social security assignment

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How are Social Security numbers assigned?

Social Security numbers, also known as SSNs, are allocated through a process called randomization that was introduced in June 2011. This system retains the long-standing nine-digit format but assigns a number to each new Social Security cardholder randomly, eliminating methods that date to the inception of Social Security in the mid-1930s.

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Those XXX-XX-XXXX numbers allow the Social Security Administration to track individual workers’ lifetime earnings, data it uses to calculate and pay benefits .

Before the 2011 switch, the first three digits were an area number with codes assigned to different states. The two-digit group number divided numbers into blocks within those geographic areas, and the four-digit serial number individualized each full number within that block.

The original system reflected the record-keeping needs of a bygone era when Social Security data was organized for storage in filing cabinets. Besides being better suited to the digital age, randomization serves two main purposes:

It makes life harder for identity thieves . Eliminating the geographical component of the first three digits makes it more difficult for crooks to reconstruct potential victims’ numbers using publicly available data like an address.
It extends the longevity of the nine-digit Social Security number. The old system limited the range of numbers that could be issued in a given state. When randomization was proposed in 2007, some states had fewer than 10 years’ worth of unassigned numbers.

Now, anyone from anywhere in the country can get one of the more than 400 million available nine-digit combos, giving the format a considerably longer life.

The new system also expanded the pool of numbers by allowing three-digit codes that were not used in the past as area numbers to start off SSNs, including some in the 700s and 800s. The numbers 000, 666 and 900–999 remain off-limits.

No existing Social Security numbers were replaced as a result of the change to randomization. The new system affects only numbers issued since it was put in place.

Keep in mind

Randomization will apply if you get a new Social Security number to replace a number assigned before the switch. However, Social Security grants requests to change a number only under very limited circumstances, including if the applicant is a victim of domestic violence or abuse or is suffering significant financial harm from identity theft.

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More Social Security FAQs

How Social Security Numbers are Assigned

How Are Social Security Numbers Assigned?

This article aims to help you understand how Social Security Numbers are assigned. In 2011, the Social Security Administration (SSA) changed how they assign Social Security Numbers (SSNs). The new method uses a process called “randomization” to assign SSNs.

The Administration developed a new method to help protect the SSN’s integrity and extend the nine-digit SSN’s longevity (instead of adding additional digits).

SSN Randomization changes the assignment process in several ways. First, it eliminates the geographical importance of the first three digits. Also, the new randomization process eliminates the significance of the highest group number.

As a result, the High Group List is frozen in time and can only be used to see the area and group numbers SSA issued before the randomization implementation date.

Overview of Social Security Numbers

A Social Security number is issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary workers in the United States. The number is issued to an individual by the SSA, an agency of the federal government .

Its primary purpose is to track working individuals for taxation purposes and Social Security benefits. Since it was initially introduced, the SSN has become the primary national identification number, even though it was not originally intended to be used as a form of identification.

Since 1972, numbers have been issued by the central office. The first three (3) digits of a person’s social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number.

Previously, before 1972, social security numbers were assigned by SSA field offices. The number merely established that his/her card was issued by one of the SSA offices in that State.

Randomization

In 2011, the SSA changed the assignment process to a process known as SSN randomization. This process eliminates the geographical significance of the number’s first three digits. Below is an explanation of how the numbers were assigned under the old system that was in effect before 2011 .

Social Security Number – Area Group Serial

The Social Security number consists of nine (9) digits, usually written in the format – 1 2 3 – 4 5 – 6 7 8 9. The first three digits of a social security number denote the area (or State) where the original Social Security number application was filed.

Each area’s group number (middle two (2) digits) ranges from 01 to 99 but is not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, group numbers issued first consist of the ODD numbers from 01 through 09 and then EVEN numbers from 10 through 98, within each area number allocated to a State.

After all numbers in group 98 of a particular area have been issued, the EVEN Groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by ODD Groups 11 through 99.

Within each group, the serial numbers (last four (4) digits) run consecutively from 0001 through 9999.

