The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) allows financial entities to register and enroll as users of the electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification Service (“eCBSV”). This fee -based service allows enrolled users to electronically submit a verification of an individual’s social security record.
Financial institutions and service providers may access eCBSV via an application programming interface (“API”) to get real-time results for individual or multiple verification requests. The SSA verification will indicate if the social security number holder’s SSN, name, and date of birth matches or does not match the data in the SSA’s records. The results will show a “yes” or “no” and if the records show that a social security number holder is deceased, the API will return a death indicator.
In order to use eCBSV, users must obtain the Social Security Number holder’s written consent, with either an ink or electronic signature. The written consent must meet SSA’s regulations by clearly specifying:
- to whom the information may be disclosed (the permitted entity and financial institution, if different)
- that the social security number holder permits SSA to disclose the SSN verification to the permitted entity and financial institution, if different and
- where applicable, the timeframe during which the SSA may disclose the SSN verification.
If an electronic signature is provided, SSA written consent language must be included as found in the eCBSV User Agreement, section IV. The electronic signature must be consistent with eSign requirements, must show intent to sign, and must be attached to or associated with the written consent language.
To meet these requirements, DocMagic has created a new disclosure which provides the requirement written consent language and electronic signature on page 1, attached to the SSA-89 form as page 2. When implemented, the new form (Form ID: SSA89ES.MSC) will be provided in place of the standard SSA-89 form when eSign is selected in processing application and initial packages. The eSign Action Log will also indicate that the signer has provided electronic consent for the SSA to disclose SSN verification. DocMagic will add the new version of the SSA-89 form in mid-June 2023.
