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Privacy Laws and Social Security

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Privacy Laws and Social Security
The government, or at least the Social Security Administration, is very strict about upholding these privacy laws. Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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Social Security’s privacy laws are a topic I’ve covered in past columns. But I can tell from my emails that it’s time I do so again.

I recall my days as a trainee with the Social Security Administration. And gosh, that was more than 50 years ago now! The very first thing drilled into our heads was that a law called the Privacy Act prevented us from disclosing any information about anyone’s Social Security record to anyone else other than the record holder himself or herself.

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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