+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **30 MINUTES**     | **MODULE 5: SSN AND SSN VERIFICATION**          |
|                    |                                                 |
| **Display Learning | > The learning objective for this module is to  |
| Objectives**       | > give participants an understanding of the     |
|                    | > enumeration and verification of Social        |
|                    | > Security Numbers (SSNs), including background |
|                    | > information, the meaning of the SSN and how   |
|                    | > the SSN and Enumeration Verification System   |
|                    | > (EVS) interact with the Federal Parent        |
|                    | > Locator Service (FPLS).                       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | **TRAINING MATERIAL**                           |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > PowerPoint slide presentation                 |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Overhead projector                            |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Handouts (5-A, 5-B, 5-C, 5-D, 5-E, 5-F)       |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Flip chart with easel and markers             |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
|                    | #### I. History                                 |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | ###                                             |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | ### This module will provide you with some      |
|                    | general information regarding SSNs, including t |
|                    | heir history and what the number actually means |
|                    | . We will also look at how the verification pro |
|                    | cesses work to provide clean data, which is so  |
|                    | important for the matching process in the FPLS. |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > SSNs are used as a key identifier in child    |
|                    | > support cases. The quality of data and        |
|                    | > matches through the FPLS relies heavily on    |
|                    | > having correct SSNs. The Social Security      |
|                    | > Administration (SSA) is working closely with  |
|                    | > the Federal Office of Child Support           |
|                    | > Enforcement to ensure that the SSNs going     |
|                    | > into the National Directory of New Hires      |
|                    | > (NDNH) and the Federal Case Registry (FCR)    |
|                    | > are based on clean, correct data.             |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display          | ### First, let's                                |
| Background of      |  talk about the history and background of SSNs. |
| SSNs**             |                                                 |
|                    | A. Background                                   |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 1\. SSNs were first issued in 1936 as a way to  |
|                    | keep records of wages earned in order to        |
|                    | support benefit payments. The numbers were      |
|                    | given only to those in the workforce.           |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 2\. SSNs were never intended to be a national   |
|                    | identifier.                                     |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > For example, a Social Security card does not  |
|                    | > tell you that the person holding the card     |
|                    | > (standing in front of you) is actually the    |
|                    | > person the card says s/he is. Unlike a        |
|                    | > driver's license, a Social Security card does |
|                    | > not have a picture to identify the person.    |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display          | B. Legislation                                  |
| Legislation**      |                                                 |
|                    | 1\. During the 1960s, legislation was passed    |
| Have participants  | mandating additional governmental use of SSNs.  |
| think about the    | Congress decided that the Office of Personnel   |
| last time they     | Management (OPM) would use SSNs for all Federal |
| were asked for     | employees and for all those in the military.    |
| their SSN and what |                                                 |
| it was for.        | > At this point in time, the Internal Revenue   |
|                    | > Service (IRS) was using SSNs for tax          |
|                    | > identification purposes, but they were only   |
|                    | > being issued to wage earners. Therefore,      |
|                    | > non-working spouses and children did not get  |
|                    | > SSNs unless requested.                        |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 2\. During the 1970s, the use of SSNs was       |
|                    | expanded to the Aid to Families with Dependent  |
|                    | Children (AFDC) and the Department of Health    |
|                    | and Human Services (known then as HEW: Health,  |
|                    | Education and Welfare).                         |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 3\. The Privacy Act of 1974 basically governs   |
|                    | governmental use of SSNs. The Privacy Act does  |
|                    | not allow any automated interface with SSA      |
|                    | without consent, unless there is an approved    |
|                    | routine use under the Privacy Act.              |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 4\. An important note regarding the Privacy Act |
|                    | is that it applies to governmental agencies but |
|                    | does **not** apply to private industry.         |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > An example of how private industry uses SSNs  |
|                    | > can be seen when trying to rent a U-Haul      |
|                    | > truck. The potential renter is asked for      |