The chart below shows how Group numbers are assigned:

ODD – 01, 03, 05, 07, 09——EVEN – 10 to 98
EVEN – 02, 04, 06, 08——ODD – 11 to 99

List of Social Security Number Prefixes for Each State

Following is a list of social security number prefixes for each state. The listing is organized in ascending order based on the SSN prefix, with the corresponding issuing state listed. Remember, these apply only to numbers issued before 2011 under the old system.

SSN Prefix = Issuing State

001-003 = New Hampshire 004-007 = Maine 008-009 = Vermont 010-034 = Massachusetts 035-039 = Rhode Island 040-049 = Connecticut 050-134 = New York 135-158 = New Jersey 159-211 = Pennsylvania 212-220 = Maryland 211-222 = Delaware 223-231 = Virginia 232 = North Carolina 232 = West Virginia 233-236 = West Virginia 237-246 = North Carolina 247-251 = South Carolina 252-260 = Georgia 261-267 = Florida (Also 589-595) 268-302 = Ohio 303-317 = Indiana 318-361 = Illinois 362-386 = Michigan 387-399 = Wisconsin 400-407 = Kentucky 408-415 = Tennessee 416-424 = Alabama 425-428 = Mississippi 429-432 = Arkansas 433-439 = Louisiana 440-448 =Oklahoma 449-467 = Texas 468-477 = Minnesota

478 – 485 = Iowa 486 – 500 = Missouri 501 – 502 = North Dakota 503 – 504 = South Dakota 505 – 508 = Nebraska 509 – 515 = Kansas 516 – 517 = Montana 518 – 519 = Idaho 520 = Wyoming 521 – 524 = Colorado 525 = New Mexico 526 = Arizona 526 = New Mexico 527 = Arizona 528 – 529 = Utah 530 = Nevada 531 – 539 = Washington 540 – 544 = Oregon 545-573 = California 574 = Alaska 575-576 = Hawaii 577-579 = District of Columbia 580 = Virgin Islands 580-584 = Puerto Rico 585 = New Mexico 586 = Guam & American Samoa 586 = All Other Pacific Territories 587-588 = Mississippi 589-595 = Florida (also 261-267) 600-601 = Arizona (designated) 602-626 = California (designated) 700-728 = Railroad Retirement 729-999 = Not used until randomization was introduced.

Note: The number 666 has never been used and will not be used in the future.

Please post a comment below if you are aware of any new number ranges.

SSN Requirements

No law directly requires a natural-born United States citizen to apply for a Social Security number to live or work in the United States. However, some people still live without a number because they view it as a voluntary government program. Those who don’t get a number find it difficult to engage in ordinary acts of commerce or banking activities because they can’t provide an SSN.

Additional Resources

If you want to learn more about the process, visit the Social Security Administration website. On the website, you can:

Get more information on how numbers are assigned and the randomization process
Find the offices near you and get directions using the office locator. Just enter your zip code.
Learn how to get cards and how to request replacement cards

Questions and Comments

If you have any questions, please post a comment below.

38 COMMENTS

What does a Social Security beginning with 200-75-XXXX indicate? I really didn’t understand the middle number, but I believe the first 3 numbers indicate under the old system that the number was applied for in PA.

I didn’t know the numbers were randomized rather than regionalized which makes a lot of sense. I’m a 370 from Michigan. Odd question… why is the prefix 666 unavailable? It’s just a number. I understand it’s Christian significance but it is only a series of digits and this is not a “Christian” domain. I am actually, but my faith is mine not someone else’s concern. The relevance of that number is from The New Testament (St. John’s Revelation)… and that is not fully explained or understood.

i need my grandfathers ssn because he has passed recently and ppl are still calling to collect nothing but they dont believe me they want his number how can i get it

If you are a family member, then you need to look at the DEATH CERTIFICATE. The social security number will be on it. Contact the funeral home, they will have a copy in their files. If you dont; know who handled the service, contact the cemetary, their records should show who the funeral director was. WARNING, if you are not a DIRECT family member no one will give you a copy or any information.

Is a SSN that has the first 5 digits all matching valid? I came across one on a client’s paperwork that had all the same number in the first 5 places. Only the last 4 were different.

I can’t say whether or not the numbers in your particular case are valid, but it would have been possible under the “old” system of issuing numbers. The first three numbers are based don’t the geographic area. The next two numbers are the group numbers, and those numbers are allocated to particular areas within a state.

