SSA SSN master file (60-0058): new Treasury Do Not Pay routine use, comments due Dec 3, 2026

What changed

The Social Security Administration published a notice in the November 3, 2026 Federal Register (FR Doc. 2026-22356, docket SSA-2026-0760) modifying its system of records called Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and SSN Applications (60-0058), last published February 20, 2025. This is the file SSA uses to assign SSNs and that holds a record of each person who applied for and was assigned one: application details such as name, date and place of birth, sex, parents' names and alien registration number, plus citizenship or work-authorization codes and fraud indicators.

Change 1: a new routine use. SSA adds one new routine use (No. 48) allowing it to disclose records to the Department of the Treasury to review SSA's payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System, for identifying, preventing or recouping improper payments. SSA says it applies only when the disclosure meets the requirements in 20 CFR 401.150(c). The new routine use takes effect December 3, 2026.

Change 2: more record sources. SSA expands where the file's information comes from to include Federal contractors and vendors and other SSA systems such as the Claims Folders System (60-0089) and the Master Beneficiary Record (60-0090).

Other changes: SSA clarifies the system location and system manager, rewrites routine uses 6, 7, 10, 12, 17, 25 and 45 for readability, deletes routine use 2 as duplicative, and fixes formatting and typos. SSA says it republished the whole notice for ease of reference. The rest of the notice is applicable on publication.

What you can do: send comments by December 3, 2026 through regulations.gov (docket SSA-2026-0760) or by mail to SSA's Head of Privacy and Disclosure Policy.

Why it matters: this is not a new database. It is an expanded list of who SSA may share the SSN file with, published days after SSA announced a separate Client Data System that combines 12 record systems into one profile per SSN.

Who it affects

Anyone who has applied for or been issued a Social Security number.

Quick answers

What changed in SSA's SSN master file?

SSA's Nov 3, 2026 Federal Register notice (FR Doc. 2026-22356) adds a routine use letting it disclose records to the Treasury Department to review payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System, and adds Federal contractors, vendors and other SSA systems as sources of the data.

When does it take effect?

The notice applies on publication, except the new routine use, which takes effect December 3, 2026, the same day comments are due.

How do I comment?

Use regulations.gov and reference docket SSA-2026-0760, or write to SSA's Head of Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Room G-401 West High Rise, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401.

Source

Detected on the Social Security privacy page: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/03/2026-22356/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records. Always check the source; this summary is not legal or financial advice.

Other sources:

• Federal Register: SSA Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records (FR Doc. 2026-22356, Nov 3, 2026)

· · ·Social Security Administration11/03/2026In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify an existing system of records entitled, Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and SSN Applications (60-0058), last published on <DATE>. We use information in this system to assign SSNs and for a number of administrative and...Privacy Act of 1974; System of Recordsby theSocial Security Administration10/30/2026· · ·In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify our existing systems of records listed below under the System Name and Number section. This notice publishes details of the modified systems as set forth below under the caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Requestby theSocial Security Administration11/15/2023← Previous

Provenance: detected in our Nov 3 snapshot of the Social Security privacy page, compared against Nov 2. Excerpts marked "Quoted from the documents" come from the sources linked above.

Published by QuietlyChanged: pages tracked automatically, each change reviewed by a person before publishing. About · Contact & corrections