|                    | > his/her SSN. The renter can refuse to supply  |
|                    | > it, but the U-Haul company has the right to   |
|                    | > refuse to rent the truck.                     |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Basically, there are no laws such as the      |
|                    | > Privacy Act to protect private individuals    |
|                    | > from how the private sector uses SSNs.        |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > There are no controls in place regarding the  |
|                    | > uses of the SSN. Banks, schools, and even     |
|                    | > libraries use SSNs as a method of tracking    |
|                    | > people.                                       |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Furthermore, when you give a SSN to an        |
|                    | > employer or bank, there is no verification.   |
|                    | > So it's easy for people to make up a number,  |
|                    | > use another person's number, or even use the  |
|                    | > SSN of a dead person.                         |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Despite the fact that SSNs were never         |
|                    | > intended to be a national identifier, SSNs    |
|                    | > have become the ***de facto*** national       |
|                    | > identifier.                                   |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Because virtually every major database is     |
|                    | > accessed by SSN, a wrong SSN may result in    |
|                    | > never finding the person.                     |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display How Do   | #### II. Issuance                               |
| You Get an SSN?**  |                                                 |
|                    | A. Process---How do you get an SSN?             |
| Ask participants   |                                                 |
| how they got their | 1\. An SSN may be obtained in person, by going  |
| SSN number (at     | into a local SSA office, or through the mail.   |
| birth, applied     |                                                 |
| for...)            | > The majority of people actually go into the   |
|                    | > office to fill out an application.            |
| **Display          |                                                 |
| Enumeration at     | 2\. An applicant must be able to **prove**      |
| Birth (EAB)        | his/her **age, identity,** and **citizenship**. |
| Program**          |                                                 |
|                    | > Different items can be used to prove these    |
|                    | > things, such as:                              |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | a\. Driver's license                            |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | b\. Passport                                    |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | c\. Medical documents                           |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | The documentation available as proof depends    |
|                    | upon the age of the applicant.                  |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 3\. Applications are automatically entered      |
|                    | online.                                         |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 4.  After entry, applications are processed     |
|                    |     overnight.                                  |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     5\. Ninety-five percent of SSN cards are    |
|                    |     received by applicants within one week of   |
|                    |     making the application.                     |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     B. Enumeration at Birth (EAB) Program       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     1\. The EAB Program was established in the  |
|                    |     1980s.                                      |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     2\. There is a space on the birth           |
|                    |     certificate application form that can be    |
|                    |     checked, authorizing an SSN to be issued to |
|                    |     the newborn.                                |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     3\. This program is voluntary for parents   |
|                    |     and hospitals.                              |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     4\. The number of cards issued through the  |
|                    |     EAB has been increasing yearly.             |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 5.  Overall, the EAB Program has been extremely |
|                    |     successful, accounting for 68% of new cards |
|                    |     issued in FY 1997.                          |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display What's   | #### III. What's in a Number?                   |
| In A Number?**     |                                                 |
|                    | A. Past and Current                             |
| As a result of     |                                                 |
| this lack of       | 1\. Prior to 1973, State field offices assigned |
| automation, 5 ½    | numbers, and the numbers merely established     |
| million people     | that the person's card was issued by one of the |
| have legal         | offices within that State.                      |
| multiple SSNs.     |                                                 |
|                    | 2.  Since 1973, however, SSNs have been issued  |
| Refer to handout   |     solely by the SSA Central Office and each   |
| 5-A in Appendix A  |     of the three sections of the number has a   |
| on the "make-up"   |     specific meaning.                           |
| of the SSN.        |                                                 |
|                    | 3.  Multiple SSNs occur when one individual has |
| Refer to handout   |     more than one SSN. Legitimate reasons for   |
