Montana labor news., 1945-04-12
THE RIGHT WAY TO
USE SOCIAL SECURITY
ACCOUNT NUMBERS

To assist employers reuuce tne FO4ulllG
of correspondence and eliminate re-
checking often necessary in connection
with incorrect Or incomplete quarterly
Social Security reports, Patrick J .Shafer,
manager Of the Butte Social Security
Board field office suggests they adopt
the following procedure:
l. Require each |newly-hired employee
to produce his Social Security card when
hired or not later than his first payday
An employee who has never had an
account number card may obtain by
calling or writing the nearest field Of
flee. An employee living away from the
field office can obtain a Form SS-5,
Application for Account Number, from
his local postoffice. He should complete
it according to directions on the back Of
the form and mail it to the nearest field
office. The Butte office gives one-day
service on such items.
2. When preparing returns, employers
should report their employees names
and numbers exactly as shown on their
account number cards. A large amount
of correspondence can be eliminated if
this practice is followed. Women who
are working under married names with
out having had their maiden names
changed on their cards should be re-
quired to obtain a Change of Record
Application, Form OAAN-7O03, from the
field office or pOstoffice, so that their
correct working names will appear on
their cards. 1t is usually impossible tc
give them credit for wages reported
under wrongs names or numbers with
out first writing or contracting their en-
ployers. Employees sending in Forms
OAAN-7O03 should also send their ole
cards. A card with the same number
but showing the new name will be mailed
to them.
8. Employees who have lost theil
original cards should request a duplicate
copy by filing a Form SS-5 with the fielC
office. A space on the form permits
them to show when and where they OBJ.
tanned their original card. If their mum
Der is known it may be shown on tn,
!, bottom Of the form. As in the case o
newly married women, the practice o
allowing employees to guess at their &C
count numbers invariably results in EN-
ployers reporting incorrect information
and having to answer correspondence t
correct their reports later on.
n Employees also have responsibilities il
o the proper use and care Of their accoun
o number cards. They stand the loss whe
IL wages cannot be credited to their &C
counts because wrong names or number
# were reported or because they failed
show employers their number cards. A
employees wage record is the basis fC
determining whether he is insured.
is used to compute the amount Of h
es benefit when he r%etires, or figure h
le survivors insurance if he dies.
Of BY cooperating with employer, wa
y. earners protect their own interests al
help employers and the governme
eliminate the costly handling of u
ry necessary correspondence and checkir
his Workers who have never had an a
count number card or who do not ne
one should not apply for a card until
lit. is needed. workers who have more tn
nd one number card, with different nun
bers. should notify the board immediat
10 ly and have their accounts combin'
to Otherwise they may lose wages credit
ng, to the earlier accounts