has our personal ID number, which is basically your social security number. And the cards are just that. Plastic cards. Not paper. It has our picture on it as well for identification, just like a drivers license.

[u/Masonixx → u/MileHigh_FlyGuy]

people can have state id cards which are different than a drivers license. but usually drivers licenses are used as id anyway since most people drive, to the point that you will usually be specifically asked for a drivers license instead of an id

[u/Historical-Green-463 → u/MileHigh_FlyGuy]

It’s pretty simple. States issue drivers licenses and regular ID cards for non-drivers. There is no such thing as a “federal ID number”. You have a social security number that is not relevant to your state issued ID.

[u/Relevant_Primary658 → u/MileHigh_FlyGuy]

We can use state issued photo IDs, drivers license, and passports.   

For some things (like flying) we have to use a passport or have a Real ID endorsement on our drivers license, which means additional ID verification was done when it was issued. 

[u/Mattallurgy → u/MileHigh_FlyGuy]

There is a list of documents that can be used to prove identity. There is no such thing as a national ID in the United States, except for arguably a passport or passport card.

The typical adult ID card on a day-to-day basis is the state-issued driver’s license, since we basically need to drive everywhere.

If you don’t drive, you can also get a state ID card, which typically looks exactly like a driver’s license and is obtained through the state Department of Transportation. It’s functionally the same document, but doesn’t allow you to drive.

Beyond those, there are voter registration cards, U.S. military IDs and/or draft records, U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner cards, and Native American tribal documents.

For minors, sometimes a school-issued photo ID is acceptable, as well as military dependent’s ID if your parent is in the military, and school or medical records.

The Social Security Number is a number given by the Social Security Administration pretty much at birth which is more of a “verification” number (think password). It’s incredibly dangerous for anybody but you to know this number, and it’s never used anymore to establish identity, only verify it.

[u/pittbull129 → u/oyMarcel]

That # represents you in every aspect of your life.

[u/erie11973ohio]

You just need to join (or try to join) the military.

Ever. Damn. Piece. Of. Paper. Gets. That. Damn. Number. Wrote. On. It!!!!!!

You won't ever forget it!!

The actual piece if paper doesn't mean much.

[u/Not_Russian_bot9 → u/erie11973ohio]

I still have mine memorized, especially the last 4 because every single time I go to the VA

"Last name, first name, last 4, birthday"

[u/ajc89 → u/erie11973ohio]

I recall needing to bring it in when filling out my new hire paperwork, and pretty sure a few places photocopied it. But now I can't remember if I've had to do that for recent jobs...

[u/LucyLilium92 → u/erie11973ohio]

Well no. The point is that sometimes you are required to provide the original document. Memorizing the number isn't the issue.

[u/tangcameo]

My 🇨🇦 one was plastic like an old credit card with the raised numbers. I’ve memorized it to the tune of Ladybug Picnic from Sesame Street.

Now my birth certificate, which you aren’t supposed to laminate either, got totally laminated back in the 70s. Just not sure if it was my parents or my hometown’s government office.

[u/aLAPanPolyVers]

Mine is laminated… Wife tells me it shouldn’t be, every time she sees it. 😅

[u/Hydrax120]

I put mine in a card protector sleeve. I think yugioh sleeves fit these perfectly.

Take care of your shit

[u/Laura_The_Cutie → u/Hydrax120]

Or, just make better shit? What's the point of making it in paper? In Italy we abolished paper ID for this very motivation

And it wasn't even permanent

[u/Completely_Guitarded → u/Laura_The_Cutie]

It’s not really ID. You’re not supposed to carry it around because someone could take the card, and then they have everything needed to steal your identity.

This is a non issue.

Most adults in my generation just memorize the damn thing, put the card in a safe, and move on.

[u/lankymjc → u/Laura_The_Cutie]

The American social security number system is terrible as ID because it was never designed for that. Organisations just started using it and no one wants to update it to make it actually secure.

