The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that in 2019 it will begin sending form letters to employers who have one or more employees whose names do not “match” the Social Security Number listed in the SSA database. There are many reasons that the name and number might not match, so employers are cautioned not to jump to conclusions based on receipt of one of these letters.

If you receive a no-match letter, begin by checking that the name and number on the employee’s I-9 form are accurately reflected in the letter. If the information on the form is the same as the letter, ask the employee to compare their social security card to the I-9 to ensure that the number was written correctly. If the information matches the employee’s card, ask your employee to contact any local Social Security office to resolve the issue. Once resolved, the employee should inform you of any changes.