Consent Based SSN Verification (CBSV)
Consent based SSN verification matches an applicant’s name, SSN and date of birth against Social Security Administration records.
Therefore you confirm the number first. Consequently every criminal search you order afterwards rests on verified identity data.
What is consent based SSN verification?
Consent based SSN verification is a fee-based service the Social Security Administration operates for businesses. With the number holder’s written permission, SSA compares three data points to its own master records.
Specifically, SSA checks the name, the Social Security number and the date of birth together. SSA then answers with a simple match code. Additionally, SSA flags the record when its files show the number holder is deceased.
Because the answer comes straight from the issuing agency, CBSV carries more weight than any commercial database. Employers, lenders, licensing bodies and government contractors use it to cut fraud and to satisfy regulators.
BCS Background Screening LLC submits the request for you, so you never build your own SSA interface.
What CBSV returns
What consent based SSN verification cannot do
CBSV is precise but narrow. Consequently, you should pair it with the searches below.
It does not prove identity ownership
A match confirms the data combination exists. However, it cannot confirm the applicant is that person.
It returns no address history
SSA sends no addresses and no aliases. Therefore order an SSN Trace for locator data.
It is not work authorization
CBSV does not touch Department of Homeland Security data. Additionally, it never replaces Form I-9 or E-Verify.
It finds no criminal records
Court data lives with the courts, not with SSA. Therefore add county, state or federal searches.
CBSV vs. SSN Trace: which one do you need?
Buyers often confuse these two products. The table below settles the difference quickly.
| Question | CBSV | SSN Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Data source | Social Security Administration | Credit header and public records |
| Applicant consent form | Form SSA-89, wet signature | Standard FCRA disclosure and authorization |
| Confirms name, SSN and DOB match | Yes, from the issuing agency | No |
| Returns names and aliases | No | Yes |
| Returns address history | No | Yes, 10+ reported years |
| Builds county jurisdiction lists | No | Yes |
| Flags a deceased number holder | Yes | Sometimes |
| Price | $25 per verification | $10 standalone, included in packages |
In short, CBSV proves the number is real and correctly paired. Meanwhile, SSN Trace tells you where to search next. Most clients order both.
How to order CBSV in your account
The whole process takes a few minutes. Follow these five steps inside your secure portal.
- 1
Enter the applicant
Input the applicant’s information in the order portal exactly as it appears on their Social Security card.
- 2
Select CBSV
Choose CBSV from the search-type dropdown. Additionally, add any criminal or driving searches you need.
- 3
Collect a wet-signed SSA-89
Obtain the applicant’s signed Form SSA-89. SSA rejects electronic signatures for CBSV, so use ink.
- 4
Keep the pre-filled fields
Do NOT change “Company” or “Agent” pre-filled information. Then check the “Apply for Job” reason box.
- 5
Upload and save
Upload the completed form to the applicant’s order, then save. Consequently our team submits it to SSA.
Form SSA-89 rules you must follow
SSA controls this form tightly, and it audits the companies that use the service. Therefore treat the five rules on the right as hard requirements, not as suggestions.
The applicant must sign in ink, because CBSV does not accept electronic consent. The signed consent stays valid for 90 days from the signature date. You must keep the original form for five years so SSA auditors can review it on request.
Finally, the form carries a federal penalty notice. A knowingly false representation to obtain Social Security records is a misdemeanor.
CBSV vs. eCBSV: why we still need a wet signature
SSA runs two consent programs, and people mix them up constantly.
CBSV is the open, fee-based service that any business with an EIN may enroll in.
eCBSV is a separate program built for “permitted entities” under the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act.
eCBSV accepts electronic consent, yet it serves lenders and their service providers rather than general screening clients.
Consequently, employment screening runs through CBSV, and CBSV still requires a wet-signed SSA-89.
Because we handle enrollment and submission, you avoid SSA’s one-time enrollment fee and its per-transaction billing.
Who uses consent based SSN verification
Any organization that must trust an identity before it extends risk uses this search.
Employers
Confirm the number on a new hire’s paperwork before payroll and tax reporting begin.
Staffing firms
Screen high-volume applicants quickly, therefore reducing placement fraud and rework.
Licensing bodies
Meet identity standards written into state licensing and certification rules.
Lenders and finance
Validate applicant identifiers alongside credit and fraud controls.
Government contractors
Satisfy contract clauses that demand agency-sourced identity verification.
Healthcare and childcare
Confirm identity before credentialing or registry checks proceed.
Access to CBSV in your BCS account
This search is not enabled at initial registration. Access opens once we verify your organization’s permissible purpose and business use case.
Additionally, every BCS account supports optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) sign-in for extra protection.
Ready to start? Open an account, or call (800) 661-0278 and we will walk you through enrollment.
Consent based SSN verification FAQs
What is consent based SSN verification (CBSV)?
CBSV is a fee-based Social Security Administration service. With the number holder’s written consent, SSA confirms whether a submitted name, SSN and date of birth match its records. SSA returns Yes, No, Deceased or Not Verified. It does not release any record, address or earnings data.
How much does a CBSV verification cost?
BCS Background Screening LLC charges $25 per verification. That price covers the SSA transaction fee, the form review and the submission. Consequently you pay nothing to SSA directly, and you skip SSA’s one-time enrollment fee for direct users.
Can the applicant e-sign Form SSA-89?
No. SSA requires a handwritten signature on Form SSA-89 for CBSV, so electronic signatures are rejected. Only the separate eCBSV program accepts electronic consent, and it serves permitted lending entities rather than employment screening clients. Therefore print the form, collect ink, then upload the scan.
How long is a signed SSA-89 valid?
The consent stays valid for 90 days from the signature date. However, the applicant may write a shorter period on the form. Additionally, you must retain the completed form for five years, because SSA audits participating companies and may request copies.
Does CBSV prove a job applicant can work in the United States?
No. CBSV never touches Department of Homeland Security data, therefore it cannot establish employment eligibility. Use Form I-9 and E-Verify for work authorization. CBSV answers a narrower question: does this name, SSN and date of birth combination match Social Security Administration records?
Verify the number before you build the file
Add consent based SSN verification to any BCS search package today.
Questions? Call (800) 661-0278 or email support@usabackground.com. Our quality review team works 24/7/365.
CBSV is administered by the Social Security Administration. BCS Background Screening LLC submits verification requests on behalf of enrolled clients under the applicant’s written consent. A CBSV result confirms only whether the submitted name, SSN and date of birth match SSA records. It does not establish identity ownership, employment eligibility or criminal history. This page is general information, not legal advice.