Q14a: Are Social Security numbers on credit reports?

Demographic and experience categories Yes No Do not know
All respondents 71.2 ( 1.3) 12.5 ( 1.0) 16.4 ( 1.1)
AGE GROUP      
18 to 24 62.5 ( 5.2) 13.8 ( 4.2) 23.7 ( 4.3)
25 to 34 75.5 ( 3.1) 9.2 ( 2.0) 15.4 ( 2.6)
35 to 44 77.9 ( 3.0) 10.6 ( 2.1) 11.5 ( 2.5)
45 to 54 76.5 ( 2.7) 10.2 ( 2.0) 13.3 ( 2.2)
55 to 64 74.3 ( 3.2) 12.1 ( 2.4) 13.6 ( 2.4)
65 and older 57.8 ( 3.2) 19.8 ( 2.6) 22.5 ( 2.7)
INCOME      
Less than $25000 67.6 ( 2.1) 14.8 ( 1.6) 17.6 ( 1.8)
$25000 to $49999 72.4 ( 2.9) 12.4 ( 2.3) 15.1 ( 2.2)
$50000 to $74999 72.8 ( 3.3) 10.5 ( 2.5) 16.6 ( 2.7)
$75000+ 75.2 ( 3.0) 10.2 ( 2.1) 14.6 ( 2.5)
EDUCATION      
Less than high school 55.4 ( 3.7) 16.0 ( 2.6) 28.6 ( 3.4)
High school 75.4 ( 2.2) 9.2 ( 1.3) 15.4 ( 1.9)
Some post-secondary education 71.8 ( 2.7) 15.7 ( 2.2) 12.5 ( 1.9)
BA or more 71.6 ( 2.6) 11.6 ( 1.9) 16.8 ( 2.1)
ETHNICITY      
White 71.0 ( 1.8) 12.7 ( 1.3) 16.3 ( 1.4)
Black 75.5 ( 2.6) 11.4 ( 1.9) 13.1 ( 2.1)
Hispanic 66.2 ( 2.9) 13.7 ( 2.1) 20.1 ( 2.5)
Other 76.6 ( 5.5) 8.4 ( 3.7) 14.9 ( 4.6)
SEX      
Male 70.6 ( 2.2) 13.4 ( 1.7) 16.0 ( 1.8)
Female 71.7 ( 1.6) 11.7 ( 1.1) 16.6 ( 1.3)
EMPLOYMENT STATUS      
Actively employed (FT or PT) 76.6 ( 1.7) 9.8 ( 1.3) 13.6 ( 1.4)
Student 74.9 ( 6.7) 7.5 ( 3.4) 17.6 ( 6.0)
Not employed (homemaker, retired, unemployed) 60.9 ( 2.3) 18.2 ( 1.9) 20.9 ( 1.9)
Other 65.2 ( 6.5) 13.0 ( 4.5) 21.8 ( 6.0)
GEOGRAPHIC RESIDENCE      
Resident of a free report state (CO, GA, ME, MD, MA, NJ, VT) 74.2 ( 2.6) 11.5 ( 1.9) 14.3 ( 2.1)
Resident of another state 70.7 ( 1.5) 12.6 ( 1.1) 16.7 ( 1.2)
FINANCIAL AND CREDIT REPORT EXPERIENCE      
Obtained a credit report 77.6 ( 1.7) 10.1 ( 1.2) 12.3 ( 1.3)
Did not obtain a credit report 62.4 ( 2.2) 15.7 ( 1.7) 21.9 ( 1.9)
       
Obtained credit score 81.1 ( 2.1) 8.1 ( 1.4) 10.8 ( 1.7)
Did not obtain credit score 66.3 ( 1.7) 14.6 ( 1.3) 19.1 ( 1.4)
       
Disputed information on credit report 80.3 ( 2.9) 10.5 ( 2.2) 9.2 ( 2.2)
Did not dispute credit report information 69.2 ( 1.5) 12.9 ( 1.1) 17.9 ( 1.2)
       
Had an auto or mortgage loan 72.7 ( 1.5) 12.1 ( 1.1) 15.2 ( 1.2)
Did not have an auto or mortgage loan 66.0 ( 2.9) 13.6 ( 2.2) 20.4 ( 2.4)
       
Was a victim of identity theft 85.6 ( 3.0) 8.6 ( 2.4) 5.9 ( 2.0)
Was not a victim of identity theft 69.6 ( 1.4) 12.9 ( 1.1) 17.5 ( 1.2)
       
Obtained credit report due to an adverse action 78.0 ( 4.8) 10.7 ( 4.1) 11.4 ( 3.3)
Did not obtain credit report due to an adverse action 70.6 ( 1.4) 12.6 ( 1.0) 16.8 ( 1.2)

Percent estimates totaling 100% within each demographic and experience category, with standard errors in parentheses
 
GAO-05-411SP Credit Reporting Literacy Survey Data
Full Report: GAO-05-223