MD.440.8.11, PGM - Improperly Converting Social Security Numbers (SSNs) to Employer Identification Numbers (EINs)

Maryland Bulletin: 440-8-11
Subject: PGM - Improperly Converting Social Security Numbers (SSNs) to Employer Identification Numbers (EINs)
Date: September 23, 2008

Purpose. To direct NRCS Field offices to properly enter information into the Service Center Information System (SCIMS) and to prevent improper conversion of SSNs to EINs.

Expiration Date. September 30, 2008.

Explanation. 

Farm Service Agency’s National Office has discovered that SSN’s are being improperly converted to EIN’s in the Service Center Information System (SCIMS). SSN’s loaded as EIN’s will result in erroneous payments being issued to these invalid ID numbers.

This bulletin advises all Service Center employees that they shall not load an individual’s SSN in SCIMS as EIN under any circumstances.

Farm Service Agency’s 1-CM, paragraph 178.5 contains procedure outlining the requirement of estates to obtain EIN’s and directs that estates be loaded in SCIMS, as businesses, using a Federal EIN’s.

Service Centers shall not under any circumstance: convert an individual’s SSN to EIN format (55-555555555) or enter an individual’s SSN into SCIMS as an EIN.

The guidelines outlined in this bulletin shall be followed until further notice.

For more information please review the Farm Service Agency’s Notice CM-614: Improperly Converting Social Security Numbers (SSN’s) to Employer Identification Numbers (EIN’s).

Contact.

If you have questions, please contact Mark Rose, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, at (443) 480-2960 or mark.rose@md.usda.gov.

/s/

MARK A. ROSE
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs

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