I know there is some anxiety around how to protect yourself in light of Muskrat and his herd of shitler youth getting their hands on all our personal information so here are the steps you can take to protect yourself. I’ve seen these in various threads but thought it worth putting them together🧵 1/? - ThreadSky

altssa.bsky.social • 10 days ago

I know there is some anxiety around how to protect yourself in light of Muskrat and his herd of shitler youth getting their hands on all our personal information so here are the steps you can take to protect yourself. I’ve seen these in various threads but thought it worth putting them together🧵 1/?

Comments

moveoverandforward.bsky.social•10 days ago

I got rid of Google, Fakebook, and certainly the T.T. miss none of it.
Bluesky is the adult in the room 😊.

pamelab52.bsky.social•10 days ago

How do you get rid of Google?
I gotta look this up.

dpbahm.bsky.social•10 days ago

Just start using go duck go for all your searches. Get Mozilla Firefox. Way safer.

pamelab52.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you ! I did that and now I have to change my Gmail account - that is going to be a beeeach

moveoverandforward.bsky.social•10 days ago

Same here, and yes I may have to change my carrier not a Tmobile fan....grrr.

breatheagain.bsky.social•10 days ago

Virtually impossible to get rid of google they are in my damn tv

pamelab52.bsky.social•10 days ago

I’m working on at least limiting my exposure

kdelran.bsky.social•10 days ago

Taking me longer to ditch google/alphabet as my tv is run by googletv, will be getting new tv, researching who is safe, no more smart tv. Phone is android, will get a KAIOS or other OS phone. Going to Linux and open source everything (LibreOffice, etc). Need to get instructions up somewhere...

affablegremlin.bsky.social•10 days ago

I’m struggling with letting Google go mainly cause of Chrome. It’s a shitty browser, but it’s the only one that works consistently with Proctorio, which I need to complete my degree. I’ve tried Microsoft Edge, Opera, Firefox, Safari, none of them run Proctorio properly and it pisses me off :/

moveoverandforward.bsky.social•10 days ago

Went to the Proctorios site, and it did indicate Microsoft Edge. Now I'm not sure since you tried it. Wish I knew more and wishing you the best.

kdelran.bsky.social•10 days ago

As I look more I find more...a French friend told me about https://Olvid.io/en to ditch whatsapp (meta) and its ok just for msgs, no calls. Got a new email https://Mailo.com and liking it a lot! migrating off yahoo and gmail is long but necessary for me. https://Tutamail.com is very secure, takes 2 days to get an account!

kdelran.bsky.social•10 days ago

understood. It is difficult on purpose, they made it so. Are you able to partition chrome off from everything or maybe get a tablet or other laptop for everything else? I think I will eventually leave all old things I cannot disconnect from for one reason and move everything else to a new computer!

moveoverandforward.bsky.social•10 days ago

Eliminating Google has proven to be a pain in the butt. My tablet is running Chrome also.

kdelran.bsky.social•10 days ago

my tablet has samsung everything, don't know if that's any better... think will look at other tablets, European companies have their own things, looking into it. Man, they made this hard didn't they? But they don't know how relentless and determined I/we are. Joke is on them. Forward.

affablegremlin.bsky.social•10 days ago

I use Firefox as my default browser for non-Proctorio or panapto things (another school thing, where my teachers post video lectures for online classes for the stuff they don’t have on campus), but I still hate that I have to use google chrome pretty much every single day

ecboogiedown.bsky.social•9 days ago

Use what you already have, just don't give them any NEW funds. Taking advantage of what you already have, isn't "cheating".

kdelran.bsky.social•9 days ago

true/ but I don't want everything I do being tracked to hand over to someone because I can't keep my mouth shut (refuse to). I'll get there eventually. I'm a tortoise.

ecboogiedown.bsky.social•9 days ago

Yes! That's a whole 'nother issue, itself. Very important to be aware of!!!

semicredulous.bsky.social•9 days ago

Don’t rule out examining Ubuntu Touch for your mobile devices…

https://www.ubuntu-touch.io

kdelran.bsky.social•9 days ago

Thanks, I didnt know they were in phones too. Learning as much as I can.

rachel3r.bsky.social•3 days ago

What did you do with email?

utmikewill.bsky.social•10 days ago

Don’t be so sure

adlaijn.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thanks for this!

skippercyn.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you!

