SSNVS Handbook

Social Security Number Verification Service
(SSNVS) Handbook
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Social Security Administration
Office of Systems Electronic Services
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21235
Updated September 2011

Table of Contents

____________________
Contact Information
What is SSNVS and BSO?
System Requirements
Security
SSNVS / BSO Availability
Registration
Access to SSNVS
Logging into SSNVS
Using SSNVS
Submission File Format
Returned File Format
SSN Verification Results
Status and Retrieval Options
Status and Retrieval Results
What to Do If an SSN Fails to Verify
Logging Out
SSNVS News
Getting Help
Employer Reporting Information
Maintaining Your Registration Information
Glossary of Terms
Appendix A: Additional Verification Options

2

CONTACT INFORMATION
Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS)
http://www.ssa.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm
Employer Reporting Assistance
For help with registering or annual wage reporting, call
1-800-772-6270 (toll free)
or 1-410-965-4241
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Or e-mail Social Security at [email protected]
TDD/TYY call 1-800-201-7165 (toll free)
BSO Technical Assistance
For technical help with using BSO, call
1-888-772-2970 (toll free)
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Fax: 1-410-597-0237
E-mail: [email protected]
Caution: Social Security recommends that you not include private information,
such as your Social Security Number, in Internet e-mail messages.
General Information
For information about Social Security programs and benefits, call
1-800-772-1213 (toll free)
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
For General Information TDD/TTY, call 1-800-325-0778 (toll free)

3

WHAT IS SSNVS AND BSO?
The Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS) is one of the services
offered by Social Security Administration's (SSA) Business Services Online
(BSO). It allows registered users (employers and certain third-party submitters) to
verify the names and Social Security Numbers (SSNs) of employees against
SSA records.
With SSNVS, you may:


Verify up to 10 names and SSNs online and receive immediate results.
There is no limit to the number of times the SSN Verification web page
may be used within a session.



Upload electronic files of up to 250,000 names and SSNs and usually
receive results the next government business day.

In addition to SSNVS, the BSO suite consists of Registration Services and
Employer Services. Registration Services offer a User Identification Number
(User ID) assignment, password selection and various registration maintenance
functions. Employer Services offer W-2 file upload, W-2 and W-2c online key-in
functions (no special software or forms required) and the ability to track files and
view processing results and notices.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT SSNs
SSA can post employee wages correctly only when employers and submitters
report employee wages under the correct name and SSN. Recording names and
SSNs correctly is the key to successful processing of annual wage reports. It
saves the employer and the administration processing costs and allows SSA to
properly credit your employees' earnings record. Credits to your employees'
earnings record are important in determining their future eligibility and payment of
SSA's retirement, disability and survivor benefits.
PROPER USE OF SSNVS
SSNVS should only be used for the purpose for which it is intended.


SSA will verify SSNs and names solely to ensure that the records of
current or former employees are correct for the purpose of completing
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement).



It is illegal to use the service to verify SSNs of potential new hires or
contractors or in the preparation of tax returns.

4



It is appropriate to use SSNVS only once an official employer-employee
relationship has been established. SSA defines the existence of an
employer-employee relationship as when one of the following has
occurred:
o The employer’s offer of employment and acceptance by the person
being hired (even though he/she hasn’t started working); and /or
o The future employee’s completion of the paperwork to establish the
payroll record.



Company policy concerning the use of SSNVS should be applied
consistently to all workers; for example:
o If used for newly hired workers, verify information on all newly hired
workers.
o If used to verify information on other workers, verify the information
for all other workers.



Third-party use of SSNVS is strictly limited to organizations that contract
with employers to either handle the wage reporting responsibilities or
perform an administrative function directly related to annual wage
reporting responsibilities of hired employees. It is suggested that contracts
between the third-party and the employer stipulate that the functions being
performed by the third-party contractor adhere to the proper use of
SSNVS. It is not proper to use SSNVS for non-wage reporting purposes
such as identity, credit checks, mortgage applications, etc.



Anyone who knowingly and willfully uses SSNVS to request or obtain
information from SSA under false pretenses violates Federal law and may
be punished by a fine, imprisonment or both.



SSA may ban you and/or the company you represent from the use of
SSNVS if SSA determines there has been misuse of the service.



SSA returns all names and SSNs submitted. If the name and SSN does
not match our records, SSA advises the following:
o This response does not imply that you or your employee
intentionally provided incorrect information about the employee's
name or SSN.
o This response does not make any statement about your employee's
immigration status.

5

o This response is not a basis, in and of itself, to take any adverse
action against the employee, such as laying off, suspending, firing
or discriminating against the employee.
NOTE: If you rely only on the verification information SSA provides to
justify adverse action against a worker, you may violate State or
Federal law and be subject to legal consequences.
THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATIONS
If an employer has hired you to handle his/her company's annual wage reporting
responsibilities, a fee-based approach can be used when offering SSNVS to your
clients. However, caution should be taken. SSA offers services such as SSNVS
free of charge. Some companies in the private sector offer those same services
for a fee and develop misleading brochures and advertisements. To discourage
the use of misleading mailings about Social Security and Medicare, Congress
enacted specific prohibitions in Section 312 of the Social Security Independence
and Program Improvements Act of 1994 that broadened the existing deterrents.
The prohibitions are listed in Title 42 of the U.S. Code, Section 1320b-10. To
ensure you conform to these legal requirements, be careful to adhere to the
following:


Be cautious not to suggest to your clients that this service is only available
through you,



Advise all customers that this service is available at no cost from SSA and
that this service is not a unique or exclusive arrangement between SSA
and your company, and



Be sure not to give any impression when describing your SSN verification
service to your clients that your company has an arrangement that allows
direct access to SSA databases, program software, etc.

