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Social Security Number
Collection
Introduction:
On March 1, 2001,
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) began mandatory
collection of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) from license applicants.
All recreational fishing or hunting licenses, including original, replacement
or renewal licenses, will require the applicant's SSN.
Federal and state
laws require WDFW to collect the SSN of license applicants. Under federal
law 42
USC Chapter 7, Subchapter IV, Part D, Sec. 666(a)(13), enacted in
1996 to improve child support compliance, WDFW must collect SSNs from
license applicants. This law also requires other state agencies to collect
SSNs from applicants for professional and occupational licenses and
drivers' licenses, to help enforce child support laws. In response to
this federal law, in October 2000 the state Department of Licensing
began collecting SSNs as part of its drivers' licensing procedures.
State legislation
RCW
77.32.014 and RCW
74.20A.320, passed to enact the federal legislation, requires WDFW
to suspend the recreational licenses of parents when requested by the
Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child
Support (DCS).
DCS has statewide
responsibility for enforcing child support laws, and maintaining records
of parents who are in arrears on child support payments.DCS states it
will work as quickly as possible to reinstate a license after the child
support debt is satisfied or a payment agreement is negotiated.
In the past, WDFW
was unable to comply with the SSN collection requirement for license
applicants because the recreational licensing system did not have an
automated, centralized database. Instead, WDFW sent letters to parents,
identified by DCS, as having at least six months of past due child support
payments and no repayment agreements. These letters informed parents
that if they held recreational licenses, WDFW would suspend their licenses
until DCS requested reinstatement.
As of March 1, 2001,
a new, computerized recreational licensing system, known as the Washington
Interactive Licensing Database (WILD), is scheduled to go into operation.
The WILD system includes a database. The database allows WDFW to comply
with the federal law requiring SSN collection as part of the licensing
process.
Following are
some frequently asked questions about the Social Security Number (SSN)
collection requirement for recreational license applicants:
Q: When does
the Social Security Number (SSN) collection requirement go into effect?
A:
Collecting SSNs from applicants for fishing and hunting licenses,
tags, and permits began when the automated WILD licensing system went
into operation March 1, 2001. The same requirement is in effect for
persons choosing to buy recreational licenses by telephone, and will
also be in effect for license sales over the Internet, scheduled to
begin May 1, 2001.
Q: Who has
to provide their SSN?
A:
All applicants for recreational licenses, tags, and stamps must provide
an SSN with the following exceptions:
- Children
under 15 are not required to provide a SSN.
- Applicants who
are not U.S. citizens and do not have a SSN are also exempt from the
requirement.
- Others in special
situations should contact WDFW at (360) 902- 2464 for additional information.
Q: Why do
I have to give my SSN?
A:
It is a federal law, 42
USC Chapter 7, Subchapter IV, Part D, Sec. 666(a)(13). Enacted
in 1996, the law requires Social Security Numbers to be recorded for
"any applicant for a professional license, driver's license, occupational
license, recreational license or marriage license."
Q:
Will my SSN be printed on my recreational license or be visible on the
license sales terminal?
A:
No. Your SSN will only be entered the first time a license is purchased
with the new computerized WILD license vending system. Your SSN is
not printed on the license document. Your SSN is not
displayed on the WILD computer screen after it is first entered.
Q:
Can I refuse to disclose my SSN?
A:
No. Your SSN must be collected in order to complete a first-time application
for a recreational license.
Q:
Do I have to show my Social Security card when I apply for a license?
A:
No. You are only required to state your Social Security Number. You
are not required to show your Social Security card.
Q:
Do I have to provide my SSN if I buy my recreational license over the
telephone or the Internet?
A:
Yes. If you choose to purchase recreational licenses using telephone
or Internet licensing options, you will be required to enter your
SSN as part of the first license transaction.
Q:
What about commercial fishing licenses?
A:
The commercial fishing license is an occupational license, and is
subject to the same federal law requiring SSN collection for other
licenses. WDFW has collected SSNs from all persons seeking to renew
commercial fishing licenses since 1998. Commercial fishers will continue
to be required to provide their SSNs at the time of license renewal.
Q:
How do I know my SSN is secure?
A:
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) takes its responsibility
to safeguard personal information very seriously, and has taken several
steps to ensure your SSN is secure. Your SSN will not be visible on
the license document or on the WILD licensing system computer screen
after it is first entered. In addition, license holders' SSNs are
exempt from public disclosure requirements. Only authorized WDFW personnel
will have access to SSNs.
Q:
How does my SSN help with child support compliance?
A:
Collecting SSNs is part of a nationwide effort to improve compliance
with child support orders. If a parent owes at least six months of
back child support and has not entered into an agreement to pay his/her
child support, the Division of Child Support (DCS) may request that
licensing agencies suspend an existing license or not issue a new
license. The WILD licensing system's computer terminals are programmed
to block the sale of recreational licenses to those individuals designated
by DCS, as non-compliant with a child support order.
Q:
What happens when a license purchase is blocked?
A:
A recreational license will not be issued. No information about why
the license sale was blocked will appear on the WILD vending system
computer screen, or otherwise be available to the license vendor.
When a sale is blocked, dealers need to contact WDFW for additional
information. WDFW licensing staff will provide the appropriate Division
of Child Support contact information to callers. The applicant will
be not be able to buy a recreational license until WILD receives a
release from the Division of Child Support.
Q:
What happens if a parent pays his/her child support debt or makes a
repayment agreement with DCS just prior to a recreational license purchase?
A:
It can take at least one full day for a license suspension
release to be sent to state licensing agencies such as WDFW and entered
into the WILD system. WDFW staff, who are available to respond to
questions about blocked recreational licenses, are on duty during
regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Thus, it is possible
that a parent whose license suspension release is sent late in the
week – on a Thursday afternoon or a Friday – could be prevented from
purchasing a recreational license until Monday of the following week.
Q:
What if I have a question about my child-support records?
A:
The Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child Support,
is responsible for enforcing child support laws and maintaining records
of parents who are in arrears on child support payments. If you have
questions about your child support status, contact DSHS toll-free
at 1-800-457-6202. For more information on the license suspension
program, please visit the Division of Child Support web site at: http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/index.shtml
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