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How to Locate a Person by a Social Security Number

Contributor
By Pepper Mcconnell
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)
Each eligible citizen has a unique SSN.
Each eligible citizen has a unique SSN.

There are several options for finding someone using his social security number. Because of the advances in identity theft, you should carefully consider if using a social security number is the best option. Depending on the type of information you are looking for, there are free and fee-based search options. The more information you require, the more expensive the fees are.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Internet access
  • Social Security Number
  • Last name of individual

    For Employers

  1. Step 1

    Visit the Social Security Administration website at www.ssa.gov and follow the links for employers.

  2. Step 2

    Verify that you are a valid employer or payroll personnel. Using this feature to search for social security number matches is only available to employers of current employees and carries severe penalties for misuse.

  3. Step 3

    Register your company or organization using your employer identification information.

  4. Step 4

    Submit names and Social Security numbers of the employees you want to verify. This feature allows you to check up to 10 names per day.

  5. Step 5

    Review the results for accuracy. Notify the Social Security Administration of any discrepancies.

  6. Genealogy Research & Family

  7. Step 1

    Be sure you have considered other options for locating desired information and are aware of the risks and implications of making the owner of the social security number in question vulnerable to identity theft.

  8. Step 2

    Search the Social Security Death Index (SSDI or SSDR) for information regarding deceased individuals. This database search is available at no cost at ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com.

  9. Step 3

    Use a professional investigation service for finding someone living and currently using the social security number, as identity theft protective measures prevent access to information in many cases. These services are all fee-based and range between $1.95 to $99.99.

  10. Step 4

    When you have the information you need, you should destroy confidential information to protect the owner of the Social Security number.

Tips & Warnings
  • Never publicize social security numbers. Using a social security number online creates potential identity theft risk.

References

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