NEW USERS

You must complete BSO registration. Once registered, you will need to request
SSNVS. You will not be able to complete the online SSNVS request process if:


Your current employer did not file a Form W-2 for you with SSA. (Note: If
you were hired in the last 18 months by your current employer, it is
possible that SSA's records do not yet reflect your employment.), or



You are currently self-employed but did not submit self-employment
earnings to the IRS in the last taxable year.

6

If either of the above statements applies to you, begin the online registration
process as described in the Registration section of this handbook. BSO will
display a message asking you to fax information to (570) 706-7874.
There are several steps that must be completed before you can use SSNVS. You
must:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Register for BSO
Login to BSO
Request access to SSNVS
Enter employer information
Receive an Activation Code (mailed to your employer)
Login to BSO
Activate access

Every BSO user must register separately. You may not register on behalf of
another person.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
To use SSNVS, you will need:


Internet access,



A web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. Your browser version
must allow 'cookies' (files stored temporarily on your computer) and
have128-bit encryption.
NOTE: In order to use Business Services Online (BSO), your
browser version must be set to accept cookies and support 128bit encryption. This is the default setting for most browsers. If you
receive a request to store a file on your computer, select Yes.
BSO cookies will be deleted when you close your browser.



Adobe Reader (version 5.0 or higher is recommended). You will need this
software to view and print your forms. For a free copy of Adobe Reader go
to www.adobe.com.

7

SECURITY
SSNVS and all applications within the Business Services Online (BSO) Suite of
Services use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) communications protocol and 128-bit
line encryption to protect your privacy. These technologies prevent
eavesdropping and ensure the security of data transmitted over the Internet.
These security features do not apply to Internet e-mail. Social Security
recommends that you not include private information, such as your Social
Security Number (SSN), in Internet e-mail messages.

SSNVS/BSO AVAILABILITY
SSNVS normally operates during the following hours, including holidays and may
be available at other times as well:
SSNVS Hours of Operation
Day
Monday - Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Time
5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time
5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
8:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

NOTE: SSNVS/BSO is not available when SSA is in the process of
implementing changes to their system. Advance notice is provided
on the SSNVS News page and BSO website. Also, during website
down times, informational messages are displayed when a user
attempts to access the system.

REGISTRATION
INFORMATION NEEDED TO REGISTER
NOTE: Self-employed Business Services Online (BSO) users may
use SSNVS only if they provided an Employer Identification
Number (EIN) at the time of registration. To apply for an EIN, go to
the IRS website: www.irs.gov/businesses/small/.
The information you provide when you register allows SSA to confirm your
identity before issuing a User Identification Number (User ID) or to contact you, if
necessary. You will be asked to provide the following:

8















Type of employer/employee,
Company EIN,
Company or business name,
Company phone number,
Indication if you are a third-party submitter registering to do business on
behalf of another company,
Name as it appears on your Social Security card,
Social Security Number (SSN),
Date of birth,
Your preferred mailing address,
Work phone number,
Fax number (optional)
E-mail address, and
Answers to five security questions.

You will also be asked to enter a unique password of your choice.
Your full name, SSN, date of birth, and EIN will be verified against SSA records.
If you have been hired on behalf of an employer, you should provide information
about your own company when you register through BSO for SSNVS.
If you have a reason to use BSO but are not a citizen of the United States (and
you live outside the United States), leave the U.S. SSN field blank. You will be
allowed to continue without providing this information. If you register without
providing a United States SSN, additional authentication will be required before
you can use BSO services.
REGISTERING
When you have the above information ready, follow these steps to register
online:
1. Go to the BSO Welcome web page.
NOTE: Do not use your browser's Back, Forward, or Refresh
buttons while completing the registration form. This could clear
the form unintentionally.
2. Select the Register button on the BSO Welcome web page. This will open
the User Registration Attestation web page, an important user certification
statement.

9

3. Select the I Accept button to indicate that you have read and understand
the user certification statement and agree to its contents. This will open
the registration form.
4. Provide the requested information on the registration form. Assistance and
tips for completing the registration form can be found by clicking the BSO
Help button.
NOTE: The SSN and EIN fields cannot be updated. You must reregister to enter new information in these fields.
5. Select the Register button when you have completed the registration form.
BSO will verify your identity against SSA records and display your User
ID.
NOTE: Make a note of your User ID because you will need it to
log in to BSO.
Immediately after registering, you will be able to maintain/update your registration
information, request access to BSO services, and contact SSA electronically.
YOUR BSO PASSWORD
At the time of registration, you must enter a unique password of your choice.
Your password must contain a combination of eight (8) letters and numbers (e.g.
9580859A or frog2828). Passwords are NOT case sensitive. No special
characters are allowed. Secure your password and do not share it with anyone.
Your User ID and password are required to log in to BSO.
NOTE: Here is a list of password instructions:






Your password must be eight (8) characters long and must be a
combination of letters and numbers.
There must be at least one letter and at least one number in your
password.
Passwords are NOT case sensitive.
Do not use special characters.
You must change your password at least once every 90 days.

CHANGING YOUR PASSWORD
It is mandatory to change your password at least once every 90 days. If you login
after 90 days, you will be prompted to change your password.

