President Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act of 1935 in the Cabinet Room of the White House.
This weekend I was looking through the safe that holds all of my most important documents, like family birth certificates, insurance policies and the secret recipe for mom’s sauce, when I ran across my Social Security card.
Now I’ll wager that, if you poll a room full of people at a triple-keg Super Bowl party, more than half wouldn’t be able to tell you the license plate number of their car — and that’s before the kick-off.
However, if you asked those same folks to recite their Social Security number, every last one of them could do it forward and backward — even after the kegs were empty.
If you’re like me, you’ve wondered if there was any rhyme or reason to how Social Security card numbers are determined.
Well … wonder no more.
While you were out enjoying your weekend, I was researching the real story behind our Social Security numbers — and here’s what I found out:
1. Since 1936, over 420 million different Social Security numbers have been issued.
2. Over 5.5 million new numbers are assigned every year.
3. The first three digits of a Social Security number are known as the area number. Area numbers assigned before 1972 reflect the state where you applied for your number; otherwise, they are based upon the Social Security card application mailing address zip-code.
4. Some people believe the next two digits, called the group number, helps identify a person’s race. It doesn’t.
5. The two-digit group number was actually created as way to organize Social Security Administration filing cabinets into sub-groups to make them more manageable.
6. The last four digits on a Social Security card are serial numbers that are issued consecutively within a group from 0001 to 9999.
7. Area numbers used to be assigned geographically with the lowest numbers in the northeast and the highest in the northwest — but that practice changed after a new randomized assignment methodology officially went into effect in 2011.
8. Based upon the original assignment criterion, one would naturally expect a Maine resident to have the lowest Social Security number ever issued. However, New Hampshire was ultimately given the 001 area number designator so that social security number 001-01-0001 could be assigned to Social Security Board Chairman John G. Winant, who was a three-time governor of the state.
9. Winant eventually declined the honor of having the lowest social security card number. As a result, it eventually found its way to Grace D. Owen of Concord, New Hampshire.
10. Officially, the first social security number issued was 055-09-0001 and it was assigned to John David Sweeney.
11. Sweeney died of a heart attack in 1974 at the age of 61; ironically, he never received a single penny of Social Security benefits.
12. In many cases, invalid Social Security numbers can be easily spotted. That’s because cards have not been issued where the first three digits are 000 or 666, or a first digit with a 9. Valid cards are also never issued with the middle two digits or the final four digits all zeros.
13. In 1938 a sample Social Security card with the number 078-05-1120 was inserted into new wallets manufactured by the E. H. Ferree company in Lockport, New York. Unfortunately, that number belonged to Hilda Schrader Whitcher, the secretary of an E. H. Ferree company vice president who decided to use her official number on the sample cards. Nice guy, huh?
14. Not surprisingly, more than 40,000 people have since claimed Mrs. Whitcher’s Social Security number as their own at one time or another.
15. Mrs. Whitcher was eventually issued a new number, but not before being questioned by the FBI. They wanted to know why so many people had her number.
16. If you object to certain digits in your Social Security number you can appeal for a new one, but only if you can prove your concerns are firmly rooted in your religious beliefs or cultural traditions.
17. Social Security numbers are not reused after the card holder dies.
18. Even though numbers aren’t reused, the Social Security Administration says the current numbering system is capable of providing enough new numbers for “several generations into the future.” That means Social Security numbers will still be available well past 2030. Even if the benefit money won’t.
Photo Credit: public domain
I’ve always wondered what would happen when they run out of numbers. It seems that under the current system there are a billion possible numbers. With the current population around 350 million, we’ve used roughly a third just for people that are alive today. Add that to all those who have died, plus we seem to have a pretty good birth rate, and I can definitely see us running out. I hope that they don’t leave it as a problem to deal with until just a few years before they expand the system. Think of all the computer programs that are coded to accept nine numerical characters. It’d be a bigger mess to re-program that than it was Y2K!
add 1 digit and the combinations are tenfold. doesn’t even have to be the same entry field, can be a “century” number/field.
Actually, the required changes COULD NOT be a bigger issue than Y2K. Changes is how systems are designed would make it FAR easier.
