Skip to content
Social Security Online
Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS)
SSA logo: link to Social Security Online home

Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS) Handbook

SSNVS Handbook (246 KB) Adobe Reader icon

Table of Contents

red arrowSSNVS Front Cover
red arrowContact Information
red arrowWhat is SSNVS and BSO?
red arrowSystem Requirements
red arrowSecurity
red arrowSSNVS/BSO Availability
red arrowRegistration
red arrowAccess to SSNVS
red arrowLogging into SSNVS
red arrowUsing SSNVS
red arrowSubmission File Format
red arrowReturned File Format
red arrowSSN Verification Results
red arrowStatus and Retrieval Options
red arrowStatus and Retrieval Results
red arrowWhat to Do If an SSN Fails to Verify
red arrowLogging Out
red arrowSSNVS News
red arrowGetting Help
red arrowEmployer Reporting Information
red arrowMaintaining Your Registration Information
red arrowGlossary of Terms
red arrowAppendix A: Additional Verification Options

SUBMISSION FILE FORMAT

To ensure your electronic file submission processes successfully, the file must be a text file (.txt) in the following format:

NOTE: Record delimiters are not to be used (i.e., do not place a comma or any other character after any field).

NOTE: If a field marked "May not be left blank." does not contain an entry, the item is automatically considered a non-verified record.

NOTE: In order to sort the return file to your specifications, we recommend using the User Control Data field to create a unique identifier for each record. This unique identifier would be placed in positions 90-103 in your submission file and returned to you in positions 84-97 in the return file.


Field Name
Instruction
Position
Field Size
Field Type
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
  • Must include all 9 digits including lead zeros.
  • May not be left blank.
1-9
9
Numeric
ENTRY CODE “TPV”
  • Must insert "TPV".
  • May not be left blank.
10-12
3
Alpha
PROCESSING CODE 214
  • Must insert "214".
  • May not be left blank.
13-15
3
Numeric
LAST NAME
  • Do not use hyphens, apostrophes, spaces, periods, suffixes (Jr) or prefixes (Dr).
  • Must contain at least one character.
  • May not be left blank.
16-28
13
Alpha
FIRST NAME
  • Do not use hyphens, apostrophes, spaces, periods, suffixes (Jr) or prefixes (Dr).
  • Must contain at least one character.
  • May not be left blank.
29-38
10
Alpha
MIDDLE
NAME / INITIAL
  • Do not use hyphens, apostrophes, spaces, periods, suffixes (Jr) or prefixes (Dr).
  • Optional
39-45
7
Alpha
DATE OF BIRTH (MMDDYYYY)
  • If unknown, leave blank.
  • Optional
46-53
8
Numeric
GENDER CODE
  • Must contain one of the following:
    • M=Male or
    • F=Female
  • Optional
54
1
Alpha
BLANK
SSA use only.
55-89
35
Blanks
USER CONTROL DATA
Free form text for employer.
90-103
14
Alphanumeric
BLANK
SSA use only.
104-123
20
Blanks
REQUESTER IDENTIFICATION CODE
  • Enter OEVS.
  • May not be left blank.
124-127
4
Alpha
MULTIPLE REQUEST INDICATOR
  • Must insert "000".
  • May not be left blank.
128-130
3
Numeric

 Link to FirstGov.gov: U.S. Government portal Privacy Policy | Website Policies & Other Important Information | Site Map
Need Larger Text?