I sooo need to get mine to! UGH! I can't remember when I finally needed to remember mine, but I know I was older..17/18 maybe and was applying for a job. My daughter passed (finally, 3rd times a charm) her driving test this morning and I forgot to make sure I had her SS # with me, so I had to drive back home (about 25 minutes RT) before we could complete all of the form, wait in line and get out of there. We are on a tight schedule today with getting Senior Pictures done this afternoon (as I type this I am waiting for the flat iron and the clothes iron to heat up!)
So learn from our oopsy! When would be a good rime to get a child to learn this number??...when its safe for them to have this important information and they can memorize it?? I think I waited far too long! UGH!
I do realize how very very sensitive this info is. We were victims of Identity Theft before there was any such title or government depart ment to handle that sort of thing, and let me tell you, it is a nighmare than can being very simply. Someone got a hold of my hubbys SS# (near as we can figure it might have been from an old check stub stuffed in the glove box of a car we sold..back then it was on everything). This person used his name linked with that number to go into several electronic big box stores of the day (think Best buy types_ and get cell phones. This was back when cell phones were new. I came home from work and there was a answering machine message from one saying we need to verify some info that doesn't match up with your application, blah, blah. I thought maybe I was getting a cell phone for Valentines day, as it was close to then, but very unlike something he would do. When he got home and heard it he was confused and said something was not right. We spent about 10-12 years defending ourselves anytime we had a credit report pulled when we refinaced our house or tried to get a credit deal of any kind. You are guilty until proven innocent, which is hard to do.
@Sherry--No need to show the actual card here. I didn't think most situations required the showing of the actual cards.
@Sarah--It was required info for the drivers license form. We had to give it to get the license.
I am a licensed daycare proivider and just got a weird notice saying I need to provide it to the county. Weird in the fact that I have held this license for 14 years (renewing every 2) and never been asked to provide it before. I am overall VERY reluctant to hand it out any more than I have to. I have a Tax ID number I will give, but even that I am careful with!
Freshman year the high school my daughter went to used their social to identify their tests. PSAT's were taken that year, for practice, EOC's end of class tests (8 of them), all these had the kids' social on them. She filled out so many that year it stuck.
My other two don't know their's yet but they are yunger and my oldest learned his in the military.
Why do they need to know it now. I never knew mine till I was living on my own and applying for jobs and apartments. I have my sons memorized (its so similar to mine so it makes it easy) so I don't feel he need to.
My daughter did when she was applying for jobs at 16. Busy day for you huh??? I did the same thing at DMV when we got her permit...had to call dad.
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Because of the identity theft problem I would keep that info under wraps. There really is no need for them to know that at this point. Now once they get a job then they need to know because of tax purposes.
when she is older and has a job. you would have had to go back to get it anyway as you have to show the actual card not just rattle off a number.
I never needed mine until college...then it's like your most necessary possession!
i started to memorize mine around 16 or so when i needed to apply for jobs but mine is super easy to remember
I didn't know mine til I got a job. I was 17 or so. I don't think my SS learned til he was a senior and I'm not sure SD knows hers, but she should learn it soon. College is when I used it for most forms, etc. I don't think you waited too long. My SD has a school-assigned ID # that she currently uses for anything school related. She won't need her SSN til later, and many places (like our HMO) assign non-SSN ID numbers to you for ID theft reasons.
My mom had me memorize mine around age 12. Between sports and recurrent bladder infections, we saw a lot of ER visits and she was tired of having to dig out my card.
My mom had us each memorize ours when it was time to fill out the PSAT/SAT forms (15?). It needed to be on every form from then on out! Before that, there really isn't a need.
I think when they are close to being an adult and responsible. However, not everyone is good at memorizing numbers. My husband is horrible at it. However, I remember all numbers so he usually turns to me.
i don't think you waited too long - they are realy only necessary for government documents and bank accounts. So many places ask for the number inappropriately, so it really isn't necessary on job applications (only job offers). Plus, it makes getting really high interest rate credit cards THAT much easier.
Once they do know their number, just do a credit check every 6 months or so to make sure there isn't any credit/identity theft.
I did not have mine memorized until college but high school seems reasonable. Until you are old enough to drive and have real ID you don't need to know it from memory.
I'd suggest she try to remember it or have a code for it somewhere that she can get to at 18 years of age.
but I don't think I consciously tried to memorize it. When i started needing often it just happened.
I didn't memorize mine until I had written it so many times on job applications!
I seriously doubt my 23-year-old knows hers by heart yet! Maybe she does, but I have no idea. I think it's up to them to figure it out when they need it.
You said you forgot the SS card? Put your your daughter in charge of her life more. She'll need to know the number next yr so yeah have her memorize it now
I did when I got a job when I was 16. Considering how sought after those things are my kid won't be memorizing or carrying theirs around until they are applying for jobs too.
There's too much identity theft as it is.
They can have the info on them when they apply for jobs and fill out tax forms.
By the time they are in college, then they will know that it's sensitive information that they need to be careful with and guard very closely.
They don't really need that info much in high school.
I managed to memorize mine when I was a freshman in college and that's about the right time for it.
I don't think I memorized mine until college or even later. I never even thought about it being my responsibility to make them learn it. I just keep their numbers in a handy place in case I need them.
I don't remember when I memorized mine. I guess everyone is different with numbers. I have both of my daughter memorized as well as my ex's even though he and I have been split for over a decade.
I wouldn't worry about having her memorize her own until she is an adult and needs to do things on her own. She can absolutely refuse to give it on a job application and only provide it once offered employment. Last time I applied for jobs 8 years ago that is exactly what I did.
I didn't learn mine until I was in college, because I never needed it before. Just put your kids' SSNs in a not so obvious file on your phone.
I'm not sure how old I was, but the first time I needed to fill a form out that required it my mom made sure I had it memorized. I know it was before I graduated high school for sure though.
