E-verify is an internet-based program that takes information entered by an employer from an I-9 form against the records of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. This comparison is done for the purpose of confirming a potential employee's ability to work in the United States. Abuse of the E-verify system is against California law and can subject an employer who abuses the system to significant penalties. Abuse includes any unnecessary re-verification or threatened re-verification that is not required by federal law. Typically, the E-verify system is only used when an employee is being hired, or in some cases when an employee is taking a new position within the same company.