Efforts to repair bleeding budgets must focus on cost-effective measures that not only accurately identify residents, but begin with eliminating theft and fraud. Establishing a PID credential as a benchmark for identification in 2011 will provide endless benefits for states and commonwealths in 2012 and beyond while positioning governors to impact policy.

STATE BENEFITS

• Creates a breeder identification credential that allows states to issue driver licenses with confidence, and in less time
• Meets a higher standard than E-Verify and streamlines employment verification
• Safeguards programs and agencies, such as Medicaid and motor vehicle departments, from fraud
• Provides an infrastructure for immigration management
• Enables an interoperable system for states to identify first responders

RESIDENT BENEFITS

• Proactively protects from identity fraud
• Offers convenience as the core credential to receive state services
• Preserves services and programs for the most fragile residents
• Saves millions of dollars each year by preventing the loss of money to fraud, waste and abuse

Privacy does not exist in America. The lack of a uniform policy for identification puts Americans at risk for identity fraud. Identification processes used by state agencies utilize weak credentials to verify a resident's identity, further contributing to the risk. Without a uniform policy, each state and commonwealth enables individuals to take advantage of vulnerabilities and create alias identities that infect agencies and programs.

Yesterday it seemed impossible to protect the privacy of residents due to information resellers, the black market demand for identity information, and the increasing sophistication of information crimes. Today, PID makes it possible for state government to issue residents a core identification credential that is biometrically-linked to the holder, eliminating the ability for a fraudster to use the credential and assume the rightful holder's identity. Distributing a PID credential allows each state to restore confidence in identification processes, protect the privacy of residents and prevent identity fraud.