| 5-B in Appendix A  |     multiple SSNs include an individual who has |
| and have           |     been a victim of domestic abuse, someone    |
| participants find  |     who is in the witness protection program,   |
| the area for their |     or someone who objected to the original     |
| State.             |     number s/he was issued (e.g., 666).         |
|                    |                                                 |
| The social         | > This problem is also the result of a lack of  |
| security number    | > automation at the SSA prior to 1976. Prior to |
| Allocation         | > this time, SSNs were issued through a manual  |
| information can be | > process, and a person could easily apply for  |
| a locate tool.     | > and receive more than one SSN.                |
| Where the SSN was  |                                                 |
| issued may lead to | B. Three sections of the number (Area, Group,   |
| the participants   | Serial)                                         |
| home town and      |                                                 |
| provide vital      | 1\. The first three digits represent the        |
| locate             | "**area**" (or State) where the application for |
| information.       | an original SSN was filed. For example, in the  |
|                    | State of Arizona, the first three digits of     |
| Also, have         | SSNs issued are 526-527 and 600-601.            |
| participants look  |                                                 |
| at their own SSNs  | The digits are based upon the zip code of the   |
| to see what the    | address where the SSN is to be mailed. This is  |
| numbers tell us    | typically the applicant's residence.            |
| about them.        |                                                 |
|                    | 2\. The middle two digits represent the         |
| **Display Will SSA | "**group**." Group numbers range from 01 to 99, |
| Ever Run Out of    | but are not assigned consecutively. Before a    |
| Numbers?**         | new group is issued within an area (i.e., a     |
|                    | State), all numeric combinations must be        |
| Refer to handout   | exhausted.                                      |
| showing sample of  |                                                 |
| a High Group List  | Group numbers within an area are assigned as    |
| (handout 5-C,      | follows:                                        |
| Appendix A).       |                                                 |
|                    | a\. First, odd group numbers 01-09 are          |
| The first SSNs     | assigned.                                       |
| issued were to     |                                                 |
| people born in the | b\. Second, even numbers from 10 through 98 are |
| 1800s.             | assigned.                                       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | c.  Third, even numbers 02-08 are assigned.     |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     d\. Finally, odd numbers from 11-99 are     |
|                    |     assigned.                                   |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > The "group" was instituted in 1936 as a way   |
|                    | > to prevent fraud.                             |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > A group (either even or odd) is assigned      |
|                    | > within each area. Only when all combinations  |
|                    | > of the last four digits of the SSN number are |
|                    | > exhausted does the group change to the next   |
|                    | > even or odd group. This way, it is easy to    |
|                    | > determine if a number is fraudulent, because  |
|                    | > if a State is only on group 55 and a number   |
|                    | > is presented that is group 68, it is known    |
|                    | > immediately that the number is not correct.   |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > So, by knowing which areas are using which    |
|                    | > group numbers, a fraudulent number can be     |
|                    | > found easily.                                 |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > In addition, a **High Group List** is         |
|                    | > published monthly. This list indicates the    |
|                    | > group number currently in use for each "area" |
|                    | > code. This list is used as a reality check    |
|                    | > for numbers that may be in error or           |
|                    | > fraudulent.                                   |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 3\. The last four digits are the "**serial**"   |
|                    | numbers and run consecutively from 0001 through |
|                    | 9999.                                           |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | C.  So will the SSA ever run out of numbers?    |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | The SSA has never reissued a number.            |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | The SSA predicts that combinations of numbers   |
|                    | will not be exhausted for an additional 65      |
|                    | years.                                          |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display SSA      | **IV. Numident and Alphident Records within the |
| Master Database**  | SSA Master Data Base**                          |
|                    |                                                 |
| Information on the | > Data about SSNs is kept in two master         |
| master records is  | > records, the "Numident" and the "Alphident."  |
| based upon data    |                                                 |
| supplied the       | A. The Numident record is the Numerical Index   |
| original           | Record. It is a master file ordered by SSN.     |
| application and    |                                                 |
| official updates   | 1\. Data on the Numident data record includes:  |
| (such as name      |                                                 |
| changes).          | a\. SSN                                         |
