Linking Your Government or Online Accounts
Why Linking Is Needed
For certain checks, Smile Checks may ask you to link your government or professional accounts. This allows faster verification and provides direct confirmation from official sources, making your background check more accurate and secure. By linking accounts, you don’t need to manually upload as many documents, and your HR representative gets quicker results.
Which Accounts May Be Requested
Depending on the type of check requested by your HR, you may be asked to connect one or more of the following accounts:
- Social security account – for employment and contribution history
- National health insurance account – for identity and membership validation
Only the accounts needed for your specific background check will be requested.
How to Prepare Before Linking
To avoid delays:
- Make sure you know your account credentials (username and password).
- Reset forgotten passwords ahead of time.
- Check that your account is active and accessible.
- Ensure you have a stable internet connection while linking.
Step-by-Step Linking Process
- When asked to link an account for verification, you will see a prompt for the specific agency or account.
- Click on the “Start Verification” button in the candidate form.
- A secure login window will appear for the agency’s system.
- Enter your credentials (username, password, and any required OTP).
- Connect to share your information securely.
- Once linked, the system will securely pull only the data needed for your background check.
Revoking Access Later
Your privacy is important. Smile Checks automatically releases access to your connected accounts within 60 days.
If you wish to manually revoke access earlier, you can log in to your account (e.g., social security) and reset your password. This immediately disconnects Smile Checks from your account. If your check is still active, you may also go back to your candidate form to revoke access during the verification step. Note that your HR Representative will be notified of this change in your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will Smile Checks see my full account details?
A: No. Smile Checks only retrieves the specific information needed for your background check. For example, in your social security account this might be contribution history, not your entire account activity.
Q: Is my login information stored?
A: No. Your username and password are never stored by Smile Checks. The login process happens directly with the government agency’s secure system.
Q: What if I cannot log in to my account?
A: Please reset your password directly with the government agency before attempting to link. If you still encounter issues, notify your HR representative immediately.
Q: What if my account is inactive?
A: If your account is inactive or inaccessible, let your HR contact know. They may provide alternative ways to verify your details.
Q: Can I revoke access after linking?
A: Yes. Access is automatically revoked after 60 days, but you can also revoke earlier by resetting your account password or revoking within the candidate form.
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