What is a SSN Trace?
When you’re hiring a new employee, you want peace of mind that you’re seeing the full picture. That’s where a Social Security Number (SSN) Trace comes in — it’s one of the first steps in a comprehensive pre-employment screening process.
An SSN Trace isn’t a credit check or a criminal record by itself. Instead, it’s a tool that helps uncover important information tied to a candidate’s Social Security Number, like names and addresses that may not appear on the application.
How Does an SSN Trace Work in a Background Check?
When you run an SSN Trace through National Crime Search (NCS), the system checks various public and proprietary databases to determine whether the SSN provided was issued, and if so, when and in what state.
It’s important to note: NCS does not show the actual trace results to the end user. We use the information behind the scenes for research purposes — verifying whether an SSN is valid and to identify possible alias names or previous addresses that might need to be included in a broader background check.
For example, let’s say you’re an HR Manager hiring for a remote position. A candidate may have lived in three different states in the past five years. A simple criminal database search might not catch local records in every jurisdiction. By running an SSN Trace, we can discover previous addresses and recommend additional county criminal searches as needed, giving you a more complete view.
What an SSN Trace Is Not
Some employers misunderstand SSN Traces — they are not a credit report, nor do they show actual social security account activity. They are also not verifying that the SSN belongs to the individual it was requested on — that’s reserved for the Consent Based Social Security Number Verification (CBSV) search. They’re purely for research, to guide a compliant, more accurate background check.
Why SSN Traces Matter for Pre-Employment Screening
By including an SSN Trace as part of your pre-employment screening, you’re helping ensure that no important information slips through the cracks. It’s about protecting your company, your team, and your reputation.
✅ Next Step: Now that you understand what an SSN Trace is, you might be wondering how it actually fits into your screening process. Learn more in our related post: Why Should I Include a SSN Trace in My Screening Process?
Why NCS is Your Best Option
At NCS, every SSN Trace is handled by real people who care. We’re dedicated to helping businesses like yours stay compliant and make informed hiring decisions — fast and affordably.
Fast, compliant, and affordable background checks — powered by real people who care.