10

The email address you provided during registration allows SSA to send you a
notice when it is time to change your password. In addition, you will receive BSO
News which provides important wage and tax reporting updates.
IF YOU FORGET YOUR PASSWORD
If you forget your password, you may request a new one by following these
steps:
1. On the Log In to BSO web page, enter your User ID. You must provide
your User ID to access the Forgot Your Password link.
2. Select the Forgot your password link.
3. Answer the three randomly chosen security questions that you had
previously answered. Answers are not case sensitive but should match
your previous answers.
4. Input and confirm your new password. Your password must contain any
combination of eight letters and numbers (e.g. 9580859A or frog2828).
Special characters are not allowed and passwords are not case sensitive.
5. Select the Submit New Password button. This will display a message
indicating that your password has been successfully changed. You may
now select the Login button and log in to BSO with your User ID and your
newly changed password.
NOTE: Your password is for your use only and may not be
disclosed to anyone else, including other employees. Exercise
caution in disclosing your User ID. Your User ID is the equivalent
of your electronic signature and is assigned to you personally not generically to your company. You are responsible for all
actions taken using your User ID.

COMPLETE YOUR PHONE REGISTRATION
New users may have to complete their online registration by speaking with an
Employer Reporting Branch (ERB) representative. After speaking with the ERB
your next step would be to select the Complete Your Phone Registration button
from the BSO Welcome web page and enter the following information:

11








User ID provided by ERB personnel,
First and Last Name,
SSN (if applicable),
Date of Birth,
EIN, and
Password (For more information, see "Your BSO Password" section
above).

Once your personal and company information has been authenticated against
SSA records, you can request access to SSNVS.

ACCESS TO SSNVS
Before you can verify names and Social Security Numbers (SSNs), you will need
to request access to SSNVS. Once access has been requested you will receive
an activation code from SSA. You are required to enter the SSNVS activation
code prior to your first use.
REQUEST ACCESS TO SSNVS
NOTE: Self-employed Business Services Online (BSO) users
may use SSNVS only if they provided an Employer Identification
Number (EIN) at the time of registration. To apply for an EIN, go
to the IRS website: www.irs.gov/businesses/small.
To request access to SSNVS, after you have registered to use BSO, complete
the following steps:
1. Login to BSO.
2. From the BSO Main Menu, select Account Maintenance and then select
Request Access to BSO Services. The Request Access to BSO Services
web page will open with a description of the available suites of services.
3. Check the Electronic Wage Reporting Service box and select the Next
button.
4. Continue navigating through the wizard by selecting the Next button until
the Verify Social Security Numbers Online web page displays. Click on the
Yes button to request access to this function.
5. Select the Next button until reaching the Request Summary web page and
then select the Confirm button to view the Request Access to BSO
Services Confirmation web page.

12

SSA will mail an activation code for SSNVS to your employer at the address the
IRS has on file from the Form 941, Employer's Federal Tax Return or SS-4,
Application for Employer Identification Number.
If you are already registered to use BSO services, you may request access to
SSNVS by selecting Account Maintenance from the BSO Main Menu web page
and then selecting the Request Access to BSO Services link.
ACTIVATION CODE
The activation code is an alphanumeric code sent by SSA to the employer or
registered User Identification Number (User ID) holder when access to certain
services are requested. This code must be entered on the Activate Access to
BSO Services web page in order to grant the user access to the requested
service.
The activation code mailed to your employer is usually received within two (2)
weeks. The letter to your employer with the activation code instructs him or her to
provide you with the activation code. The activation code is an added layer of
security. You will not have access to SSNVS until you have activated the service
by entering the activation code.

ACTIVATE ACCESS TO SSNVS
SSNVS requires the activation code that was mailed to your employer to be
entered to activate your access to the SSNVS service prior to your first use.
Once you have received your activation code from your employer:
1. Login to BSO.
2. From the BSO Main Menu, select Account Maintenance and then select
Activate Access to BSO Services link. The Activate Access to BSO
Services web page will open.
3. Enter the activation code.
4. Select the Activate button. A Confirmation web page will display indicating
SSA has approved your request.
You may then begin using your SSNVS services immediately.

13

RE-REQUEST ACTIVATION CODE
NOTE: The activation code for SSNVS is sent directly to your employer.
Please check with your employer to verify that the activation code has been
received.
If it has been 10 days or more since you requested access to SSNVS and your
employer has not received your activation code from SSA:
1. From the BSO Main Menu, select Account Maintenance and then the ReRequest Activation Codes link. The Re-Request Activation Codes web
page will open.
2. Check the box corresponding to SSNVS.
3. Select the Re-Request button. A Re-Request Activation Codes
Confirmation web page will display confirming SSA received your request.
Restrictions:


If it has been 60 days or more since you requested access:
o Your activation code is invalid.
o You may not re-request an activation code.
o You must request access to SSNVS again using the Request Access
to BSO Services web page.

NOTE: Once an activation code has been re-requested, the original
activation code is de-activated and is no longer valid.
REMOVE ACCESS TO SSNVS
1. From the BSO Main Menu, select Account Maintenance and then select
the Remove Access to BSO Services link. The Remove Access to BSO
Services web page will open.
2. Check the box Verify Social Security Numbers Online.
3. Select the Remove button. A Confirmation web page will display indicating
that SSA has approved your request.
If you remove access to any service(s) in error, you must re-request access via
the Request Access to BSO Services web page.

