Employers often ask: Can you run a background check without a Social Security Number (SSN)?
The short answer is yes — but without it, you lose one of the most important tools in the background screening process: the SSN Trace Report. Criminal records in the U.S. are filed and maintained at the county level, and those records don’t automatically cross state lines. Even state-level databases can miss cases due to reporting delays. The SSN Trace Report connects a candidate to their full address history and known aliases, ensuring county-level searches are run where they matter most. Without it, you’re relying on a candidate to tell you everywhere they’ve lived — and people with something to hide aren’t always honest. Skipping the trace means risking incomplete searches and overlooked records.
Why the SSN Trace Report Matters
The SSN Trace Report is the backbone of a complete background check. It provides a roadmap for where and how to search by revealing:
- Address history – pinpoints all the counties where a candidate has lived so searches can be conducted in the right jurisdictions.
- Aliases and name variations – uncovers records connected to former names, maiden names, or nicknames.
- Identity red flags – highlights suspicious activity, such as an SSN associated with multiple identities or deceased individuals.
Without the SSN Trace Report, you may only find what you already know to look for — leaving hidden records undetected.
Risks of Skipping the SSN Trace
Running a background check without an SSN doesn’t just limit the scope — it increases risk. Employers may face:
- Incomplete results – Criminal records in counties tied to undisclosed addresses may never be searched.
- Missed aliases – Convictions under different names or spellings can slip through the cracks.
- Hiring mistakes – A single overlooked record could result in onboarding someone who poses a threat to your team, customers, or brand.
Keeping SSNs Secure
Because SSNs are highly sensitive, protecting them is critical. At SELECTiON.COM®, we safeguard every SSN with:
- Encryption during transmission and storage to prevent unauthorized access.
- Strict access controls so only trained, authorized staff can view sensitive data.
- Compliance with federal and industry standards, ensuring our systems meet the highest levels of security.
This means you gain the accuracy and reliability of the SSN Trace Report while maintaining the highest standards of candidate data protection.
The Bottom Line
Yes — you can run a background check without an SSN. But without the SSN Trace Report, you won’t know which counties to search or which names to include, making it far too easy to miss critical information.
At SELECTiON.COM®, we help employers make safer, smarter hiring decisions by combining the power of the SSN Trace Report with industry-leading security practices.
Ready to strengthen your screening process? Let’s talk.
This article gives a general overview of legal matters. However, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with all the relevant federal, state, and local laws governing this area. SELECTiON.COM® does not provide legal advice, and we always suggest consulting your legal counsel for all applicant approval matters.
This article is provided for information purposes only, and the contents hereof are subject to change without notice. This article is not warranted to be error-free nor subject to any other warranties or conditions, whether expressed orally or implied in law, including implied warranties and conditions of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.