Published October 1, 2009
Social Security Domestic Violence Identity Change Petition
Although a survivor of domestic violence may try to “just leave,” some abusers are relentless and continue to pose a lifelong safety threat through stalking and ongoing attacks.
In 1998 the Social Security Administration announced an identity change program that allowed abuse survivors whose lives were at risk to change their social security numbers.
An estimated 1000 desperate abuse survivors turn to this last resort option each year when traditional means of law enforcement fail. No doubt many lives have been saved since this program was developed. But problems with the program are beginning to emerge and must be addressed so that survivors who depend on this life-saving option can remain safe.
DID YOU KNOW THAT....
- It’s often impossible to prosecute stalkers and perpetrators of domestic violence due to lack of admissible evidence?
- If a victim is seen to be in imminent danger and there is insufficient evidence for the courts to intervene, the US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women advises victims to relocate and change their identity?
- Countless thousands of women in the United States and their children have been assigned second Social Security Numbers and new identities to protect them from perpetrators the United States Government acknowledges it cannot thwart through law enforcement or judicial intervention?
- Both legally assigned Social Security Numbers remain active for a lengthy and poorly supervised transition period?
- Unlike the Witness Protection Program, victims provided a new identity due to domestic violence are provided no formal guidelines and no material support in making the identity transition?
- The US Government provides registrants undocumented and ongoing advice that it refuses to verify?
- There is little to no coordination among federal and state government agencies, and many government agencies lack any knowledge of this protective program or procedures for interacting with its registrants?
- Cooperative registrants in this US federal program have been mistaken as perpetrators of fraud because of their identity status?
- When accused, program registrants have been abandoned and told that they cannot be helped for fear of harming this secretive identity change program?
- One woman has lost custody of her children and another has been prosecuted for fraud by one arm of the government for following the rules of the government's SNN number change program?
- The failings of this program are so grievous that some registrants are appealing to be released from it?
ACT NOW! Sign the petition below asking Lynn Rosenthal, the newly appointed White House Advisor on Violence Against Women to intervene to ensure that this life-saving program keeps victims safe.
Protect Victims in Hiding
Dear Ms. Rosenthal:
It is an unfortunate fact that after all these years traditional means of law enforcement are still not able to protect all victims from abuse. Untold numbers of victims live day to day in imminent danger, pursued by relentless abusers who will not stop until their victim is dead.
Since 1998, when all else has failed, these desperate victims have been able to turn to the Social Security Administration to secure new identities and go into hiding. An estimated 1000 victims turn to this last resort option each year and no doubt many thousands of lives have been saved as a result.
But problems with this program are beginning to emerge that need to be addressed. There appears to be little administrative oversight of this program within the SSA and a lack of needed coordination between this program and other federal and state agencies.
This lack of coordination and oversight has resulted in significant harm to some program participants.
We, the undersigned are writing to ask you to use the power of your office to coordinate needed reforms so that participants in this life-saving program remain safe.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Signatures
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#106
Sharon Morris, South Carolina, on March 09, 2010,
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#105
Candice Murphy, South Carolina, on March 09, 2010,
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#104
Mike Noren, Pennsylvania, on March 09, 2010,
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#103
Anonymous, Colorado, on March 09, 2010,
My ex-partner did more damage to me in 4 years of severe psychological, verbal, emotional, sexual, religious and financal abuse then my ex-husband did with 15 years of physical abuse. My daughter from my ex-partner told me "Daddy stuck his finger in me" and "Daddy licked my privates like a dog." CPS backed away and my daughters GAL felt I was lying. The Judge said in court during my final custody hearing "If there was abuse in your relationship, you just need to move past it. My ex-partner will have my daughter in his house, overnight, 1800 miles away from me for possibly 7 weeks this summer. I think I have only 2 choices, to run with my daughter, and never see my 3 boys and my granddaughter all from my prior marriage, or pick out the institution my 4 yr old daughter will need to be in after leaving her father.
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#102
Anonymous, Washington, on March 07, 2010,
My two children and I are also "hiding in plain sight." The court fails over and over again to protect my children from their abuser and puts them back into the abusers hands for visits. He tells the children he is going to "get rid" of me and they believe that he will do so.
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#101
Laura Tsitlidze, Florida, on March 07, 2010,
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#100
Gail Becker, Florida, on March 07, 2010,
I am a Domestic Violence Victim seeking to change my identity. My reason is far more complicated than just my ex-husband stalking and following me around. He has friends in law enforcement watching and reporting back to him. His father was a fallen detective and has a police station named after him. I have had my door broken into, involved in several hits and run, one that sent me straight away to the emergency room, my car stolen, etc... I can go on, but the legal system does nothing. My daughter has been abused by him and he has even had affairs with minors, one being a 16 year old high school minor he used to bring to his mother's house and she walking in on them. She being a school teacher at the time should have reported. Not to mention bringing our daughter to these women's houses. Yet, he and his brothers threaten me if I tell. This man has yet to serve one day in jail because of who he knows and that he is White and I am a Black Hispanic.