You say that 729-999 are not in use, but my wife has a SSN that starts with 881. She is from France and got a green card in 2012, and that was the prefix assigned.

Then she got her SSN after June 25, 2011 when they started using random numbers.

Can a person’s prefix be different from the state the were born in? My prefix suggests I was born in Washington, but I was not.

Can group numbers be used to narrow down a location within a state (prior to randomization)?

It is difficult to find official information on the specific manner in which the numbers were issued. However, the group numbers weren’t based on a geographical area. The group numbers were determined by the sequential order in which they were assigned.

With the advent of some financial institutions wishing to make you give them the last six or your social security number, it seems as though they do not understand nor does the government understand the sanctity that should be afforded Social Security identification numbers. With crooks having access to screaming fast computers today, it really is not much of a problem with a nine-digit password to eventually obtain it by searching. And it makes it much easier with the last four that the majority of institutions require for identification. However, with the last six, you might as well just give them the entire number and see your personal security go down the tube. This should be a top priority of our government to band the use of any more numbers being given out to anybody for identification.

Are there duplicates of the last four digits?

Yes. There are social security numbers that have the last four digits that match.

Are SSN’s for noncitizens coded to shos they are not citjzens?

I believe the SSA assigns the numbers using the randomization process that was put in place in 2011. So, they shouldn’t be coded to identify that an individual is a non-citizen. Check the SSA.gov website for more information.

I’m wondering the same thing,

Please remember: the SSN is assigned based on the address provided on the application submitted to the Social Security Administration. This address is supposed to be the applicant’s permanent address. If you have a question, you should contact the Social Security Administration. >>> ASSIGNMENT METHODOLOGY USED STARTING JUNE 26, 2011 <<< The U.S. SSN (Social Security Number) is assigned RANDOMLY. However, the methodology is not public knowledge.

Concerning? I was noting my son’s ssn this year while gathering tax information, and it starts with 881. My concern is that it won’t be valid when he goes to work- as it says numbers starting with 729-999 = Currently not in use???? What could have happened?

It was randomized near the year 1972 because some areas ran out of numbers.

I am a Veteran living in the Houston, Texas area and am enrolled in VA Healthcare. I have recently discovered, when checking in at the DeBakey VA Hospital in Houston, that their VA computer shows that there are 3 Veterans in their system, including myself, that have the same exact last name and the same exact last 4 numbers of their SSN. Should I be concerned?

We’re not in a position to interpret whether it is something that should be of concern. However, it may be something that you should inquire about with VA Healthcare. It is possible that you may have multiple accounts within their system. The records that you see with the same last name and same last four numbers of the SSN may all be referring to you. You may want to give them a call to get more information.

Here it said that the 800 are not in use . 800 are good numbers or bugs number please advice

The SSA changed the way they issue social security numbers, so numbers beginning with 800 are certainly possible.

Both my kids born 2004 & 2009 are 766 and it’s now required to file for them at birth to which they were born in FL but it says the 766 aren’t in use yet when they have been in use for at least 15years now. Strange.

I was born in S.C. but the first 3 digits show it came from Arkansas

I live in NE. Everyone in my family and my first born all start with the 505, 508. This past year I had a baby. His SSN starts with 358. Why is this?

your would indicate you and your family was born in Nebraska, But your sons would indicate he was born in Illinois, so if he wasn’t that is strange, better check into so he don’t have problems later in life with his number

its not where you were born that determines the number, it is the state where the application for an original Social Security number was filed. In my case, I didn’t file till I was 13 and had moved multiple times.

The numbers are now picked at random & are not picked by state. The first three numbers of your baby’s ssn have nothing to do with his state of birth or the state in which his ssn was applied for. Since 2011, the Social Security Administration has been assigning SSNs by randomization. This process eliminates the geographical significance of the first 3 numbers.

I was born in 1980 so my social security number should be from the state I was born in since the change was not started till 2011 where your social security number is pick random

My daughter was born in Connecticut it was issued a social security number while living in Connecticut but she has a New York social security number

I was born in Georgia and I have a New York number. My cousin was born the same month and in the same hospital as me and she has a Georgia number. What could be the reason?

I have an FL ssn and i wasnt born in FL accoding to my birth certificate.

