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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

18 Fast Facts You Didn’t Know About Social Security Numbers

By Len Penzo

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

142 Comments August 13, 2018

Comments

  1. 1

    Money Beagle says

    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!

    Reply
    • 2

      not rhetorical says

      add 1 digit and the combinations are tenfold. doesn’t even have to be the same entry field, can be a “century” number/field.

      Reply
    • 3

      Steven says

      Actually, the required changes COULD NOT be a bigger issue than Y2K. Changes is how systems are designed would make it FAR easier.

      Reply
  2. 4

    Everyday Tips says

    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.

    Reply
  3. 5

    Little House says

    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. 😉

    Reply
    • 6

      Ed says

      123-45-6789 ???

      Reply
      • 7

        David @ VapeHabitat says

        I wish I could have that one))

        Reply
    • 8

      Gary says

      My SS# has the same #’s is my Bday in a different order. LOL

      Reply
      • 9

        rmb says

        Mine too

        Reply
  4. 10

    DoNotWait says

    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.

    Reply
    • 11

      Kat says

      Yes, DoNotWait, 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. 🙂

      Reply
  5. 12

    Charles says

    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…

    Reply
    • 13

      Steven says

      I am 100% certain that NEITHER ‘public key’ OR ‘private key’ means what you think they mean.

      Reply
  6. 14

    krantcents says

    I have my parent’s social security cards at home. Theirs were some of the first cards issued.

    Reply
    • 15

      Abcdefg says

      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?

      Reply
      • 16

        Steven says

        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.

        Reply
  7. 17

    Len Penzo says

    @Beagle: Part of the reason for the SSA’s randomization methodology program is to further stretch the pool of available numbers. Then again, it may spur the economy just a little bit. I remember Y2K computer protection became a mini-industry unto itself!
    @Everyday: I know what you mean, Kris. The area code thing is just way out of control here in Southern California.
    @LittleHouse: I never get simple numbers for anything. The Honeybee has a SSN that is ridiculously easy to remember. Mine, fuggedaboudit! LOL
    @DoNotWait: Why, thank you. But I have to give all the thanks to the Social Security Administration’s website.
    @Charles: I agree with you about the private and public key thing.
    @krantcents: Just curious, are the Social Security card numbers typed on a typewriter?

    Reply
    • 18

      krantcents says

      The cards were issued in December,1936. It looks like it was printed on a typewriter, although I am not sure.

      Reply
      • 19

        Len Penzo says

        Wow. How cool! Take good care of them.

        Reply
  8. 20

    Car Negotiation Coach says

    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.

    Reply
  9. 21

    Money Reasons says

    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…

    Reply
  10. 22

    Len Penzo says

    @Coach: Interesting theory you have there, Geoff. LOL
    @Money: Yeah, if I were Hilda I would have at least made sure I let all the air out her boss’s car tires one day while it was sitting in the company parking lot.

    Reply
  11. 23

    Investor Junkie says

    Fascinating info. I learned something today about social insecurity.

    Reply
  12. 24

    Robert @ The College Investor says

    Great post! Really interesting facts about Social Security Numbers!

    Reply
  13. 25

    First Gen American says

    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.

    Reply
    • 26

      Amanda says

      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….

      Reply
  14. 27

    Greg McFarlane says

    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.”

    Reply
  15. 28

    Len Penzo says

    @Investor: Good, because there will be a test on it tomorrow. 😉
    @Robert: Glad you enjoyed itFirstGen.
    @FirstGen: Thanks for sharing that; funny if true! Now we all know the rest of the story.
    @Greg: I never saw that episode. Damn. Smithers should tell Burns he is using a card with an illegal number though. D’oh!

    Reply
  16. 29

    nonegiven says

    We ran Lexis Nexis on ourselves and the report said two other people have my husbands SSN.

    Reply
  17. 30

    Biblical Prophet says

    My Social Security Number starts Six Hundred and Sixty Six even though they tried never to assign that number. -Biblical Prophet

    Reply
    • 31

      Len Penzo says

      If I were you, I’d request a new number.

      Reply
    • 32

      Avery says

      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.

      Reply
      • 33

        chris says

        You are brilliant and correct.

