How to lock your Social Security number

How does locking a Social Security number work?

To help protect yourself financially and stop thieves from opening lines of credit in your name, you should also request a credit freeze. Freezing your credit is similar to locking your SSN in that both are ways to safeguard your personal information and help protect against identity theft.

How to lock your Social Security number

Your SSN is used for many different purposes, and locking it completely is a bit of a process. Follow the steps below to lock your Social Security number.

1. Call the Social Security Administration

The first thing you should do when locking your SSN is call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to block electronic access. This will prevent anyone (including you) from accessing your online Social Security account and changing your personal info or records. If you need to make any changes, you can unlock your Social Security number by calling the SSA again—just note that you’ll need to provide some form of proof of identity.

E-Verify is a government service that helps employers confirm the work eligibility of potential employees. To stop someone from applying for a job with your SSN, create a Self Lock with E-Verify.

1. Create an E-Verify account.
2. Select the Self Lock option.
3. Set 3 security questions and their answers. Ensure you keep the answers somewhere safe and private so you can log in and unlock your SSN later.
4. Confirm that you want to apply a Self Lock.

Once your SSN is locked, it will not appear in E-Verify searches. If you know a potential employer will be confirming your employment status, you can temporarily unlock your SSN until they verify your identity.

3. Contact the major credit reporting agencies

In addition to locking your SSN, it’s recommended that you also perform a credit freeze or credit lock. A credit freeze is sometimes referred to as freezing your Social Security number, and doing this can help stop thieves from opening new lines of credit in your name.

Here’s how to contact the major credit reporting agencies to request a credit lock:

• Equifax: Call 1-800-349-9960 or request a freeze online.
• Experian: Create an online account then freeze your credit online.
• TransUnion: Call 1-888-909-8872 or request a freeze online.

When should you lock your SSN?

Your Social Security number and other personal data aren’t as secure as you might think. If you need to protect your personal information and don’t need to open a financial account, apply for a loan, or get a new job anytime soon, that can be a good time to lock your SSN and freeze your credit.

Here are some examples of when you should lock your SSN:

• Your information was in a data breach: A data breach happens when sensitive information, such as an account containing your SSN, is stolen or made public. Locking your SSN should be one of your first steps after a data breach.
• Your mail is missing: Thieves will sometimes steal mail in hopes of finding sensitive documents containing your SSN and other personal info. If you’re not receiving bills or other important or sensitive mail, lock your SSN.
• Your wallet is stolen: Your wallet contains a lot of personal information. So if you lose your wallet or lose your Social Security card, lock your SSN asap. Then, once your Social Security card is replaced, don’t carry it around with you.
• Your bank accounts were compromised: Information associated with your bank account may contain your SSN. Even if it doesn't, thieves can often use info from a single account to access linked accounts, such as credit cards or loans, which also use your SSN for verification.
• You receive notice of job applications: If you receive notifications about your employment status, requested benefits, or financial updates you don’t recognize, it might mean someone has stolen your SSN and is impersonating you.

What happens when you lock your Social Security number

When you lock your Social Security number, it blocks employment verification through E-Verify, which helps protect against job-related identity theft. But, you’ll need to manually unlock it when you’re applying for jobs. For better identity theft protection, you should also apply a credit freeze.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the benefits and drawbacks of locking your Social Security number:

Benefits of locking your SSN

Locking your Social Security number helps prevent thieves from using your personal information against you or to commit fraud. Even if they access your SSN, they won’t be able to use it to change certain government records or employment.

Here are a few actions that a Social Security lock may prevent thieves from doing:

• Using your SSN to get a job: If you apply a Self Lock on your Social Security number via the E-Verify website, no one will be able to get a job using your SSN.
• Using your SSN to apply for government benefits: To apply for social security, retirement, and disability benefits online, your SSN must be unlocked at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Blocking electronic access to your SSN will make it much harder for thieves to request or modify these benefits.

After locking your SSN, you can also freeze your credit to help protect against fraudsters trying to use your SSN to open lines of credit or get medical treatment as part of a larger scheme to commit medical fraud.

Drawbacks to locking your SSN

Any lock that you put on your SSN also applies to you. That means you won’t be able to do certain things while your SSN is locked, such as apply for jobs or request government benefits.

Luckily, you can unlock your Social Security number anytime to access these services. And, you don’t need to remove all the locks from your SSN—only those that apply to the services you need.

• To apply for jobs: Log into your E-Verify account and remove the Self Lock.
• To request government benefits: Contact the SSA to remove the electronic access block.

Other steps to take if your Social Security number was compromised

Locking your Social Security number is an effective way to help protect your SSN against employment-related and other types of identity theft. But, it may not be enough to stop identity theft altogether, especially if the perpetrator has other personal information about you.