14

LOGGING INTO SSNVS
To access SSNVS, you must first log in to Business Services Online (BSO):


Open the BSO Welcome web page.



Select Login on the BSO Welcome web page. This will open the General
Login Attestation web page containing an important user certification
statement.
NOTE: If your browser does not support 128-bit encryption, an
authorization error message will be displayed when you select
the Login link. See the System Requirements section of this
handbook details.



Select the I Accept button to indicate that you have read the user
certification statement and agree to its contents. This will open the
Business Services Online Login web page.



Enter your User Identification Number (User ID) and password.
o If you have received a temporary password in the mail, log in with your
User ID and temporary password. You will then need to change your
temporary password. When the BSO Change Password web page is
displayed, enter the temporary password and then enter your own
unique password twice.
o If you registered for BSO with the Employer Reporting Branch (ERB)
personnel by telephone, but have not yet selected your password,
select the Complete Your Phone Registration link from the Business
Services Online Login web page. This will open the BSO Registration
web page. For more information, see the Complete Your Phone
Registration section of this handbook.



Select the Login button from the Business Services Online Login web
page. This will open the BSO Main Menu web page. The BSO Main Menu
web page is your point of entry for SSNVS and all other BSO services.
NOTE: The use of the browser's Back, Forward and Refresh
buttons may unintentionally log you out of BSO.
NOTE: If you forgot your password, please refer to Your BSO
Password section of this handbook under Registration.

15

USING SSNVS
SSNVS allows you to submit names and Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for
verification both online and through electronic file submission.
REQUEST ONLINE SSN VERIFICATION
The SSN Verification web page enables you to submit up to 10 names and SSNs
for verification and obtain immediate results. There is no limit to the number of
times the SSN Verification web page may be used within a session.
The SSN Verification web page contains the following data entry fields:
Employer Identification Number (EIN) - The EIN of the employer under which
wages are to be reported for the names and SSNs being verified.




The Employer's EIN field is mandatory.
The Employer's EIN must be nine (9) numerical characters only.
Spaces, alphabetic characters, hyphens, slashes or any other special
characters are not allowed.

Social Security Number (SSN)




The SSN field is mandatory.
The SSN must be nine (9) numerical characters only.
Spaces, alphabetic characters, hyphens, slashes or any other special
characters are not allowed.

First Name






The First Name field is mandatory.
The First Name must be between one (1) and 10 characters in length.
If the First Name is longer than 10 characters, enter the first 10 characters
of the First Name.
Enter the First Name using alphabetic characters only.
Spaces, numbers, hyphens, slashes or any other characters are not
allowed.

Middle Name




The Middle Name field is optional.
If entered, the Middle Name must be between one (1) and seven (7)
characters in length.
If the Middle Name is longer than seven (7) characters, enter the first
seven (7) characters of the Middle Name.

16




Enter the Middle Name using alphabetic characters only.
Spaces, numbers, hyphens, slashes or any other characters are not
allowed.

Last Name




The Last Name field is mandatory.
The Last Name must be between one (1) and 13 characters in length.
If the Last Name is longer than 13 characters, enter the first 13 characters
of the Last Name.
Enter the Last Name using alphabetic characters only.
Spaces, numbers, hyphens, slashes or any other characters are not
allowed.




Suffix




The Suffix field is optional.
If entered, the Suffix must be Jr, Sr, or a Roman numeral I through X.
Numbers, hyphens, slashes or any other characters are not allowed.

Date of Birth (DOB)







The DOB field is optional.
If entered, the DOB must contain eight (8) digits.
Enter the employee's DOB using the format MMDDYYYY where:
o MM is the month; enter a value of 01 through 12
o DD is the day; enter a value of 01 through 31
o YYYY is the year; enter the first two (2) digits of the century followed
by a value of 00 through 99.
Spaces, letters, hyphens, slashes or any other special characters are not
allowed.
The DOB cannot be before 1800 or after the current date.
NOTE: SSA may not be able to process your request if you enter
identical SSNs or identical First and Last Names multiple times.

The First, Middle and Last Name fields provide links to the help guide for entering
complex names. To access the SSNVS Help web page, you must be logged into
SSNVS. The Help button is in the left hand corner of each SSNVS web page and
opens in a new browser window.
NOTE: If data entry errors are found, you will be prompted to
correct your errors.

17

UPLOAD AN ELECTRONIC FILE FOR VERIFICATION
SSNVS allows you to request name and SSN verifications via electronic file
submissions.
1. The Submit a File for SSN Verification - Before You Start web page
contains the following information.


Review your file for correct formatting to ensure that the file is errorfree. A properly formatted file will avoid rejection. See the Submission
File Format section of the handbook for the correct file format. Files
containing more than 100 records are scanned for format errors. If
more than 50% of the records contain format errors, the file is not
processed.
o Excel Users
To ensure your electronic file submission processes successfully,
the file must NOT be in an *.xls format. If you are using Excel, you
must save the file in the appropriate format.
To properly save an Excel file for processing:
1. On the File Menu, select Save As.
2. In the Save As dialog box, select the drop-down box Save as
type.
3. Select Formatted text (Space delimited) (*.prn).
4. Insert your filename and click Save.
Once you have saved your file, check your file against the Submission
File Format. Please ensure that the record length is 130 characters
and all fields are properly placed in their respective positions.



Zip your file if you have over 500 name and SSN verification requests
or you have a slow connection. The transmission time required will be
substantially reduced if the file is zipped (compressed).