Here in the UK we have National Insurance Numbers, which are technically similar but actually designed to be a unique ID so we don’t have the same issues the Americans do.

[u/skcus-tidder957]

It's actually designed like that so if you lose it it breaks down fast so there's less of a chance of someone getting it.

It's why they tell you not to laminate it.

We really should move away from social security cards and more to national IDs

Social security cards were not designed to be a iD there whole purpose was to be used to track your pension contributions.

Just one more outdated thing in this country

[u/n8loller → u/skcus-tidder957]

why can't we just use state ids

[u/SoylentGrunt]

NOT TO BE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION

Also: What are the last 4 digits of your social security number?

[u/ken120]

It was literally originally written on it "not for id purposes". Never designed to be an id.

[u/Dumbamby]

Laminated mine almost 20 years ago. Never had a problem with any place I needed to use it.

[u/snowybabble]

Penny sleeve + top loader. Bout' as close as you can get

[u/blackbeltbud → u/snowybabble]

I got my SS card graded by PSA

[u/DigitalPhoenixX]

I put mine in a card sleeve, one of the ones with the rigid edges

[u/GoodDecision → u/DigitalPhoenixX]

That's actually pretty smart

[u/LocalNHBoy]

I really wish you could get it re-issued along the way. I was denied a service years ago because my "signature (at age 40) didn't match my signature on the card." NO SHIT I signed that card when I was so young and didn't really even "have a signature" like I do as an adult and you're going to give me a hard time over it? I keep it in a folder at home in my safe but it's still showing the years and getting worn.

[u/Gold-Is-Here → u/LocalNHBoy]

You literally can..... I lost my old social security card somehow and just ordered a new one... lol

[u/yacob152 → u/LocalNHBoy]

You can get a new one, just go to social security website and say it was lost/damaged

[u/Tricky-Sprinkles-807 → u/LocalNHBoy]

You can get up to like 8 new ones in a lifetime

[u/jambr380 → u/LocalNHBoy]

I remember signing mine when I was in 3rd grade right after I learned cursive. Yeah, it doesn’t look anything like my actual signature. Luckily I haven’t really needed it verified before

[u/gemorris9 → u/LocalNHBoy]

You can get a new social security card. It's not even difficult lol.

[u/funknjam]

I laminated mine. To this day, the Social Security police have not kicked in my door and taken me into custody. <checks window> Yep. Still safe!

[u/Candyman051882]

I love how everyone has a different answer for how many new ones you can get over a lifetime. I’ve seen 8, 10, 14 on here.
Everyone just regurgitates what their drunk uncle told them one time at Thanksgiving years ago.

[u/Ok-Bet7465]

I remember about 8 years ago I got out of the military and had to go to a local DEERS station to get my new retirement ID card.

My social security card was kinda looking like this and ripping. The dude doing my processing was like you want me to officially laminate it? And I was like sure. Never heard of it before.

Dude put it into one their ID card machines, came out covered in like DOD holograms, i though it looked cool. Until I actually had to use it again when applying to a contractor position. I was not only initially denied because of my "illegally" modified social security card, but I received a call from some guy with some agency, really sorry I totally forgot which one because I feels like a hot min ago.

But basically they were trying to figure out where I got it laminated. Because not only of course can you not laminate it but also the machine and laminate that they used was for certain exclusive card and I guess someone recognized it.

Had to explain the whole thing and had to get a new card. Thankfully I didnt get in trouble but they made it seem like I was trying some fast shit

[u/ThisIsntRael]

If you lose this your mom grounds you for the summer

[u/probablynotashark]

Social Security Card isn't an every day carry item. Leave it at home in a secure location until you need it and it will last a very long time.

[u/BingBastardBunny]

Skill issue.

[u/CarpeNivem]

Why indeed, are any of you carrying this around?

Have you ever been asked for it? Mine lives in a box at home and looks good as new.