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#99
Barbara Palau Lipford, Virginia, on February 28, 2010,
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#98
coffounder/abuse survivor, Baitul-Salaam, Georgia, on February 27, 2010,
I am so outraged by the continued legal abuse and indifference!No matter what you do-you are re-abused over and over again!
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#97
Sheryl Crisp, Florida, on February 25, 2010,
I saw this issue on the tyra Show.
Violence, especially against children, must be stopped! -
#96
Cindy Dumas, California, on February 22, 2010,
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#95
Anonymous, Texas, on February 18, 2010,
i tried to have our numbers changed. the ss office told me i"d need a Court order, even though he has been convicted of domestic assault against me. if i file for a court order, that becomes public record and he'll know what i'm doing. so, we hide in plain site and pray that he doesn't find us!
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#94
Sarah Poston, Adult counselor, Branches Inc,, West Virginia, on February 18, 2010,
I am an adult counselor at a dv shelter. We have many women flee their state to escape their abuser. This is a needed service
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#93
Kathleen Adams, Missouri, on February 18, 2010,
More needs done to protect us from abusers. After yrs of abuse my name was also ruined and has hindered me from working too. I have been forced to stay since I have misdeameanor assault just from fighting back. I am getting older and if I had a chance still to be free and able to live independenantly I still would. At least then I could know that when I die it will be from God's hands and not his. More needs done to protect us with such legal issues as well. And have more alternatives for housing and then more would not feel the need to run back just for food, housing, health care... like I have had to do. Protection orders don't help all that much either. In fact, that makes the man more upset and more violent in most cases. We shouldn't have to rely on the same man that hurts us. And if we could even change our name and id maybe wed have a chance at life as others. It is like being a prisoner IN home. Crmininals seem to have more rights than me. WONT BE HEARD TILL DEAD
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#92
Merianne Stewart, Case Manager, 15th Judicial Distritct Place 2 Drug Court, Mississippi, on February 14, 2010,
I am a survivor of Domestic Violence in a marriage of 8 years. We had 2 little girls, one of which witnessed so much violence that she has not forgotten. We have been divorced since October of 2007. Even in separation, I endured stalking, verbal abuse, and many, many threats to my life. The only way I have been spared is because he was arrested in June and pled guilty to Conspiracy to Traffic Drugs. He is looking at 22 years to life. A plan of violence against me was uncovered in the court proceedings that i had no idea about. This whole situation has taught me to take action to help women and children in the midst of domestice violence, so that lives do not have to continue to be lost for nothing.
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#91
Anonymous, Oklahoma, on February 12, 2010,
I endured all forms of abuse from my ex-husband. 9 years ago I left him. He remarried, had more children. Abuse still continues. Over the years, I have taken on alias' worked under the table, lived out of boxes and suitcases, withdrew my children from school, petitioned for protective orders, and still, the abuse continues. My son is afraid of him. I can't freely move away- even though I fear for the safety of me and my children. Because, the Judge believes that just because a man abuses, rapes, and nearly kills his wife, doesn't mean he will do the same to the child. The ex-husband continues to use the children to punish me. My children have begged me to run away and change our names and identity. Even though we have tried to relocate, it does no good when we have to meet for scheduled visitation. All he has to do is follow me once I dropp the children off to see where I go.
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#90
I'M STILL BEING HUNTED, DV SURVIVOR, Florida, on February 10, 2010,
My children and I are still hunted. We move so much. They want stability without fear. Law enforcement doesn't care. There is no safe haven for the abuse. We are put out for the world to see...while criminals get the witness protection program and funds to help them...we get nothing. Nothing to help are children seek a better life(protected), or the parent who has suffered. Gov't says they want to help us, but turns their back. Thanks alot. I guess you would support him if he did try to kill me. If I fight back and something happens to him(selfdefense), I'm in the wrong for protecting me and my family. Great gov't system, huh. The American Government helps everyone except their own. I feel for our childrens futures...The gov't is abusing us just the same.
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#89
Mercedes Wilson, Georgia, on February 05, 2010,
I am currently a victim of domestic violence and i am not sure what to do. He is going to kill me and they can't even prosecute him
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#88
Tanja Milton, Michigan, on February 03, 2010,
Much success for this petition
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#87
Tamara Williams, Virginia, on February 01, 2010,
Domestic Violence Survivor
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#86
Syreeta Batiste, California, on January 29, 2010,
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#85
Anonymous, Texas, on January 28, 2010,
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#84
Scarlett Rhoades, Delaware, on January 17, 2010,
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#83
Anonymous, Nevada, on January 16, 2010,
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#82
Jennifer Lasley, California, on January 04, 2010,
© 2009
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- http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org/pages/475
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Domestic Violence Identity Change
Since 1998, the Social Security Administration has helped desperate victims who had no place left to turn by providing them with a new social security number. But problems with this program have begun to emerge and must be addressed so that survivors who depend on this last resort option can remain safe.