AMAC supports this important legislation to protect the identities of children under 14 who are victims of Social Security card theft. Children are becoming an increasing target of identity theft and this bill ensures children are more easily able to replace their social security number.
June 17, 2021
The Honorable Brad Wenstrup
Ohio 2nd Congressional District
2419 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Earl Blumenauer
Oregon 3rd Congressional District
1111 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressmen Wenstrup and Blumenauer,
On behalf of the 2.3 million members of AMAC, the Association of Mature American Citizens, I am writing in strong support of the Social Security Child Protection Act. This important piece of legislation offers more protection for children under 14 who have been victims of Social Security card theft. This bill is as timely as it is simple in protecting the identities of our nation’s children.
The Social Security Child Protection Act is a real-life solution to a real-time problem. As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported, identity theft rose by 50% from 2014 to 2015. As millions of identities are compromised each year due to Social Security card theft, children are becoming a more attractive target to identity thieves. This bill does more to stem Social Security card theft by making it easier for parents to request new Social Security numbers for their children when their Social Security
card has been stolen, in transit, from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Under current policy, parents of children under 14 are able to request a new Social Security number only when they can demonstrate harm has occurred as a direct result of Social Security card theft. However,
demonstrating a level of harm requisite with current policy is difficult for most parents because children do not typically participate in activities where harm from Social Security card theft would be made apparent (getting a driver’s license, buying a home, opening a line of credit, etc.). The Social Security Child Protection Act would make it easier for parents to get a new Social Security number for their children because they would only need to show their child’s Social Security card was stolen in transit
from the SSA—not that their child suffered harm.
As an organization committed to representing the interests of mature Americans and seniors, AMAC is dedicated to ensuring senior citizens’ interests are protected. We thank Congressman Wenstrup and Congressman Doggett for their commonsense and practical solution to protect children from identity theft. AMAC is pleased to offer our organization’s full support to the Social Security Child Protection Act.
Sincerely,
Bob Carlstrom
President, AMAC Action