Very interesting! I was just thinking about social security numbers this weekend when we were talking about how our state once had just 2 area codes,and we had the same area code forever. Then it changed 3 times.
I do wonder if the need to increase to ten number or whatever will never be necessary…
I learned the geographic part in high school. I just figured it was like a random number generator up to that point.
I really like my Soc. number because it’s super simple, but probably anyone with enough time on their hands could guess it. I’ve never worried about it though, but maybe I should. 😉
123-45-6789 ???
I wish I could have that one))
My SS# has the same #’s is my Bday in a different order. LOL
Mine too
When I was younger I thought the goverment some how kept track of every birth on a national scale and incremented each ss# by one each time a baby was born and they handed out a new card.
Now I know the truth, that it’s the opposite and they are subtley counting down until the last person is born in this country. Then they will start ushering all the pregnant women into Canada to save our social security system.
Nice job digging up this info! I knew a little about SSN number because of where I work, but you educated me on a few point, so thanks!
Poor Hilda Schrader, she really got the raw end of that one…
Great post! Really interesting facts about Social Security Numbers!
Wow. How cool! Take good care of them.
Hey Len, great article but you failed to mention the best part of Hilda’s story…that a bunch of people who were using her SS# weren’t trying to commit fraud. They actually thought it was their own number because it was in their wallet.
Just goes to show you how dumb some people are, so I’m glad there are people like you out there educating us.
True story: A friend ran into an ex as he was trying to start a tab at a bar. He gave the bartender a credit card which was promptly handed back with “I don’t think your name really is ‘YOUR NAME HERE.'” The guy received one of those credit card applications in the mail with a dummy card and assumed it was ready for him to start charging. People really are that dim….
That picture reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Montgomery Burns has to enter his PIN.
“Ah yes, it’s my Social Security Number! Let’s see…naught-naught-naught, naught-naught, naught-naught-naught…TWO. Damn that Roosevelt.”
We ran Lexis Nexis on ourselves and the report said two other people have my husbands SSN.
That is a great research! I always thought it was done randomly. I wonder if it’s the same in Canada. Ours is a three series of three numbers.
Yes, Veronique, our first three numbers denote the area in which you applied. Not sure what if any significance the last two sets of three have. When I was in HR, if a new employee had a set different then the three I was used to seeing, I would ask where they were from as an ice breaker to a nervous new person. 🙂
Love the last line about benefits being available! Great way to end the article.
I wish SSN weren’t used as both as private key and a public key, but that’s another debate…
I am 100% certain that NEITHER ‘public key’ OR ‘private key’ means what you think they mean.
Fascinating info. I learned something today about social insecurity.
My Social Security Number starts Six Hundred and Sixty Six even though they tried never to assign that number. -Biblical Prophet
If I were you, I’d request a new number.
There is no way that your SSN begins with “666”, unless you are saying that your number begins with “600-66” which is an Arizona number issued around July of 1988.
You are brilliant and correct.
600-60-0006
Was assigned when?
Yom might have mentioned that all railroad workers were issued a 707 number when they first issued ss#’s
I think you just did! Thanks for the additional trivia, charlie. Do you know why they did that?
Len, it’s because up to this day, us railroad workers don’t pay into social security. Railroad Retirement was kind of a precursor to Social Security, and we still use it today. It’s basically Social Security Plus, where we pay in a bit more and get more out. The plus side is the government can’t touch it!
In the late 70’s; my twin brothers and I filed for our SS#’s at the same time. The first three (3) numbers are the same for all three of us, but since they are twins…the only difference in their numbers are the last digit only. Twins are treated differently? Anyway, they were in this case.
Interesting! Just curious, did you all apply for the cards from the same mailing address?
My sister an I have the same thing. our parents applied for ours at the same time. the numbers are mirrored except for the last. For my economics class I did a presentation on SSN’s and used the pic in the article as my intro pic.
My kids were born on welfare and both have 66 as their middle two digits and I was told that this shows they were born into welfare and would have to change their ss as an adult. They are two years apart. Anyone else ever hear of this? This was is MA in 1984/86
I don’t think either of them changed them though.