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

chadrobinette.bsky.social•10 days ago

I have so much anxiety for the people in my life on Medicare and Medicaid. 😭

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

If I get any indication those programs are in danger I will post immediately. I’m working on a thread for that but medical and insurance stuff is more complicated so I’m still working on that list.

albatex.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you!

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

yasminetallulah.bsky.social•10 days ago

Donald Trump reminds me of the The Queen of Hearts

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

I can see if!

aynnabethe.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you so much. I'm still on disability despite going through Ticket to Work and fighting like hell to keep from decompensating when working more than part time. All the stress the US is going through hasn't helped my mental or physical health, and true heroes like you are keeping me stay afloat.

panicatthedogpark.bsky.social•10 days ago

I have a friend applying for SSI right now, and I just finished my online application for SS. And my roommate’s only income is SS. It is just really hard for me to conceive of people with such a void of empathy and just factual understanding of the agony they’re about to unleash. Baffling.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

We are still working so please follow up on your applications. We are still here and doing the work.

chadrobinette.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

lameep.bsky.social•10 days ago

How does one freeze their kids credit if they have no credit and are too young to get credit? The three agencies will say they can't do anything when you try to enter their info to check their credit.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

I would call them directly because I think the process is slightly different for kids.

lameep.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you!

jenncaaron.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

noticernoticing.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

melodyjai.bsky.social•10 days ago

Can we just do away with credit?

namaste201.bsky.social•10 days ago

@altssa.bsky.social ok,let's talk turkey,& if it's not your baliwick,feel free (please) to haul in those of which it is: 1. ppl say no point emptying your bank acct bc cash will be worthless. 2. Crazy ads running saying but gold (cont'd)

namaste201.bsky.social•10 days ago

3. Our cash is no longer backed by gold standard 4. If you buy gold, then they suggest you pay someone to keep it for you, just like a bank keeping your money. Which takes you right back to square one. 5. If you use a CU acct, it still has your SS tied to it?

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Yes you have to use your SSN to sign up for a CU but they don’t have access to private bank servers just the ones linked to government benefits. So as far as we know if you move it to a bank account the government doesn’t have on file somewhere they won’t be able to access it.

namaste201.bsky.social•9 days ago

*energy grant funding in Huntsville area,Alabama,has been rescinded by fed exec order. Customers who received supplemental assistance on their utility bills who received a $100 supplemental grant may now see a debit on their accounts due to the rescinded funding.

altssa.bsky.social•9 days ago

🤬🤬🤬

namaste201.bsky.social•9 days ago

I said this must be what it's like to go through a divorce from someone you once had faith in. That or finding out the hard way that your beloved is a serial killer.

namaste201.bsky.social•10 days ago

sounds like manually move $,but keep acct for govt direct dep transactions (ie tax returns, ss) then cont moving manually, not electronically,so that CU acct is never exposed,or am I going into the weeds with that? Akin to what I imagine divorce wld be from what was always believed in.😒

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

I would manually move yes.

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

So get a separate CU account to have money direct deposited to but can’t transfer money from that account to other accounts online, only in person ? How does that protect money?

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

I have zero opinion right now on most of what you said. I’m not going to assume that cash will be worthless especially since the administration is trying to wipe legislation that forces every business to accept it. This is a short term solution. You’re talking more long term.

mariavictoria.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌to do

4sperry.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thanks for posting good info

disarmingdarling.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thanks for all the tips.

Slowly working through my Protect Personal Data to-do list. Re: advice I've seen about documenting SS info and other personal data -- do y'all think it's safe to create a new https://Login.gov account right now?

Stay strong, Altgov friends!

altssa.bsky.social•2 days ago

As far as I know that system is safe but I can’t guarantee that.

kelazdesertsky.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

ny2va.bsky.social•9 days ago

I also contacted my bank and signed up for the fraud protection they offer. I realized I had my savings and checking accounts linked so if I had a low balance money would automatically transfer, but I ended that. I didn’t want to take the risk of both accounts being cleared out by a bad actor!

polibirb.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

ely6.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thankyou for this

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Freeze your SSN at the big three, meaning Experian, Transunion, and Equifax. It means more hoops for you to jump through if you want to open accounts but does make it to where someone else can’t use your SSN to take out loans or open accounts and jack up your credit. 2/?

tiktokghost.bsky.social•10 days ago

Lol According to Maurice's my credit score is 160 something. Elon can have it cuz I got my pants on sale 😂😌

overit0101.bsky.social•9 days ago

Experian is currently “experiencing technical difficulties”. 😬

lucyod.bsky.social•9 days ago

I just successfully accessed it and placed a credit freeze. Try again?

