# New Social Security Card! How should I sign it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 5, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153 "2024-02-05T18:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/21 "2024-02-06T00:48:05Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > I haven’t had a social security card in decades, and gave up on getting Real ID with my last driver’s license as a result. (I have a passport, so this is a nuisance, but not really limiting.) > > Double-check that you even need one. As of 2021 it is no longer required in CA and the [DMV website claims that came about due to a change in Federal regulations](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-simplifies-real-id-application-process/). FYI, the [Real ID FAQ](https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs) on the Department of Homeland Security website says: > If an individual’s Social Security Administration account card is not available, what other documents can be used to verify an individual’s Social Security Number SSN? > > The person may present any of the following documents bearing the applicant’s SSN: > > A W-2 form, > A SSA-1099 form, > A non-SSA-1099 form, or > A pay stub with the applicant’s name and SSN on it. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/22 "2024-02-06T01:00:12Z")
Yep , at a couple of jobs- although I suspect it was mostly to make sure the number they had was correct. The last time I got a new job was in 1994, I’m sure that was before the SSN verification service began. And I needed it to get my enhanced driver’s license (not Real ID). A W2 with the full number might have been acceptable for the license, ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/23 "2024-02-06T01:19:42Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve heard all sorts of horror stories about real id and the troubles that mismatched names cause. That’s really only a problem with plane tickets - you might run into a problem if the name on the ticket doesn’t exactly match the ID you are using but I’ve gotten the impression that TSA agents have some leeway if , for example , they differ in what, if anything is there for a middle name ( full name , initial or nothing). Since your passport and driver’s license seem to have different names , you’ll sort of have to decide which one you are using for ID when you buy the ticket. How did you get he passport saying _Puzzle Jane Doe Gal_ when your license says _Puzzle D Gal_ ? My passport says _Doreen I Lastname_ like my driver’s license even though the passport application had my full middle name , as did my birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/24 "2024-02-06T01:29:23Z")
Dunno. I’ve had the passport decades longer than the driver’s license, as I’ve moved from state to state. The passport has had my full name since i changed it, after i got married. When i moved to this state they wouldn’t include a middle name. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/25 "2024-02-06T01:30:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The person may present any of the following documents bearing the applicant’s SSN: > > A W-2 form, > A SSA-1099 form, > A non-SSA-1099 form, or > A pay stub with the applicant’s name and SSN on it. Right, and none of mine included my full SSN, just the last four digits. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/26 "2024-02-06T01:33:01Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > I lost my SS card over 50 years ago and have never needed it for any reason. Am I missing something? Other than the card, I mean? > > I’ve been required to show it a number of times over the years. I suppose it depends both on what you’re doing and what the regulations are at the time for whatever/whoever is requiring it. I have never in my life had to show it. When i was a teenager, i copied the number to a little piece of tagboard that i kept in my wallet. Then i lost the official card. I’ve had to tell people my SSN several times, but real id is the first time anyone tried to verify it. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/27 "2024-02-06T02:09:25Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Any thoughts? Better yet, anyone know anything about this stuff? Wouldn’t you just sign it with your signature? My signature is a distinctive scrawl that is reasonably consistent across documents, but you couldn’t figure out my name from it. It starts with my first initial, has my last initial, and then a special kind of squiggle. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/28 "2024-02-06T02:20:42Z")
Yeah, I was about to say, if the name you use in your signature matters, then I’m screwed, because mine is completely illegible (but remarkably consistent: The poll worker the last time I voted commented on it looking exactly the same as in their records). And I lost my Social Security card several years ago, but I had made a scan of it before that happened, and every time since then that anyone’s asked for it (for a new job or for doing taxes), they’ve accepted the printout with no problems (it’s not even trying to look like a card; it’s literally on an 8.5x11 sheet with very wide margins). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/29 "2024-02-06T02:24:07Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > The person may present any of the following documents bearing the applicant’s SSN: > > > > A W-2 form, > > A SSA-1099 form, > > A non-SSA-1099 form, or > > A pay stub with the applicant’s name and SSN on it. > > Right, and none of mine included my full SSN, just the last four digits. OK, I checked mine; the paystub doesn’t have my SSN anywhere and the W2, 1099-DIV and 1099-INT are, like yours, blanked out except for the last four digits. I wonder if that would be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/30 "2024-02-06T02:25:27Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Wouldn’t you just sign it with your signature? My signature is a distinctive scrawl that is reasonably consistent across documents, but you couldn’t figure out my name from it. It starts with my first initial, has my last initial, and then a special kind of squiggle. That’s how I do it. Regardless of how my name is styled on the document (driver’s license, passport, contract, professional correspondence, etc.), my signature is always the same: “CSpoons.” The C is recognizable, the S also, the rest is a distinctive squiggle that ends with a flourish. Never had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/31 "2024-02-06T02:36:58Z")
I sign differently based on which name I’m using. 🤷‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/32 "2024-02-06T02:37:03Z")
It is easy to get a replacement SS card from the SS administration. So if anyone is concerned about having lost that thing years or decades ago, just fill out the form and they’ll mail you a new one. My recollection is that some employers wanted to see the card as part of them completing the I-9 verification that you were legally allowed to work in the USA. The last time I was hired for a job was around 2003, so things may have changed since. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/33 "2024-02-06T02:42:15Z")
Not only do I sign differently depending on which version I’m using, my signature is legible . Which I think makes a big difference - if I sign with my first and last name on a document that has my middle initial , it will be obvious that I left out the initial. Not so noticeable if my signature is an illegible scribble. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/34 "2024-02-06T02:53:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It is easy to get a replacement SS card from the SS administration. So if anyone is concerned about having lost that thing years or decades ago, just fill out the form and they’ll mail you a new one. True, but I remember that there’s a limit to the number of replacement cards you can request. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/35 "2024-02-06T03:35:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > My recollection is that some employers wanted to see the card as part of them completing the I-9 verification that you were legally allowed to work in the USA. The last time I was hired for a job was around 2003, so things may have changed since. Ah. I have a passport. A passport is one stop shopping for proof of eligibility to work in the US. That’s also why i don’t really need my driver’s license to be real ID. I just have to buy my ticket on the name on the ID i will be using. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/36 "2024-02-06T03:53:40Z")
But it’s a pretty high limit, like 10 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/37 "2024-02-06T04:22:09Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > But it’s a pretty high limit, like 10 I’ve always found that so absurdly random. Life time limit! Ten! No more! We’re not made of money here at the SS administration - ten little paper cards per person and you should thank us for that!" ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/38 "2024-02-06T05:00:41Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I suppose you could call the SSA and ask them. Funny. Have you ever tried to do that? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/39 "2024-02-06T13:49:02Z")
> [@phs3](#): > > Funny. Have you ever tried to do that? About as much fun as trying to call the IRS. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153/40 "2024-02-06T14:41:52Z")
Having just turned 65 and retired I’ve called SSA three times in the last 6 months. Was on a long hold then got an idiot once. Waited a couple minutes and got an OK worker once. Had no waiting and got a guru the third time. In all I’ve been impressed with their service. Likewise with the service in person at the local office. _If_ you show up with an appointment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-social-security-card-how-should-i-sign-it/997153.md?page=3)