Justification – Use of SSN
• Why do you need to use the SSN?
All Title II and Medicare entitlement is established by SSA and based on a social security number (SSN). There is no alternate method in SSA for identifying the individual or the record where entitlement exists. Therefore, when information is required to established eligibility for a benefit, the information is requested under the SSN where the benefit will be established. The SSN is also used to assure individuals with similar names are accurately identified and processed properly. In addition, the SSN is used to identify spousal relationship to determine if the individual meets the requirements to have their Medicare Part A premium reduced to zero.
• What will happen if you cannot use the SSN as a data element?
If the SSN is not used, the Federal Government will not be able to identify individuals, resulting in no reduction of the Medicare Part A premium amount for someone who meets all requirements.
• Explain alternative data elements considered and why you do not consider them suitable replacements for the SSN.
SSA uses the SSN to determine Title II benefits for which Medicare entitlement is derived. Presently, there are no other suitable replacements.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Mitch Bryman |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-11 |