united-states sec fiduciary-duties social-security
Can a social security card be used/required as identification?
<p>A FINRA-regulated institution is restricting my account on suspicion of identity theft and requiring that I give them a copy of my social security <em>card</em> which I of course don't have because what use does it even have? It has no photo or even date of birth or other identifying details so why would anyone even keep it?</p>
<p>Even the SSA itself suggests that it is useless and unimportant, that if you've lost it you probably don't even need to replace it. Furthermore you can even be prohibited from obtaining a replacement if you get too many in a year or your lifetime. What if you're past your quota?</p>
<p>In short, is it legal to require one to present their SSC as a precondition to accessing one's own funds? And corollary, are there any SEC/FINRA regulations that <em>require</em> an institution to demand one's SSC as identification?</p>

<p>Many financial institutions have to withhold taxes on the customer's behalf or at least notify the federal government of transactions like interest payments. To do that they need the customer's SSN or tax payer id and <a href="https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/help-topics/bank-accounts/required-identification/id-ssn.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">they are authorized to require that information</a>. It isn't so much for ID purposes as making sure the info gets to the right tax account. If they suspect you of identity theft they may need some sort of documentary evidence of your SSN or taxpayer id rather than just your say so</p>
<p>As trivial as it seems, <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10559.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a social security card is legal proof of your SSN</a></p>

<p>You have an unquestionable common law property right to what is in these accounts. An institution can make reasonable demands that you prove that you are the person entitled to that account. No aspect of <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/search?search%5Bdate%5D=current&amp;search%5Bhierarchy%5D%5Btitle%5D=17&amp;search%5Bquery%5D=social%20security%20card&amp;view=standard" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Title 17</a> (SEC) requires the presentation of an SS card, nor does any part of Title 17 authorize an institution to deny a person's property rights because they do not present an SS card. The institution can make reasonable requirements for proof of identity, and <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109" rel="nofollow noreferrer">26 USC 6109</a> says what that means w.r.t. identifying numbers. Nothing therein say anything about a <em>card</em> w.r.t. connecting a person to a TIN. This can involve the institution submitting forms, see <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103982/000119312509247360/dex995.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. It is most likely that they have to submit form W-9 – I assume you have an SS number. That is the extent to which the brokerage company can legally delay you accessing your property.</p>

<p>No.  My social security card said on its face: <strong>Not to be used for identification.</strong></p>
<p>I note, however, that I haven't seen my card for decades.  I think more recent cards lack that note.</p>
