Submitted by the Social Security Administration.
We are continuously working to better understand how Social Security’s programs serve the public. Collecting race and ethnicity data for research and statistical purposes is one way for us to determine whether we are equitably serving the public. Applicants and customers may voluntarily provide this information. It does not affect decisions on benefit applications.
Why does it matter if people provide race and ethnicity data?
When customers choose to provide race and ethnicity information, it lets us know:
- Who our benefit payments and programs are helping and who may be left out.
- What unintended barriers may impact benefits and services.
- Where to expand outreach efforts.
- How to increase awareness of eligibility for programs and benefits.
In other words, race and ethnicity data can help expand access to our programs, which is one of the objectives in our Equity Action Plan at blog.ssa.gov/social-securitys-equity-action-plan. Examples of how we use this information can be found on our Racial Equity Resources webpage at www.ssa.gov/policy/about/racial-equity-resources.html.
Currently, we collect race and ethnicity information on applications for new or replacement Social Security number (SSN) cards. These applications can be completed:
- Online at www.ssa.gov/number-card.
- At one of our local offices or card centers.
Soon, parents may voluntarily provide this information when requesting their newborn’s SSN at the hospital. The option to provide this data will be available in participating states.
We encourage you to provide your race and ethnicity information on your or your child’s application for a new or replacement SSN card. This information will help us better understand and serve all our current and future customers.
Does the SSA want us to believe that the Federal Government does not already track this information about each of us?
First off we as the tax paying public are not “customers”: we are clients! We don’t come to social security to be sold a bill of goods (although it sometimes seems like that). Rather we are owners of the system to be served by the system. It is our interests rather than those of social security that are to predominate. Social security has a fiduciary responsibility to the owners not to social security itself.
Then there is the quote:”Collecting race and ethnicity data for research and statistical purposes is one way for us to determine whether we are equitably serving the public. ….It does not affect decisions on benefit applications.”
Enough with the “equity” DEI word salad. All owners should be treated equally! If equity is the “lens” through which social security views benefits then it by definition does affect decisions on benefit applications particularly as it relates to racial ethnic groups.
Government needs to have a reset and recognize that it is the “servant” and not the master.