3. The first three digits …. Area numbers assigned before 1972 reflect the state where you applied for your number; otherwise, they are based upon the Social Security card application mailing address zip-code.
17. Social Security numbers are not reused after the card holder dies.
18. Even though numbers arent reused, ….
Len, can you tell me (you seem to be an adroit answer man), given 3, 17 and 18, why Obama has a SSN issued in Conecticut (he never lived there) and shares that same SS number with a Harrison J. Bounel?
Inquiring minds would like to know. Thanks.
I’ll assume that is a rhetorical question, Rusty. (But it is a good one.)
11. Sweeney died of a heart attack in 1974 at the age of 61; ironically, he never received a single penny of Social Security benefits.
Where do those pennies he paid in go?
They went to his wife.
You gave me a scare when you said that the Social Securiy numbers will outlast the Social Security money. I sure hope you are wrong. How long do you think that our government is going to last?
Not much longer if our politicians continue to spend like drunken sailors by selling entitlements for votes, and we refuse to greatly reduce the size of our federal government.
Social Security money will NOT run out — it is paid into constantly. The disbursements will probably not be what they are telling you now. Fewer payers + more payees = more slices out of a smaller pie. That money has never gone into a ‘lock box’ as some people seem to believe. If that were true, the first people who received Social Security would have collected nearly nothing — because they did not pay into it over their lives.
And before you get mad about the Social Security system, just remember — it is what keeps crazy aunt Katherine, who doesn’t like anything or anyone, from having to live with you. Honestly, it’s a bargain.
It’s Medicare you should be worried about. Without cost controls — that’s the disaster looming not too far on the horizon.
pa-shaw!
actually, it’s everything the gov’t does you should be worried about.
“It means that ordinary working Americans, like teachers, police officers and firefighters, who believe their payroll taxes are going toward their Social Security retirement are in for a surprise…Instead of going to the Social Security trust fund, their payroll contributions are being funneled directly into tax breaks for individuals and corporations” Robert Matsui (D-CA), Chairman House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Social Security, Associated Press, March 30, 2002.
“Every dollar collected in (FICA) payroll taxes is spent the very minute, the very hour, the very day it comes in the door … any funds left over, they are spent on other programs or used to pay off the national debt. But nothing is saved. No money is stashed away in bank vaults; no investments made in real assets.” John C. Goodman, President of the National Center for Policy Analysis in an article published by the Washington Times, April 12, 2002.
Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-Illinois) on the Senate floor during lock-box debates, 1999: “A few years back Congress passed laws making it illegal for State and local governments to plunder the pension funds of their employees. But during all this time, where Congress has put these laws on the books and made it illegal in the private sector and at the State and local government level to plunder pension funds, we have gone on and on in Washington taking all the money that goes into the Social Security trust fund, taking every dime of it out, and spending it on some other program. As a result, as I speak now on the Senate floor, there is no money in the Social Security trust fund. All of it has been taken out and spent on other programs. They have put meaningless, nonmarketable, nonnegotiable securities in the Social Security trust fund, securities that have no economic value because they cannot be sold to raise cash. Right now our Government is building up, theoretically, surpluses in the Social Security trust fund, but they are taking all that money out and spending it. So when we actually need it to pay benefits, beginning in the year 2014, there will be no money there. No matter what the balance of those bogus IOUs is in the Social Security trust fund, in the year 2014–whether that balance is $1 trillion or $5 trillion–they are of no assistance in paying benefits to those who depend on Social Security. The country will either have to raise taxes or cut benefits to make up for the shortfall that is anticipated after the year 2014. This legislation is basic, decent common sense. We should not allow Congress to continue frittering away the Social Security trust fund. I urge all my colleagues to support it and end this outrageous practice of plundering the Social Security trust fund, to the detriment of our Nation’s seniors and those who will be desiring to live on Social Security benefits in the next century.”
It seems to have gone over most people’s heads when Alan Greenspan said in a publicized Congressional hearing: “We can guarantee cash [and Social Security benefit checks until Hell freezes over], but we cannot guarantee purchasing power!”
Interesting concept when you think about it. And most won’t.
You’re absolutely right, Michael. And Greenspan wasn’t joking.