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Request an Identity Protection PIN at the IRS. This is a PIN known only to you and the IRS and prevents someone from filing taxes using your SSN or TIN. 3/?

heyliberty.bsky.social•10 days ago

But... does this help so long as they still have access...

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

So the idea is to create layers of protection or at least make yourself a harder target to hit. So no, none of these suggestions are fail proof. But hopefully they don’t all fail at once. Last I checked we don’t know what all they have access to over at the IRS. Maybe @alt-irs.bsky.social knows.

claudiadoula.bsky.social•10 days ago

Swiss cheese strategy.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Exactly!!!

overworkedretiree.bsky.social•10 days ago

It helps if you don't keep your passwords to the accounts in those institutions in your browser or an in secure password vault (like google).
Use Bitwarden

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

If you get benefits from SSA, move money out of any accounts known to SSA. Changing the account won’t help but you can immediately move money to an account that isn’t linked to your SSA record. If you can move the money to a credit union rather than a bank, do that. 4/?

chrislikespie.bsky.social•10 days ago

I don't understand this, could you explain?
Should I keep the account my SS check is deposited into close to zero? i.e., move the money out after the SS check is deposited?

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Yes that is what I’m suggesting. Changing your account at SSA does you no good since they likely still have access. But at least if you move the money to an account we don’t don’t have then they can’t take that. So get your deposit, then move it to another account immediately.

chrislikespie.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you for clarifying.

barblerch.bsky.social•10 days ago

How does this affect the other funds in the account? Should I move all my bill paying and other income deposits into the other account?

jacksghost.bsky.social•9 days ago

Can you clarify this? Are you saying to transfer the money to another existing account? What if there is other money in the SSA linked acct? Isn’t that also at risk?

altssa.bsky.social•9 days ago

No. Only money that is in accounts that we have listed somewhere so the account where you get your benefits or the account where you get your tax return direct deposited. So yes if you have another account we don’t know about, you can use that to transfer money to.

kdelran.bsky.social•10 days ago

Yes. I was one posting this, also on fb for those not yet over here. Open a European online bank account and diversify currencies now before US dollar drops.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Log onto your SSA account or call/visit your local SSA office and request a copy of your benefits statement so you have concrete proof of what you have paid in and what you would get in retirement. I would also request a copy of your transcript from the IRS. 5/?

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Also if you have kids, include them in this. Freeze their credit. Kids often don’t know their identity was stolen until they turn 18 and apply for their first card or loan. You should do that anyways but definitely right now. 6/?

katiespn411.bsky.social•10 days ago

Yep my husband and I have both put a freeze on ours! My daughter just froze the SS’s of her 1 year old and 3 year old !

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Last but not least, breathe, relax your shoulders, go outside, pet a puppy, take care of you, whatever that looks like. We will get through this. Hopefully you found some useful info in here. And if I did the thread wrong y’all be nice. It’s been a long year, I’m old, and it’s only February. 7/fin

2thewoods.bsky.social•10 days ago

https://skyview.social unroll.

glasslotuses.bsky.social•10 days ago

Multiple members of my family have worked for the DoE and military, and our data was all stolen in a hack when my sister and I were still less than 18. I was lucky, but my mom and sister both had their identities stolen. My sister found out at ~18 when she got her first card. Don't forget the kids!

anglospud.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you!

2thewoods.bsky.social•10 days ago

@skyview.social unroll.

iamzoomy.bsky.social•10 days ago

You can download these directly from SSA.

ethicsshouldmatter.bsky.social•10 days ago

Great list - what is a transcript from the IRS?

alwaysthinkhow.bsky.social•10 days ago

You can get a print out of what Social Security and Medicare taxes you paid every year you worked. Good idea to have it for your records and also make sure every employer reported your wages.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

An IRS transcript is basically a record of all your lifetime earnings and taxes that you’ve filed. Just in case they try to monkey with numbers you have it.

glitterninja.bsky.social•10 days ago

In case anyone tries to log on overnight, I just discovered that the SSA website is down every night starting at 1:00am Eastern until 4:15am Eastern, and on weekends goes down at midnight and not back up until 5:00am Saturday and 8:00am Sunday

https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.action

petsyrah.bsky.social•2 days ago

Can you explain the "why" of this? It is possible they can just withdraw money from my account without my permission. I don't understand. This would be a huge undertaking for me, involving trusts and other issues.

altssa.bsky.social•2 days ago

So no. Currently we do not have that capability as far as I know nor is it something we do. But if changes are made to the system that we don’t know about by hackers who knows? Just trying to cover all the bases really at this point.

cproenza.bsky.social•10 days ago

Why are credit unions better than banks?

