I believe the answer to my question --- I did not realize I was signing up for Turbotax CANADA. So I tried to enter an American number. (It also didn't like the date format.)
What's the format for Canadian ssn? In America it's xxx-xx-xxxx.
It's unfortunate I can't use the Canada site; I am handicapped (injured by a teenage driver 2005, surgery replacement disk 2009), had to take disability (so I only make a few hundred per month). The fee for simple taxes for Turbotax Canada online is $0. The fee for American online is $59.
As if -- I can't afford that...
<:'-/
Thanx in advance for anyone's time...