The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) announced Monday the organization would begin using customer account numbers instead of social security numbers.

The new account numbers will be issued to all customers of PHEAA and American Education Services (AES), a division of PHEAA, "to ensure customers their privacy and protection," according to a press release.

New account numbers will appear on all correspondence. However, existing customers may have to refer to their social security number for verification purposes and new customers will need to use their social security number until an account number is established.

Nicole Elbertson, PHEAA/AES communications specialist, said the change was in response to a concern for security. "In business, all around, there has been a huge push toward securing identities," Elbertson said. "Using a social security number is not the most secure way. We are trying to move toward a safer environment for our customers."

Penn State will also be switching from social security numbers to randomly assigned identification numbers beginning spring 2005.