Why Should I Include a SSN Trace in My Screening Process?
Hiring the right person isn’t just about skills — it’s about trust, compliance, and safety. Including an SSN Trace in your background check is a smart, proactive way to build that trust.
Uncover Missing Pieces with an SSN Trace
Many employers assume that a single national criminal database search is enough. The reality? Criminal records are stored at the county level — and people move. If your candidate has lived in multiple places, you could miss crucial information if you’re not searching the right jurisdictions.
That’s where the SSN Trace helps. By identifying possible alias names and address histories, NCS’ researchers can perform additional county criminal searches to give you a clearer, more complete report. For example, our Enhanced and Expanded packages automatically include the SSN Trace — and our researchers will search previous counties of residence at no extra charge.
How an SSN Trace Works with NCS
With NCS, the SSN Trace is used behind the scenes for research. We confirm whether an SSN was issued and provide the year and state it was issued. We don’t display the raw trace results to you — instead, our team uses that data to help you stay compliant and informed, without overcomplicating your process.
A Simple Example
Imagine you’re a small business owner hiring a manager for your second location. You want to be sure you’ve checked every relevant county for criminal records. The SSN Trace may reveal a past address in a county you didn’t know about — allowing you to order an additional county criminal search and reduce your risk.
The Bottom Line
An SSN Trace isn’t just another box to check — it’s an important step in ensuring you get the complete story. It helps you protect your company, your team, and your customers.
✅ Want to learn more about what an SSN Trace is? Check out our connected article: What is a SSN Trace?
Why NCS is the Right Partner
When you partner with NCS, you’re choosing more than a background check provider — you’re choosing real people who care about helping you do things the right way.
Fast, compliant, and affordable background checks — powered by real people who care.
