Form SSA-89: SSN Verification Consent

What is Form SSA-89?

Form SSA-89 is your written permission for the Social Security Administration to verify your Social Security number to a company you name. SSA checks your name, SSN and date of birth against its records and tells the company, or its agent, whether they match. If the company is a permitted entity under the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, SSA may also tell it why they don't match.

Companies ask for it when you apply for a mortgage, a loan or a credit card, open a bank or retirement account, apply for a job or meet a licensing requirement. The consent is for one use only and is valid for 90 days from the date you sign it, unless you set a different period and initial it. You give it to the company, not to SSA. Companies using SSA's Consent Based SSN Verification service must keep to an agreement with SSA that limits how they use and share the result.

FileIt pre-fills your name and date of birth from your vault, prints everything into SSA's own PDF and saves a copy in your vault. SSA's CBSV page says these consent forms require a wet signature, so you print it, sign and date it by hand, and hand it to the company.

Who fills it: The person whose SSN is verified, or the parent or legal guardian of a minor or legally incompetent adult.
Given to: The company that asked for it (or its agent), not to Social Security.
When: When a company asks for SSN verification, for example during a loan, account or job application.
Signatures: The number holder (or parent or guardian), by hand.
Edition: Form SSA-89 (05-2025)
Agency: Social Security Administration (SSA)

Who needs to fill out Form SSA-89?

People applying for a mortgage, loan or credit card whose lender verifies SSNs with SSA.
People opening a bank or retirement account.
Job applicants whose employer or background screener verifies their SSN.
People meeting a licensing requirement.
Parents or legal guardians giving consent for a minor or a legally incompetent adult.

When to use Form SSA-89

When a company asks you for a signed SSA-89 before it verifies your SSN.
Each time verification is needed: the consent is valid for one use only.
Within the period you allow: 90 days from the date you sign it unless you write in a different number of days and initial it.

What you need before you start

Your name, date of birth and Social Security number exactly as on your Social Security record.
The reason for the verification.
The company's name and address, and the name and address of its agent, if it uses one.
If you're signing for someone else, your relationship to them.

What’s on Form SSA-89

The 2025 edition has 1 page. FileIt asks for it in 4 parts:

The number holderNumber holder (or parent / legal guardian)
Reason and companyNumber holder (or parent / legal guardian)
How long the consent is validNumber holder (or parent / legal guardian)
SignatureNumber holder (or parent / legal guardian)

How to fill out Form SSA-89, step by step

1 Printed name, date of birth and SSN

Enter them exactly as on your Social Security record. SSA compares all three with its records.

2 Reason for authorizing consent

Select one: to apply for a mortgage, open a bank account, apply for a credit card, apply for a loan, open a retirement account, apply for a job, meet a licensing requirement, or other (describe it).

3 Company and agent

Enter the name and address of the company you're authorizing SSA to give the result to. If the company uses an agent to make the request, such as a screening firm, enter the agent's name and address too.

4 How long the consent is valid

The consent is valid for one use within 90 days of the date you sign. To change that period, enter the number of days and initial the box beside it.

5 Signature and relationship

Sign and date the form by hand. By signing you declare under penalty of perjury that the information is true; knowingly making a false representation to obtain information from Social Security records is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000. If you're the parent or legal guardian signing for someone else, enter your relationship.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using a name or date of birth that differs from your Social Security record, which leads to a no-match.
Selecting more than one reason. The form says to select one.
Changing the validity period without initialling it.
Signing electronically when the company uses SSA's CBSV service, which requires a wet signature.
Sending the form to Social Security instead of giving it to the company.

After you fill it out

Print the form, sign and date it by hand, and give it to the company that asked for it. Keep the Notice to Number Holder below the tear-off line: it explains the company's agreement with SSA and links to the model agreement.

The company or its agent sends the verification request to SSA within the consent's period. The consent covers one use only.

FileIt keeps a copy of the filled form in your vault, so you have a record of whom you authorized and when.

Fill out Form SSA-89 online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 11 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Social Security Administration (SSA) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form SSA-89 now — it’s free

Form SSA-89: frequently asked questions

What is Form SSA-89 used for?

It lets Social Security confirm to a company you name whether your name, Social Security number and date of birth match SSA's records, for the reason you select.

Do I send Form SSA-89 to Social Security?

No. Give the signed form to the company that asked for it. The company or its agent requests the verification from SSA.

How long is my consent valid?

For one use, within 90 days from the date you sign, unless you write in a different number of days and initial it.

Can I sign Form SSA-89 electronically?

SSA's CBSV page says these forms require a wet signature, so sign the printed form by hand. Some companies use SSA's electronic eCBSV service, which collects consent through the company's own system instead of this PDF.

What does SSA tell the company?

Whether your information matches its records. It can also tell a permitted entity the basis for a no-match.

Can a parent sign for a child?

Yes. The parent or legal guardian of a minor or legally incompetent adult can sign, and enters the relationship on the form.

Can I fill out Form SSA-89 with FileIt?

Yes. FileIt prints your answers into SSA's official PDF and saves it in your vault. You print it, sign it by hand and give it to the company.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Social Security Administration (SSA): https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-89.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.ssa.gov/cbsv/
Edition shown on this page: Form SSA-89 (05-2025), OMB No. 0960-0760; discontinue prior editions (checked 2026-10-25).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Social Security Administration (SSA) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-25.