|                    |                                                 |
| > The Alphident    | b\. Individual name at birth; current name;     |
| > records are      | other names used                                |
| > useful if        |                                                 |
| > someone has lost | c\. Mother's maiden name                        |
| > his/her SSN      |                                                 |
| > and/or does not  | d\. Father's name (optional)                    |
| > know or remember |                                                 |
| > the number. The  | e\. Date of birth (DOB)                         |
| > name can be used |                                                 |
| > to find his/her  | f.  City or county and State or county of birth |
| > number.          |                                                 |
|                    |     g\. Gender and race/ethnicity               |
|                    |     (race/ethnicity is optional)                |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | ```{=html}                                      |
|                    | <!-- -->                                        |
|                    | ```                                             |
|                    | h.  Citizenship (this has been requested since  |
|                    |     1982)                                       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     i\. Internal processing codes: reference    |
|                    |     number, cycle date, entry type, and form    |
|                    |     code (very old records have some            |
|                    |     information about the SSA claim type)       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    |     j\. Death records: SSN, name, DOB, gender,  |
|                    |     date of death, source of death information, |
|                    |     and cycle date                              |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | B. The Alphident record is an Alphabetical      |
|                    | Index Register. This is a cross-reference       |
|                    | listing by last name.                           |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| > **Display Data   | **V. Data Verification and FPLS**               |
| > Verification and |                                                 |
| > FPLS**           | A. All SSNs on new hire records, quarterly wage |
| >                  | and unemployment insurance are required to be   |
| > Tell             | verified by SSA before being posted to the      |
| > participants     | NDNH.                                           |
| > that they should |                                                 |
| > check how their  | > States have the option of having the new hire |
| > State is         | > data returned to them when the SSN is         |
| > handling the SSN | > unverified. The State can then try to get the |
| > verification     | > SSN corrected.                                |
| > data.            | >                                               |
| >                  | > The Federal Office of Child Support           |
| > Emphasize to     | > Enforcement (OCSE) and SSA are working        |
| > participants the | > together to explore the possibilities of a    |
| > need to          | > pilot program for a few States to send SSN    |
| > recognize the    | > verification data back directly to the        |
| > importance of    | > employers. The intent is to be able to        |
| > the SSN          | > correct SSNs through the employer.            |
| > verifications: A |                                                 |
| > case could have  | B.  Unemployment insurance (UI) records and     |
| > the wrong SSN    |     quarterly wage (QW) data are also being     |
| > for years, and   |     verified through the Enumeration            |
| > this would       |     Verification System (EVS). Data that is not |
| > affect tax       |     verified is not posted to the NDNH. The     |
| > intercepts and   |     State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs)  |
| > many other       |     have the option of receiving an error       |
| > enforcement      |     report on unverified SSNs.                  |
| > remedies.        |                                                 |
| >                  | C. All data submitted to the FCR on October 1,  |
| > QW data is       | 1998 will also be verified. The SSNs from the   |
| > complicated to   | State Case Registry will be verified prior to   |
| > verify because   | any data being posted to the FCR. This will     |
| > States carry     | assure that the data going into the FCR is      |
| > different data   | "clean" data.                                   |
| > on their records |                                                 |
| > (some carry name | OCSE is working with IV-D agencies to verify    |
| > and SSN, some    | their caseloads prior to October 1, 1998 so     |
| > only have SSN    | that States will have the ability to correct    |
| > and two or three | SSNs that are in error.                         |
| > letters of a     |                                                 |
| > name).           | **VI. SSN Terminology**                         |
| > Therefore, in    |                                                 |
| > the case of      | > Now, let's talk about terms to know in regard |
| > approximately 30 | > to SSNs.                                      |
| > States, the      |                                                 |
| > minimum data is  | A.  **Enumeration:** Enumeration refers to the  |
| > not available to |     assignment of the actual numbers by the     |
| > do a match.      |     SSA.                                        |
| > (Remind          |                                                 |
| > participants     | B. **Verification:** Verification is the        |
| > that minimum     | process by which SSNs are checked for           |
| > data is a        | authenticity. This is done through one or more  |
| > nine-digit SSN,  | routines developed within the EVS.              |
| > seven characters |                                                 |
| > of the last      | C. It's important to note that "verification"   |
