INDIANA ELIMINATING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON THE HORIZON SAYS HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET News::No More Social Security Numbers:

No More Social Security Numbers
If someone keeps losing their wallet, should they be allowed to carry cash, credit cards or a driver's license?

Federal agencies are being told the problem of losing personal data has gotten so bad, the agencies should stop collecting and using Social Security numbers.

The phase-out of the nine-digit numbers that provide a unique way of identifying people is to begin by early 2009. There have been regular breaches of security of personal data, in many cases because of computers or storage drives being lost or stolen.

The head of the Office of Management and Budget is calling for the end of the use of Social Security numbers as part of a series of measures against identity theft from government agencies.

One of the biggest was a year ago when a Veterans Affairs Department laptop with information for more than 26 and a half million military personnel was stolen from a department employee.

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Updated: May 23, 2007, 5:29 am"