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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
06/10/2024 10:45 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=H&cosponId=40287
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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 23, 2023 09:58 AM
From: Representative Kerry A. Benninghoff
To: All House members
Subject: REAL ID Application Process
 
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to ease the REAL ID application process for the Commonwealth’s residents by requiring PennDOT to accept multiple document options when verifying an individual’s Social Security number (SSN).
 
As background, the REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes minimum security standards for the issuance of state driver licenses and photo IDs. This federal law, including its corresponding regulations, severely limits the ability of states to make changes to their respective REAL ID application processes. However, upon examination of PennDOT’s documentation requirement for proof of SSN, it has been determined that their policy is more restrictive than every other state.
 
PennDOT currently requires an applicant for REAL ID to provide an original Social Security card, but does not provide any other document options to verify SSN. My staff reviewed the SSN document requirements for every other state and found that all states, except Pennsylvania, provide their residents with alternative SSN verification options. The most common alternatives are:
  • W-2 forms;
  • 1099 forms;
  • Paystubs (if SSN is on the paystub); and
  • Direct verification by the state DOT with the Social Security Administration (the applicant simply provides an SSN to the DOT).
 
The Department of Homeland Security intends to enforce REAL ID beginning on May 7, 2025, so it is imperative that PennDOT’s REAL ID application process does not continue to place unnecessary burdens on Commonwealth residents. To this end, my legislation will simply require PennDOT to accept any document permitted under federal law or regulation for SSN verification when applying for REAL ID. The aforementioned alternative documents are provided to our constituents on a regular basis and are convenient options for constituents, especially for individuals who may have misplaced their Social Security card, when organizing their required documents for a REAL ID application.
 
I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation that will bring PennDOT’s REAL ID process in line with the other 49 states.
 
 


Introduced as HB1243