# Why can't we laminate our Social Security Cards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434 "2004-04-05T20:56:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/21 "2004-04-06T06:12:14Z")
This begs the question… Why on earth don’t they just change the security features and issue the darn thing laminated like every other card in our country? I don’t even own one anymore because it gets lost or torn up in my wallet. Hope I don’t forget 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/22 "2004-04-06T11:28:49Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > I don’t even own one anymore because it gets lost or torn up in my wallet. Well, you’re _not_ supposed to keep it in your wallet. Did you not read the very first response to the OP? It said: “Since number holders are advised to keep their cards in a safe place rather than carry them in their purses or wallets,” ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/23 "2004-04-06T11:38:33Z")
Yes, that is why I included ‘lost’. Thanks for verifying, though. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/24 "2004-04-06T14:09:10Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > **olefin** , any employer that did not ask to have you verify your ability to work legally in the United States within the last 15+ years or so was violating the law. The usual proof asked for is your picture identification and your social security card. Bit of a hijack, but SSN plus ID is a flawed way to check for employment eligibility. If you ever get a working visa, you can get an SSN. When the visa expires, you still have your SS card and could use that to get employment. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/25 "2004-04-06T14:43:53Z")
I work across the street from an IRS office in Chicago. I had to go to their office to pick up some tax forms and I had to wait in line. The majority of the others waiting in line were people waiting for assistance in filing their taxes. A woman who worked there kept making the announcement to have their UNLAMINATED ss cards. I saw several people who had been waiting in line for almost an hour get kicked out because their card was laminated. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/26 "2004-04-06T15:00:47Z")
405(i)(2)(G): > [@](#): > > G) The Commissioner of Social Security shall issue a social security card to each individual at the time of the issuance of a social security account number to such individual. The social security card shall be made of banknote paper, and (to the maximum extent practicable) shall be a card which cannot be counterfeited. There is no provision against laminating the card, but a laminated card is not as easy to Xerox or otherwise make a copy of, so I guess it’s a policy decision of an agency. Sometimes a copy of the card is desired for the file. ---
**Author:** ![olefin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/27 "2004-04-06T15:02:40Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > **olefin** , any employer that did not ask to have you verify your ability to work legally in the United States within the last 15+ years or so was violating the law. The usual proof asked for is your picture identification and your social security card. Sounds like all that was started after I went to work for my last employer. Like I said, my SS card has been useless. I could have lost it 40 years ago for I have never used it. ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/28 "2004-04-06T16:06:26Z")
You know, I bet that other than the security features thing, its just to keep people from carrying it in their wallets. Many people do this, and there’s utterly no reason to. You never need to give your social security card, except in very specific instances. If your wallet containing social security card plus drivers license is stolen, the thieves have enough data to do all sorts of stuff. So, unlaminated card equals less chance of being kept on person for fear of ruining it equals fewer identity theft hassles for all involved. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/29 "2004-04-06T17:17:34Z")
People need their ss card??? If I still have mine, I have no idea where it is. I got it approximately 40 years ago. I’ve never had to produce it for proof of anything, anywhere. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/30 "2004-04-06T18:37:38Z")
> [@olefin](#): > > I don’t know what difference it makes? > > In all the years I have never used or needed to use my SS card. I applied for SS disability over the phone and later was accepted. > > The only purpose I can see in the card is so one doesn’t forget their number. I have routinely used my card as one of the pieces of identifying information when being processed for employment. I believe the form in question is the I-9, and it requires proof of both identity and eligibility for employment. Unless you’ve got a passport (which handles both) the SS card is about the easiest way of proving elegibility to work. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/31 "2004-04-06T18:43:51Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Bit of a hijack, but SSN plus ID is a flawed way to check for employment eligibility. If you ever get a working visa, you can get an SSN. When the visa expires, you still have your SS card and could use that to get employment. True, but the photocopy of the card in file with your I-9 will have the number and date you started working. If there’s an audit, it’ll turn up. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/32 "2004-04-06T18:46:19Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > W-2 is not acceptable. This strikes me as funny, mainly because it seems obvious to me. The only W-2 you _could_ have would be from a previous employer, and you can’t expect your prospective employer to trust the previous employer’s protocols. ---
**Author:** ![paa3838](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@paa3838](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paa3838)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/33 "2004-04-06T19:15:30Z")
I used to use my laminated card with no problems, but about 6 years ago in Washington State I wasn’t allowed to get a new job without having an unlaminated card… I had to get it reissued and wait a couple of weeks to start work. Then again a few years ago, the DMV here required unlaminated cards, too… it must be a newer thing. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/34 "2004-04-06T20:16:18Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > This strikes me as funny, mainly because it seems obvious to me. The only W-2 you _could_ have would be from a previous employer, and you can’t expect your prospective employer to trust the previous employer’s protocols. Maybe, but a W-2 is an official tax form, so wouldn’t the SSN have to be correct on it? ---
**Author:** ![olefin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/35 "2004-04-06T20:49:41Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > I have routinely used my card as one of the pieces of identifying information when being processed for employment. I believe the form in question is the I-9, and it requires proof of both identity and eligibility for employment. Unless you’ve got a passport (which handles both) the SS card is about the easiest way of proving elegibility to work. I never needed my SS card for I have an honest face and no one question me. 😃 Kidding of course… in another of my post I noted the laws were changed about 15 years ago. I haven’t applied for a job during that time… I was with my last employer for 32 years. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434/36 "2004-04-06T21:21:29Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Maybe, but a W-2 is an official tax form, so wouldn’t the SSN have to be correct on it? Your W-2 is not an “official” tax form (official meaning produced by government agency). This is a document that is produced by your employer (it is your responsibility to verify that your employer is using the correct number) in order for you to file your tax return. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-laminate-our-social-security-cards/238434.md?page=1)