I was born in Alabama, but my SSN was issued at about age 8 (this was many years ago) while living in North Dakota. Therefore, I have a North Dakota SSN.

i have a question it says the 1st 3 numbers say where one was born i have 149 the list says that is the number for new Jersey and i was born in Oklahoma. why?

The first three numbers actually represent the geographic area where the social security number was issued, rather than where a person was born.

In 2011 the first 3 of 808 was used. Every where I have seen says it isn’t, but it was given to my child.

The History of SSNs

Components of the ssn, why you need an ssn, how to get an ssn, ssns and identity theft, the bottom line.

Retirement Planning
Social Security

What Is an SSN? Facts to Know About Social Security Numbers

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia.

Investopedia / Candra Huff

What Is a Social Security Number (SSN)?

The term Social Security number (SSN) refers to a numerical identifier assigned to U.S. citizens and other residents to track income and determine benefits.

The SSN was created in 1936 as part of The New Deal to provide for retirement and disability benefits . The original intention of the SSN was to track earnings and provide benefits. Now, it is used for additional purposes, such as identifying individuals for tax purposes and tracking credit reports.

Individuals in the U.S. are asked to provide their SSNs to obtain credit, open bank accounts, obtain government benefits, make major purchases, and more.

Key Takeaways

A Social Security number is a numerical identifier assigned to U.S. citizens and other residents to track income and determine benefits.
The SSN was created in 1936 as part of The New Deal.
SSNs are issued by the Social Security Administration.
To get a Social Security number, you must file Form SS-5 with the Social Security Administration.
SSNs are susceptible to illegal use by those involved in identity theft and fraud.

How Social Security Numbers Work

With very few exceptions, all U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary or working residents have a Social Security number . Even non-working residents (citizens and non-citizens alike) can obtain an SSN, due to its use by businesses and government entities.

The legal framework for assigning a Social Security number is provided under Section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S. Code, Chapter 7, Subsection 405). Social Security numbers and cards are issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Social Security numbers are now random streams of digits. However, before 2011, the numbers had specific purposes. In those years, the first three digits represented the state in which the number was issued. The next two digits referenced group numbers of issuing offices and the last four represented the order within each group.

Due to concern that this could be falsified, the Social Security Administration instead voted to have it represent a group number. Thus far, no Social Security numbers have been reused, though there have been some cases in which two people were issued the same number.

Scammers are everywhere, so it's important that you keep your information safe and secure. You can avoid scams and report them directly to authorities through the Federal Trade Commission's website .

As noted above, the Social Security number was established as part of a program developed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help citizens of the United States following the Great Depression .

Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935 to help provide Americans with economic stability, especially to people over the age of 65. This included financial benefits that would be based on the amount of income they received before they entered retirement .

The Social Security Board was established to maintain the Social Security Act and to keep on top of recordkeeping. This led to the creation in 1936 of a unique nine-digit number assigned to each individual.

Area Number

The first group of three digits is the area number. It represented the issuing state. States could have more than one number, depending on how many people needed SSNs. Examples of area numbers include 001 to 003 for New Hampshire and 575 to 576 for Hawaii.

Generally, people on the East Coast have the lowest SSNs. Area numbers ascended as assignment moved westward. So, people on the West Coast tend to have the highest SSNs.

Beginning in 1972, the area number was assigned based on the zip code associated with the mailing address (which isn't necessarily the place of residence) on the application.

There have been exceptions to the original area number assignment process:

700–728 were assigned to railroad workers until 1963.
586 was assigned to American Samoa, Guam, the Philippines, Americans employed internationally by American companies, and Indochinese refugees (from 1975 to 1979).
729–733 were allocated to the Department for Homeland Security for its Enumeration of Entry program for non-citizens admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence.
666 will never be assigned.

Group Number

The following group of two digits is the group number. Group numbers range from 01 to 99. They weren't necessarily assigned consecutively. They originally represented the groups of 10,000 numbers issued to a state's post offices which were to help assign SSNs. They came to represent the issuing office.

Serial Number

The last four digits in the third group are the actual serial number. They ascended from 0001 to 9999 within each group. The serial number 0000 isn't used.

