How to Find Someone by SSN

If you wanted to find someone by SSN or Social Security number, you may have realized how challenging this can be. Often, we are instructed to keep our SSNs safe because if they get into the hands of malicious agents, they can cause a lot of trouble. 

For instance, they can cause issues with your taxes, open credit cards in your name, or even steal your identity. Nevertheless, sometimes you might want to look up someone by SSN for legal issues, government benefits, or a job. This guide will show you the legal and effective ways to look up an SSN.

What is a social security number?

The Social Security number is a unique nine-digit number assigned at birth to help government agencies use the SSN to identify people and businesses and can use it to track an individual’s financial information. When it was created in 1936, it was meant to help keep track of the earnings history of U.S. workers for social security entitlement and benefit computation purposes. Today, it has become a universal identifier. Everything from your lease agreements to marriage records would be associated with it. 

How to find someone by SSN

There are many legal, and effective techniques you can use to search people by SSN. However, you should never forget to look up the specific laws and regulations that impact being able to look up someone by SSN. Depending on the situation, you can also consider consulting with a legal professional or relevant authorities for help. Now let’s talk about how you can locate a person by social security number for free and using paid solutions. 

Google search

Carrying out a Google search is a decent way to locate someone by security number for free. Although Google isn’t an SSN search engine, a lot of people have talked about their SSNs online and others are dumped from hacks publically online. So, this is also a great way to check if your own SSN is online. To look for someone by SSN on Google:

• Go to Google and type the SSN alongside the term “SSN.” For example: 416-41… SSN

• You can also experiment with adding single or double quotes to see how your results change. That said, for most searches on Google, you might not turn out any details.

Social media lookup

People also share a lot of private details on social media. So, it’s possible to find someone by social security number via social media networks. Consider checking via the search features on social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to see if you might get lucky.  For instance, on Twitter:

• Go to Twitter (X) search bar and type in SSN ‘416-41-XXXX’

Government agencies

You can make a special request to government agencies like the Social Security Administration SSA to help you search for someone by their social security number. All you need to do is contact the SSA office and make your request. Here’s how it works:

• Call SSA on their national toll-free number at 1-800-722-1213 between 8.00 am and 7.00 pm. But ideally, you should visit their office or call the phone number at the local office (Check here for the list). An appointment will be scheduled for you.
• At the office, you will need to make your request including your relationship with that person and the reason you are trying to reach them. Under special circumstances, you might need a signed authorization form to get the SSA to release information on that person to you.
• Otherwise, the SSA would not provide you with that person’s SSN. What it would do is ask for your contact details and then reach out to the person about whether they would like to meet with you.

Private investigator

A licensed private investigator might be able to help you look up someone by SSN. They often have access to information that is not publicly available. But, also note that the circumstances vary depending on your state and county. Regardless, private investigators are expensive. And you must check the laws of your area to understand what happens in your particular situation. 

SSN reverse lookup

You can also try looking up people by SSN on your own. There are amazing people finder tools you can try such as USAtrace and SSN-check. These reverse look-up tools may find publicly available records connected to that SSN in no time. Let’s talk about these two favorite SSN reverse lookup tools. 

USATrace 

USATrace has billions of records available at your fingertips. Here you can run robust background checks on anyone and access the most amazing results. USAtrace checks go back as far as 30 to 70 years depending on how deep you want to go. To use USAtrace to look up people by SSN:

• Go to USAtrace and type in their name, middle name, last name, and first three digits of SSN. Then tap “Search.”

• USAtrace begins looking for public records linked to the name and SSN.

• Once records are put together, USATrace provides names of people matching your preliminary search.

• Scan through to find the profile that best matches and click on “See Full Profile” to continue.

SSNCheck 

SSNCheck is also a fabulous website to search for people by SSN. This dedicated search engine can help you find SSNs and associated public records. However, it works differently. Instead of looking up specific details about one person, it would find SSNs issued in a particular year and state which you’ll have to scan through to find who you are looking for. Also, it only finds SSNs issued between 1936 and 2011 when the numbers begin to be issued randomly. Here’s how it works:

• Go to SSNcheck and pick their state and issuance year. Tap “Lookup SSN.”

• SSN check quickly pulls records about social security numbers issued at that time.

