The social security that one is issued by the government is a lifetime number, and one of the most if not the most important piece of identification that you own. It is to be safeguarded always, and the utmost care must be taken for it not to fall into the wrong hands.

There are ways to protect against your social security number being stolen, and you can start by never carrying it in your wallet. Wallets get lost and most things in it can be replaced but by the time you report and are issued a new social security number, a tremendous amount of damage can already be done. Never write it on a personal check as a form of i.d. and only give the number out when it is absolutely necessary. There are times like when you need to give it for tax reasons to an employer or when a credit check is being done, but always think about whether the reason is legitimate and reasonable before giving it out. Its perfectly fine to ask someone who is asking for it why they need it just as it is fine to ask how it will be used and how they plan to protect the number once they have it. You can also ask what theyll do if you dont give it to them. Some places will actually back down. Many utility companies require it and you are often asked to identify yourself by citing the last four digits. This is more and more common so for those who havent memorized their number, its a good thing to do.

After all, your social security number identifies you for life. It is yours and yours alone so guard it carefully.

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