Locking your Social Security number (SSN) is generally considered worth the minimal hassle, as it provides a powerful, free defense against identity theft and employment fraud, especially if your data was in a breach. While it adds a step when applying for jobs, it stops criminals from using your SSN for work or benefits.
Yes, you should take steps to "lock" or protect your Social Security Number (SSN) by using free services like credit freezes and SSN locks (like E-Verify Self Lock), and by being cautious about sharing it, as this significantly helps prevent employment fraud, tax scams, and unauthorized access to accounts. While no single lock stops all identity theft, combining freezes, locks, monitoring your accounts, and limiting SSN disclosure offers strong defense against fraudsters using your SSN for loans, jobs, or benefits.
There's no cost to place or lift a credit freeze, and it doesn't affect your credit score. You don't have to wait for your Social Security number or other information to be exposed in a data breach or misused by an identity thief to get a credit freeze.
With a stolen SSN, criminals posing as you can: Open fraudulent credit cards and bank accounts. File or collect tax returns.
PRACTICES TO AVOID
Yes, you can "pause" or suspend Social Security retirement benefits after reaching your Full Retirement Age (FRA) up to age 70, allowing them to grow by about 8% annually (Delayed Retirement Credits), but you must have already started receiving them and have the means to cover expenses, as dependents' benefits also stop and you pay Medicare Part B directly. To stop benefits within the first year of claiming, you can withdraw your application, but you must repay all benefits received.
You also can lock your SSN by visiting the Department of Homeland Security's myE-Verify website. Activating the site's Self Lock feature can stop someone from using your SSN for employment fraud. Keep in mind that you're not able to "freeze" your SSN, meaning that it can't be used at all.
Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Information
Merchants refuse your checks. Debt collectors call you about debts that aren't yours. You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report. Medical providers bill you for services you didn't use.
How identity theft happens
If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
Many financial advisers agree with Altig, Kotlikoff, and Ye (2022) that “the vast majority of American workers should delay taking their retirement benefits until 70.” Similarly, Fried (2019) writes that “scholarly research has unequivocally found that having the highest earner in a household wait until age 70 to claim ...
Locking your Social Security number helps prevent thieves from using your personal information to commit certain types of fraud. Even if they have access to your SSN, they won't be able to use it to change your SSA information or steal your identity to apply for jobs.
Locking your SSN is one of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft, and you can do it for free.
Due to the discrepancy and potential identity theft, the IRS sent CP01H to inform you that the IRS locked the account for that SSN and will not allow the tax return to post.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission received 1.1 million claims of identity theft in 2024, though that is believed to be a severe undercount of the complete number of victims. Even children often have their Social Security number stolen, and credit monitoring services rarely help victims much.
Financial identity (ID) theft is the most common type of identity theft. However, ID theft can happen in many forms. Early detection is key to minimizing damage when your personal information is stolen. There are measures you can take to help better protect yourself and your personal information.
By using Self Lock, you can block someone from committing this fraud if they start working for an E-Verify employer. Even if you are not currently working, you may want to protect your SSN and identity with Self Lock.
An extended fraud alert can be placed if you are a victim of fraud or identity theft. It requires a copy of a valid police or law enforcement agency report, or a Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Report, and lasts for 7 years.
An IP PIN is a six-digit number issued by the IRS to help prevent others from filing fraudulent tax returns in your name using your Social Security number or ITIN. The fastest way to get an IP PIN is through an IRS online account. You can sign up for a one-time IP PIN or to have them sent to you every year.