In 2011, SSNs began to be issued randomly.

The usage of SSNs has changed over its lifetime as well. For instance, in 1943, federal government agencies were required to use them in order to identify individuals. Other key moments in the SSN's timeline include:

The use of SSNs for tax reporting purposes by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 1962
The requirement of banks to obtain SSNs from all their customers as of 1970
The need to provide financial institutions with your SSN for an interest-bearing account in 1983
The printing of SSNs on driver's licenses as well as birth and death records in 1996; SSNs were removed from driver's licenses and birth records in 1999
The removal of laws requiring use of SSNs as a way to identify individuals in 2008

Although the issuing pattern for SSNs called for numbers to be assigned starting with the most eastern state, the lowest number—001-01-0001—was assigned in 1936 not to a Maine citizen but to a woman residing in Concord, New Hampshire.

A Social Security number is very important to have due to its direct connection to the future benefits you may be entitled to receive from the U.S. government.

An SSN is used to track an individual's yearly earnings and the number of years they've worked. These figures are required to compute potential financial benefits, whether they relate to retirement income, disability income, or health insurance.

When people start their working careers, employers request their Social Security numbers as part of the application process. They provide the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with details of salary payments associated with each SSN and the withholdings made for employees' contributions to Social Security and Medicare. Employers also report this information to any state that has an income tax.

Other Reasons You May Need an SSN

To open a bank account or other financial account
To apply for a federal loan
To apply for unemployment
As an identifier on tax returns
To get a driver's license
To obtain a passport
When enrolling in Medicare

A Social Security number and its corresponding card may be obtained by filling out Form SS-5: Application for a Social Security Card from the SSA. The form explains how to obtain an original card, replace a card, and change or correct SSN records.

A full list of requirements, such as documentation that proves age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or immigration status, is included on the form. There is no cost to obtain a number or card. In some circumstances, an individual may change their Social Security number .

420 million

The number of Social Security numbers available for assignment.

Social Security numbers are frequently used as a personal identifier and to obtain credit. They contain no biometrics and rely on documentation to prove validity. They are susceptible to use for identity theft and fraud .

A notable example of this is when the chief executive officer (CEO) of identity theft prevention service LifeLock used his SSN in advertisements as a testament to his company's effectiveness. His identity was later stolen multiple times.

There has been some movement among legislators to separate some activities from SSN use, such as renting an apartment or obtaining a hunting or fishing license.

What to Do if Your SSN Is Stolen

If you discover that your Social Security number is being used by someone else or if you lose your card, there are steps you should consider taking immediately.

Contact the credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) to make sure they are aware of the issue; have a security or fraud alert attached to your credit report.
Contact the Social Security Administration to notify it of fraudulent use of your number, or the potential for it. If you lost your card, discuss the process to replace it.
File a police report on an actual theft of your card or use of your number.
Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized use of existing credit accounts or the unauthorized opening of new accounts.

How Can I Find Out if Someone Is Using My Social Security Number?

There's no easy way to check and see whether your Social Security number has been compromised. Many people don't find out until it's too late. However, there are a few ways you can keep up-to-date with any unusual activity that may be related to someone else using it. You can monitor your credit reports and bank accounts, verify your income with the Social Security Administration, and request tax transcripts with the IRS.

What Can Someone Do With Your Social Security Number?

Your SSN is one of the most important pieces of personal information—if not the most important—that you'll ever have. That's why it's so important that you keep it confidential . Someone who has your SSN can use it to impersonate you, obtain credit and open bank accounts, apply for jobs, steal your tax refunds, get medical treatment, and steal your government benefits.

What Should You Do if Your Social Security Number Is Stolen?

Identity thieves are everywhere. Contact the Social Security Administration if you suspect that your number is stolen. The agency can help fix problems related to income. If you have problems with your credit, you must contact your financial institution and the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). You can also file complaints with IdentityTheft.gov, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Internet Crime Center to report any suspicious activity.

How Do You Get a New Social Security Number?

To get an SSN, you must fill out form Form SS-5 and provide the SSA with two documents that prove your age and identity, and citizenship or immigration status.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Social Security Number?

The Social Security Administration mails individuals their social security cards as soon as it receives all the necessary information and documentation. This can take as long as two to four weeks, especially when the administration is facing delays.

