A Social Security number (SSN) is one of your most valuable personal assets. You’ll use it to open a new bank account, apply for a mortgage, file your taxes, and even to find a job. You could say this 9-digit number - which most of us received at age 12 - makes the world work. Well, at least in the United States.
While that might seem like an exaggeration, the truth is that we use a SSN on many official forms during the course of our lives. Want to get married? In several states you need a valid SSN to make it all legal. Trying to improve your credit? At a most basic level, a SSN is what determines your identity and can be a major factor in obtaining a loan.
