[net.legal] Social Security Number Disclosure

thielges@uiucdcs.UUCP (thielges ) (01/27/84)

#N:uiucdcs:39400002:000:644
uiucdcs!thielges    Jan 26 09:27:00 1984

Does anyone have any layman oriented info (no legal jargon please)
on the rights granted an individual citizen through the privacy act
of 1974 ?  I am particularly interested in laws concerning the use of
the social security number.  Who has the legal right to demand my ssn
and who doesn't.  The last I heard, only my employer and HEW were the
only organizations which legally need my ssn, but many others (school,
utility companies, and grocery stores) seem to believe that their
"system" won't work without my ssn. Any info or suggestions for sources
will be greatly apprecieted.

			Bart Thielges   (only a number)
			....uiucdcs!thielges