| > name, and the    | simply indicates that the information on the    |
| > first character  | incoming record matches the record at SSA       |
| > of the first     | (i.e., the information that was provided at the |
| > name.)           | time of SSN application or information based on |
| >                  | changes that were later submitted for the SSN). |
| > **Display SSN    |                                                 |
| > Terminology**    |                                                 |
| >                  |                                                 |
| > The SSNs without |                                                 |
| > the minimum data |                                                 |
| > required (i.e.   |                                                 |
| > nonverifiable)   |                                                 |
| > are kept         |                                                 |
| > separate from    |                                                 |
| > the verified     |                                                 |
| > SSNs but are     |                                                 |
| > used in          |                                                 |
| > subsequent       |                                                 |
| > matching         |                                                 |
| > routines. This   |                                                 |
| > is different     |                                                 |
| > from those cases |                                                 |
| > in which the     |                                                 |
| > minimum amount   |                                                 |
| > of data is       |                                                 |
| > available but    |                                                 |
| > the SSN is       |                                                 |
| > **unverified**,  |                                                 |
| > and therefore    |                                                 |
| > not posted to    |                                                 |
| > the NDNH.        |                                                 |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
|                    | > So even when a person's SSN is verified, you  |
|                    | > have to remember that s/he **may or may not** |
|                    | > be the person named on the SSN.               |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 1\. For example, the person may have had a name |
|                    | change and not updated his/her SSN record with  |
|                    | the SSA.                                        |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 2.  In addition, prior to 1978, no proof of any |
|                    |     sort was required when applying for a SSN   |
|                    |     (since it was only to keep track of         |
|                    |     earnings for benefit purposes).             |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | ```{=html}                                      |
|                    | <!-- -->                                        |
|                    | ```                                             |
|                    | C.  **Unverified vs. nonverifiable:** An        |
|                    |     **unverified** SSN is one in which the      |
|                    |     record input does not match the record at   |
|                    |     SSA, even after all matching routines have  |
|                    |     been used. A **nonverifiable** SSN is one   |
|                    |     in which not enough data is available on    |
|                    |     the input record to attempt a verification. |
|                    |     This term only applies to quarterly wage    |
|                    |     data. The minimum data required to do a     |
|                    |     match is an SSN of nine digits, seven       |
|                    |     characters of the last name, and the first  |
|                    |     initial of the first name.                  |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display          | VII\. Enumeration Verification System (EVS)     |
| Enumeration        |                                                 |
| Verification       | > Now that we know what is "in" the SSN number, |
| System**           | > and we know how important the verification    |
|                    | > is, let's look at how the numbers are         |
| Remind             | > verified at SSA.                              |
| participants of    |                                                 |
| the discussion     | A. What does "verification" mean?               |
| regarding          |                                                 |
| verification       | 1\. Verification definition: Verifying that the |
| earlier in the     | name and SSN submitted on the incoming record   |
| training session.  | (the record submitted to SSA for verification   |
|                    | against the master database) matches the SSA    |
| As we'll discuss   | record.                                         |
| in a moment, the   |                                                 |
| Child Support      | B. How is verification done?                    |
| Enforcement        |                                                 |
| program gets more  | > Verification is done through **verification   |
| information back   | > routines**.                                   |
| than any other     |                                                 |
| agency that is     | 1\. Routines are programs that the SSN numbers  |
| allowed to verify  | are run through in order to try and match the   |
| SSNs. They receive | numbers with a submitted or incoming record,    |
| all possible       | such as quarterly wage SSN data.                |
| information back.  |                                                 |
|                    | 2\. There are 17 routine codes, seven of which  |
| NOTE: Some States  | are in use.                                     |
| are doing EVS      |                                                 |
| within their       | 3.  The routine to be used and the amount of    |
| State.             |     information to be returned to the agency is |
