question re the american social security number

[foxy00]

my daughter asked this last night when viewing a show

this number is allocated to you on birth?
what happens if someone steals the id? is this very easy
can you be allocated another number?

we dont have such a concept in Australia. they tried, and got bad reactions about big brother watching.

[huney]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_security_number

[fbibob]

Short answer: each individual must apply for this number. It is especially important for taxes. Parents will apply for the number for their children shortly after they are born so they can claim the kids as dependents on their taxes. Adults (and immigrants) apply for the number because an employer cannot pay you without an SSN to credit payroll taxes to.

[IamKeenan]

It is with you all life and cannot be changed

[foxy00]

thanks keenan, so its similar to our tax file number except we dont apply for one until you need ot pay taxes. and in cases we can get a new one.

[IamKeenan]

thanks keenan, so its similar to our tax file number except we dont apply for one until you need ot pay taxes. and in cases we can get a new one.


Yeah so basically this is also a way the goverment can track you and lots of people take extreme offence to it. Coz you have it from birth till death

[slkasop]

Foxy, it is also known as your taxpayer identification number. Originally you did not need one until you started working. Now, they require you to get one for each child in order to claim that child as a dependent and obtain the tax deductions and credits. Soon they will require it to be a tatoo so that everyone can be tracked. Maybe even insert an rfid under the skin too.

[Lucker]

Yeah so basically this is also a way the goverment can track you and lots of people take extreme offence to it. Coz you have it from birth till death

Except when you take someone elses number because they are dead and buried .
Or , find a homeless alcoholic and make sure you have all his information before you take him sea fishing .