A social security number, or SSN, is a unique identifying number associated with U.S. citizens and other residents in the country. It's been around since 1936, about the time that the Social Security Administration was established (1935) to provide us with retirement and disability benefits.

Today, the need for an SSN goes beyond calculating what we're entitled to receive as a result of the contributions we've made throughout our working lives to Social Security and Medicare.

It's required to open financial accounts, apply for loans, apply for unemployment assistance, and get a driver's license.

Your social security number is your key to important future benefits. So, it's crucial to protect it and the card that it's on. Be sure to use it only when officially required (and not simply when someone asks you for it).

Social Security Administration. " Historical Background And Development Of Social Security ."

Social Security Administration. " The Story of the Social Security Number ."

Social Security Administration. " Compilation Of The Social Security Laws ."

Social Security Administration. " Types of Social Security Cards ."

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. " Your Social Security Number: The 9-Digit Evolution ."

Social Security Administration. " Social Security Number Randomization ."

Social Security Administration. " FAQs ."

Social Security Administration. " The First Social Security Number and the Lowest Number ."

Social Security Administration. " Form SS-5 Application for a Social Security Card ."

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How We Got Social Security Numbers

By: Becky Little

Updated: April 23, 2019 | Original: October 4, 2017

Federal employees working on Social Security records, c. 1935.

Social Security numbers serve as sort of a national ID for American citizens, but it wasn’t always that way. When economist Edwin Witte helped develop the Social Security Act of 1935, the numbers were solely a way to keep track of the new retirement payment system.

Witte and his colleagues “knew they needed an ID number, not just a name,” says John Witte —who, in addition to being a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is Edwin’s grandson. That way even if people had the same name or birthday as others, their payments could be tracked with an individual number.

Even so, the assignment of Social Security numbers, or SSNs, was controversial. The U.S. government had never distributed individual numbers like this before, and some “were very frightened of giving the government the ability to have a number to track people,” Witte says.

Despite some Republicans’ contention that it was government overreach, the Social Security Act passed in the Democrat-led Congress in August 1935; and “the first SSN was issued sometime in mid-November 1936,” says Dorothy J. Clark, a Social Security spokesperson.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act on 14th August 1935. From left to right, Robert Lee Doughton, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Edwin E. Witte, Director of the President's Social Security Committee, with Senator Robert F. Wagner, co-author of the bill behind him, Senator Robert La Follette, Senator Augustine Lonergan, Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, Senator William H. King, Rep. David John Lewis, co-author of the bill and Senator Joseph F. Guffey.

At first, Social Security was only meant for certain workers. Domestic workers, agricultural workers, and small business employees were ineligible, and federal employees weren’t part of the program because they already had government pensions for retirement. The program mainly targeted large, private companies, requiring them to offer Social Security to their employees.

Over the next few years, the government created millions of them. While the Social Security Board was still setting up offices around the country, the Post Office played a huge administrative role by distributing and collecting applications and generating Social Security numbers.

“We don’t think about this much today, but it was an enormous administrative undertaking,” Witte says. “Creating a social security system, writing the act, and getting the money was only part of it. The biggest, difficult thing was implementing that program.”

Clerks working in the U.S. Census Bureau office at St. Louis, cataloguing the names of the 75,994,575 Americans listed in the 1900 census, which was used to determine the Social Security rolls.

Subsequent legislation over the next few decades expanded the eligible Social Security pool until it included all American citizens—including children. When the U.S. first passed the act, only adults could sign up for Social Security. But by 1989, when the Enumeration at Birth program made it easier for parents to apply for babies’ SSNs as soon as they’re born, that had all changed. Today, Witte notes that you have to provide your children’s SSN in order to claim them as a dependent on your taxes.

In fact, the number’s ubiquity is part of why Witte says the U.S. probably won’t stop using SSNs as a national form of ID. There are so many things modern Americans need their SSN to apply for—driver’s licenses, homes, college admissions and more—that the government would have to come up with a different kind of ID that could be substituted in its place.

“It would be an enormous task to replace it with something else,” Witte says, of a White House proposal to do stop using SSNs as a form of national ID in the wake of the massive Equifax data breach that exposed 145 million people’s personal information between May and July 2017. And even if it did happen, he muses, “What would that do?” If hackers could get access to SSNs, why couldn’t they gain access to another form of ID?