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

So couple reasons. Credit unions are member-owned not for profit organizations so they tend to take fewer risks with your money. They are more conservative with their investments, take fewer risks, and have a lower failure rate than banks. Banks are for profit companies owned by investors.

noticernoticing.bsky.social•10 days ago

I recall hearing they want to get rid of the FDIC at some point as well.

cproenza.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thanks for this info and all that you are doing!

catmamanj.bsky.social•10 days ago

So if the SS is already being direct deposited into a credit union account, it's good or still move it?

gracebatslast.bsky.social•4 days ago

This is confusing. "Changing the account won't help but you can move money to a different account" - what's the benefit? And you imply that credit unions are safer (we use one) - why? Thank you!

altssa.bsky.social•4 days ago

Credit unions are considered safer as they are private not for periodic organizations owned by their customers. Banks are for profit and answer to shareholders so they take more risks with your money and fail more often.

altssa.bsky.social•4 days ago

Not for profit *

altssa.bsky.social•4 days ago

Moving the money to an account we don’t know exists means there’s no way for us to go in and take the benefit back. Which currently isn’t something we do but with unvetted hackers making unknown changes to the system who knows in the future. So this just makes sure we can’t.

barblerch.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you for this! I have questions....

Does the new acct need to be in a different bank?

Why are credit unions better than regular banks?

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

I don’t think it’s necessary to have the new account be a different bank just as long as it’s an account we’re at SSA and the IRS don’t know about. A CU is considered safer because they are not for profit and owned by the members so they tend to be more conservative and take fewer risks than banks.

minkab.bsky.social•3 days ago

Would this step help, now that Musk and his thugs are into IRS? Should we just do the other steps you suggested? And thank you, so much, by the way! You and all the Fed workers are our heroes!!! 🫶🏼🫶🏼💙💙

altssa.bsky.social•3 days ago

Honestly not sure. The goal here is to have layers of safeguards so even if one (this one maybe) fails, they don’t all fail and your info is still safe. But will it work? I can’t say for sure. Unfortunately.

minkab.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you for replying! That makes sense. I will do as many safeguards as possible. Thank you, again, for all that you are doing. Stay strong! 🫶🏼💙👍🏼💪🏼💪🏿💪🏾🤛🏽

lynn0908.bsky.social•10 days ago

Is the pin the same as the real ID thing? I did that a few weeks ago.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

No this is specific to the IRS. It’s like a password you would need to provide before being allowed to file taxes using that SSN.

lynn0908.bsky.social•10 days ago

Ok. I will have to do that too. Ty!

missfrijole.bsky.social•10 days ago

When my husband's identity was stolen, the IRS gave him a PIN, which he now has to use every time we have to file our taxes. That's really all it's for. The IRS sends you a new PIN every year, in the MAIL. Never electronically.

beckyganzhorn.bsky.social•10 days ago

Musk will have everything the IRS has, if they do not have it already, but this is still valid.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Sure, but the idea here is to create layers of protection so hopefully they don’t all fail. It’s really the best we got right now unfortunately.

zeldaqueen.bsky.social•10 days ago

Arguably the best defense, to make use of these dummies having the attention spans of newts. The more effort, the less chance they'll want to bother.

gigi-gemini.bsky.social•9 days ago

If any of the layers involve the government in this administration, then it's bullshit bc the entire government is jello pudding diarrhea atp

beckyganzhorn.bsky.social•9 days ago

Agreed

botherme.bsky.social•8 days ago

Is is still safe to create an account with eVerify to freeze an SSN? Or is that compromised now too! Thanks for the advice.

altssa.bsky.social•8 days ago

As far as we know it is still safe.

gracebatslast.bsky.social•4 days ago

My credit has long been frozen by me; is freeze SSN a different portion/process of this or is it covered by a credit freeze?

altssa.bsky.social•4 days ago

They are the same thing.

gracebatslast.bsky.social•4 days ago

Thank you so much for your replies! And for being here.

maliwaka.bsky.social•10 days ago

wrt 2/7) a credit freeze blocks access to your credit reports.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-freeze-credit

fyi, online requires account creation (i think) but (snail) mail and phone calls do not. dont forget to securely save the PIN.

