Do I need the social security number for the beneficiary that I choose for my 401k? A friend want to put my 5 year old daughter as a beneficiary and I don't want to give out her social security number.

I believe you will have to provide the SSN in order for your friend to complete the beneficairy form. I know that most (perhaps all?) institutions require the SSN on the beneficiary designation form. If you think about it, how else could they know they've got the right person when your friend passes? It could be 50 years from now, and by then your daughter may have moved ten times and could be living under a married name. Without the SSN it would be impossible to be sure she's really the correct beneficiary.

So my grandma past away in May and left me in her life insurance will. My family is really money hungry and I have a feeling she will try and take my portion of the money. She contacted me for my SSN. My Aunt says she is the sole beneficiary and is provisioning over my money and the only way to disburse my share of the money she has in the account to me she will need my ssn. She said she was the sole beneficiary and is provisioning over my money... is there such thing? Or is she trying to trick me? I told her I wouldn't have a problem going in person to the insurance company but she says there's no where to go and the money has been released to her but she has to account for any and all disbursements and without me giving my ssn I won't be able to receive my share. I found it strange how I wasn't contacted by the insurance company themselves? Help!!