SSN as ID?

Factual Questions
1

Brought on by another thread not relevant to this one;
Back in the day your SSN was not to be used as identification. It said so right on the card. I’d say the last time I remember seeing that statement was around 1960 or so.
So is the number now our national ID number as I’ve heard?
Peace,
mangeorge

2

I think Cecil answered most of this here:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_154.html

3

There was a time, before identity theft became a booming industry, when many government and even private agencies used the SSN as an ID or account number. Drivers licenses, college student ID cards, group health insurance cards and other documents often had the SSN either as the primary ID or otherwise prominently displayed.

In the 80s/90s, government started cracking down, requiring these organizations to use a different ID number instead of the SSN. Most have done so, so that you don’t see it on your ID cards any more.

The only remnant I can think of is the credit bureaus, who still key on your SSN when providing credit reports. Their stance is that this is the only common ID they have to work with, since all your creditors need to have your SSN for tax reporting purposes.

4

I always forget to check with Cecil, the Fountain of All Knowledge.
So how long until pictures and that dreaded imbeded strip? You know, terrorists and all that. Already some police entities try to convince you that you must carry your ID at all times.
It would be pretty much impossible now to cleave our NID from our SSN, wouldn’t it? And to make our personal and governmental financial information seperate from each other?
Where:
Personal info = Banking, credit cards, etc.
Governmental info = Taxes, social security, income reporting, etc.

5

Here’s another, more recent, piece on this topic: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12359845/