I received my card in 1942 and clearly stamped on it were these words: NOT TO BE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION. I thought it was a good idea; however, it seems no one could dream up a different plan to use for security. Result: the sentence no longer appears on the cards and my number is used for whatever these days. Typical!!
Wow! You got your number the year I was born. You must have been a baby when your card was issued. Do you still have your original card? I must be a real collector’s item.
My Social Security number was issued while I was still in high school in 1957 and a rep came to school to give us our numbers. My card clearly states in big letters “NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES”, so I never carry it with me and I never put my number on anything unless it relates to Social Security or taxes. I give it to no one else. It’s none of their business unless they want to supplement my SS check each month. Then I’llgive it to them, but it will never happen. I worked at the FDR library several years ago and I found that one of FDR’s concerns with SS was that the numbers would become national identity numbers like Nazi Germany had. Funny how no one else was bothered by that and that’s exactly what happened. I also have a Railroad Retirement Number that was issued at the same time because I grew up in a railroad town and my dad, brothers, and both grandfathers all worked for the railroad (I did, too, in the 1960s). Talk about confusion when I retired because I had money in both accounts!
Amazing how the SS numbers became ID numbers. I remember when I was in college in the mid 80s, the professors used to post our grades on their doors. To ensure anonymity, instead of using our names they listed everyones grades by our entire SSN not just the last 4 digits, THE WHOLE NUMBER! You can bet they dont do that anymore. LOL
@ Richard – I’ve started to do the same thing. I foudn out last year that someone had setup phone service using mine (thankfully they were current). The investigator told me they think she got the # from one of my medical records. So I’ve specifially asked all Dr offices to X out my #. And I don’t give it to anyone who isn’t govt anymore. I know there’s probably still residue of my info out there but I’m hoping that any records with it will age out into oblivion…
Can we jail FDR posthumously for creating this Ponzi Scheme?
Good idea, Arvid. Let’s start a petition.
Did any one mention that Social Security payments were voluntary in the beginning of the program?
taxes are voluntary, you just have to pay them.
Through my work I have access to many individual’s social security numbers which I must verify against SSA’s records. I have come across a number of duplicate numbers. When I questioned it, I was told that the person’s name enters the equation to make the number unique. So no one named John Doe will have the same number as another John Doe, but John Doe may share his number with another person by a different name.
The first social security cards were typed on white cards and issued by individual offices. The offices were send a block of numbers that they could issue. In the 90’s the cards were issue on blue cards by computer, and twins were not issued consecutive numbers to prevent problems. I worked for SSA for many years.
How about Kansas using our SSN for the drivers license number? Did for years & finally discontinued. That wasn’t too smart!
Karen, many states used SSNs on driver’s license. I know Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Hawaii, and Kansas for sure. I am sure there are more. Some checking accounts had the holder’s SSN + 1 number as their account number. My school ID had social security numbers on them as well.
Wow, that is very disconcerting, Karen! Thanks for sharing that. 🙂
I hate social security with a passion. I was accused of stealing someone’s identity who was born in 1948 (I was born in 1984). My number reflects California, while his reflected New York, in essence, they reversed the first two digits of our numbers, while all of the subsequent digits were identical (I am giving away my first two digits, if you know the system well enough). My middle digits are ’36’, which leads some to question, since many SSNs with ’36’ as the group digits are normally reserved for older people (because this group came earlier than most, many people my age have middle digits which are odd or 70+). Some states had to begin a new set of numbers (Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, etc), so the numbers started over. Also, my school did grades that way too; I was always on the bottom because my number was the highest (I spent my last three years of high school in a different state). Everyone knew my grade, booo!
19. No number began with a ‘6’ until 1983, when Arizona issued ‘600’ and ‘601’ numbers.
20. Social insurance numbers are schemed in a similar manner; however, one can guess the first three according to age. The lower numbers begin in the East, and work their way west. Numbers that begin with a “1” are for the Atlantic provinces, “2” and “3” are for Quebec; “4” and “5” are for Ontario; “6” is for Sask, Alberta, Manitoba, and Nunavut, and “7” is for Yukon and B.C.
