Lifestyle
6 Things You Should Never Carry in Your Wallet After 65
By Erica Coleman · October 31, 2026
A lost or stolen wallet can mean more than a few canceled cards. Depending on what is inside, it can hand a stranger enough personal information to open accounts in someone else’s name.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection warns that many wallets contain enough personal information for an identity thief to steal your identity without a great deal of difficulty. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that dishonest people can steal your wallet, purse, mail, or even your trash to get a Social Security number, and that a thief who has it can apply for loans or credit cards in the victim’s name.
These are six items that federal and state consumer agencies say are better left at home.
Your Social Security card. The Social Security Administration says it urges people not to carry their Social Security card unless it is needed, and that in most cases just knowing the number should be enough. The government’s USAGov site gives the same advice: store your Social Security card in a safe place and do not carry it in your wallet.
Other papers that show your Social Security number. The SSA also says people shouldn’t carry documents that display their Social Security number. The Medicare card is no longer one of them. According to Medicare.gov, the card has a Medicare Number that’s unique to you and is not your Social Security Number. People with Original Medicare are told to carry the card when away from home. People in a Medicare Advantage plan use the plan’s card for services and are advised to keep the Medicare card in a safe place in case they switch plans later.
Your checkbook. The Wisconsin consumer protection agency says a checkbook holds a jackpot of information, including a name, address and bank routing and account numbers. If a check is needed, the agency suggests tearing out just that one check and taking it along.
Passwords and PINs. The same agency’s advice is direct: never keep passwords and PIN numbers in your wallet.
Your passport. The Wisconsin agency advises against carrying a passport, even on vacation. It suggests carrying a photocopy and asking the hotel to hold the actual passport in its safe, noting that it can be very difficult to get a new passport in a foreign country.
Cards you don’t plan to use. The agency recommends limiting the number of cards in a wallet and leaving the others at home unless they will actually be used. An identity theft tip sheet posted by the U.S. Department of Justice goes further, advising people to never carry more than two credit or debit cards and to carry only the identification they absolutely need.
Both agencies also suggest planning ahead for a loss. The Wisconsin agency recommends making a photocopy of everything in your wallet and keeping the copies somewhere secure, since they show the phone numbers to call if cards are stolen. The Justice Department handout suggests keeping a list of accounts, expiration dates and customer service numbers in a secure place. The Wisconsin agency also advises never leaving a wallet in the car.
Medicare.gov adds a reminder about phone scams. Medicare will never call uninvited and ask for personal or private information, the agency says. If someone calls asking for that information or threatening to cancel health benefits, it says to hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE.
This article is for general information and is not financial or legal advice. Check with your bank, card issuers or the agencies named above about your own situation. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.