Lawyers Discuss Protecting Your Social Security Disability Information –

We all know that identity theft is on the rise. And in the wake of the “data breaches” that have occurred recently at banks, retailers and major corporations, we all are concerned with keeping our credit card numbers and our online information safe. But many people forget about a more “old fashioned” – but equally dangerous – type of data breach.

We’re talking about paper theft of your Social Security Number. You may not have even noticed, but your SSN is still printed in-full on much of the correspondence and documentation that you receive from the Social Security Administration.

In fact, a recent study by the Social Security’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently issued a report that found 66% of the notices that the Social Security Administration sends out include a Social Security number!  Obviously, this creates a risk of your Social Security number falling into the wrong hands.

Social Security Disability Mail Contains Your SSN

In the OIG study it was recommended that the Social Security Administration remove Social Security numbers from their correspondence, and replace it with the claimant’s Beneficiary Notice Control Number instead. But, rather unbelievably, Social Security’s response to the OIG report was that using Social Security numbers for correspondence identification was “necessary” and “central to its business process.”

In typical government agency fashion, the SSA has met more than once to consider this issue. But to date they have continued to delay taking any action. At this point they have simply stated that they will “explore” existing information technologies to replace the SSN with the Beneficiary Notice Control Number on notices. But nothing has been done.

In the meantime, we recommend that our clients take special care to examine any and all correspondence that they receive from the SSA – whether related to Social Security Disability, SSI, retirement benefits or anything else!

Be sure to shred any Social Security correspondence you receive with your SSN on it. (If you don’t have a shredder, a pair of scissors will do.) Just make certain that your SSN can not be determined (or reconstructed) from the destroyed document.

Questions? Call the Anaheim Area’s Best Social Security Lawyers: 562-622-4800

Our experienced Social Security lawyers have helped hundreds of individuals in Orange County, Anaheim & the greater Los Angeles area collect the maximum Social Security for which they qualify. Call our lawyers today for your FREE consultation.