Why You Need a Background Check with Social Security Number Search
July 30 2024
To truly vet your incoming candidates, it’s essential to run a thorough background check with social security number searches as the foundation. While many HR professionals are familiar with running background checks, you may not be aware of the nuances of an SSN check. Let’s take a look at why this step is vital and how upgrading to a more in-depth SSN trace (SSN Trace Plus) can enhance your background screening process.
What is a Social Security Number Background Check?
A background check using a social security number is the cornerstone of any comprehensive background screening process. First, let’s clarify. A “social security number background check” could mean a few different things. Some people may be referring to a criminal background check that uses an SSN as a key personal identifier; an SSN is often used to match criminal, employment, and education records to a candidate. In this blog, we will be talking about SSN traces, which are a specific background check service that uses a candidate’s social security number to provide an address history. It is a step in the background check process, but not an entire background check.
It’s important to note that an SSN Trace is not designed to verify SSN accuracy. For that, you’ll want a consent-based social verification (CBSV).
A social security number search reveals crucial information such as previous addresses, aliases, and jurisdictions where the candidate has lived. This data is invaluable because it reveals additional jurisdictions in which you may want to conduct a criminal history search, uncovering details that might otherwise be missed if you only focus on the candidate’s current or self-reported locations.
For example, an SSN background check might reveal that a candidate has lived in multiple states over the past several years. This discovery then prompts your screening provider to check public records across these states, ensuring that no criminal activity slips through. If you don’t start your background check with SSN Trace, you might miss vital information, putting your company at risk.
Further reading: Services You Need for a Modern Background Screening Program
Why a Background Check with a Social Security Number Trace is Essential
Background checks with SSN searches are essential; they provide a more comprehensive picture of a candidate’s history. By identifying all the jurisdictions tied to an applicant’s SSN, HR professionals can better tailor their criminal background searches to include areas that may not be listed on a candidate’s resume.
Consider this: a candidate who has committed an offense in a jurisdiction they no longer live in may not list that location on their employment application. However, by running an SSN check background search, you can uncover these locations, expanding the scope of your criminal history search and ensuring a more thorough background check. This process protects your business from potential negligent hiring claims and helps maintain a safe working environment.
SSN Trace Plus includes jurisdictions where the candidate was arrested, even if they were just passing through
SSN Trace Plus: The Next Level of Employer Background Check
While a standard social security number background check is effective, SSN Trace Plus takes it a step further. This enhanced service taps into real-time, nationwide incarceration data, offering a more detailed look at a candidate’s criminal history. Unlike traditional background checks that focus on locations where a candidate has lived, SSN Trace Plus includes jurisdictions where the candidate was arrested, even if they were just passing through.
Imagine a candidate was arrested for a DUI in Las Vegas while they were there for vacation. A standard background check, one based on a traditional SSN trace, might miss this incident if it occurred outside their place of residence. However, SSN Trace Plus can capture this information, providing hiring managers with a comprehensive understanding of the candidate’s history.
Take your screening to the next level: A Guide Social Media Background Checks
A social security number search exposes crucial information such as previous addresses, aliases, and jurisdictions where the candidate has lived
SSN Trace Plus vs. Consent-Based Social Verification
Both SSN Trace Plus and Consent-Based Social Verification (CBSV) are valuable tools in the background screening process. Both use a social security number, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct benefits.
SSN Trace Plus provides a broad, nationwide search of incarceration data tied to a candidate’s social security number. It reveals not only where a candidate has lived but also where they may have been arrested, even in jurisdictions where they have not resided. This comprehensive view improves the chances that no significant criminal history is overlooked during the background check.
On the other hand, consent-based social verification (CBSV) allows employers and screening providers to verify the accuracy of the SSN provided by matching it with the Social Security Administration (SSA) records. CBSV can confirm if the SSN holder’s name, date of birth, and SSN match SSA’s records, returning a match verification of “yes” or “no.” If the SSA’s records indicate that the SSN holder is deceased, CBSV will return a death indicator. In some cases, this will reveal that a candidate is using a stolen SSN to falsify background check results.
You can use CBSV both pre-hire and post-hire, making it a strong decision-making tool for HR professionals.
Keep reading: Reasons Why You Need to Run Post-Hire Background Checks
Your Frequently Asked Questions About SSN Trace & SSN Trace Plus
Q: How does an SSN trace differ from a standard background check?
A: An SSN trace simply identifies the jurisdictions where a candidate has lived, guiding where you should conduct your criminal history searches. To collect criminal history information, education verifications, etc., you will need to run other screening services. Just running an SSN trace without additional services would not be useful for an employer background check.
Q: What is the difference between SSN Trace and SSN Trace Plus?
A: A standard SSN trace will reveal a person’s prior addresses, while InfoMart’s SSN Trace Plus looks for anywhere that incarceration data is found.
Q: What additional benefits does SSN Trace Plus offer?
A: SSN Trace Plus includes real-time incarceration data, providing a more comprehensive view of a candidate’s criminal history, even in jurisdictions where they may not have lived.
Q: Can an SSN background check help prevent identity theft?
A: By verifying the validity of a social security number and matching it to the candidate, employers can help identify and prevent the use of stolen or fake SSNs. However, it’s important to note that SSN trace products do not typically validate a social security number. For that, ask for consent-based social verification.
Why Do Comprehensive Background Checks Matter?
A comprehensive background check can reveal more than just criminal history. It can also uncover discrepancies in a candidate’s employment history, provide education verification, and monitor an employee’s driving record. This is crucial for ensuring that you are hiring trustworthy individuals who will contribute positively to your company culture.
For a truly robust employer background check, begin the screening process with SSN Trace Plus and consent-based social verification. It lays a solid foundation for your criminal history search. From there, you can run education history verifications, employment verifications, and social media screening. Round out your background check with a modern drug testing solution, and then finish up with continuous criminal monitoring post-hire!
Learn more: An Introduction to Continuous Criminal Monitoring
Elevate Background Screening with SSN Trace Plus
Incorporating a social security number background check into your hiring process is essential for making informed hiring decisions. But to truly protect your business and ensure the safety of your employees and customers, consider upgrading to SSN Trace Plus. This enhanced service offers a more comprehensive view of a candidate’s background, helping you avoid the pitfalls of negligent hiring and secure the best talent for your organization.
For HR professionals, the stakes have never been higher. With the right tools, like SSN Trace Plus, you can confidently navigate the complexities of the modern hiring process and protect your company from potential risks.
To talk to a background screening expert about this or any other modern screening services, request more information.
About Tammy Cohen
Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record.
About InfoMart
InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.