What Is An SSN Trace?

Social security numbers do so much more than verify someone’s identity. They can also point to a lifetime’s worth of valuable records.

Here is everything you need to know about an SSN trace as a piece of your overall background check process.

What is an SSN trace?

An SSN trace is typically the first step in a background check. It pulls up various data associated with a particular social security number. It works by matching up that social security number with names and aliases associated with it. It uses many different information sources, such as credit bureaus and the USPS mail forwarding system to bring up addresses and dates of birth, where and when the SSN was issued, and if the SSN happens to be in the social security master death file.  The information gained by a SSN trace can then be used to inform other relevant searches that can be performed.  It functions in many cases as a pointer to other information. The data from an SSN trace is far more comprehensive than what you would find by simply searching a name or an address. It’s so thorough and reliable that most employers now routinely use it as part of a routine background check on new hires.

What is an SSN trace NOT used for?

An SSN trace can unearth a wealth of information; however, it can’t detect everything. There’s one critical piece of information you won’t find: whether or not the applicant is the real owner of the given social security number. In addition to this limitation, it’s important to keep in mind that fraud or inaccuracy can cause incorrect information to come up in an SSN trace.

Beyond that, although an SSN trace can provide insights into the various addresses and aliases connected with a social security number, it doesn’t give a full picture of the applicant. It’s up to the employer to verify any information that is discovered, to find its source, and determine its accuracy. It’s used as a pointer search, and should not be used for FCRA decision making. As such, an SSN trace is just one small piece of a much larger picture of who the applicant is, and should be used along with other kinds of records.

Why run an SSN trace as part of a background check?

You might be asking, if an SSN trace yields such a small glimpse of an applicant, why use it?

The truth is, an SSN trace can be helpful for many reasons. To begin with, it points you in the right direction, signaling where to search for records of criminal history. It casts a wider net in your search, since it often includes relevant information such as potential aliases or addresses in the search. It can also alert you to any discrepancies in the information provided by the candidate. For example, if they give you a date of birth that conflicts with the information found in the SSN trace, this can be an indicator that you need to dig deeper. In addition, an SSN trace can expose gaps in the candidate’s address history, allowing employers to conduct a more thorough background check which includes all previous addresses.

An SSN trace is one small piece of the background check of a candidate. Here at Veriswift, we can help you conduct a thorough background check through skillful use and understanding of an SSN trace search as one of many components.