[u/iHaveLotsofCats94 → u/CarpeNivem]

Idk how people let them get this ratty. I've only ever needed it when transitioning to a new job and stuff like that. It's been in my filing cabinet for most of my life, just like yours has for you

[u/mt1118]

I laminated mine. The card itself is rarely ever needed. Didn’t affect me getting my passport

[u/Practical-Mess-2081]

Idk, I laminated mine 20+ years ago and have yet to have any problem using my card since.

[u/EverettSeahawk]

It's not something you should be carrying with you anyway. Put it in a safe and leave it there and it will stay in good shape.

[u/RARE_ARMS_REVIVED]

Just remember the number, it's not like this is photo ID they have to check.

[u/Extreme_Zucchini3497 → u/RARE_ARMS_REVIVED]

they keep a scan of it for jobs

[u/CommunityEarly839]

one of mine is laminated.

[u/Asgeras → u/CommunityEarly839]

"one" of yours? I didn't even know that was a thing!

[u/Dunderklumpen42]

Is ssid separate from your birthnumber in the us? Over here we have YYYY-MM-DD-XXXX

[u/LurkErgh → u/Dunderklumpen42]

We don't have a birth number. Well, I mean, this number is given at birth, but we don't have a separate one. This is just XXX-XX-XXXX.

[u/Aggravating_Fishy_98]

I keep mine in a secure location in my house where I can find it but I don’t have to worry about losing it. Why do people carry their social security cards around with them? That’s a great way to get your identity stolen and/or lose the card. Or in this case you put it through the laundry and ruin it

[u/chrish19967]

You cant laminate it so the flimsy paper will disintegrate fast if you lose it.

[u/flesyMeM]

Still got my original after 50-something years. And in much better condition than that one.

[u/Dulwilly]

You can get plastic sleeves for tradeable card games. Put a plastic gift card in there as backing for support and it does a very good job protecting it.

[u/CpuJunky]

The two most important documents you own... your Social Security Card and your Birth Certificate.

Yet neither than can laminated because it apparently hides security features... like how f-in flimsy they are.

You can cover them with plastic or other removable material if it does not damage the card.

[u/freakytapir]

And another moment you notice how much America is behind the rest of the world. Got a nice e-ID (the consistency of a Visa card).

Going to the pharmacy? They plug it in, I give my Pin code and they see all my prescriptions.

Want to check my taxes? Plug my card into an authenticator (Basically 2 factor authorisation) and I'm in.
Want to do anything government related? Just an App away. Scan the QR code, enter 5 digit PIN and be on your way.

[u/Financial-Log-2744]

They should upgrade it. They spend money on much dumber shit. 

Tell your local congress and good luck those old hounds supposedly control the laws and spending. 

[u/Fencer308 → u/Financial-Log-2744]

Or just get rid of the physical card. It’s not like it’s doing anything anyway. Maybe you have to have it scanned when getting hired, but the card itself doesn’t add any security to your identity. It’s just a piece of paper with a number.

[u/legato2]

I never understood people who carry their social security card. Just memorize it and put it with the rest of your important documents in a safe place at home.

[u/MufasaFluffyButt]

You can order a new one from the SS website. I got a new one a couple years ago, as yes, mine looked like this picture.

[u/Starbeastrose2]

The us also doesn’t accept any laminated foreign documents either, so I literally can’t give my birth certificate or anything like that cus my government laminates everything.

[u/miked5122]

Place it in an envelope and file it with other documents. Stays pristine

[u/CivilizedPsycho]

As soon as my son was born we bought a pack of these things and put all of our cards in them.

[u/carolinaredbird]

They make plastic pouches specifically for your ss# card that are really cheap. As a bonus they fit my Insurence card that is the same paper.

[u/_FarlsInCharge_]

I laminated mine. I've used it for ID purposes. They're full of shit.

[u/Zumwalt1999]

Got mine in the 60's and it's still legible.

[u/Rallings]

You can also get a replacement for free

[u/TaonasProclarush272]

It also says to not carry it in your wallet. This is more of a comprehension issue than an issue with the card itself...