When the file is ready for upload, select the Continue button.
2. The Submit a File for SSN Verification - Submit Your File web page
contains the following data entry fields.


Employer's EIN

The EIN of the employer under which wages are to be reported for the
names and SSNs being verified.

18



Select File
o If you know the name of the file you wish to upload, type the file
name in the Select File data entry field.
or
o Select a file from your local or network directory by selecting the
Browse button. When the file submission box appears, select the
location and name of the file you want to upload. When you select
OK and return to Submit a File for SSN Verification - Submit Your
File web page, the file name is automatically entered in the Select
File data entry field.
o Once the Select File data entry field is complete, select the Submit
button to begin uploading your file. Your file submission is complete
when the Submit a File for SSN Verification - Confirmation web
page is displayed.
o After the Submit button has been selected, you will see a dialog
box showing the process of your file being uploaded. When the file
upload is complete, you will receive a pop-up box stating "Your file
submission was successful" and a recommendation to save or print
the acknowledgement.

Submission times depend on many factors. SSA allows up to four (4)
hours for a single file submission. If your connection is lost during file
submission, you will have to submit the file again.
NOTE: Please do not exit SSNVS or log out until you receive
your confirmation number.
3. The Submit a File for SSN Verification - Confirmation web page contains
the following information.
This web page acknowledges that your file was received and provides other
submitted related information.


Confirmation number, a 16-position alphanumeric number, assigned by
SSA, that you will need to retrieve the results of your submission.
Make a note of this number; you need it to check the status of your file.



Date of submission,



Time of submission,

19



Your file name (For your information only, not to be used for tracking
the status of your file.),



File size,



What you should do next, and



What to expect.

Once a file is successfully submitted and you have noted its confirmation
number, you can process more files by selecting the Submit Another File
button; this returns you to the Submit a File for SSN Verification - Submit
Your File web page.

SUBMISSION FILE FORMAT
To ensure your electronic file submission processes successfully, the file must be
a text file (.txt) in the following format:
NOTE: Effective 09/24/11, gender is no longer used as part of the
SSN verification process. You do not need to make any changes
to the file format. If a value is included in position 54 of a file, we
will remove it and replace it with a blank prior to the verification
attempt. All returned files will have a blank in position 48.
NOTE: Record delimiters are not to be used (i.e., do not place a
comma or any other character after any field).
NOTE: If a field marked "May not be left blank." does not contain
an entry, the item is automatically considered a non-verified
record.
NOTE: In order to sort the return file to your specifications, we
recommend using the User Control Data field to create a unique
identifier for each record. This unique identifier would be placed
in positions 90-103 in your submission file and return to you in
positions 84-97 in the return file.

Field Name
SOCIAL
SECURITY
NUMBER

Instruction
 Must include all 9
digits including lead
zeros.
 May not be left blank.

20

Position Field Size Field Type
1-9
9
Numeric

ENTRY CODE
“TPV”

 Must insert "TPV".
 May not be left blank.

10-12

3

Alpha

PROCESSING
CODE 214

 Must insert "214".
 May not be left blank.

13-15

3

Numeric

LAST NAME

 Do not use hyphens,
apostrophes, spaces,
periods, suffixes (Jr)
or prefixes (Dr).
 Must contain at least
one character.
 May not be left blank.

16-28

13

Alpha

FIRST NAME

 Do not use hyphens,
apostrophes, spaces,
periods, suffixes (Jr)
or prefixes (Dr).
 Must contain at least
one character.
 May not be left blank.

29-38

10

Alpha

MIDDLE
NAME / INITIAL

 Do not use hyphens,
apostrophes, spaces,
periods, suffixes (Jr)
or prefixes (Dr).
 Optional

39-45

7

Alpha

DATE OF BIRTH
(MMDDYYYY)

 If unknown, leave
blank.
 Optional
SSA use only.
Free form text for
employer.
SSA use only.

46-53

8

Numeric

54-89
90-103

36
14

Blanks
Alphanumeric

104-123
124-127

20
4

Blanks
Alpha

128-130

3

Numeric

BLANK
USER CONTROL
DATA
BLANK
REQUESTER
IDENTIFICATION
CODE
MULTIPLE
REQUEST
INDICATOR

 Enter OEVS.
 May not be left blank.
 Must insert "000".
 May not be left blank.

21

RETURNED FILE FORMAT
The returned text file is formatted as defined in the following table:
NOTE: Effective 09/24/11, gender is no longer used as part of the
SSN verification process. You do not need to make any changes
to the file format. If a value is included in position 54 of a file, we
will remove it and replace it with a blank prior to the verification
attempt. All returned files will have a blank in position 48.
Field Name
SOCIAL
SECURITY
NUMBER

Instruction
Position Field Size
For security reasons, if
1-9
9
the record has a
verification code of 3, 6
or is blank, the first five
(5) positions will be
masked with an "X".
LAST NAME
Data identical to input
10-22
13
provided by the
requester.
FIRST NAME
Data identical to input
23-32
10
provided by the
requester.
MIDDLE
Data identical to input
33-39
7
NAME/INITIAL
provided by the
requester.
DATE OF BIRTH Data identical to input
40-47
8
(MMDDYYYY)
provided by the
requester.
BLANK
SSA use only.
48
1
CONFIRMATION
16-position number
49-83
35
assigned to a file
submitted after 08/25/07
OR
or
TRACKING
NUMBER
Eight (8)-position number
assigned to a file
submitted prior to
08/25/07.
USER CONTROL Data identical to input
84-97
14
DATA
provided by the
requester.

