With minuscule exceptions anything done by government can be done better by private industry. Just try to pay at the gas pump with a bogus Visa, Master Card and see how far you get. The card number is verified in seconds and unlike the stupid SS number the account number itself has checksums built in so you cannot just create a number that works unless you know the checksum schema.
Bill O. had a guest on the other night suggesting that the government turn over the verification business to one of the credit card companies. With all their warts they are still much better than any government agency.
--also illustrated by the relative performance of all levels of government vs. Wal-mart after Katrina--