Following are three actual letters [edited] received by individuals about social security from the SS Administration.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES                                          Social Security Administration 
                                                                                                                                    P.O. Box 27188
                                                                                                              Raleigh, NC 127811

April 20, 1990

Mr.

Dear Mr

Social Security does not require anyone to have a Social Security' number.

Other government agencies and employers require individuals to obtain numbers in order to participate in their programs.

We do not have copies of the Social Security Act available.

Sincerely,

William Greenwald
District Manager

Letter 2
THE COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY
	BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21235

JUL I5 1988

Refer to:
SEP71

Mr. Rodney Rickman
16 South 11th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66102

Dear Mr. Rickman:

This is in response to your letter of June 25.

We can understand your concern about getting a Social Security number before you can begin work. The Internal Revenue Code 26 U.S.C. 6109 (a)) and applicable regulations (26 CFR 301.6109‑1 (d)) require an individual to get and use a Social Security number on tax documents and to furnish that number to any other person or institution (such as an employer or a bank) that is required to furnish to the Internal Revenue Service information about payments to the individual. There are penalties for failure to do so (see 26 U.S.C. 6675 (a) and 26 CFR 301.6676‑1).

Section 205 (c) (2) (A) of the Social Security Act requires the Social Security Administration to establish and maintain records of wages and self‑employment income for each individual whose work is covered under the program. Workers who do not wish to use their Social Security numbers for religious at other reasons should get in touch with the Internal Revenue Service office in their area to explain their position and receive advice on how to proceed.

We do not have the authority to require an employer to provide or deny employment or services to anyone who refuses to disclose his or her number. This is a matter between the individual and the employer.

We hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Dorcas R. Hardy
Commissioner of Social Security

Letter 3

DEPARTMENT Of HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES	Social Security Act
Refer to:

Jerome T. Schiefen
RR 1. Box 149
Hudson, SD 57034

Dear Mr. Schiefen,

705 E 41st Street
PO Box 1710
Sioux Falls SO 57105

January 10, 1990

Your recent letter to the Attorney General's office has been forwarded to us to answer.

Social Security is a voluntary system in that no one is required to get a number. However, programs which use social 
security numbers for control purposes might not allow a person without a social security number to participate.

The Internal Revenue Service uses  social security numbers as taxpayer identification numbers. P.L. 87‑397 was passed on October 5, 1961 requiring each taxpayer to furnish an identifying number for tax reporting purposes. Because of this:employers must have the social security number of their worker to legally report their earnings.They could not continue to employ an individual for whom they could not 
legally report earnings.

A bank or lending institution is not governed by social security rules 
but I doubt very much if they would refuse a loan simply because the 
applicant had no social security number. However, a person with no social security number would have no taxable income (see paragraph above) and I am sure this fact would have a bearing an their decision.

An inheritance large enough to be taxable would require the recipient to get a social security number for IRS purposes. The person leaving the inheritance would not be required to have a social security number just for this purpose.

I hope this helps answer your questions. If you need any further information, you may call us at 1‑800‑952‑0100.

Sincerely,

Penny Payton
Claims Representative

I hereby certify that the above letter from the Department of Health & Human Services to Jerome T. Schiefen, RR 1. box 149, Hudson, South Dakota 57034, dated January 10, 1990 is a true and correct copy of the original.

NOTARY