22

Field Type
Alphanumeric

Alpha

Alpha

Alpha

Numeric

Blank
Alphanumeric

Alphanumeric

VERIFICATION Blank = Verified.
CODE
1 = SSN not in file (never
issued).

98

1

Blank or
Numeric

99-101

3

Numeric

102-105

4

Alphanumeric

106-108

3

Numeric

109-120
121

12
1

Blanks
Alpha

N = SSA records indicate
the number holder is not
deceased.
SSA use only.
122-130

9

Blanks

3 = Name matches; DOB
does not match.
5 = Name does not
match; DOB not
checked.
6 = SSN did not verify;
other reason.
PROCESSING
Data identical to input
CODE 214
provided by the
requester.
REQUESTER
Data identical to input
IDENTIFICATION
provided by the
CODE
requester.
MULTIPLE
Data identical to input
REQUEST
provided by the
INDICATOR
requester.
BLANK
SSA use only.
DEATH
Y = SSA records indicate
INDICATOR
the number holder is
deceased.

BLANK

SSN VERIFICATION RESULTS
On the SSN Verification Results web page, a table is displayed with the results
for name and SSN verification requests submitted online. In addition, a tally is
displayed showing the total number of:





Records submitted,
Failed,
Deceased and
Verified.

23

VERIFIED
The SSN submitted for verification matches SSA's records.


A “blank” Verification Results field = a verified SSN.

For security reasons, if the record has a “blank” Verification Results field, the first
five (5) positions of the SSN will be masked with an "X".

FAILED VERIFICATION
For security reasons, if the record has a verification code of 3 or 6, the first five
(5) positions of the SSN will be masked with an "X".
Verification Results Code - The following is the list of FAILED verification codes.





1 = SSN not in file (never issued).
3 = Name matches; DOB does not match.
5 = Name does not match; DOB not checked.
6 = SSN did not verify; other reason.

DECEASED (PER SSA RECORDS)
The SSN submitted for verification matches SSA's records, but our records
indicate that the individual is deceased.

STATUS AND RETRIEVAL OPTIONS
To view the Status and Retrieval web page, select the View Status and Retrieval
Information link on the BSO Main Menu web page. The Status and Retrieval web
page enables users to view the status of electronic files submitted for overnight
processing.
There are three (3) options for checking file status:
Option 1: Confirmation or Tracking Number
To view the status of an individual file:


Type the 16-position alphanumeric confirmation number or the eight (8)position alphanumeric tracking number you received when your file was
submitted.

24



Select the Submit button.

Option 2: Date Range
To view the status of all files you submitted within a date range:


Type the beginning and ending dates into the Range Start Date and
Range End Date fields.
The Date Range must:
o Contain eight (8) digits in the MMDDYYYY format, where:




MM is the month; enter a value 01 through 12.
DD is the day; enter a value 01 through 31.
YYYY is the year; enter the first two (2) digits of the century
followed by a value of 00 through 99.

o Be within two (2) years of the current date.
o Not be later than the current date.


Select the Submit button.

Option 3: All Submissions
To view the status of the most recent 100 submissions within the last two (2)
years, select the Submit button.
If the file you are searching for is not displayed, focus your search by using
Option 1 or 2.

STATUS AND RETRIEVAL RESULTS
When your file has been processed, you may download and/or view the results
on the Status and Retrieval Results web page.
The status and retrieval results are displayed in a table; for a full explanation of
each column, click on the column header. This opens a new browser to the
SSNVS Help web page which is only accessible when logged into SSNVS.


For 10 or less SSNs submitted, the results may be downloaded or viewed
online.



For more than 10 SSNs submitted, the results may be downloaded only.
25

NOTE: For security reasons, if the record has a verification code
of 3, 6 or if the Verification Results field is "blank", the first five (5)
positions of the SSN will be masked with an "X".
If the file is in process or was not processed due to a format error or failed unzip,
the Record Submitted and Available Through fields will be blank.
STATUS

EXPLANATION

AVAILABLE

The file is ready for viewing or downloading.

DOWNLOADED

The file is available and already has been downloaded.

FORMAT OR
SURFACE ERRORS

The file was rejected. At least one (1) record in the file
did not have the correct length of 130 characters or more
than 50% of the Name and SSN records in the file failed
edits.

FAILED UNZIP

The file either was not compatible with PKZip or
contained multiple files.

IN PROCESS

Except for peak submission periods, file results will
usually be available the next government business day.

NOT AVAILABLE

The file is more than 30 days old and can no longer be
viewed or downloaded. See Available Through
explanation below.

UNABLE TO
PROCESSRESUBMIT

The file could not be processed and must be
resubmitted.

VIEWED

The file is available and has already been viewed.

Depending on the number of results returned, select the Download or View link in
the Retrieval Option(s) column.

RETRIEVAL
OPTION(S)

EXPLANATION
Select to download your file results.

DOWNLOAD

IMPORTANT: You may have to associate the downloaded
file with your default text editor or save the downloaded file
as a text file.

26

Select to view your file results.
VIEW

NOTE: This option is available only if there are 10 or less
SSNs submitted for verification.

AVAILABLE THROUGH- Users are able to view or download the results for 30
days from the day they become available. After 30 days and up to two (2) years,
users can only view the status of their files. During the period files are available,
users can download or view them an unlimited number of times.
Other links that appear on this screen allow you to display context-related help.

