The Work Number for Everyone is a national service bureau that provides Smithsonian Institution employees with an automated process to handle employment verifications. Please note that an external provider provides this service to SI employees and additional information and/or assistance should be obtained directly from the TALX Corporation website.

Employees applying for such items as apartment leases, car loans, mortgages and other major loans are able to speed up the application process by authorizing verifiers to receive up-to-date employment history and salary information. This full-service Interactive Voice Response System is provided by TALX Corporation and verifiers can access this service 7 days per week from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Eastern Standard Time.

There are three levels of verification, which the system provides:

Basic

Usually required for job reference checks. No authorization code is required.

• Social Security Number
• Name (spelled)
• Most recent start and termination date
• Total time with the agency
• Job title
• Reference number

Usually required for apartment rentals and small, short-term loans. An authorization code is necessary.

• All Basic information above, plus ...
• Total rate of pay
• Pay frequency
• Reference number

Usually required for major loans and mortgages. An authorization code is necessary.

• All Basic Plus information above, plus ...
• Gross earnings for YTD and the past 2 years (including base pay, overtime, commissions and bonuses)
• Reference number

Obtaining an Authorization Code

No one can access your salary information without your permission. You must provide each verifier (up to three) with Smithsonian Institution's Company Code, your social security number, and a six-digit authorization code if you want your salary information released.

To obtain an Authorization Code, following these steps:

• DIAL 1-800-EMP AUTH (1-800-367-2884)
  
• When the system prompts you, enter:
  1. The Smithsonian Institution Company Code: 10347
  2. Your Social Security Number
  3. Your personal PIN# (your birth month and year - for example, if you were born May 1948, enter 0548)
  
  
• The system will voice the authorization code to you. Be sure to record this number!

What Do I Give to a Verifier?

Verifiers will need the following:

• The Smithsonian Company Code: 10347
• Your Social Security Number
• An authorization code (only for salary verifications).

Verifiers will dial 1-900-555-WORK for verification.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT give the verifier your personal PIN#! Also, you may have three authorization codes active at one time. An authorization code is valid for one verification.

Verifiers are classified in two ways, as members or non-member verifiers. Non-member verifiers dial 1-900-555-WORK to access The Work Number. There is a fee charged per minute.

Member verifiers access The Work Number through an alternate 1-800 toll-free number and are charged a reduced flat rate per transaction. Currently, there are over 1,000 member verifiers across North America.

It is easy to become a member verifier. If your verifier would like to become a member or has any questions about the system, have them call The Work Number Customer Service Team at 1-800-9WORKNO (1-800-996-7566).

If you have any questions or need additional instructions on how to use The Work Number, please dial Customer Service at 1-800-9WORKNO (1-800-996-7566).

The Work Number Customer Service Team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.