Your SSN...

[blackhawknj]

I don't have the relevant regulations in front of me, but the SSN was transormed into the "Taxpayers Identification Number" in 1960 or so.

[Cosine26]

Hi,
When I was in the USAF, if you had no middle name, the USAF gave you one - "NMI" I served with an officer who had no names, only initials "H.L' as I remember. Don't think that did not mess things up.

[Michaelp]

For GP, the VA only uses the last four.
For bloodwork and minor surgery they ask for all of it plus your whole name.

I believe it is a small competency test or verification for procedures.

[C5M1]

Here they always ask for the last four, followed by them saying your name, and then asking for your birthday for a triple verification.

Must not be a standardized procedure.

regards, dennis

[Dan In Indiana]

I get pretty good service from the VMAC in Indianapolis, but the trick is getting the the doc at the clinic, where everything really gets started, to buzz Indy to get an appointment. On a trek now to get some work done, but the "doc" has ignored the problem [for over 2 years], so I got a referral from another doctor to a specialist, who I find out does contract work for the VA because they are so short handed in certain fields that he is called upon to do a lot of their work. Some test results got sent to the clinic, then got a call from the clinic to see if I wanted to go to Indy to for a consultation appointment. Really? Now will go to Indy for a consultation, which I'm confident will no doubt start out with the pill route to see if that works. As one nurse at Indy told me a while back, "you do realize that you're participating in socialized medicine don't you?" On the positive route, I flunked one of those colon tests with the Popsicle sticks, and the 1st colonoscopy took out 13 small polyps, but having enrolled in a study to try and find an alternative via blood tests, got my second one this spring finding 3 more, and scheduled for a third one next spring. Oh hallelujah! But gas money and 24 bucks for the prep was my only costs. Each year I get the physical, blood tests, digital prostate thing, more Popsicle sticks, and get a copy of test results from every test done [have to sign a paper to get them] . Getting a new clinic on line very soon [3 years in the making] and already have transferred there as soon as it opens. Hopefully things will get a little better as the present clinic is at their max, and will not accept any more enrolls. Did read while surfing the Net that a lot of VA facilities might be asked to accept "non VA" people in the future, now that will be interesting to say the least. Waits are bad enough the way it is now, but if "da po folk and undocumented immigrants" get to jump in line, a vet might have to get in the back of a very long line. I have found out one thing, if you are enrolled at the VA, you have to keep on them to get anything done that does not appear to be life threatening. In conclusion, the VA is understaffed, under equipped, and over worked but still manages pretty decent care [and cheap if you have a disability rating of at least 10%]. If you're eligible, get enrolled as fast as you can, bam bam care is coming in one form or another.

[Sarge]

The military began using the SSAN in 1968. I had to go in and get a new set of dog tags in about Juli, they had both my RA # and my SSAN. In Viet Nam in 69 I had tags with only my SSAN. Still have all 3 versions.
Sarge