Privacy of Social Security Numbers

Have you done your SSN spring cleaning? Social Security numbers have long been used by financial services, health care, and educational organizations to identify people. In recent years, the use of SSNs has become much more problematic, as they are often used to commit identity theft.  Because of this risk, it’s important that we at Penn do our best to limit the use and storage of SSNs:

•   Check computers, file cabinets, and folders to eliminate any unnecessary storage of SSNs.

•   Shred unneeded documents containing SSNs.  

•    Remove requests for SSNs from forms.

•   Limit access to SSNs to workers who legitimately require access to the data.

•   If you have a system that utilizes SSNs but can use Penn ID instead, make that conversion.                                                                  

For help, contact privacy@pobox.upenn.edu. For more on SSNs, go to www.upenn.edu/privacy.