How to redact your Social Security card for a background check

Why a screening company or employer asks for your Social Security card

Screeners confirm your identity so they match records to the right person. A US Social Security card shows your name and your nine-digit Social Security number (SSN).

A screening company or employer needs your identity confirmed — they rarely need your full SSN or ID number kept in a copy. The catch: a leaked SSN enables tax fraud, credit applications, and full identity theft — and it is extremely hard to change. That's why you should hand over a redacted copy — see the full Social Security card redaction guide or what to redact for a background check.

What to redact on your Social Security card

• The SSN (at least the first five digits) The SSN is the most-abused number in US identity theft — never share it in full unless a law requires it.
• Any barcode or printed code Barcodes can re-encode the full SSN even when the digits are covered.

What to keep visible (so it's still accepted)

• Your name
• The last four digits only, if the receiver specifically needs them

The watermark to add

Stamp a purpose watermark so the copy can't be reused beyond a background check:

Redact your Social Security card in 4 steps

1. Pick the photo. Open Cachera and choose the photo of your Social Security card with the system picker — only that photo is read, never your whole library.
2. Black out the sensitive fields. Drag a black block over the the ssn and any barcode or printed code. On export those pixels are destroyed — there's no hidden layer to recover underneath.
3. Add a purpose watermark. Stamp "For this background check only" so the copy can't be reused beyond a background check.
4. Export and send. Lay it out on A4, export a PDF, and share it with a screening company or employer. Everything happened on your iPhone — nothing was uploaded.

Is this OK to do?

FAQ

Will a screening company or employer still accept a redacted Social Security card?

Yes. Keep your name and the last four digits only visible so they can confirm what they need, redact only the sensitive fields, and add a clear "For this background check only" watermark. A watermarked, partially-redacted copy is normal, accepted practice.

What should I never show on a Social Security card?

Hide the SSN, any barcode or printed code. A leaked SSN enables tax fraud, credit applications, and full identity theft — and it is extremely hard to change.

Can the black bars be removed from the copy later?

No. Cachera flattens the redaction into the image on export — there is no hidden layer beneath the black blocks, so the covered text cannot be recovered from the PDF.

Should I send the original Social Security card instead?

Third-party screeners are a frequent breach target. Share the minimum and watermark it to the specific check. A redacted copy with a purpose watermark is usually the safer choice.