Work-only SS# and signing husband up for benefits

[grinchus 11]

Hi everyone,

I don't actually know where to post this question. 2 weeks after my fiance' came on a K-1 we went to the SS office to apply for a SS number. Since then we got married (yay!), and a week after that his SS card came in the mail.

Here's my quandary: today we went to sign him up for a bank account and the woman at the bank who was opening his account said that his SS# came back as "not yet assigned." Then we looked at the card and it reads: "Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization" and then puts the number. So does he not have a SS# yet? His card came, it has a number on it, so why would it say "not yet assigned."

The bank lady found a work-around for opening him up an account, but here's the bigger problem: In order to add him as my spouse on my medical benefits at work, I had to provide a SS# which I thought was this one. If the medical benefits folks try to input it, it will say "Not yet assigned." So how do I get him covered? I have a 30-day window to sign him up and I don't want him to be uncovered for any length of time. (I got private insurance for him for 2 months so he'd be covered during the time he entered the U.S. and the time we got married.)

So, what's the deal w/ this SS number that's not an SS number?

Thanks!

[edp333 9]

My suggestion would be to call or visit the nearest Social Security office to found it. It could be a typo or something, because it should be in their system before the card arrived in the mail.

Visiting the office is the better option because when you call sometimes you get an operator who can only read to you what is in the book.

[Otto 83]

My suggestion would be to call or visit the nearest Social Security office to found it. It could be a typo or something, because it should be in their system before the card arrived in the mail.

Visiting the office is the better option because when you call sometimes you get an operator who can only read to you what is in the book.

For sure - SSA office can answer that. My guess is that the card/# is valid and 'the system' hasn't updated thoroughly yet.

** Most questions of this nature (especially SS related) are more appropriate in the "Working & Traveling prior to getting a Green Card" forum; moving thread there from AOS Proc.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Happened to me as well. Basically the bank doesn't take it directly from the SSA it gets updated into some system and my banker said that it doesn't update immediately so to wait a week or so. She was still able to add it to my bank account though so yours should too (my bank is Wells Fargo).

His SSN IS valid, it's just not updated on all systems yet. Go ahead and give it to your medical benefits people. If they tell you it's not assigned tell them to keep checking every day because it IS valid it's just not updated on all systems yet.

Edited March 2, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[I'm Gone 60]

OK here is what I assume is happening. SSA puts out each month a High Group list that shows the highest Group number that has been assigned within each SSN Area. So either the Group within his SSN Area has just started to be assigned and is not on the current list or the insurance company is using an old list.

It also seems that there was an error with SSA's February list if his SSN if from that Area and Group.

High Group List Correction: February 2010

On February 2, 2010, a keying error was made in the publishing of the High Group List. The original version stated the highest group to be 653-53. The updated version, posted on February 12, 2010 lists the correct highest group as 653-56.

Area Group Serial (AAA-GG-SSSS)

High Group List and Other Ways to Determine if an SSN is Valid:

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

SSN - Order of Issuance:

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

If the bank will accept other verification of his SSN he has a few options. One would be to call the SSA 800#. Once they have established his identity and he has given his permission during the call they call tell the bank that is his assigned SSN. The 2nd would be go to an SSA office and ask for an SSN Verification Printout. That would verify his SSN and name as it appears on his SSN record. If you do that I would say your employer asked for it, not health insurance. 3rd would be wait until the health insurance's verification process catches up with the SSA data.

Edited March 2, 2010 by I Quit

[grinchus 11]

Thanks everyone! I will wait a week or so to see if the system catches up with the updates before I stand in line again at the SS office. Hopefully it is correct that it's just a matter of time. By the way, does he get issued a new card with his same number that doesn't say "for work only with DHS authorization"? My ss card doesn't say that. Are there any drawbacks to the card actually saying that, or is it just having a number that's important?

Hopefully all banking/benefits/etc. matters will go smoothly!

[I'm Gone 60]

A Social Security number (SSN) card having the legend, "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION," only means that he cannot use the SSN card as proof of authorization to work in the United States. It does not otherwise affect the validity of the card or number.

However, so businesses do not understand the reason for that being on the card and think it's a temporary number and/or card, so I say replace it when eligible.

When an individual previously issued an SSN card with "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" printed on it has been granted permanent residency, he or she can apply for a replacement SSN card that reflects the new immigration status.

An alien granted permanent residency status is eligible to be issued an unrestricted SSN card and will retain the originally assigned SSN.

Documents that establish lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LAPR)

-- I-551 card

NOTE: Some LAPR aliens have conditional 2-year I-551s (Alien Registration Receipt Card), subject to the limitation that they must apply for removal of the conditional basis 90 days before the second anniversary of the admittance date to the United States. A conditional I-551 is identified by an expiration date 2 years later than the admittance/adjudication date is acceptable proof of permanent residency. For SSN purposes conditional resident aliens are treated as aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.

-- Temporary I-551

Temporary evidence of immigrant status is issued for an alien to use

until the permanent I-551 card is received. This may be a stamp in the individual's passport or on the I-94.

-- Alternate evidence of LAPR status

Establish evidence of LAPR status if the following requirements are met:

-- The applicant submits an unexpired Form I-766 and on the face of the card, the Category is, A3, A4, A5, A6, A9, A15, A16, C9, C16 or C25 and SAVE verifies LAPR status.

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

For the one millionth time DO NOT DO NOT give up the old SSN card until he has the new one. If they ask for it, just say he doesn’t have it, or the dog ate it.

Edited March 2, 2010 by I Quit