text: who is it okay to give your ss# to? you hear all the time not to give yiour social security # to anyone, but usually when i deal with a business, that's one of the first questions thay ask. i alway respond "why do you need to know that?" the usual response is something along the lines of "to confirm your identity" or "to make sure you are the person with which we are dealing."  so what's the scoop? is there anyone that it's okay to give this information such as utility companies? if you are applying for a job its ok, and most companies are very careful with peoples' identity information. just make sure that its not a scam!