Am I required to provide my social security number to a ploice officer or federal agent if requested?

Question

Additionally, is there a nationwide law or does it vary from state to state? Where is this information available to the public?

Answer 1

No... HOWEVER... If you are being detained for any reason whatsoever and you feel as though you tapped your depth of defense on your own - you can request to have representation attend to you. Immediately whatever questioning they have been plying you with should cease - if they continue then they are violating your rights of representation (as you've come to the conclusion that they are asking questions that you can't/don't know how/or are confused by answering)

There is no nationwide law - nor is there a state law. Federal employees have no special mandate or authority to demand identification beyond your drivers license, Passport (which lists your ss#), or state id. (essentially, something verifiable to demonstrate that you are you) - your ss# offers no practical value.

What does tend to happen is bullying and coercion - which again is illegal, but very hard to prove. This tends to happen because as you "refuse" to provide them with the material - the questioning tends to get more hostile. A fair tactic in any type of questioning of this nature is to be polite, but firm.

Don't deviate from polite and firm - in your refusal.

Answer 2

It depends, on the street during a traffic stop, or investigation your social security number does not have to be provided, it proves nothing to a police officer. It does have to be provided to a federal agent if they are verifing your status to work in the U.S.
However, if you are arrested you do have to provide your social security number, along with other personal information, in some states it can be a felony to refuse to give information to a booking officer in a jail.

Answer 3

Arrrrgh!

I did answer this same question yesterday, I gave the wrong answer though! In the State of Arizona you have a responsibility to provide identification in the following manner:

13-2412. Refusing to provide truthful name when lawfully detained; classification

A. It is unlawful for a person, after being advised that the person's refusal to answer is unlawful, to fail or refuse to state the person's true full name on request of a peace officer who has lawfully detained the person based on reasonable suspicion that the person has committed, is committing or is about to commit a crime. A person detained under this section shall state the person's true full name, but shall not be compelled to answer any other inquiry of a peace officer.

B. A person who violates this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor

So Thar ye be. Ye need not give yer Social in Arizona.

Answer 4

Yes you do and you don't. In most cases you can be asked for ID from a police officer/agent. You are not required to ID yourself if asked but that does add to an officers reasonable suspicion to take their actions with you to another higher level.
The statement on the old SS card "not to be used for identification" was meant for the owner of the card. The card is not their ID, it is just a card. States and others use it for ID ll of the time. It is like the "Do Not Remove" content strip on mattresses and furniture. That is for the maker/seller not the consumer.
In my state they require the actual card for a driver's license, they will not even accept a U.S. passport or other government picture ID in lieu of the SS card.

Answer 5

At one time you did not have to give your social security number to anyone or any entity except the Internal Revenue Service. This is the promise the government made to the people when they require them to get their numbers. Now they are national identification numbers. I couldn't get my driver's license renewed until I gave them my SS#. It is governed by federal law, but I don't think you have to give it to the police. Plead the fifth.

It should not be called social security number. It should be called what it is, a national identification number, just like the communist use.

Answer 6

Yes..... the Supreme Court of the United States ruled you must give all biographical information requested by Law Enforcement... including your SS number.

Been around as law for a very long time.

Answer 7

Yes, you are. You must provide whatever they ask for..... Under normal circumstances, an office wouldn't ask for it but if there is a reason to believe that info on your drivers license might be "fishy", they are able to confirm your identity by using your SocSec number.

If a Federal Agent requests it, it is best to comply. Under the Patriot Act (a farce!!), you are required to provide what a Federal Agent needs.

Answer 8

Yes you must provide that information pursuant to the "debt collections act of 1984."

Pleading the 5th, will get you arrested for obstruction of justice.

Answer 9

I suggest that you read the Social Security Card. You should NEVER give this number to ANYONE. That's why you have a state photo identification number...for identification purposes! Any Officer or Agent who asks you for your social is out of line or out of options!

Answer 10

"Pleading the 5th" only protects you from incriminating yourself. Information such as you social security number is not protected by the 5th Amendment, as it is only identifying information, just like you name and date of birth. To add, many states have laws for refusing to give that identifying information.