        Reply
  18. 34

    charlie says

    Yom might have mentioned that all railroad workers were issued a 707 number when they first issued ss#’s

    Reply
    • 35

      Len Penzo says

      I think you just did! Thanks for the additional trivia, charlie. Do you know why they did that?

      Reply
      • 36

        Andrew says

        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!

        Reply
  19. 37

    Punks KRT says

    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.

    Reply
    • 38

      Len Penzo says

      Interesting! Just curious, did you all apply for the cards from the same mailing address?

      Reply
    • 39

      Pal says

      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.

      Reply
  20. 40

    Rusty says

    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 aren’t 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.

    Reply
    • 41

      Len Penzo says

      I’ll assume that is a rhetorical question, Rusty. (But it is a good one.)

      Reply
      • 42

        not rhetorical says

        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?

        Reply
        • 43

          LISA ZARZECKI says

          They went to his wife.

  21. 44

    Mike the Bike says

    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?

    Reply
    • 45

      Len Penzo says

      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.

      Reply
    • 46

      Lisa says

      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.

      Reply
      • 47

        Lisa2 says

        pa-shaw!

        Reply
      • 48

        ohboy says

        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.”

        Reply
      • 49

        Michael says

        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.

        Reply
        • 50

          Len Penzo says

          You’re absolutely right, Michael. And Greenspan wasn’t joking.

  22. 51

    Retta McSweeney says

    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!!

    Reply
    • 52

      Richard says

      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.

      Reply
  23. 53

    Richard says

    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!

    Reply
    • 54

      Len Penzo says

      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 everyone’s grades by our entire SSN – not just the last 4 digits, THE WHOLE NUMBER! You can bet they don’t do that anymore. LOL

      Reply
    • 55

      Sam says

      @ 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…

      Reply
  24. 56

    Arvid Monby says

    Can we jail FDR posthumously for creating this Ponzi Scheme?

    Reply
    • 57

      Len Penzo says

      Good idea, Arvid. Let’s start a petition.

      Reply
  25. 58

    Maggie says

    Did any one mention that Social Security payments were voluntary in the beginning of the program?

    Reply
    • 59

      ohboy says

      taxes are voluntary, you just have to pay them.

      Reply
  26. 60

    Party of One says

    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.

    Reply
  27. 61

    cecil says

    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.

    Reply
  28. 62

    Karen says

    How about Kansas using our SSN for the drivers license number? Did for years & finally discontinued. That wasn’t too smart!

    Reply
    • 63

      Avery says

      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.

      Reply
    • 64

      Len Penzo says

      Wow, that is very disconcerting, Karen! Thanks for sharing that. 🙂

      Reply
  29. 65

    Avery says

    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.

    Reply
    • 66

      Len Penzo says

      Thanks for the additional facts, Avery!

      Reply
  30. 67

    Chuck Faster says

    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!!

    Reply
    • 68

      Len Penzo says

      I hope you had easy numbers to remember!

      Reply
  31. 69

    Duncan Fisher says

    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?

    Reply
  32. 70

    joseph taylor says

    i personally dont care hwo has my ss# use it and you will understand why

    Reply
  33. 71

    Larry Walters says

    My SS# is 335-65-2714

    Reply
    • 72

      Len Penzo says

      Okay. Can I have your bank account number too?

      Reply
  34. 73

    Johnny Campbell says

    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?

    Reply
  35. 74

    Les says

    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.

    Reply
  36. 75

    Cheryl says

    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 !

    Reply
    • 76

      Len Penzo says

      Awesome, Cheryl. Welcome!

      Reply
  37. 77

    Lynda says

    If Someone gives out the Last #’s of Their S.S.#, can that Other Person, get the Full S.S.# & Steal information ? Thanks

    Reply
    • 78

      Len Penzo says

      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

      Reply
  38. 79

    Janet Thesenvitz says

    My brother who was born in Wyoming in Aug of ’75 has a California number, although we never lived there why?

    Reply
    • 80

      Michael says

      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.

      Reply
  39. 81

    Dave says

    Okay,…..We now have to look out for young dumbasses out there who buy new wallets with Barack Obama’s picture in them…….

