The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to those carrying an important item in their wallets.
Americans have been told not to keep their Social Security cards on them.
Instead, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recommends keeping the card in a safe place and only providing it if absolutely necessary, which is rare.
The agency even recommends remembering the number on the card, as it is normally all that is needed, for example for filing tax returns.
However, when asked for your number, the SSA says to ask three simple questions to determine whether or not you should provide it.
“You should always ask why your number is needed, how it will be used and what will happen if you decline,” the agency says on its website.
The SSA also reminded Americans that Social Security cards are not identity documents, and that in almost all cases another document can take their place.
For example, a birth certificate, a permanent resident card or or I-94.
The SSA has advised Americans not to keep their Social Security cards with them
The need to guard your card has only increased with the rise of online fraud.
Criminals only need a name and Social Security number to apply for credit, open new bank accounts and even steal tax refunds.
They also warn against carrying any other document that might contain your Social Security number.
While it is important to keep your Social Security card safe if it is lost, there are options.
The Online social security service allows residents of 45 states and the District of Columbia to apply for a new card for free, provided no changes are needed.
In October, it emerged that money transfer app Moneygram was hit by a major hack that exposed customers’ social security numbers and bank accounts.
Meanwhile, Social Security is expected to fall short by 2035, a new report shows.
Social Security relies on its trust funds to provide monthly benefit checks to about 70 million Americans.
But an aging population is driving up the program’s costs, as a smaller share of people pay into it, and expenses exceed revenues.