[asabjorn]

You need a government ID to apply for food stamps or welfare or medicaid/social security, and to apply for unemployment or a job. It would seem like a poor person would utilize those services.

Also, you need an ID to have a bank account, buy a cellphone, buy alcohol or cigarettes.

[RandomBacon]

> Also, you need an ID to have a bank account, buy a cellphone, buy alcohol or cigarettes.

Incorrect on all three accounts in the U.S.

Some states might have a law requiring ID for alcohol or cigarettes, but at least one definitely does not. Some stores actually violate their state's law with their store's ID policies.

I've done all three without ID (alcohol, not cigarettes though). Yes, it is possible to have a bank account without ID.

[asabjorn]

> Yes, it is possible to have a bank account without ID.

Where do you get that from? It seems incorrect: "You’ll need to provide a valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or a passport, or a state ID card from the Department of Motor Vehicles." [1]

> Some states might have a law requiring ID for alcohol or cigarettes, but at least one definitely does not. Some stores actually violate their state's law with their store's ID policies.

All states require you to be 21 to buy alcohol. Which states do not require you to provide ID for that?

Seems like we might be splitting hairs here due to laws such as Indianas that "Indiana has a photo identification requirement for all off-premises transactions to anyone who is or reasonably appears to be less than forty (40) years of age." [3]

So yes, some liquor seller might be lax on enforcement or judge you to look over 40. However, that doesn't change the laws.

[1] https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/how-to-open-a-bank-a... [2] https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0388-alcohol-laws-stat... [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alcohol_laws_of_the_Un...

[RandomBacon]

> Where do you get that from? It seems incorrect

Personal experience. I've opened bank accounts online with credit unions. Never had to show them my ID, even when I went in person to withdraw cash.

If I was a third party reading these comments, I wouldn't trust a *.com website, but instead some law, or official govt website.

There's a lot of things in this word that "seem wrong" but are perfectly legal.

[asabjorn]

"To open a checking or savings account, the bank or credit union will need to verify your name, date of birth, address, and ID number. An ID number can be a social security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). To get an ITIN, you will need to fill out a form with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) .

If you don’t have a U.S. government-issued SSN or ITIN, some banks and credit unions will accept a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or other government-issued ID number." [1]

[1] https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-get-a-checkin...

[RandomBacon]

Sounds good. So technically an ID is not needed.

Just to make sure we are on the same page, we are equating "ID" to a physical identification card, right? Since I think that's what this conversation stemmed from.

I bet those credit unions were just running my Social Security Number against a database to make sure it matched with the name, DOB, etc I provided.

I wonder if there is a legal definition of "verify" when it comes to banks and customers. Verifying could just be asking the customer, what their name is.

[asabjorn]

Since they need to verify your address as well I presume IDing with social security card also require providing a piece of mail.

Getting someone’s social security card is hard so this plus a piece of mail or government picture IDs seem fair for an election. Basically, the banking bar.