> SSNs are not a "national ID"

That's not what they are, but that's what they've defacto become. I hate it.

Is that still true?

Except for certain industries where the government has a direct interest (banking, healthcare, real estate), I don't think anyone has asked for my SSN in at least a decade. It's not like the old days when you'd fork over your SSN to rent videos at Blockbuster.

oh ok so just for money body and property related issues. phew.

> Except for certain industries where the government has a direct interest (banking, healthcare, real estate)

That's still a massive dependance on "ID" for SS...? Blockbuster tho.. phew it's been a while.