Verifying the identity of a new employee is the gateway to putting them to work, so it’s important to know which system is appropriate to use and when.
Many states require employers utilize E-Verify for background checks. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.
Another tool to check identification used by several payroll departments is the Social Security Number Verification Service. This verifies an employee’s Social Security number to ensure that the employee receives accurate W-2s. SSNVS can be used at anytime during an employee’s tenure with the business and is a more robust tool than E-Verify, which can only be used at the start of one’s employment.
A new development that is rolling out in some places this fall is the ability for individuals to request replacement Social Security cards online. This option will be available in November in eight states and the District of Columbia with a nationwide rollout in November 2017.