Usage Scope

Real-time SSN verification from an authoritative source

Electronic Consent-Based Social Security Number Verification (eCBSV) is a service that allows eligible organizations to verify core identity attributes—such as name, Social Security number, and date of birth—against records maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

When accessed through Socure, eCBSV provides a compliant way to strengthen identity verification in scenarios that require higher assurance.

This guide explains when eCBSV is commonly used, who is eligible to access it, and what to expect when integrating it into your workflows.

When to use eCBSV

eCBSV is typically used in scenarios where higher confidence in identity verification is required.

High-assurance onboarding
Use eCBSV when verifying full legal identity is critical, such as for individuals with limited credit history or limited prior data.

Resolving identity uncertainty
eCBSV can help provide additional confirmation in cases where other signals are inconclusive.

Regulated identity verification
eCBSV supports identity verification requirements for organizations operating in regulated financial contexts.

Usage scope

Eligibility

Access to eCBSV is limited to organizations that meet eligibility requirements defined by the Social Security Administration. These requirements generally apply to entities engaged in regulated financial or compliance-related activities.

Eligibility is determined by the SSA, and access is subject to approval.

If you are unsure whether your organization qualifies, contact Socure to discuss eligibility.

Supported geography

eCBSV supports verification of U.S.-issued Social Security numbers.

Use is limited to individuals whose SSNs were issued in the United States and U.S. territories. Non-SSN identifiers are not supported.

Getting started with eCBSV

Using eCBSV requires approval from the SSA and implementation of consent collection that meets SSA requirements.

Socure acts as a sponsor and provides guidance throughout the onboarding process. The exact steps and documentation required depend on your organization and use case.

At a high level, onboarding includes:

1. Registering with the SSA as a permitted entity
2. Implementing consumer consent collection that meets SSA requirements
3. Submitting required documentation for review
4. Testing your integration before production use
5. Using eCBSV only after consent and approval are in place

Details for each step are covered in the related eCBSV setup guides.

Consent requirements

eCBSV requires explicit, consumer-provided consent collected under SSA-defined terms.

Consent must be captured before each verification request and is subject to usage limitations defined by the SSA. Organizations are responsible for ensuring consent is collected, stored, and applied correctly.

What to expect from eCBSV results

eCBSV returns an overall verification outcome along with supporting indicators for individual identity elements.

Results indicate whether the submitted information could be verified against SSA records or whether verification was incomplete or inconclusive.

Verification outcomes should be interpreted as part of a broader identity and risk assessment strategy rather than used in isolation.

Using eCBSV in workflows

When integrated into RiskOS™, eCBSV results can be used to:

• Support approval or escalation decisions
• Trigger additional verification steps
• Provide higher confidence in identity verification outcomes

How these results are used should align with your organization’s compliance requirements and risk policies.

Limitations and considerations

• eCBSV verifies submitted data against SSA records but does not guarantee the absence of fraud.
• Results may be affected by input formatting, data recency, or name variations.
• eCBSV is not a replacement for a comprehensive identity verification strategy and should be used alongside other signals where appropriate.

Still have questions?

If you need help determining eligibility, onboarding, or integration details, contact Socure Support or review the eCBSV reference documentation.