21. One can guess a person’s social security number, especially when they are born after 1989. Smaller states like Nevada and Wyoming are easiest. A child born in April of 2002 will likely have a social security number beginning in “680-38-xxxx”. A child born in Delaware in January of 1996 will have a number that reads “222-86-8xxx”. A person born in Wyoming in early 1993 have numbers that read “520-31-xxxx”. This is another reason for randomization. Now numbers can begin with “8”.
22. The railroad workers had numbers that began with a “7”; however, those numbers (700-728) were discontinued in 1963.
23. No number began with a “7” after 1963 until Arizona issued “764” and “765” in 2000.
24. Before 1965 only the odd group numbers between 01 and 09; and the even groups 10-98 were used. Mississippi and New Mexico were the first to run out of such numbers; therefore, Mississippi was given “587 and 588 (not issued until 2007), and New Mexico had “585”. The first state to run out of all numbers was Florida (had “261” to “267”) in 1980 and they issued numbers which first three digits were between “589” and “595”.
25. One in 16 people have more than one SSN associated with them (me included; it was such a pain to work out). More than 40 million social security numbers are associated with multiple people.
26. Social security sucks.
Thanks for the additional facts, Avery!
When I was in the army, (1967) they changed over from the SSN to a unique number for each person. We had to do both number in the gas chamber, OUCH!!
I hope you had easy numbers to remember!
Out of the first one hundred SS card issued how many lived to collect a benefit? To date who has collected the most number of years or the most amount?
i personally dont care hwo has my ss# use it and you will understand why
My SS# is 335-65-2714
Okay. Can I have your bank account number too?
Of course they will still issue S.S.cards after the money runs out.(Didn’t it already run out???)the idea behind S.Security is not “Your” security. It is really just another tax, with a promise. And since when did our government, or any other for that matter, ever keep a promise?
Listen up. I was young once to (a long time ago).
I protested then that I would never use Social Security, so why should I have to pay into it. YEAH!!
Well it is many years since then, and yes I am using my Social Security benefits to help get by on. With a little tweeking of the system, it will be there for you youngsters also.
Loved the info and fact-oids – shared on twitter facebook and my blog – began following you as well. If that is not ok- please messsage me.
I am a mortgage originator and love to share interesting info with my borrowers – not just the daily rates! thank you !
Awesome, Cheryl. Welcome!
If Someone gives out the Last #’s of Their S.S.#, can that Other Person, get the Full S.S.# & Steal information ? Thanks
I assume you are worried about protecting your credit. Although they would have two key pieces of info, Lynda, I don’t believe that alone would enough to get one’s whole SSN or other info. Generally speaking, people do not get the “keys to your credit castle” until they have acquired four key pieces of info:
1. your name
2. your full social security number
3. your address
4. your date of birth
If you are worried about someone getting access to your credit, I would strongly recommend freezing your credit. I have frozen my credit and I sleep very well at night. I wrote more about this here:
http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id8076-the-pros-cons-of-freezing-your-credit-report.html
My brother who was born in Wyoming in Aug of ’75 has a California number, although we never lived there why?
Simple reason, actually. As it is stated by the SSA, in 1972, all numbers were issued from Baltimore based on the ZIP rather than state. I grew up in Europe, but was born in 1971. When I received my SSN in 1980, the address for the SS-5 went through a NYC APO box thus assigning me a number based on 09034 rather than my actual home of record. Also, my siblings and I all have sequential numbers. Still not sure why the SSA allowed this since i know 5 other people’s numbers as well as my own.
Okay,…..We now have to look out for young dumbasses out there who buy new wallets with Barack Obama’s picture in them…….
Thanks for sharing so many interesting facts about Social Security Numbers. I’ve learned a lot of new stuff, like the fact that valid cards are never issued with the middle two digits or the final four digits all zeros
My mother was born in NE and has a 700 (railroad board) prefix. But, no one worked for the railroad. Any idea about that?
Thanks, Linda
Impressed with all the fact finding and comments.
My brother is 3 and a half years older than I am, and his social security number is exactly one digit higher than mine. I always wondered how this could be possible, since he is older than I am yet I have the lower number. Any Idea? I was born in 1988 and he in 1985
None at all, Rob. The government works in mysterious ways, my friend.