maliwaka.bsky.social•9 days ago

btw, the phone calls were mad easy. equifax struggled a little under call volume so it wasnt wholly automated but the other two were. equifax also politely asked why and followed up with "of course i understand". id like to think she did.

mojobaby.bsky.social•10 days ago

Good advice, thank you. 🩷Here’s how to freeze your credit:

The online links are:

https://www.experian.com/help/credit-...

https://www.transunion.com/credit-freez...

https://www.equifax.com/personal/cre...

jchance007.bsky.social•10 days ago

thank you!

mstraat.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

minkab.bsky.social•9 days ago

Thank you!!!!💙💙💙

retardedliberals69.bsky.social•9 days ago

ehn442.bsky.social•10 days ago

I also got identity theft protection from my bank for a small fee.

tiadee1031.bsky.social•9 days ago

What I found: The SAVE Act: "84 percent of women who marry change their surname, meaning as many as 69 million American women do not have a birth certificate with their legal name on it and thereby could not use their birth certificate to prove citizenship."

tiadee1031.bsky.social•9 days ago

"The SAVE Act would not allow proof of name change or a marriage certificate as acceptable proof of identity, impacting anyone with birth certificates that don't match their current legal names."

tiadee1031.bsky.social•9 days ago

Quotes: Newsweek. And Bergen Center

thomasjchirico.bsky.social•10 days ago

I haven't had a bank acct. since I was in the 8th grade when my parents opened a savings acct. for me. I have a credit union acct. No bs junk fees. Secondly, who hasn't heard of LifeLock? Much easier than having to go to those websites to freeze/unfreeze every time you make a purchase

thomasjchirico.bsky.social•10 days ago

Lastly, social security sends you your statements in the mail every year so you have a hard copy already.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

We do not do this anymore. Since it’s available on your online account we do not do this.

jauntymoose.bsky.social•10 days ago

I could be wrong (it’s early here 😪) but I imagine younger people who are not yet retired would need to get proof of how many hours they’ve put in for their SS? I’m young so I’ve never been mailed a statement about this …so I’m guessing it may be good to have proof of this for later.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

We used to mail a statement every year but now that they are available through your online SSA account we don’t. Do you have to either download it from there or request it from us directly. That’s the benefit statement I recommended you get.

thomasjchirico.bsky.social•10 days ago

You have the option to get both. I got mine in the mail AND have an account online. Read the instructions on the site.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Yes you do have the option to still get it but you have to set it up like I said. We do not automatically mail them to everybody anymore like we used to.

thomasjchirico.bsky.social•10 days ago

You aren't required to put in hours for social security. It goes by your age. The more years you work & your salary determines how much you get when you hit 65-67.

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

Doesn’t lifelock charge a yearly fee? That’s why

thomasjchirico.bsky.social•9 days ago

Yeah, so? You can't afford $6.77 a month? People pay more for a music subscription 😒

peripatetic1.bsky.social•10 days ago

You can also request freezes of your (NCTUE) report and ChexSystems.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Ooooh I didn’t know that. Thank you!!!!

sekudog.bsky.social•9 days ago

GREAT ideas - definitely shouldn't be 50 people using the same SSN!

altssa.bsky.social•9 days ago

There aren’t. That’s the point.

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

We’d get stacks of fraudulent paper returns before digital forms were the norm. 2008-2021 retired

sky-loyal.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

pandombie.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

formerrepub.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

kendall2343.bsky.social•10 days ago

This is all good advice. However, if they have your SSN, can't they just go in and unfreeze it at will?

torres-amy.bsky.social•9 days ago

📌

kdorg.bsky.social•6 days ago

📌 #resist

dug2smart.bsky.social•10 days ago

DOGE =
Democrats
Officially
Get
Exposed

kzengel.bsky.social•10 days ago

Go to X, you're not welcome here.

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

Cute. If you didn’t know about the humanitarian aid or military spending to contractors like Musk (38 billion) then you haven’t been paying attention.
But you’re ok with Trump wasting 25 million to go to a football game and 10 ml a pop to go to Mar Lago.

dug2smart.bsky.social•9 days ago

It was an insurance policy against Trump winning.”