|                    |     determined by the agency requesting the     |
| Another routine,   |     data and Privacy Act rules.                 |
| Routine 212, is    |                                                 |
| used to verify     |     a\. Some agencies get only a "Yes" or "No"  |
| SSNs and provide   |     answer regarding whether there is or is not |
| multiple SSNs      |     a match.                                    |
| where they exist.  |                                                 |
| Child Support      |     b\. Some agencies receive a "Yes" or "No,"  |
| Enforcement is     |     plus a reason if there is not a match.      |
| temporarily not    |                                                 |
| using this routine | ```{=html}                                      |
| due to some        | <!-- -->                                        |
| problems with the  | ```                                             |
| data being         | c.  Some agencies will get a new SSN number.    |
| returned. However, |     Through a verification routine, a new SSN   |
| this routine will  |     may be determined to be a corrected number, |
| be utilized on FCR |     and may then be given to the agency.        |
| data, and any      |                                                 |
| multiple SSNs      |     The Child Support Enforcement Program       |
| returned will be   |     receives the most information available.    |
| run through        |     Everything possible is returned to the IV-D |
| Routine 220 for    |     agency, including a corrected               |
| further            |                                                 |
| verification.      |     number or a "new" SSN based on certain      |
|                    |     verification routines.                      |
| The main thing     |                                                 |
| that participants  |     4\. Child Support uses Routines 217 and     |
| need to know here  |     220.                                        |
| is that if the     |                                                 |
| submitted SSN is   | a\. Routine 217 uses a name, DOB, and six to    |
| not perfect, EVS   | find a missing person's SSN.                    |
| can still verify   |                                                 |
| the SSN due to     | The match routine is done using all three       |
| built in           | elements. If one match is found, it is          |
| tolerances.        | considered a match. If more than one match is   |
|                    | found, it is not considered to be a match.      |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | b\. Routine 220 looks at SSNs submitted for     |
|                    | verification.                                   |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | Routine 220 will take an existing SSN that is   |
|                    | sent in and verify it or correct a transposed   |
|                    | number.                                         |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | c\. The routines have **tolerances** built in   |
|                    | for name spelling and DOB.                      |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > **Name-spelling tolerances** are built into   |
|                    | > the routine to look for exact matches of a    |
|                    | > set number of positions (basically saying     |
|                    | > there could be a keying error, etc., but      |
|                    | > making the match). A tolerance is also built  |
|                    | > in to take into consideration the possible    |
|                    | > transposition of letters.                     |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > **A one-year tolerance in the year of birth** |
|                    | > (+ or -) is acceptable for verification if    |
|                    | > the month of birth on the input record agrees |
|                    | > exactly with the month of birth on the SSA    |
|                    | > Numident record.                              |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 5\. Single select routines                      |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > When a name cannot be verified using EVS name |
|                    | > or DOB tolerances, a single select routine is |
|                    | > used in Routine 217.                          |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > This process generates up to 89 different     |
|                    | > SSNs by substituting one digit of the SSN at  |
|                    | > a time and transposing two adjacent digits.   |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Then, if one and **ONLY** one SSN is located  |
|                    | > as a match on name, DOB and sex code, the SSN |
|                    | > is considered verified. (If more than one     |
|                    | > matches, it is not verified.)                 |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | 6\. Alpha search routines                       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > If an SSN cannot be verified using tolerances |
|                    | > or single select routine, SSA does one more   |
|                    | > alpha search.                                 |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > The first four digits of the first name, the  |
|                    | > first three digits of the middle name, and    |
|                    | > the first through eighth digits of the        |
|                    | > surname, along with the complete DOB, are     |
|                    | > compared.                                     |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > If one and **ONLY** one SSN is located, which |
|                    | > matches exactly on name and DOB, the SSN is   |
|                    | > considered verified.                          |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display Reasons  | ##                                              |
| for an Unverified  |                                                 |
| SSN**              | ## VIII. Unverified SSNs                        |
