You cannot legally obtain someone else's Social Security number without their permission

A Social Security number belongs to that person alone. The Social Security Administration does not release numbers to third parties, and most organisations that hold them are legally prohibited from sharing them. If you need someone's number for a legitimate reason — payroll, tax reporting, a loan process — you must ask them directly or receive it through an official channel where they have consented to share it.

If you have lost your own Social Security number or need to retrieve it, the process is straightforward. If you are trying to locate someone else's number for a lawful purpose, the path depends on your relationship to that person and why you need it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Social Security Administration will not give out anyone's number to a third party, even with a court order in most cases.
  • If you need someone's number for payroll or tax purposes, ask them directly or request it through your employer's official HR channel.
  • If you have lost your own number, you can retrieve it from tax returns, W-2 forms, bank statements, or by contacting the Social Security Administration in person with ID.
  • Attempting to obtain someone else's number without permission is identity theft and is a federal crime.
  • Employers, banks, and government agencies that hold Social Security numbers are bound by law to keep them confidential.

Finding your own Social Security number

If you need your own number, check documents you already have. Your Social Security number appears on your most recent tax return, any W-2 form from an employer, bank statements, and mortgage or loan paperwork. You can also look at your Social Security card itself if you still have it.

If none of those documents are available, you can visit your local Social Security Administration office in person. Bring a photo ID, proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or naturalisation papers), and proof of current address (utility bill, lease, or bank statement). The office will verify your identity and provide your number. You can find your nearest office at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

You can also create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. Once you set up the account with your identity information, you can view your Social Security number, earnings record, and benefit estimates without visiting an office.

When an employer or organisation needs someone's number

If you are an employer, payroll processor, or financial institution that needs a Social Security number from someone else, you must ask them directly. Provide a form or written request that clearly states why you need it and how you will protect it. The person can then choose to provide it or decline.

For payroll purposes, your HR department should have a standard form employees complete when hired. For tax reporting, you will need the number to file W-2 forms or 1099 forms with the IRS. For loan or credit applications, the applicant provides their own number as part of the process.

If someone refuses to provide their number and you genuinely need it for a lawful business purpose, document the refusal and consult your legal or compliance team. You cannot search for it through other means.

What you cannot do

You cannot contact the Social Security Administration and request someone else's number. The agency will not provide it. You cannot call a person's employer, bank, or previous employers to ask for their number. Those organisations are legally required to refuse.

You cannot search public records, courthouse databases, or online people-search websites to find someone's Social Security number. While some private databases may claim to hold this information, obtaining it without the person's consent is illegal. Searching for someone's number with intent to use it without permission is identity theft under federal law and can result in criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment.

You also cannot use someone's number that you happen to know or have seen. Using another person's Social Security number to open accounts, file taxes, obtain credit, or conduct any transaction in their name without permission is fraud and identity theft.

If you suspect identity theft

If you believe someone has obtained and used your Social Security number without permission, contact the Social Security Administration's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271. You can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov, which will create a record and provide you with a recovery plan.

Place a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You only need to contact one; that bureau will notify the others. A fraud alert tells creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name.

Check your credit report for accounts you did not open. You can view your report free once per year at annualcreditreport.com. If you find fraudulent accounts, dispute them with the credit bureau and the creditor directly.

Legal ways to verify someone's identity

If you need to confirm someone's identity for a legitimate business purpose, use methods that do not require their Social Security number. Ask for a photo ID, verify their address through mail or utility bills, or use a third-party identity verification service that the person has consented to use.

For employment, you can use the E-Verify system, which is run by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Employers submit an employee's name, date of birth, and Social Security number, and E-Verify checks it against government records. The employee must consent and provide the number themselves; you do not search for it independently.

For financial transactions, most banks and lenders have their own identity verification processes that do not require you to hunt down a number. The applicant provides it as part of their process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find someone's Social Security number if I have their name and date of birth?

No. Social Security numbers are not indexed by name or date of birth in any public database. The Social Security Administration does not release this information, and no legitimate organisation will provide it based on those details alone. If you need someone's number, you must ask them directly.

What if I need someone's number for a court case or legal matter?

Even in legal proceedings, you cannot obtain someone's Social Security number from the Social Security Administration without their consent. You must request it directly from the person involved or through their attorney. If it is necessary for the case, the court may order the person to provide it, but that order comes from the judge, not from you searching independently.

Is it illegal to look up someone's Social Security number online?

Searching for someone's number with the intent to use it without their permission is illegal. It is identity theft. However, if you are straightforward researching how Social Security numbers work or reading educational information, that is not illegal. The crime is in obtaining and using the number without consent.

Can a background check company find someone's Social Security number?

Background check companies do not have access to Social Security numbers through official channels. Some may claim to have databases that include this information, but obtaining it that way is not legal. If you need a background check, use a licensed company that follows proper legal procedures and only accesses information the subject has consented to share.

What should I do if someone asks me for my Social Security number and I do not trust them?

You can always refuse. Legitimate organisations will explain why they need it and how they will protect it. If you are unsure, contact the organisation directly using a phone number or website you know is real — not a number or link they provided. Never give your number to someone who calls you unexpectedly or contacts you through email or text.