Likely, the system that necessitates we all memorize our own nine-digit number will continue for a long time.

READ MORE: Where Social Security Came From

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Social Security

Social security number and card, what is a social security number.

A Social Security number (SSN) is a unique identifier issued by the Social Security Administration. You need an SSN to work, and it’s used to determine your eligibility for Social Security benefits and certain government services.

Why might you need one?

Many financial institutions, such as banks and credit companies, also ask for your number when you open an account. If you are a noncitizen with permission to work in the United States, you may also need an SSN. For more information please see, Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens .

Answer a few questions and we’ll tell you the best way to apply.

Request a copy of a lost, stolen, or damaged card
Update or correct your personal information (e.g. name, citizenship, sex identification, date of birth)
Request a Social Security Number for the first time

See what card services you can do online

Applying online is the fastest way to obtain a Social Security card. Answer a few questions to see if you can complete your request online, or if you need to finish part or all of your request in-person. Either way, you’ll receive your Social Security card in the mail within 14 days after your application is completed.

Social Security Number Services are Always Free

Some businesses offer Social Security name changes or cards for a fee. Social Security provides those services and more for free. Social Security is the best place to get information about Social Security.

Replace Card

If you lost your card, you may not need a replacement. In most cases, simply knowing your SSN is enough. But if you do need a replacement, we make it easy. Once you complete your application (online or in person), you will receive your Social Security card in the mail.

Request Number for the First Time

To obtain an SSN for the first time, you’ll need to submit an application and show us original documents (or copies certified by the issuing agencies). You can begin your application online, but you will need to visit a local Social Security office or card center to complete the application process.

Make Changes to Your Record

Changing your name or updating an incorrect birthdate, your sex identification, or your citizenship or legal status is always free. To make changes, you’ll need to request a replacement Social Security card. Depending on the change, your application may be completed either online or in person.

Social Security Number by State 2024

The Social Security Administration issues citizens and permanent residents of the United States a Social Security number. Your Social Security number – or SSN, for short – is a nine-digit unique identifier that is used for several purposes. The most common way this number is used is to track citizens and residents for Social Security purposes. However, your Social Security number can also be used for taxation , applying for credit, and other purposes.

As mentioned, the SSN consists of nine numbers. These numbers are broken into three parts. The first three numbers are the area number. Until 2011, this number corresponded with the state or territory in which the number was assigned. However, after 2011, numbers were assigned at random. The next set of numbers consists of two digits. This set is known as group numbers and does not relate to geographical location. Finally, the last set of numbers consists of four digits. This is a number that goes in order from 0001 to 9999.

Any Social Security number issued before 2011 can be evaluated to determine where the number was issued. To learn where a Social Security number was issued, look at the area number – the first three digits. Then, match these numbers with the following. Note that some states may appear on this list more than once.

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We assign Social Security numbers randomly . We changed to a random process in 2011 to help protect the integrity of the Social Security number.

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Social Security's Representative Payment Program provides benefit payment management for our beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. We appoint a suitable representative payee (payee) who manages the payments on behalf of the beneficiaries. Generally, we look for family or friends to serve as payees. When friends or family members are not able to serve as payees, we look for qualified organizations. We also offer the option to advance designate up to three individuals who could serve as payee for you if the need arises. If you are concerned that someone you know becomes incapable of managing or directing the management of his or her benefits, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to request an appointment to discuss your concerns.

Natural or adoptive parents of a minor child beneficiary who primarily reside in the same household as the child;
Legal guardians of a minor child beneficiary who primarily reside in the same household as the child;
Natural or adoptive parents of a disabled adult beneficiary who primarily reside in the same household with the beneficiary; and
Spouse of a beneficiary.

Although these groups of payees no longer have to complete the annual Representative Payee Report, all payees are responsible for keeping records of how the payments are spent or saved, and making all records available for review if requested by SSA.

We mail an annual Representative Payee Report to the payees who are required to complete the report. Payees who are under 18 must complete the paper version. Individual payees who are 18 or older can complete it online by logging in to their my Social Security account.

