Why do I need to show my SS card once I've shown you a U.S. Passport?

[helpme]

I did some work for a teacher on campus, and am due to be paid a one time sum of $190.

Filled out the I-9 form and we used my U.S. passport to establish my idenity and employment eligibility.

HOWEVER, the campus HR department requires my DL and social security card, claiming that the U.S. passport does not establish employment eligibility (even though the federal I-9 form states that it does).

Now I have to go through the hassle of going 100 miles to retrieve my SS card from a safety deposit box, or waiting 10-14 days for a new one to be mailed to me after waiting in line at a SS office.

I would think a Social security card would be way eaiser to counterfit than a U.S. passport. Any reasons why they won't take the passport?

 

[mugs]

Refer to the list on the I-9 form. If it says a Passport is good enough, point that out to the HR department. If it does not, enjoy your trip.

Edit: Passport appears in list A on the I-9 form. You only need one item from list A to establish identity and eligibility to work. Show them that.

 

[FoBoT]

they need your SS# for income tax withholding and IRS reporting for FICA etc

 

[helpme]

Yeah, the I-9 form lists the passport in List A:

"Documents that Establish Both Identity and Employment Eligibility"

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/files/i-9.pdf

Thought that you had to be a U.S. Citizen or national to get a U.S. passport, which infers you have authorization to work here.

 

[theeedude]

It's just a bureocratic thing.
Some people don't have passports either because they are not US citizens or because they didn't bother getting one since they don't travel, so they use DL and SS, which everyone has. Also, they need your SS for tax purposes.
But why do you keep your SS card in safe deposit box, but not your passport?

 

[zanieladie]

Why do you keep your Social Security card so far away?

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
they need your SS# for income tax withholding and IRS reporting for FICA etc

I've given them my SS#, just don't have the physical card with me. If I gave them a bogus SS#, wouldn't that just come back to bite me when I file for my tax refund?

 

[FoBoT]

probably just company policy for them to know the SS# is correct

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's just a bureocratic thing.
Some people don't have passports either because they are not US citizens or because they didn't bother getting one since they don't travel, so they use DL and SS, which everyone has. Also, they need your SS for tax purposes.
But why do you keep your SS card in safe deposit box, but not your passport?

I retrieved my passport on a previous trip to the deposit box, but left my SS card since the form (and teacher) told me I didn't need it if I brought my passport. Since my passport was already expired, I figured it was less valuable than my SS card if lost.

Of course I've given them my SS number, but don't happen to have my card with me. Previous employers never required me to show my physical SS card if I showed my passport.

 

[Nutdotnet]

What they are doing is ILLEGAL.

We (as in HR) cannot discriminate between the what type of ID is acceptable and what isn't. If it is listed on the I-9 form then we HAVE to take it.

An unexpired or expired Passport is listed in Section A of the I-9 form. You do NOT need to provide any documents stated in Section B & Section C.

Tell them to DIAF...better yet, tell them that discriminating against acceptable I-9 identification is illegal. You have every right to report this practice.

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
probably just company policy for them to know the SS# is correct

Yeah, must be State of California policy. Would have been nice to list than in the paperwork they gave to fill out.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: helpme

Originally posted by: FoBoT
probably just company policy for them to know the SS# is correct

Yeah, must be State of California policy. Would have been nice to list than in the paperwork they gave to fill out.

Ehh...maybe, but it is always employee responsibility to read and review company policies. It is only our (employer) responsibility to make the policies readily available and accessible.

I would still look in to it if I were you. Like I said, they can't force you to supply your SS Card for I-9 purposes...however, there may be another purpose where it would be appropriate.

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
What they are doing is ILLEGAL.

An unexpired Passport is listed in Section A of the I-9 form. You do NOT need to provide any documents stated in Section B & Section C.

Actually, an expired passport is also listed.

Tell them to DIAF...better yet, tell them that discriminating against acceptable I-9 identification is illegal. You have every right to report this practice.

Sadly, I don't think telling them to DIAF will get me my money Though it would be fun to report them to the feds (don't think reporting them to the state will do much good, since they are the state?).

Ehh...maybe, but it is always employee responsibility to read and review company policies. It is only our (employer) responsibility to make the policies readily available and accessible.

Well, I'm just thinking that means it should be included with the basic paperwork package that potential employees are given.

Must be a reason why they require it, but them telling me it's not accecptable for employment eligibility is crap, and they be clear about that.

I'll probably just request another from a local office and hope it arrives before I move out of my apartment in June. Last thing I would want is for it to arrive after I leave, and not be forwarded to me.