Is it normal for a job to ask for your SSN over the phone or in person?

I have my P and C license and I've been applying a lot.

I've had three different insurance agencies tell me I have to give them my SSN in person. Like I have to write it on the job application or tell the agency owner over the phone...

They say they need it for the background check.

But all my other jobs have sent me a link to put my SSN in myself...

Why do insurance agencies do the background check this way? One of the agencies also wanted me to pay for my background check.

Is this suspicious at all? The agencies I applied to belonged to Allstate, Farmers, and State Farm.

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