State mental institutions that participate in our onsite review program also do not have to file an annual Representative Payee Report.

Organizational representative payees are able to complete their Representative Payee Report online by using Business Services Online.

Additionally, we may select any payee for an educational visit and payee review. For more information, see Representative Payee Reviews and Educational Visits Conducted by the Protection and Advocacy System .

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Social Security Number Randomization
The Social Security Administration (SSA) changed the way Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are issued on June 25, 2011. This change is referred to as "randomization." The SSA developed this new method to help protect the integrity of the SSN. ... There are approximately 420 million numbers available for assignment. However, the previous SSN ...
How Are Social Security Numbers Assigned?
Social Security numbers, also known as SSNs, are allocated through a process called randomization that was introduced in June 2011. This system retains the long-standing nine-digit format but assigns a number to each new Social Security cardholder randomly, eliminating methods that date to the inception of Social Security in the mid-1930s.
Social Security Numbers (SSNs) How they are assigned by State
Previously, before 1972, social security numbers were assigned by SSA field offices. The number merely established that his/her card was issued by one of the SSA offices in that State. Randomization. In 2011, the SSA changed the assignment process to a process known as SSN randomization. This process eliminates the geographical significance of ...
Social Security Number (SSN) Prefix
Social Security numbers are made up of 3 sets of numbers. The first set, as described above, is 3 numbers, called the Area Number, and denotes the state the social security card was issued. For the majority of people, this will be the state you were born in. Following the Area Number, the next two digits form the Group Number.
Social Security number
In the United States, a Social Security number ( SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205 (c) (2) of the Social Security Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. § 405 (c) (2). The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an independent ...
What Is an SSN? Facts to Know About Social Security Numbers
Social Security Number - SSN: A nine-digit number assigned to citizens, some temporary residents and permanent residents in order to track their income and determine benefit entitlements. The ...
How We Got Social Security Numbers
Social Security numbers serve as sort of a national ID for American citizens, but it wasn't always that way. ... Even so, the assignment of Social Security numbers, or SSNs, was controversial. ...
Social Security Number and Card
See what card services you can do online. Applying online is the fastest way to obtain a Social Security card. Answer a few questions to see if you can complete your request online, or if you need to finish part or all of your request in-person. Either way, you'll receive your Social Security card in the mail within 14 days after your application is completed.
Social Security Number by State 2024
The Social Security Administration issues citizens and permanent residents of the United States a Social Security number. Your Social Security number - or SSN, for short - is a nine-digit unique identifier that is used for several purposes. ... Until 2011, this number corresponded with the state or territory in which the number was assigned ...
How are Social Security numbers assigned?
How are Social Security numbers assigned? We assign Social Security numbers randomly. We changed to a random process in 2011 to help protect the integrity of the Social Security number. Did this answer your question?
Form SSA-1696
If you prefer to use the paper version, simply fill out the form online, print and mail it, fax it, or deliver it to us in-person. Online SSA-1696 (e1696) Paper SSA-1696. Where to send this form. Send the completed form to your local Social Security office. If you have any questions, you may call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through ...
Social Security Implications for Global Assignments
The Implications of Social Security for International Assignments. Although social security obligations can be one of the most significant contributions that employers will pay if they decide to send an employee on an international assignment, social security may also be one of the most overlooked aspects of the compensation package.
Assignment of Nonwork Social Security Numbers
Our objective was to determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) appropriately assigned Social Security numbers (SSN) to noncitizens with a valid nonwork reason. Date Issued: Friday, August 7, 2020. Agency Reviewed / Investigated: Social Security Administration. Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number: A-08-18-50500.
Field Office Locator
What should I do if I get a call claiming there's a problem with my Social Security number or account? Looking for a local office? Use one of our online services and save yourself a trip! Popular Online Services: Review Your Information. View Your Latest Statement; Review Your Earnings History ...
my Social Security
Create your personal my Social Security account today. A free and secure my Social Security account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive.
Social Security
Representative Payee. Social Security's Representative Payment Program provides benefit payment management for our beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. We appoint a suitable representative payee (payee) who manages the payments on behalf of the beneficiaries.

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The History of SSNs

What Is an SSN? Facts to Know About Social Security Numbers

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