If you suspect there's unusual activity with your SSN, this should be your immediate next step

If you suspect for any reason that someone might be using your Social Security Number, the first thing to do is avoid panicking. There's a clear, methodical way to check. Start with your  Social Security statement. 

Your SSA statement is essentially a record of everything tied to your SSN: earnings, benefits, and taxes paid. If someone has been working under your number, wage income you didn't earn can show up there. If someone filed for benefits using your identity, that can show up too. It's one of the most direct ways to see if your SSN is being actively misused~~.~~ 

Here's how to access it. Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and sign in or create an account. You'll need an active Login.gov or ID.me account to get in. Once you're in, go to your earnings record and look carefully for employers you don't recognize, income from states you've never worked in, or amounts that don't match what you've actually earned. 

The SSA statement catches employment and benefits fraud, but it won't show you if someone's opened a credit card or loan in your name. For that, check your credit report. You're entitled to a free copy from each of the three bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, through AnnualCreditReport.com . Look for accounts you don't recognize, credit inquiries you didn't make, or addresses you've never lived at. 

If you find something, or just want an extra layer of protection while you look, you can place a free fraud alert or credit freeze with any of the three bureaus, contacting one is enough since they're required to notify the other two. A freeze blocks new accounts from being opened in your name entirely and doesn't affect your credit score 

One thing to keep in mind is that there may be a lag. If someone is working under your SSN right now, those wages may not appear on your statement until the employer reports them at the end of the tax year. So a clean statement today doesn't necessarily mean nothing is happening, but it's still the right place to start.