And this is where the weirdness starts. I'm in Canada and early in I learned from a relative who was in government and finances told me that your SSN is only meant for the government and government services and nothing else.

Banks, companies or corporations do not need to see your SSN no matter what they say. The number was only ever supposed to be used with the government, taxation, government benefits and services.

Banks and companies just started using it as a shortcut to identify people and connect them to government services and taxation. But it was never a requirement, no matter what they said. It's the banks and the companies job to verify who you are.

I started my bank accounts as a teen in the 90s and with a bit of help, I was able to start them without a submitting a SSN. Every job I had, I actively refused to submit a SSN and told them why which with a bit of arguing they agreed. Funny part is, even though I never submitted one, the bank and every major employer I had already had the number anyway.

I've scanned my driver's license but never my social security card!

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110201060

One or more of the following security features appear on SSN cards issued since 10/31/1983:

• Tamper-proof background

• Color-shifting ink

• Intaglio printing in some areas on the front of the card

• Latent image on the face of the card visible only when viewed at specific angles

• Red fluorescent nine-digit alphanumeric number on back (beginning February 1996)

• Intaglio microtext in signature line (when magnified, the line is actually letters spelling out SOCIAL SECURITY)

• Yellow, pink, and blue planchettes (small discs) randomly displayed on the front and back of the card

• Anti-copy pattern that is discernable when the card is photocopied

• For original cards, a dash in each column on the same line as the SSN

• Date the card is issued [i.e., Cycle Date (CYD) from the Numident] is printed under the signature line on the face of the card (beginning April 2007).

The jobs I've had have been w9 or 1099

I needed two forms of ID for my current job and I used my license and passport