How Do I Pay a Participant Who Has Not Yet Received Their SSN?
Guidelines for paying Work & Travel participants without an SSN.
Participants may begin working and receiving wages before receiving their Social Security number. They should apply for their SSN as soon as possible and provide proof of application (e.g., application receipt or copy of Form SS-5).
Since Social Security cards take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive, employers should:
- Allow participants to work while awaiting their SSN.
- Keep a record of the participant’s SSN application documentation.
- Review SSN Employer Responsibilities for compliance.