Altman noted Monday that SSA “has data on everyone who has a Social Security number, which is virtually all Americans, everyone who has Medicare, and every low-income American who has applied for” SSI.

“SSA has comprehensive medical records of people who have applied for disability benefits. It has our bank information, our earnings records, the names and ages of our children, and much more,” said Altman. “Older people are disproportionately susceptible to scams. The data at SSA leaking would make the number of scams skyrocket. And, if there is an intent to punish perceived enemies, someone could erase your earnings record, making it impossible to collect the Social Security and Medicare benefits you have earned.”

I had to go to a meeting with my SO to apply for SSI/SSDI and they take a craaaazy amount of info including retirement accounts, your car and its value, who you live with, and a bunch of other stuff along with private medical info. This is an insane and irresponsible amount of info to have in private hands.