Freedom of Information Request (FOIA)

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you can request records from Federal agencies. Typically, under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)) you can only request your records. So, when you want to request someone’s file, you’ll need to have them fill it out to send you their Claims file or Earnings record. Here’s how it works:

• If you want someone’s Claim file, have them use Form SSA-3288. You and the person must also read the SSA’s consent requirements and Program Operations Manual System (POMs) GN 03305.003.D.
• Once they’ve filled out the form, they need to hand deliver, mail, or fax it to their local Social Security office (Check your appropriate servicing office here).
• Alternatively, if you want their Earnings record sent to you, they must fill and submit Form SSA-705 following the SSA consent requirements and Program Operations Manual System (POMs) GN 03305.003.D. Do note that this method requires paying a fee of about $30.00 for a copy of SS-5, or $28 for a copy of Numident. If you also want it certified, you’ll pay an extra $10 per record requested.
• If you also want their original SS-5 or Numident, you’ll need to have them fill the Form SSA-3288 following the SSA consent requirements and Program Operations Manual System (POMs) GN 03305.003.D. Also, you will have to pay a fee of about $30.00 for a copy of SS-5, or $28 for a copy of Numident. If you also want it certified, you’ll pay an extra $10 per record requested.
• For employee records, the employee must complete Form SSA-3465 to which after they’ve resigned, transferred, or retired, you must mail back the form to SSA’s Office of the General Counsel, Office of Privacy and Disclosure at 6401 Security Boulevard, West High Rise, Room G-401, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

Formal Petition

Although this is the rarest situation to happen, you can try it. According to the U.S.A. laws, you can get a written order that grants a person connected to another to receive information about the person in context. This petition is usually used by law enforcement agents when investigating a crime or missing person case. In some instances, family members of deceased people may be granted access to medical records or other information connected to their death. Individuals appointed as legal guardians may also receive the right to access certain information about that person.  If you’d like to use this route, you need to consult with a lawyer or your local courthouse about the process involved varies from one jurisdiction to the other and specific circumstances of the case. 

Alternative ways to find someone

Besides trying to find someone by SSN, you can also find someone by phone number with LocatePhone. It allows you to find address, name, phone carrier, location and more. It also comes with a phone locator that can track exact phone location online. This fantastic tool requires only their phone number. It would triangulate their location using GPS signals, Wi-Fi, and cellular service to uncover their precise geographical coordinates. One reason LocatePhone stands out is its ability to work anywhere in the world, helping you conveniently track your loved one’s whereabouts across the globe. To use LocatePhone:

• Go to LocatePhone Number Lookup. Enter their phone number and tap “Lookup”

• LocatePhone begins putting together information about that phone number

• Once it’s found the details, enter your email to create your account and access the geolocation results.

Use cases of SSN lookup

Knowing how sensitive an SSN is, you might want to consider the legitimate occasions when finding someone’s SSN can be handy. Here are some such scenarios:

• Employment: Employers often need their employee’s SSNs to report wages to the IRS and state agencies and to withhold the right amount of taxes from their paychecks. Employers may also need this number to find out if their employees are allowed to work in the U.S.
• Background checks: When conducting background checks, the SSN can help verify identity and criminal history. It’s often required for jobs in sectors like the government or finance.
• Tracing missing persons: If a person has been reported missing and their SSN is known, law enforcement agencies and private investigators might use SSN to gather information such as any recent activity like change of address or employment.

FAQ

Can you tell where someone is from by their social security number?

No, you may not accurately determine where a person is from through their social security number unless they have older SSNs issued before 1972 when the first three numbers correlated to area codes for specific geographic locations. Now the system for assigning area code randomizes the numbers making SSNs after 2011 harder to pinpoint to a specific state.

Can you find bank accounts with Social Security numbers?

Yes, it’s possible to find bank accounts using an SSN by requesting for their credit report which would list all accounts associated with that SSN. People often request their credit report from their bank, credit card issuer, or financial institution to help find if anyone has opened accounts or made unauthorized charges that might damage their credit and savings.

How do I check if my SSN is being used?

You can check if your SSN has been used by getting a credit report from your bank, credit issuer, or financial institution. There you can check for unfamiliar accounts, or suspicious statements in your bank account or check your social security statement for discrepancies. If you suspect fraudulent activities, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) immediately. 

How to check names on SSN?

To check the name on SSN, employers, organizations or other third parties can verify such using the free online service by the U.S. government that allows registered users to verify the name and social security numbers of hired employees to ensure they match Social Security records. Alternatively, you can use the fee-based social security service which provides instant automated verification. 

Conclusion

Overall, it’s possible to find someone by SSN as long as you use the right tools which we’ve shared in this article. Feel free to experiment with reverse SSN lookup tools , Google search or social media. In special situations, consult the government agencies or hire a private investigator. However, never forget to review how privacy laws and the need for consent influences your search.