So if my sin number ends with 666, I can appeal for a new number?Since I’ve given this number, I’ve been told different stories and the only question I ask is there other people that carry this number.. Would like to change it..
Is it possible that the social security number of a child born in Washington state in June, 2012, starts with 707?
I don’t know, Susan.
Fact 12 is wrong. My son was just born in july and his first three digits are greater than 772, and I assure you that it came directly form the Social Security office 😉
I believe you … but the SS Administration has not officially confirmed a change in their policy. As of today (11 Dec 2013), their own website only states that, as late as June 25, 2011, they still hadn’t released a SSN with starting digits higher than 772.
When I can confirm your claim, I’ll make the change. 🙂
http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/425
My boyfriend’s birthday and mine are one day apart. He was born the day before I turned 1. Our social security numbers are the same, except the last 2 digits. Mine ends in 92 his 76. We find it unusual. Is it really?
What I have to do if SSN officer write my name wrong on board, and the new SSN card ( new immigrant) be late for 3-4 months. How can get driver licence or rent appertmet or get job or doing any thing else . Who care about. Who can help me !!
Whe they don’t issue SSN card with the immigrant visa or when arrived US. What I can do for living … For my family….
What this called….
Welcome to America, Joe. Your first lesson: the government is incompetent. They need to stick to their Constitutionally mandated jobs of protecting the country from invasions and keeping the peace domestically through the courts.
My boyfriend and I were filling out a credit check and realized that we share the last same 4 digit of our SSN. We both were born in the same state but about a decade apart. Is this common?
No.
Government incompetence 101, re “SS numbers not to be used for ID”:
IRS uses them for ID, so last year they paid out BILLIONS of dollars to fraudulent claimants using stolen SS numbers,
A band of gypsies accessed the personnel files of our local courthouse and the courthouse workers are now getting inquiries from the IRS asking them if they really filed returns so out of character with their past history.
In a conversation with an IRS “Service” rep, one employee was told “Honey, we send out thousands of those every day”.
Mr. Dave,
You can now obtain a pin number from the IRS to use in filing your taxes. You have to get a new pin number every year.
I just got mine the other day. My SS#, name, address, and driver’s license number were stolen in the T-MOBILE hack.
wow people your ssn is 9 digits becuase its a bank account routing number. in stock market in 1933 you were all sold out by fdr to slavery, your colateral to the banksters. wake up
With all do respect that is entirely incorrect and has no basis in fact.
Look at it, i bet you it says account belongs to…..I think people should be asking, ” what goddamn account? Why iss it linked to the federal reserve?
You would be DEAD WRONG. The card makes absolutely no reference to an account of any sort.
Older cards DO say something about the number ONLY being valid for purposes of collecting social security taxes, and IS NOT ID for any other purpose.
Much of the discussion here has been “overtaken by events” as the lawyers say.
New social security cards with complex numbers and symbols are being mailed out by the Social Security Administration to all card holders.
These will be hacked in due course, of course, but they will not be useful anymore by ordinary citizens for legitimate purposes, such as to see death records in search of old friends and family.
I love my SS. It was easy to get and it arrives on the same day, no matter what. I am exceptionally grateful we have it! Excellent planning on part of FDR.
Are you an immigrant? lol just wondering…no pun intended. Lol
When running ssn does it tell you the exact age birthday and gender?
Don’t know, J. Maybe one of my readers can tell you.
Does anyone know why the area numbers of my social security number does not match my birth state? Born in Arkansas in 1962. Could this cause problems when I get ready to retire?
I have identical twin girls and their social security numbers are completely different. I was sure they would be similar with a digit or two off but not no comparison what so ever. One starts with a 8 and they other with a 0… It’s ironic to me!
Len: you are truly unique and I would love to have tea with you one day.
Thank you, Misty.
The first three number are supposed to represent the area the number is initially issued in the middle 2 numbers after 1972 represent the zip code where the number was issued ( not where you were born but where it was applied for) the last four are wherever you land in the sequence of distribution ( 1,2,3 etc)
Thanks for sharing it’s really helpful for me
what if the numbers repeat the same 2 digits like this 969-69-6969 ?
