[groby_b]

LOL.

Every single $&@ doctor's intake form: "We'd like to have you SSN".

[drnick1]

Yes, I have seen doctors and dentists ask for the SSN, and categorically refuse to provide it.

[groby_b]

Unless you personally are nearly all Americans, good for you, but not relevant to OPs post about "Very Secret Number"

[rationalist]

And none of them have ever complained when I left if blank.

[mindslight]

I've seen forms that explicitly say to put in all nines if you "don't have one", so that's what I do everywhere that insists on asking but doesn't have a legitimate purpose (ie tax reporting). To any human it should be obvious that all nines indicates an exception.