“Get the money out as fast as possible before they [Trump Administration] come in ... it’s like we’re on the Titanic and we’re throwing gold bars off the edge.”

nightbiker58.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you for sharing.

jfk117.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

themelyouknow.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

gm1950.bsky.social•10 days ago

Because of the 2015 OPM breech, I’ve had a separate account that received my fed salary and now my pension & SS. I move the money every month when it hits. That account is used for nothing else but receiving direct deposit

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

Thanks will do that

alternateid.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

lisadiana.bsky.social•9 days ago

Run your phone in lockdown mode.

ajogmusic.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

humboldthunnybunny.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

dreamersafe.bsky.social•10 days ago

This is not their end

doiturdamnself.bsky.social•3 days ago

I need things simplified to remember, so I made this graphic. Maybe it will help others:

altssa.bsky.social•3 days ago

Holy crap I love that! Thank you! May I steal this and credit you???

doiturdamnself.bsky.social•3 days ago

Of course! Glad to help in some way!

fuquinay.bsky.social•9 days ago

More complete list here, which includes changing your name back legally to match your birth certificate.

https://open.substack.com/pub/fuquinay/p/tips-from-the-mediocre-unwashed?r=1fi71&utm_medium=ios

altssa.bsky.social•9 days ago

Great list! Thank you for the share!!!

fuquinay.bsky.social•9 days ago

Yw! Feel free to skip over everything else, but I’ve included links for ease.

vikingkim5.bsky.social•9 days ago

Appreciate the list! Hope you're doing better. If my passport has my married name, and my birth certificate my "maiden" name, do I need to change it back to match my birth certificate, or will my passport enable me to vote? #SaveAct

altssa.bsky.social•9 days ago

So the act actually doesn’t make any exceptions or say anything about a combination of documents being able to be used to show a name change. So the current reading of it does look like it won’t matter.

fuquinay.bsky.social•9 days ago

It’s up to you, of course. I didn’t change my name, so I’m safe regardless. But I guarantee this administration wants to take away our right to vote—if voting is even a thing anymore.

fuquinay.bsky.social•9 days ago

Good question. I don’t know, but because of the current focus on trans people, the birth certificate is king. Passports should match it too.

greenflower68.bsky.social•9 days ago

📌

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

I read the save act (long and boring and may have missed something) and didn’t see any direction about having the same exact name on ID and on birth certificate. It said Real ID and passports were acceptable. And all this change is only for a Federal election.

altssa.bsky.social•9 days ago

Not everybody has those because both cost money. A great many people have neither. And for people who have changed their name, like married women, who have neither of those things, there’s no allowance in the law for them to provide proof of name change in order to vote. It’s voter suppression.

fuquinay.bsky.social•9 days ago

Exactly.

fuquinay.bsky.social•9 days ago

I'm not a lawyer, so despite my having read it, I needed clarification. @altssa.bsky.social summed it up nicely, but here's the link I shared on my substack. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-save-act-would-disenfranchise-millions-of-citizens/

cave-malum.bsky.social•10 days ago

Alts rock. Thank you.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

You rock! Thank you!

cave-malum.bsky.social•10 days ago

Nah, it's you all. The regional(?) SSA admin. building is in my neighborhood. A close college friend's mom worked there for decades. Closer than we know and always appreciated.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

We are literally your neighbors. We are not some deep state boogeyman, we’re just fucking Americans like everybody else. We just want to do our jobs. ❤️

cave-malum.bsky.social•10 days ago

I primarily focus on FDA (human research protections) and it's REAL CLEAR fed. employees keep us alive. The only people who object are performative wack jobs in congress or on Twitter.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Your work it’s important and we appreciate you!

panicatthedogpark.bsky.social•10 days ago

Please tell your coworkers that they are appreciated, their work has great value and a LOT of people are fed up with the shit you all have to take just to do your jobs. Rick on, Liz.

donpbenz.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you.

tired-of-the-bs.bsky.social•9 days ago

The Patriot act allowed this 20 years ago. Your personal data has been known for years. But the richest guy in the world is now after it. Beware. Give me a break. Nobody cared when they used PayPal.

ylookup.bsky.social•10 days ago

The credit freezes expire in a year, so mark your calendar to implement them again on day 366.

elanie.bsky.social•10 days ago

You can make them permanent…we have had this as our default for years

ylookup.bsky.social•10 days ago

How? It seems I had to pay money to do this, when I updated several months back.

mik60.bsky.social•10 days ago

It is free to “freeze” your credit, but there is a cost to “lock” your credit reports. It is easy, just go to each of their web sites or download each of their apps and create a free account. There is a simple toggle switch to freeze or unfreeze. It can be done instantly once you have your account.

