Hello,

I got a job offer at Target to give me something to do until I get a full time job. They did a background check on me and I got the report in the mail from some reporting agency saying that my SSN in not valid. How is this possible?

Target says they can't hire me because the background check says my SSN isn't valid. I gave them the correct number. I am thinking I should go to the social security office tomorrow with the report and ask them what is wrong.

Has anyone ever been told they have an invalid SSN?

Thanks,

Terri

hey canadagirl,

I got my SSN card last week in NYC, I went to the bank to open the account and they told me it was not valid
also today i went to Radio shack to buy a cell phone when they did so the chk wit my social they said it was not valid
Diff situations but similar denials

Thnks
Al

That would be a good idea going back to SS office with that report so you can get an explanation from them.

Here is an educated guess of the problem.

The SSN consists of three parts, Area, Group and Serial

AAA-GG-SSSS

Just about each month SSA puts out a High Group list, which shows the highest Group number that has been assigned within each SSN Area. Either your SSN is from a Group within your SSN Area that has just started to be used and is not on the current list or the company is using an old list.

This is July's list:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/HGJuly0306.txt

Previous months:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnvhighgroup.htm

This shows the order in which Groups are used:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnweb.htm

If it's not on the July list hopefully it will be on the next list. If it's there and it has an * next to it, that is a change from the previous month and the company is probably using an old list.

Now the employer can call the SSA 800# and verify your SSN if they have hired you. They just need their EIN, your name, SSN, date of birth and sex. SSA just says whether the info matches or not and when it doesn't match they don't say what didn't match.

You can also go into your local SSA office and ask for an SSN Verification Printout. The Printout will verify the SSN and name on your record. If you say it's for an employer there is no charge.

Wow thanks for the great info Mdyoung. Mine was on the July list with a star next to it. I'm guessing from this info that means that by August I shouldn't have a problem with an "invalid SSN"? Someone in my family suggested I should go and try to get a department credit card to see if I get approved.

The reporting agency that Target uses is being difficult so I might just have to give that job up for now. They are just repeating over and over to me that my SSN is not valid and they won't listen to what I try and explain to them. I actually have the SSN Verification printout but Target is saying that if the agency says "do not proceeed" due to any SSN issue then they can't hire me.

I am also waiting on a decision from another job in my field that doesn't start till September so hopefully I get that one and I can just wait till Sept. to start working.

Thanks again,

Terri

Hopefully, but you really shouldn't have a problem now, since your Group is on the July list, so no telling how often the company updates the info they are using.

My first job application was for Target as well, at that time I only had an EAD (my SSN number was pending). I got the offer, peed in a cup, everything was fine but they couldn't do anything until they had the background check results (which of course never came because it's all based on your SSN number). Seeing in your case you only got the SSN the week of your interview it probably hasn't appeared on the background checking companies computers as of yet.

Good luck in your job search.

As always, great information mdyoung!

You never cease to amaze me with what you dig up on the SSA!

Hickory NC SSA GAVE me a printout showing my SSN#, and that they'd issued it as well as a letter 2 days before saying this was my receipt of application and that i was pending a number - card in mail in 2 weeks (they told me verbally to come back the next day for the actual number on a printout).
So I have kept that safe and was planning to use it i nlieu of the card itself - looks like that was a good move as per mdyoung's info (and btw Mike, your info helped me HEAPS in applying - and it took no time at all )

Just doing my little part in making something in the whole process work as it should.