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Correcting Social Security Numbers

Requirement

A debtor must include his or her complete (all 9 digits) Social Security Number (SSN) upon commencement of the bankruptcy case. The complete number is transmitted to all creditors in the Notice of Bankruptcy Case so that the creditors may correctly identify the debtor in the creditor’s records. However, the SSN displayed on the public record includes only the last 4 digits to protect the debtor’s privacy. If the SSN provided with the filing of the petition is incorrect, Local Bankruptcy Rule 1009-2(b) requires that the debtor promptly provide the correct number to all creditors and parties in interest.

Providing Correct SSN to Court and Creditors

  • Statement of Social Security Number. The debtor must complete and sign a Statement of Social Security Number (Official Form 121) with the correct number. The original signed copy must be submitted promptly to the court. The form must indicate that it is an amended statement intended to correct the SSN previously provided - whether it was made electronically via ECF or submitted on paper.

  • Notice of Corrected Social Security Number [Do not file this with the court]. The debtor must complete local form H1009-2b with the corrected SSN and send it to all creditors and parties in interest. The form includes the addresses of the major credit reporting agencies - these agencies must be served to prevent errors in their records that may affect other individuals. Note: The form notice, which will contain all 9 digits of the SSN, must not be filed with the court to protect the debtor’s privacy.

  • Certificate of Service: Notice of Corrected SSN [File with court]. To show compliance with the requirement to provide notice of the corrected SSN to all creditors and parties in interest, the debtor must complete local form hib_1009-2c and include the names and addresses of all entities served the notice of correction. This certificate of service must be filed with the court. Note: The notice itself (with the complete SSN) must not be attached to the certificate to protect the debtor’s privacy. Filing via ECF: Use Miscellaneous Documents ... Certificate of Service: Notice of Corrected SSN.

No Requirement to Amend Petition

The debtor is not required to amend the petition, which contains only the last 4 digits of the SSN. Upon submission of the correct SSN information, the Clerk’s Office will update the database and the correct SSN (last 4 digits only) will be displayed on the case docket sheet.