WHAT TO DO IF AN SSN FAILS TO VERIFY
Follow these steps for each SSN that failed verification:
1. Compare the failed SSN to your employment records. If you made a
typographical error, correct the error and resubmit the corrected data. If
the name is hyphenated, consider trying different versions of the name.
2. If your employment records match your submission, ask your employee to
check his/her Social Security card and inform you of any name or SSN
difference between your records and his/her card. If your employment
records are incorrect, correct your records and resubmit the corrected
data.
3. If your employment record and the employee's Social Security card match,
ask the employee to check with any local Social Security Administration
(SSA) Office to resolve the issue. Once the employee has contacted the
SSA Office, he/she should inform you of any changes. You should correct
your records accordingly and resubmit the corrected data.
4. If the employee is unable to provide a valid SSN, you are encouraged to
document your efforts to obtain the correct information. (Documentation
should be retained with payroll records for a period of three (3) years.)
5. If you are unable to contact the employee, you are encouraged to
document your efforts.
6. If you have already sent a Form W-2 with an incorrect name and/or SSN,
then submit a Form W-2c (Corrected Wage and Tax Statement) to correct
the mismatch. W-2c services are available through BSO Wage Reporting.
There is no need to re-register for your Business Services Online (BSO)
User Identification Number (User ID).

27






Remember
A mismatch is not a basis, in and of itself, for you to take any adverse
action against an employee, such as laying off, suspending, firing or
discriminating.
Company policy should be applied consistently to all workers.
Any employer that uses the failure of the information to match SSA
records to take inappropriate adverse action against a worker may violate
State or Federal law.
The information you receive from SSNVS does not make any statement
regarding a worker's immigration status.

LOGGING OUT
To log out of SSNVS:


Select the Logout link at the top or bottom of any SSNVS web page.



The BSO Logout web page will display.



Select Yes to exit and return to the BSO Welcome web page.

SSNVS NEWS
The SSNVS News web page provides important updates and information
regarding SSN verification.

GETTING HELP
HELP LINK
To access the SSNVS Help web page, you must be logged into SSNVS. The
Help button is in the left hand corner of each SSNVS web page and opens in a
new browser window.

CONTACT SSA
You may either speak with or e-mail a Social Security Administration (SSA)
representative. To speak with a representative, refer to the Contact Information
section. To e-mail a representative:

28



Select the Contact SSA link at the top or bottom of any SSNVS web page.
This will open the Contact SSA web page in a new browser window.



Select "Social Security Number Verification Service Support Team" from
the drop-down menu of the Recipient field.



Enter your message in the Message field. Please be as specific as
possible, and include:
o
o
o
o
o

The question or problem,
Web page details (e.g., title, URL, etc.),
Any error messages received,
A telephone number where we may contact you, and
Any other relevant information.

EMPLOYER REPORTING INFORMATION
Visit the Employer W-2 Filing Instructions & Information web page for additional
information. Select the Learn How to E-File Using Business Services Online link
for an online tour of BSO. You will need Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader
(version 5.0 or higher recommended) to view the BSO Tutorial. For a free copy of
Adobe Reader, go to www.adobe.com.

MAINTAINING YOUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Use the Account Maintenance link on the BSO Main Menu web page to:




Update your contact information,
Change your password, and
Deactivate your User Identification Number (User ID).

These features are described below.

UPDATING YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
Select the Update your Registration Information link on the Account Maintenance
web page to change or add to the contact information you provided during
registration. The e-mail address you provided during registration allows the
Social Security Administration (SSA) to send you an e-mail notice when it is time
to change your password. In addition, you will receive BSO News, which
provides important wage and tax reporting updates.

29

NOTE: The Social Security Number (SSN) and Employer Identification
Number (EIN) fields cannot be updated. You must re-register to enter new
information in these fields.

CHANGING YOUR PASSWORD
For information on how to change your password, see the section "Changing
Your Password" under the REGISTRATION section of this handbook.

DEACTIVATING YOUR USER ID
Select the Deactivate Your User ID link from the Account Maintenance web page
to deactivate your User ID in the event that you leave the company, your User ID
is disclosed to an unauthorized party or for any other reason. The prompt User ID
deactivation helps to ensure the security of the information you provide to SSA.
If you require help with deactivating your User ID, or if you wish to deactivate an
obsolete User ID belonging to another person, call the Employer Reporting
Assistance number at the beginning of this handbook.
Deactivating your own User ID does not prevent you from obtaining a new User
ID.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Activation Code - an alphanumeric value code sent by SSA to the employer or
registered User ID holder when access to certain services is requested. This
code must be entered on the Activate Access to BSO Services web page the first
time the user attempts access to the requested service.
Authentication - the act of proving the identity of an individual.
BSO - Business Services Online; a suite of Internet services for businesses and
employers to exchange information with SSA.
BSO News - an electronic newsletter that provides important updates and
information regarding SSA Business Services Online.
Business Services Online Tutorial - an online training lesson that instructs the
user on how to use BSO. It is for employers and submitters who would like to
explore the business services available through BSO.

