Social Security Change Check List

The Social Security Administration

When you change your social security number with the Social Security Administration you will need to formally request a new social security number. This is a big step. A lot of thought will need to be put into this and it will take some time to do it correctly.

Please remember that just because you have changed your social security number does not mean that that is the end of it. It is the end of what the Social Security Administration will help you with. The Social Security Administration will not inform you on how to clean up the rest of your life and what to do with this new number. I have seen many people who have changed their social because of extreme identity theft and have no other recourse end up worse off. This is due partly because they were never informed of all the steps needed to take when there is a change of SSN. Also, the people you are dealing with at the Social Security Administration are not trained specifically changing your Social Security Numbers and do not understand the complexity of identity theft. You need to be very clear with them about what it is you are doing and what it is that needs to be done. Everything we have outline in this check list can be done.

 Clear you’re Work History with the Social Security Administration. Have your true Work History transferred from your old SSN file to your new SSN file on the Work History record. All the fraudulent work history records and earnings needs to be put into the Social Security Administration’s general file, completely removed from your SSN file. Now you might feel like you want to keep those earnings the fraud earned under your identity, what’s fair is fair right? Wrong you don’t want it! You need to have this person completely away from you as possible. Besides this person can come back when eligible for benefits and is entitled to that money because they earned it.

 Have the Social Security Administration flag your old file and old social security number that any one using that number is an imposter. Please understand that the old number never will be shut down or taken out of the system, it will always be active. Where it will be linked is through the Social Security Administration’s system to IRS and the Department of Motor vehicles.

 Ask for a letter from the SSA explaining that they have issued you a new social security number. This letter needs to state you will no longer be using the old number and to start to refer to the new number. This is important document when you are changing everything else over.

Driver's License

We recommend that you get a new drivers license number with your new information. This would be done through the DMV or the Department of Transportation. Please note that sometimes their system will sweep the old and new number and ask to verify your identity. This usually comes in the form of a renewal notice.

The Credit Reporting Agencies

When you change your information with the three major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax) there are two schools of thought.

One is to leave all of your credit behind. This would mean closing out all of your old accounts. To start out new with the hope the credit reporting agencies will not merge old and new information, making one giant mess of a report. If this works then you will have to start out new and slowly to rebuild your credit. This works for younger people who can explain away the doubts the business world might have.

One other is to work with your creditors and the credit reporting agency to take the old credit reports offline. Have those reports flagged not to merge. Have the companies report the new information under your new SSN, thus starting new credit reports. This does, however require you to go though all of the companies you have had credit with in the last seven years and change the information they are reporting.

We recommend if you had good standing with your creditors and utility companies that you get a letter from then when closing these accounts stating your good standing.