And we wonder why identity theft is so out of control

[rainbow4321]

I had to get a replacement SS card for my 16 y/o. I take her birth certificate and my picture ID to the local SS office--she was at school so I went by myself with all (what I thought) the needed legal government issued paperwork.

The clerk tells me that I can get a letter that has her name and SS number on it right away--but to get the actual card mailed to our house I would need either her school ID or her insurance card (?????). Trying not to take my frustration out on the very nice, probably min. wage clerk I asked HOW could an insurance card trump a birth certificate/parental ID? "Well, there are alot of fake birth certificates out there and we're trying to crack down on identity theft". I ask "and no fake insurance cards or school IDs??".. His response "Well,it's just that your government is trying to get ahead of the identity theft problem". Bit my tougue in half to keep from saying that 'my government' was hijacked in Nov 2000.
All this so she can take a driver's ed class (they require a SS card or the letter, birth certificate and pic ID)!!

[glowing]

1. There was time when your ss # was only for your ss benfits and not

to ever be used as an identifying #... ss was the beginning of the branding and categorizing of people.