30

Confirmation Number - a 16-position alphanumeric number used to uniquely
identify each name and SSN verification request submitted after 8/25/07.
EIN - Employer Identification Number; a nine (9)-digit number the IRS assigns to
an entity to identify businesses as taxpayers.
Electronic File - a specifically formatted file submitted electronically for overnight
processing via the Submit a File for SSN Verification - Submit Your File web
page.
Employer's EIN - the Employer Identification Number of the employer under
which wages are to be reported for the names and SSNs being verified.
Employer Reporting Branch (ERB) personnel - SSA employees who serve as
the primary telephone answering point for general inquiries received from
employers and third-party payroll service providers.
Employee Verification Service (EVS) - EVS matches your record of current or
former employee names and SSNs with SSA's records.
IRS - Internal Revenue Service; a United States government agency responsible
for tax collection and tax law.
IRES - Integrated Registration Services; the SSA Internet registration application
for BSO.
Masking - de-identifying confidential data to safeguard the privacy of client data.
Mismatch - a name and SSN verification request that does not match SSA's
records.
Password - a unique combination of eight (8) letters and numbers that must be
entered to gain access to BSO.
SSA - Social Security Administration; an independent agency of the United
States government that manages the United States' insurance programs,
consisting of retirement, disability, survivor benefits and Supplemental Security
Income.
SSN - Social Security Number; a unique nine (9)-digit number assigned by SSA
to identify an individual when reporting wages, paying taxes and collecting
benefits.
SSNVS - Social Security Number Verification Service; an online service provided
by SSA that allows registered users to verify employee names and SSNs against
SSA's records.

31

SSNVS News - Provides important updates and information regarding SSN
verification.
Third-Party - strictly limited to organizations that contract with employers to
either handle the wage reporting responsibilities or perform an administrative
function directly related to annual wage reporting responsibilities of hired
employees.
Tracking Number - an eight (8)-position alphanumeric number used to uniquely
identify each name and SSN verification request submitted before 8/25/07.
User Certification Statement - a statement to which a BSO registered user
must attest, certifying they have read, understood and agreed to the terms of use
for BSO.
User ID - User Identification Number; a unique value issued by SSA to the user
at BSO registration that identifies the individual. This value must be entered to
gain access to BSO.
Verification - the act or process of establishing the truth, accuracy or reality of
something.

APPENDIX A: ADDITIONAL VERIFICATION OPTIONS
The following instructions are for employers and third-party submitters who wish
to submit Social Security Number (SSN) verification requests to the Social
Security Administration (SSA) via paper or telephone.
Small Paper Requests (1 to 50 Name/SSNs)
o

Submit on paper to your local SSA office. Your local office will
provide you with format and submission instructions. Some offices
accept faxed listings. Go to Local Office Search to find your local
SSA Office.

o

This listing may be formatted across the page in a columnar format,
such as:
Social Security
Number

Last
Name

First
Name

Middle
Initial

Date of
Birth

Telephone Requests for Registered SSNVS Users
When the automated telephone verification service, TNEV, ends in FY2012, SSA
recognizes registered SSNVS users may occasionally need to perform

32

verifications when the user has no online access. In those instances, registered
users can call the employer 800 number (800-772-6270) and, once the user
authentication with a valid UserID with an active SSNVS role is complete, an
agent will provide name/SSN verification over the phone. Following are the
scenarios when SSA will perform these occasional verifications.


Scenario 1: The user is registered and has a telephone but does not
have immediate access to a computer SSNVS and has a dire need to put
a new hire to work; i.e. farmer, day worker, etc.
Agent interaction: The agent can verify SSNs.



Scenario 2: The user is registered but locked out of the Integrated
Registration Services (IRES) system and an agent is unable to unlock
them because of a systems problem.
Agent interaction: If an agent is able to unlock the user’s account, then
the agent will not verify SSNs. The agent will advise the user to use
SSNVS to verify the SSN. If the agent is unable to unlock employer, then
the agent will verify SSNs until the unlock issue has been resolved.



Scenario 3: The user is registered and has requested a new Business
Services Online (BSO) temporary password and has not yet received it.
Agent interaction: An agent will verify the SSN if the user is registered
and had requested a temporary password. If the employer did not
request a temporary password, then the agent will not verify the SSN.



Scenario 4: SSA’s electronic verification systems are down and
unavailable to the public.
Agent interaction: An agent will advise the user of an estimated time for
when the system will be back up, if known. The user will need to use the
verification system later. Agents will not verify any SSNs in this situation
unless there is an immediate need to verify an SSN.

In the above scenarios, agents will ensure users are properly authenticated (e.g.,
valid user, employer EIN, other pertinent information) before verifying an
employee’s SSN over the telephone. If the user has an active SSNVS role in the
IRES system, the agent will verify SSNs. However, if the user does not have an
active SSNVS role in IRES, or has a pending role in IRES, the agent will not
verify SSNs since SSA has not received the positive confirmation, through the
IRES role activation process, that the employer authorizes the user to perform
the verifications.
What to Do If an SSN Fails to Verify
Each SSN sent in the file will be returned to you with a verification code. If the
verification code is blank, the record agrees with SSA's data file. Please annotate
your records that this SSN has been verified.

33

If the verification code is not blank, follow these steps:
1. Ask to see the employee's Social Security card to ensure that the SSN
and name were correctly shown on the file.
2. Check to see whether you made a typographical error. If so, correct the
data and resend to SSA in a subsequent file. Please resend only the
corrected data.
3. If the SSN shown on the card and the file match, ask the employee to
check with any SSA Office or call 1-800-772-1213 to determine and
correct the problem. Ask the employee to give you the corrected name for
your payroll records.

34