Occasionally, a background check conducted by DISA* might return with an "inconclusive SSN trace." If you encounter this, here's what you need to know:
An inconclusive SSN trace can arise for a couple of reasons:
- Different Identity Match: The Social Security Number (SSN) provided by the applicant might trace back to a different individual. This discrepancy can occur due to various reasons, including clerical errors or misinput of data.
- No Record Found: Sometimes, the trace might not locate any records for the individual. This is more common in cases where the candidate is young, new to the country, or has not yet established a significant credit or residential history.
In such instances, it's important for you, as the employer, to take additional steps to verify the applicant's SSN. You can request to see the candidate's Social Security Card to confirm its authenticity and match with the applicant. Additionally, contacting your local Social Security Administration office can be a useful step; they can verify whether the SSN matches the individual in question. As employers, you have the right to confirm this information to ensure the accuracy of your hiring process.
Please note that DISA, as a third-party verifier, is not able to undertake these additional verification actions on your behalf. These steps are recommended to safeguard your hiring process and ensure compliance with employment regulations.
*DISA formerly went by the name Crimcheck