Here are some additional ways you can help protect yourself from identity theft or minimize the damage if your Social Security number has been compromised:

• Monitor your credit: Check your credit reports regularly for any activity that you don’t recognize.
• Contact authorities: Report identity theft to the appropriate authorities as soon as you learn that your SSN or other personal data has been compromised.
• Contact creditors: Let your bank and other financial institutions you do business with know you’ve experienced identity theft and your SSN has been compromised.
• Use identity theft protection services: LifeLock is the #1 most trusted identity theft protection brand, offering credit monitoring features and enhanced services like alerts for new bank account applications, data breaches, and other potentially fraudulent activity connected to your name.

How to protect your Social Security number: 9 SSN tips

Even if your Social Security number hasn’t been compromised, it’s a good idea to take steps to help stop it from occurring. Identity theft is more common than you might think, so knowing how to protect your Social Security number is crucial.

1. Don’t carry your Social Security card around with you

There may be times when you need to show your SSN to someone, but if you’re carrying your Social Security card with you—or you’re writing the number down on slips of paper—it’s more likely to be lost or stolen. In general, it’s a good idea to avoid carrying your card or any documents that display your SSN unless absolutely necessary.

2. Keep your Social Security card and number in a safe place

Anything as important as your Social Security card deserves a good home. This could be a lock box or a file folder kept in a secure place. And don’t forget, your SSN may appear on important documents, so those require a safe place, too.

3. Avoid sharing your number unless it’s required

You may have to provide your Social Security number to your bank or employer, but there’s no reason your food delivery service needs it. If someone asks for your Social Security number, ask questions before providing it—Why is it required? How will it be used? Do I have to share it?

4. Beware of phone and email scams

Identity thieves may try to trick you into revealing your SSN as part of a phishing scam. For instance, they might pose as your employer or a government office in a call or email. Avoid sharing your number unless you’re positive it’s a legitimate request. Whenever possible, only provide your SSN in person. Or, call the organization to verify that they need your information.

5. Create strong passwords

Improve your password security by using a unique combination of numbers, letters, and symbols for all your accounts to help prevent identity thieves from accessing your personal information. Don’t use your Social Security number as a password, and don’t use your SSN’s last four digits as a PIN, either.

6. Shred documents that feature personal information

It’s smart to shred all documents that contain your SSN or other personally identifiable information before tossing them in the trash. If you don’t, thieves could steal those documents from your garbage or landfill.

7. Be careful sharing your SSN digitally

There are risks in sharing your Social Security number electronically, as a hacker could intercept the message or hack your device. There are ways to help keep your information safer, such as using a VPN on unprotected Wi-Fi networks. But the safest way to share your SSN may be in-person with someone you know and trust.

8. Monitor your accounts and check for unauthorized activity

If someone steals your SSN, you may find evidence of unlawful use in your bank, credit, or other accounts. Set up alerts with your financial institutions to flag unusual activity, such as withdrawals or purchases over a certain amount. Watch for changes in your credit score and check your credit reports. You’re entitled to a free weekly credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies—go to AnnualCreditReport.com.

9. Use an identity theft protection service

Every year, there are millions of reports of identity theft. Thankfully, there are services that help you protect your Social Security number and minimize the risk of identity fraud. Identity theft protection services can alert you if your SSN has been leaked in a breach or found on the dark web, and they can include credit and account monitoring features to help you keep your finances safe. The best ones can even reimburse you for financial losses associated with identity theft.

Help protect your identity against identity thieves

Locking your Social Security number can help stop identity theft from affecting your employment and Social Security benefits. But it doesn’t protect you from all forms of identity theft. That’s where services like LifeLock Standard come in.

LifeLock Standard monitors for fraudulent use of your Social Security number, name, address, or date of birth in applications for credit and services. And if you lose your Social Security card, contact LifeLock and we’ll help you replace it. Plus, if you ever fall victim to identity theft, LifeLock will help you restore your identity and limit the fallout.

FAQs about locking your SSN

Want to learn more about how to lock your Social Security number? Find the answers to some common questions below.

Can I lock my SSN online?

Yes. Lock your SSN online at E-Verify by turning on the Self Lock feature, and block electronic access to your Social Security information with the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. To initiate an SSN/credit freeze, go to the Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian websites to make a direct request.

How do I change my SSN due to identity theft?

If you’ve experienced identity theft and done everything you can to resolve issues impacting your SSN, the Social Security Administration may issue you a new number, but that isn’t guaranteed. You can request a replacement Social Security card by filling out Form SS-5 online or in person at a local SSA office.

How can I find out if someone is using my identity?

One of the best ways to check if someone’s using your identity is to look for strange accounts or activity on your credit report. You should also review your bank statements, Social Security statements, and watch out for missing mail or mail linked to accounts you don’t recognize.

What happens when someone steals your SSN?

When someone steals your SSN, they could use it to open credit card accounts in your name, apply for jobs in your name, or commit other types of identity fraud.

We do not monitor all transactions at all businesses. No one can prevent all cybercrime or identity theft.