Bill Overview
Title: Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act
Description: This bill requires the Social Security Administration to provide a single point of contact for any individual whose Social Security account number has been misused. The single point of contact must track the individual's case to completion and coordinate with other specialized units to resolve case issues as quickly as possible.
Sponsors: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
Target Audience
Population: People whose social security or equivalent identification numbers have been misused, leading to identity theft
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill targets individuals whose Social Security account numbers have been misused, indicating cases of identity theft.
- Identity theft is a global issue but affects significant numbers of people in the U.S., especially due to digital transactions and data breaches.
- Globally, identity theft cases are increasing with more digital footprints, suggesting a substantial number of people could benefit from such legislative support.
Reasoning
- The target population consists of individuals whose Social Security numbers have been misused, suggesting direct impacts on those who have experienced identity theft.
- The budget constraints will limit the scope of the service and may mean that not all cases will receive the personalized attention simultaneously, especially in the initial stages.
- Current estimates suggest significant cases of identity theft in the US, creating diverse profiles of affected individuals ranging from elderly to young adults, each with different levels of digital engagement and risk exposure.
- Given identity theft can lead to various adverse effects such as financial loss and emotional distress, it's expected that improved service could enhance wellbeing, but this will vary widely based on individual experiences and severity of each case.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Florida)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find the idea of having someone handle my case personally very comforting, as it was overwhelming.
- As a victim of identity theft, I struggled with figuring out where to start solving my problem.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software Engineer (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a relief knowing that my case will be someone else's priority instead of me running from office to office.
- I think it could really help in reducing the stress associated with identity theft.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having someone focus on my case would allow me to work more and worry less.
- I believe this will help stop any further complications with my clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
School Teacher (Texas)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not very familiar with technology, it’s hard for me to deal with these issues.
- I hope this policy will make managing the fallout a little easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Small Business Owner (Illinois)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A single point of contact might be a life-saver since I've lost hours contacting different departments.
- It might not fix everything fast, but any help is appreciated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
College Student (Washington)
Age: 21 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It was confusing to navigate resources without guidance, so this bill sounds beneficial.
- If it works, it will probably save me a lot of headaches.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Veteran (Ohio)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The constant back-and-forth with agencies was my biggest issue.
- Sounds like the policy could help, but I fear it won't be immediate because government processes are slow.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Nurse (New Jersey)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that there will be someone on my side for a change.
- It feels like the right step, but I wish it had already been in place.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Financial Analyst (Nevada)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The idea of coordinated support is more reassuring than actually thinking I'll be a victim again.
- I see value in it especially for people not well-versed in finance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Homemaker (Michigan)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I found it impossible to manage on my own, which drained me emotionally.
- If this helps us fix things faster, it will be worth it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $80000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $83000000)
Year 3: $54080000 (Low: $34000000, High: $86440000)
Year 5: $57000000 (Low: $36000000, High: $91000000)
Year 10: $62000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $98000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- The staffing levels required for effective operation could vary greatly depending on initial call and case volumes, necessitating flexibility in budgeting and manpower allocation.
- Given the sensitive nature of identity theft, data privacy measures will be a crucial aspect of the system's development and operation.