Then you have an easy to remember SSN!
I always thought the last four numbers of the social security assigned to only one person, because the last four numbers are the ones that are used the most to verify the person.
That is not true, Maria. Lots of people have SSNs that share the last four digits.
Len Penzo out of curiosity have you done any research on the combination if the letters and numbers on the back of the social security card that mirror the sequences on currency?
No, I haven’t, Bill. Can you tell me a little more about your question? Are you talking about the serial numbers on currency?
Me and all my siblings start with 247 it’s six of us what does 247 means.
Hi hope you can answer this,i was born in 1979 in hartford ct but my SS# says it was issued in 1983 in virginia,whats up with that?unfortunately my parents and most family have passed away so no answers there but i thought that was kinda weird!If you can give any insight I’d appreciate it,thanks.
if your numbers do not match your birth state, it will not cause problems. It’s because SSN registration was not required at birth age until the late 1980s. God bless.
My sister an I have the same first name, and we dont know whos the social of who because its says Maria in both
Thanks for sharing.
You’re a man of few words, Al. But my pleasure.
My sister & I have SS numbers that differ by 1 increment of the last digit.
I’m 64, and she’s 72.
The only way I can imagine this happening is that my parents may have applied for them at the same time and they were issued one after the other.
Sounds like a good assumption, Jonathan.
Correction: SSN can now start with ‘8’ at position 1, that is it is possible now to have SSN’s in the form 8??-??-????,
The information you wrote that {SSNs equal to or greater than 773 as the first three left-most digits} is no longer correct
You can now find SSN’s start with 774… 800 … 899.
I saw an SSN (issued 2020) starts with 81?-??-????
Thanks, Mohammad. I have updated that factoid and included the link you provided to me.
Why would my brother and I share the 2 same middle numbers in our number if one was born in one state and the other in another state?
I know this was posted quite a while ago, but any thoughts on why my baby twins would have COMPELTELY different numbers? The request for the social for both babies was done at the same time, from the same address, to be sent to the same address, but one baby starts with a 0 and the other starts with a 2. This was done right after their birth in January, 2019.
No idea, Katie. Our bloated government bureaucracy works in mysterious ways.
My mother had a Social Security number that was my father’s number with a D after it. He served in the Navy 1943-1967, and my parents were married in 1947. Can you explain this peculiarity for me?
I was told at my job that someone had the same last 4 numbers of my SS# and they had to add additional number to my time card I have been there for 4 years and this just happened recently , can this really happen?
Yes; there are lots of people who have SSNs with the same last four digits. Statistically, 1 in every 10,000 people will have a SSN with the last four digits identical.
How many times have the same last 4 digits been assigned to different people? I only care about the last four because I’ve got a wager going. If I win the bet I’m gonna get $1K and if I loose I’mma get slime dumped over me and pied in the face (the same outcomes go for the person I’m betting against, too).
Given the population of the US (332,823,183) and the fact that there is a limit of four digits going up to 9,999, and taking into account the random assignment of numbers, my guess is 5 people. PS I’m terrible at math but I took the bet because both outcomes sound good to me! Lol. Oh and the person I’m betting against thinks no one shares the last 4 digits.
Can someone smarter than us provide an accurate answer?
Did you notice that I just answered the same question right above you?
You better get ready to get slimed and have a pie pushed into your face. Actually, so should your friend because you’re BOTH wrong.
Statistically, 1 in every 10,000 people will have a SSN with the same last four digits. Unless the number of people with SSNs is less than 10,000 — and it isn’t — it makes absolutely no difference if there are 332 million, 332 billion, 332 trillion, 332 quadrillion, or 332,000 people in the data set.
I have my grandpa’s original social security card. He was born in 1888. It is the size of a credit card, solid brass, and has his number and name punched into the metal.
I have my own original SS card, and it is brass. It looks like a giant brass dog tag.
The government opted to use our SS# to track us. It is used for your cell phone, credit cards, income taxes, banking, and investments. Until the a few years ago, it was your ID number for Medicare. The government itself has really set us up for hacker access.