• Social Security Online
  Privacy Policy

The privacy of the Social Security Administration’s customers has always been of utmost importance to the Social Security Administration. In fact, the Social Security Administration’s first regulation (see http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/401/401-0000.htm) was written to ensure your privacy. As a Federal agency, the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires Social Security to protect the information they collect from you. (See http://www.socialsecurity.gov/privacyact.htm ). The privacy policy outlined below applies to the data Social Security collects from you over the Internet.

This is the Social Security Administration’s notice to you about why Social Security collects your personal information, how Social Security uses it, and who the Social Security Administration shares it with; what your choices are for how Social Security uses your information; how to get access to your information; and how Social Security protects the information Social Security collects and maintains.

• Social Security collects personal data to administer the Social Security program. Social Security does not use the information for any other internal secondary purpose.
• You don’t have to give personal information to visit the Social Security Administration’s website.
• If you do give your personal information, Social Security treats it very carefully.
• Social Security collects personal information about you (e.g., name, email address, Social Security number or other unique identifier) only if you specifically and knowingly give it to Social Security.

• Social Security does not sell the information they collect online, or any information Social Security collects.
• The personal information you give online will be used only in connection with the administration of the Social Security Program and for other purposes as described at the point the information is collected.
• For statistical purposes, Social Security also collects non-personal information about you (see http://www.socialsecurity.gov/web_stats.html). Sometimes Social Security analyzes this data to determine customer interest in different parts of the Social Security Administration’s website. The information Social Security shares is in a format that does not personally identify anyone.

• Social Security may disclose information you give (e.g., to Railroad Retirement Board, Department of Veteran’s Affairs) if authorized or required by Federal law, such as the Privacy Act or the Social Security Act.

• If Federal laws (e.g., Privacy Act, Social Security Act) do not allow Social Security to share information, Social Security must get your written authorization before Social Security can discuss your information with anyone else.

• You may have access to any of the information Social Security collects about you at this site. Social Security will correct any errors you may find. If you need to get or fix information about you, see Social Security Administration regulation subsections 401.40 and 401.65 (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/401/401-0000.htm).

• The Internet was originally designed as an open system with no built in security; however, Social Security is required to protect the information they collect and maintain about you and will not use the Internet to do business with you unless Social Security can do so in a secure manner. Social Security will take reasonable precautions to maintain the security, confidentiality and integrity of the information they collect online.
• Social Security sometimes uses contractors to perform various website and database functions. When Social Security does, they make sure that the agreement language with the contractor ensures the security, confidentiality and integrity of any personal information the contractor may have access to in the course of contract performance.

• Electronic mail is not secure. Therefore, Social Security suggests that you don’t send personal information via email. Social Security will only send you general information via email.
• Electronic mail messages that meet the definition of records in the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) are covered under the same disposition schedule as all other Federal records. This means that emails you send will be preserved and maintained for varying periods of time if those emails meet the definition of Federal records. Electronic messages that are not records are deleted when no longer needed.

• What is a "cookie"? A cookie is a small piece of text that is sent to your computer along with a webpage when you visit a website. Your computer will give the information in the cookie only to the computer that sent it, and no other website can request it. There are three types of cookies--persistent, third party, and session. Social Security never used persistent or third party cookies, but sometimes used session cookies.
• The Social Security Administration uses session cookies only in some places where you can transact business. Social Security stores the cookie on your computer only during your visit, and will tell you in advance when they do. The session cookie keeps you from losing information you’ve entered for a business transaction if, during your visit, you leave the Social Security website and return.
• Once you turn off your computer or stop using the Internet, the cookie is erased.

• The Social Security Administration’s website contains links to other federal agencies, international agencies, and private organizations. These websites are not within the Social Security Administration’s control and may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility policies. Once you link to another site you are subject to the policies of that site.