    Reply
  40. 82

    Diane @ InexFinance says

    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 🙂

    Reply
  41. 83

    Linda says

    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

    Reply
  42. 84

    Dan C. says

    Impressed with all the fact finding and comments. And along those same lines, here’s an article we wrote about social security numbers and what the digits stand for. http://www.docusearch.com/ssn-finder-structure-of-social-security-numbers.html

    Reply
  43. 85

    Rob says

    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

    Reply
    • 86

      Len Penzo says

      None at all, Rob. The government works in mysterious ways, my friend.

      Reply
  44. 87

    Ruby says

    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..

    Reply
  45. 88

    Susan Melville says

    Is it possible that the social security number of a child born in Washington state in June, 2012, starts with 707?

    Reply
    • 89

      Len Penzo says

      I don’t know, Susan.

      Reply
  46. 90

    Talia says

    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 😉

    Reply
    • 91

      Len Penzo says

      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

      Reply
  47. 92

    Wendy says

    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?

    Reply
  48. 93

    Joe says

    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….

    Reply
    • 94

      Len Penzo says

      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.

      Reply
  49. 95

    Maddie says

    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?

    Reply
    • 96

      Len Penzo says

      No.

      Reply
  50. 97

    RD Blakeslee says

    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”.

    Reply
  51. 98

    mke says

    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

    Reply
    • 99

      Tim says

      With all do respect that is entirely incorrect and has no basis in fact.

      Reply
  52. 100

    Tim says

    Nice bit of information.
    Item #12 is no longer correct however.
    SSNs are now being issued all the way up to ones starting with 899-xx-xxxx

    Reply
  53. 101

    RD Blakeslee says

    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.

    Reply
  54. 102

    Leigh says

    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.

    Reply
    • 103

      US Citizen says

      Are you an immigrant? lol just wondering…no pun intended. Lol

      Reply
  55. 104

    J McLaughlin says

    When running ssn does it tell you the exact age birthday and gender?

    Reply
    • 105

      Len Penzo says

      Don’t know, J. Maybe one of my readers can tell you.

      Reply
  56. 106

    Melva says

    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?

    Reply
  57. 107

    Rickeysha Rionne Dominique says

    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!

    Reply
  58. 108

    Misty says

    Len: you are truly unique and I would love to have tea with you one day.

    Reply
    • 109

      Len Penzo says

      Thank you, Misty.

      Reply
  59. 110

    Sarah says

    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)

    Reply
  60. 111

    Hamza Sheraz says

    Thanks for sharing it’s really helpful for me

    Reply
  61. 112

    john evean says

    what if the numbers repeat the same 2 digits like this 969-69-6969 ?

    Reply
    • 113

      Len Penzo says

      Then you have an easy to remember SSN!

      Reply
  62. 114

    Maria Woods says

    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.

    Reply
    • 115

      Len Penzo says

      That is not true, Maria. Lots of people have SSNs that share the last four digits.

      Reply
  63. 116

    Bill says

    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?

    Reply
    • 117

      Len Penzo says

      No, I haven’t, Bill. Can you tell me a little more about your question? Are you talking about the serial numbers on currency?

      Reply
  64. 118

    Brenda says

    Me and all my siblings start with 247 it’s six of us what does 247 means.

    Reply
  65. 119

    Jamie Cirone says

    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.

    Reply
  66. 120

    sera says

    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.

    Reply
  67. 121

    Maria Padilla says

    My sister an I have the same first name, and we dont know whos the social of who because its says Maria in both

    Reply
  68. 122

    Al says

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • 123

      Len Penzo says

      You’re a man of few words, Al. But my pleasure.

      Reply
  69. 124

    Jonathan says

    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.

    Reply
    • 125

      Len Penzo says

      Sounds like a good assumption, Jonathan.

      Reply
  70. 126

    Mohammad N ElNesr says

    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?-??-????

    Reply
    • 127

      Len Penzo says

      Thanks, Mohammad. I have updated that factoid and included the link you provided to me.

      Reply
  71. 128

    April M Hoskins says

    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?

    Reply
  72. 129

    Katie says

    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.

    Reply
    • 130

      Len Penzo says

      No idea, Katie. Our bloated government bureaucracy works in mysterious ways.

      Reply
  73. 131

    Lowell Brown says

    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?

    Reply

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