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SSN Trace: What It Is and What the Results Mean

An SSN trace is usually the first search in an employment background check. It looks up the names and addresses linked to a Social Security number, so the screening company knows which names and places to search for records. It does not prove who someone is, and it is not a criminal search. Both of Pact's packages include one: Standard ($32) and Premium ($70). This guide explains what an SSN trace shows, why results can look odd, and what to do if something is wrong.

Updated October 14, 2026 · Checked against the official sources listed at the end

What an SSN trace is

Checkr, which runs Pact's checks, describes an SSN trace as a search of consumer databases for the information linked to a Social Security number. Checkr lists its sources as lending institutions, utilities, public records sources and credit bureaus.

Checkr calls it a "pointer" search. The names and addresses it returns help decide where else to search, such as which counties to check for criminal records.

What an SSN trace can show

Checkr says an SSN trace may return:

whether the number appears valid and in use;
the year and state in which the Social Security Administration issued it;
names linked to the number, including aliases and maiden names; and
recent and past addresses linked to the number.

What an SSN trace does not do

It does not confirm identity. Checkr says plainly that an SSN trace doesn't confirm a candidate's identity. It can only indicate whether the number appears valid. A number can be linked to other people's names, for example after a data-entry mistake or identity theft.

It is not a criminal record search. A trace finds names and addresses. The criminal searches in the package are what look for records.

It usually isn't the basis of a decision. Checkr says that generally, SSN trace results aren't reportable and aren't used for FCRA purposes. If a trace turns up something that worries you, talk to the person and look at the rest of the report.

Why matching on more than a name matters

A background check company must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy (15 U.S.C. 1681e(b)). In a 2021 advisory opinion, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said that matching records to a person by name only is not a reasonable procedure under that section.

That is where the trace helps. Knowing a person's other names and past addresses helps the screening company search the right places and tell two people with the same name apart.

Why SSN trace results can look strange

A trace pulls from credit and public-record data, so it reflects whatever those sources hold. Common reasons a result surprises people:

An old address or a maiden name you forgot about appears. That is normal.
Few or no results. Checkr says trace results generally go back three to ten years, depending on the sources searched and the person's age and credit history. A young person, or someone with little credit history, may have a thin file.
A name you don't recognize. It can come from a typo by a lender or agency, a mixed file, or identity theft.
A mismatch with what you entered. Double-check the number and date of birth you typed on Checkr's site.

What the status on your report means

Background check reports usually show a status for each search. The exact words and what they mean depend on the screening company. Pact doesn't publish Checkr's status definitions here. If you see a status on your report and aren't sure what it means, ask Pact: 901-666-6970 or support@pactcompliance.com. Pact follows up by email the same business day.

If something in your report is wrong

You can dispute it with the consumer reporting agency. For a Pact order, that is Checkr. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i, the agency must do a free, reasonable reinvestigation, generally within 30 days of getting your dispute. The CFPB's summary of FCRA rights says inaccurate, incomplete or unverifiable information must be removed or corrected, usually within 30 days.

If you think someone else is using your Social Security number, say so in the dispute.

How the SSN is collected in a Pact order

The employer doesn't collect the number. Checkr emails the person being checked a secure link. They enter their own details, including their Social Security number and address history, on Checkr's site and sign the disclosure and authorization. Nothing runs before they consent.

Orders are taken now and start when Pact's Checkr account opens; Checkr then emails the person.

Common questions

What does an SSN trace show?

Names, aliases and addresses linked to a Social Security number, and whether the number appears valid. Checkr says it may also show the year and state the number was issued.

Does an SSN trace verify my identity?

No. Checkr says an SSN trace doesn't confirm a candidate's identity. It only indicates whether the number appears valid.

Why does my SSN trace show an address I don't recognize?

It may come from an error in a lender's or agency's records, a mixed file, or identity theft. You can dispute inaccurate information with Checkr.

Why did my SSN trace come back with little or nothing?

Checkr says results depend on the sources searched and the person's age and credit history. Someone young or with little credit may have few results. Ask Pact what a status on your report means.

Can I fail a background check because of an SSN trace?

Checkr says SSN trace results generally aren't reportable and aren't used for FCRA purposes. They guide the other searches. Decisions should rest on the reported records.

Is an SSN trace included in Pact's packages?

Yes. Both Standard ($32) and Premium ($70) include an SSN trace.