ylookup.bsky.social•9 days ago

Yes, it's the free, longer than a year, I was hoping for. I don't want to give those agencies a penny. As I've had fraud committed against me multiple times, I've gotten pretty good at managing the credit bureau stuff over the past 10+ years. Thought I missed something new. Thanks.

nicolep87.bsky.social•9 days ago

I'm not hearing this called out enough, but Car Salesman and Visa are developing a new payment app together, right as CFPB gets the axe. Visa should really be added to the boycott list at this point. Pay cash, or use mastercard/discover/amex.

libdibnords.bsky.social•9 days ago

Costco does not accept Mastercard.

tiadee1031.bsky.social•9 days ago

I got a VISA thru my credit union....... Just a thought

nicolep87.bsky.social•9 days ago

Same, but I tend to utilize a credit card for purchases, and just use the account to directly pay the card ballance, or other bills that don't accept credit, so I can still largely avoid giving visa any transaction fees

uptown-thunk.bsky.social•10 days ago

Great advice, having worked in consumer banking a number of years I have already done most of these by default and always advised others to do the same. There is no reason to keep a credit bureau unfrozen, you should absolutely keep them frozen as a default state.

juliec230.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you for posting this info!

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

You’re welcome! Sorry it took me a few days, it’s been a little hectic in my corner of the world. ❤️

thisoldman52.bsky.social•10 days ago

Don't forget to freeze your kids credit also,

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you! I added that in there because I forgot. Much appreciated. ❤️

melbelle8.bsky.social•10 days ago

Is there a way to freeze a child's credit report that doesn't require sending lots of personal info (like copies of their birth certificate, SS card and my ID) through the USPS? Adult credit is frozen in our house but I'm reluctant to put all that info in the mail for my kids...

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

So this varies by which one it is. Best suggestion is to call them to initiate and let them tell you the process at their specific org. Of mailing documents is required send them certified mail with a tracking number for more security.

thisoldman52.bsky.social•10 days ago

I'm not sure my kids are in 50's but I believe can be done online same as adults using SSN

michaelblurry.bsky.social•10 days ago

Didn’t think about that one. Thanks!

fiveminuteactivist.bsky.social•10 days ago

Curious about the suggestion that a credit union is better than a bank. I saw that somewhere else, but I'm unsure why.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

CUs are not for profit and owned by the members so they tend to be more conservative with your money and take less risks. As a result they fail less often than banks.

fiveminuteactivist.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you for the add'l info!

skbeard.bsky.social•10 days ago

Only thing I remember is that credit unions are not for profit and also have lower fees. I may look into a credit union that only uses Mastercard since leon is partnering with visa.

fiveminuteactivist.bsky.social•10 days ago

Ugh - didn't know that about Visa.

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

My cu doesn’t have check fees, od fees, walking in the door fees etc etc.

jcvincent.bsky.social•10 days ago

yea

romulanlee.bsky.social•9 days ago

📌

dkgold.bsky.social•4 days ago

Thank you so much. I’m going to follow all this advice.

partoftheproblem.bsky.social•10 days ago

🙌🙌🙌

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

opjohn.bsky.social•10 days ago

Step one: Live off the grid.

m1ssbeliever.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

she11ibe11i.bsky.social•10 days ago

nancysan.bsky.social•10 days ago

This is the White House. A stupid kid picking his nose and the Prez with caked on make up watching.

orangefever1969.bsky.social•10 days ago

“You gonna eat that?”

deni753.bsky.social•9 days ago

😂

she11ibe11i.bsky.social•10 days ago

utmikewill.bsky.social•10 days ago

Everyone did. He campaigned and was the only reason I voted for Trump. I was raised a democrat but am disgusted by the party. Bill Clinton balanced the budget and tried to audit the government but got blocked. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Support DOGE! These are all former Dems. OYE

tinkyandbigs.bsky.social•10 days ago

crushwitheyeliner.bsky.social•10 days ago

What an idiot.

utmikewill.bsky.social•10 days ago

Anyone who doesn’t see this chance of a lifetime to get rid of the corruption and waste we have complained about our whole lives is crazy. This is what everyone wants. It’s we the people against the government and it is our chance to make change that is meaningful.

crushwitheyeliner.bsky.social•10 days ago

You say "everyone wants this." What on the mithras do you think that word "everyone " means? The fascist got less than 50 percent of the vote. When you say everyone, I'm sure you mean only the straight white people your life.