|                    |                                                 |
| Remember,          | A. What reasons are there for an unverified     |
| verification is    | SSN?                                            |
| made by comparing  |                                                 |
| the input record   | 1\. Errors in payroll records/data entry        |
| to the original    |                                                 |
| application data.  | 2\. Failure to notify SSA of name changes       |
|                    |                                                 |
| Unverified SSNs    | 3\. Incorrect information given to SSA          |
| will not be posted |                                                 |
| to the NDNH or the | 4\. Use of an incorrect SSN (memorized          |
| FCR database. By   | incorrectly)                                    |
| State option, the  |                                                 |
| data may be        | 5\. Errors on SSA records                       |
| returned for       |                                                 |
| corrections.       | B. What happens when an SSN is unverified?      |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | The State is notified that the SSN is           |
|                    | unverified and the data is not posted to the    |
|                    | NDNH.                                           |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Display SSN      | #### IX. SSN Importance                         |
| Importance**       |                                                 |
|                    | > At their inception in the 1930s, SSNs were    |
| Note how the SSA   | > merely a method to keep track of earnings.    |
| and OCSE are       | >                                               |
| working together   | > Over the years, however, the SSN has become a |
| in this effort.    | > unique identifier and an important data       |
|                    | > element in all child support cases.           |
| The NDNH is        | >                                               |
| actually housed at | > The quality of the SSN number in the NDNH and |
| SSA.               | > the FCR is an important key to locating       |
|                    | > noncustodial parents.                         |
| Tell participants  | >                                               |
| to think again     | > With the assistance of the SSA, the Child     |
| about the Reggie   | > Support Enforcement Program is receiving      |
| and Veronica case  | > validated SSNs, which can then be matched     |
| as well as the     | > against records of missing parents. This is   |
| Veronica and       | > an important step towards finding NCPs and    |
| Jughead case. What | > enforcing their financial obligations.        |
| would the problems |                                                 |
| be if Virginia has | ####                                            |
| the wrong SSN for  |                                                 |
| Reggie? For        |                                                 |
| Jughead?           |                                                 |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Refer to Handouts  | #### X. Exercises for SSN Identification.       |
| 5-D, 5-E and 5-F   |                                                 |
| in Appendix A.     | A.  Review Case 1. The state sent James Brown   |
|                    |     into the FPLS. What do you think is the key |
| Discuss with       |     criteria for this referral?                 |
| participants Case  |                                                 |
| 1, Handout 5-D.    | B.  Review Case 2. Do you see any matches? Is   |
| Illustrate how the |     there enough criteria to make a match?      |
| mother's name      |                                                 |
| played a key role  | C.  Review Case 3. The correct SSN is           |
| in correctly       |     333-33-3333. How could this be determined?  |
| identifying the    |                                                 |
| appropriate James  |                                                 |
| Brown. Notice that |                                                 |
| the DOB is one day |                                                 |
| off, the city      |                                                 |
| matches and the    |                                                 |
| mothers first name |                                                 |
| matches (probably  |                                                 |
| did not change     |                                                 |
| name after         |                                                 |
| marriage).         |                                                 |
|                    |                                                 |
| Discuss with       |                                                 |
| participants Case  |                                                 |
| 2, Handout 5-E.    |                                                 |
| There are no       |                                                 |
| matches that can   |                                                 |
| be made as there   |                                                 |
| are not enough     |                                                 |
| data matches.      |                                                 |
|                    |                                                 |
| Discuss with       |                                                 |
| participants Case  |                                                 |
| 3, Handout 5-F.    |                                                 |
| Apparently Liz     |                                                 |
| changes her name   |                                                 |
| with SSA when she  |                                                 |
| married, but is    |                                                 |
| now using her      |                                                 |
| married name.      |                                                 |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
|                    |                                                 |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+