Who is TALX: “the Work Number“?

  • TALX” is an outside service provider with whom USC has contracted to handle certain services. the Work Number is an automated service that provides employment and income verification.

What are the benefits of using the Work Number?

  • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use this fast, secure service when applying for a mortgage or loan, for providing employment references, leasing an apartment or any other instance where proof of employment or income is needed. You benefit from having control of the process – by providing specific authorizations to companies or individuals to access your information via the web or by telephone.

What type of information will be released?

  • There are two types of verifications – Employment Only, or Employment Plus Income. To provide employment information only, you just need to give to the company or person your Social Security Number, USC’s “employer code”, and the Work Number‘s Internet address or telephone number.
  • To release income information, you must first obtain an authorization number called a “salary key” from the Work Number. You will then be able to give the company or person the access to your income information as well.

Proof of Employment Only (no income information)
Give the person needing proof of your employment the following information:

  1. Your Social Security Number
  2. USC Employer Code: 11496
  3. the Work Number web address www.theworknumber.com,
    or by telephone 1-800-367-5690

Information that will be released:

  • Name
  • Social Security Number
  • Most recent start or termination date (if no longer employed)
  • Total time with USC
  • Current or last job title
  • Reference number

Proof of Employment and Income Information
When you need to allow someone to verify your employment and income, you must first contact “the Work Number” by telephone or their website. You then generate a single-use “salary key”. Give this “salary key”, your Social Security Number, and USC’s Employer Code to the entity needing to verify your employment and income data.

  1. Obtain the “salary key” via the web site at www.theworknumber.com,
    or by calling 1-800-367-2884.
  2. Provide the Work Number with the following:
    1. USC Employer Code: 11496
    2. Your Social Security Number
    3. Your PIN – The first time you access the Work Number, you will use your default PIN, which is the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number plus the 4 digits of your birth year. You will be prompted to change your PIN immediately. Please be sure to remember your new PIN so you can use it in the future. This salary key is valid for 30 days only.

When you have the salary key give the person or company needing your income data the following:

  1. Your Social Security Number
  2. USC Employer Code: 11496
  3. Your salary key
  4. the Work Number web address www.theworknumber.com,
    or telephone 1-800-367-5690

Information that will be released:

  • Name
  • Social Security Number
  • Most recent start or termination date (if no longer employed)
  • Total time with USC
  • Current or last job title
  • Current year-to-date earnings and earnings for the past two years
  • Reference number

How soon after I’m hired is information available?

  • USC transfers information to the Work Number about three times a month. Generally, information will be available about 2 – 3 weeks after you receive your first paycheck.

What if I have questions about the Work Number?

  • For assistance using the Work Number, please contact the Work Number Client Service Center at:

1-800-996-7566
1-800-424-0253 (TTY-Deaf)
Monday thru Friday, 5am-6pm (Pacific Standard Time)