utmikewill.bsky.social•10 days ago

Minorities are the Dems puppets. Wake up. Minorities get the drug dealer special. Free drugs until you’re hooked and then you pay and you’re kept in compliance. The Dems do nothing meaningful for minorities. A balanced budget and efficient government will help everyone equally.

utmikewill.bsky.social•10 days ago

I have never met a person that doesn’t want to get rid of government waste fraud and abuse. Everyone except for the beneficiaries of this corruption.

crushwitheyeliner.bsky.social•10 days ago

Outrageously mindless. Folks throwing up nazi salutes. Federal mandates on heretofore hyper local business. Picking winners and losers through tariffs. 19 year dudebro with your soc sec. number. Musk profits personally off the fed government for chrissake.

utmikewill.bsky.social•10 days ago

Musk saves us billions with his extremely low cost huge value government contracts.

utmikewill.bsky.social•10 days ago

If that was a NAZI salute then hitler will strike him down for the worst salute ever. Name one thing that he does that is Nazi.

kagbeni2003.bsky.social•10 days ago

rxburns.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

danielkurz.bsky.social•10 days ago

We've all got to keep up our Relentless🗣️Messaging to our Federal, State and Local officeholders! Even a short email is better than nothing. Here's what I just sent to my DC GOP House Rep this morning. It's all Pressure, and it's ALL GOOD! #OhioState #Oberlin #AkronState #Akron

jughandleking1111.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thanks for this. Reminded me to keep the pressure on. Just dropped a similar message to my embarrassing senators and congresswoman here in red SC.

danielkurz.bsky.social•9 days ago

Great News! All Pressure is GOOD Pressure!

emilyweatherwax.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

elliedid.bsky.social•10 days ago

Also recommend signing up for Norton life lock, you can put a freeze on payday loans being taken out on you. Payday loans don’t even check background credit so fraud is easy. Finally open a safe deposit box at bank or credit union keep deeds, titles, birth certificates, w copies in safe at home

zaleyabel.bsky.social•9 days ago

Call your state AG office. You are their constituent and tell to protect your data against this illegal activity and to file a lawsuit and press for the govt to pay for years for credit monitoring for every single person whose data was breached! Private businesses do that all the time.

roygbev.bsky.social•9 days ago

📌

ednic57.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thank you for your service! Thank you for taking the time to share this information. God bless you! I have already put a freeze on credit access. I’m in the process of moving money. 💔💙🙏✋

jennjvn.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

anonleeks.bsky.social•3 days ago

here ya go: https://bsky.app/profile/liberalislandgirl.bsky.social/post/3lii3jfbwkk2g

caffeine.fellas.army•10 days ago

Soon it won’t matter. We’ll be slaves.

https://bsky.app/profile/caffeine.fellas.social/post/3lhxqsbhuew2j

eol.lol•10 days ago

Don't obey in advance, because that's the only way it happens.

4queserasera2.bsky.social•9 days ago

Exactly, defend to the end. Never submit

overworkedretiree.bsky.social•10 days ago

Experian recommends a freeze at Innovis as well. (the fourth largest consumer credit reporting agency)

kdelran.bsky.social•10 days ago

Good for Experian! Thanks, never knew.

jezcab.bsky.social•10 days ago

Thanks! I did for Experian, this one and Equifax. Also created a My SSI account so nobody else can.

altssa.bsky.social•10 days ago

I did not know about this one. Thank you!

roselover772.bsky.social•10 days ago

I didn't know about that one either!

jennjvn.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

arsey00.bsky.social•5 days ago

Why is Experian recommending actions we should take while not taking actions on our collective behalf?

altssa.bsky.social•5 days ago

No idea

arsey00.bsky.social•5 days ago

😓
Seems like they and the other credit agencies would be in an excellent position from which to help us regular USAicans.

Tried to tag #Experian but couldn’t find their account.

arsey00.bsky.social•5 days ago

Found them!

@experian.com

@experian-us.bsky.social

@experianb2b.bsky.social

Although they don’t seem very active yet except on the B2B account. Maybe the B2B team could have a quiet word.

dottiesun.bsky.social•10 days ago

@altssa.bsky.social SECURITY BLVD IN WOODLAWN IS AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR A MASS PROTEST. BROAD BOULEVARD BOOKENDED WITH TWO KEY AGENCIES: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) AND CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMMS) AND -- IT IS IN THE JURISDICTION OF @govwesmoore.bsky.social LFG!!!

anglospud.bsky.social•10 days ago

Appreciate

zzmomma.bsky.social•10 days ago

📌

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