What do the first 3 numbers of your SSN mean?
Asked by: Kirsten Schiller | Last update: January 18, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (61 votes)
What determines the first 3 numbers of SSN?
Were you aware that the first three digits of the Social Security Number (SSN) had a geographical significance? Since the inception of SSNs, the first three digits were determined by the Zip Code of the mailing address shown on the application for an SSN -- but this is slated to change in 2011.
Does your Social Security number indicate where you were born?
The first three numbers represent the zip code of the Social Security office that issued it; most likely, it is where you were born and the nearest office in that zip code. Like zip codes, these numbers increase from east to west across the U.S. So, depending on where you were born, one can get deterministic value.
What do the 2 middle numbers of SSN mean?
Within each area, the group number (middle two (2) digits) range from 01 to 99 but are 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.
How can you tell in what state a Social Security number was issued?
Area Group Serial (AAA-GG-SSSS)
The first three (3) digits denote the area (or State) where the application for an original Social Security number was filed.
How do Social Security Numbers work?
What does your SSN say about you?
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.
What does the second set of numbers in a Social Security number mean?
As a result of the June 1936 decision, the current SSN is composed of three parts: The first three digits are the area number. The next two digits are the group number. The final four digits are the serial number.
Can a person have 2 SSN?
Generally, we assign only one SSN to an individual.
What do the last four digits of your Social Security mean?
The last four digits, the serial number, represent a. numerical series from 0001 to 9999 within each group. The order in which the SSN's are issued is as follows: For each area number, the group number follows an. odd and even sequence starting with odd numbers 01 to.
Is middle name important for Social Security?
The first and last name listed on the number holder's (NH) SSN card must agree with the first and last name shown on the document submitted as evidence of identity or legal name. A middle name or suffix is not considered part of the legal name.
Does your SSN tell your age?
Footnote: It is true that the application form for an SSN asks for identfying information, such as date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and (optionally) the applicant's race. But none of this identifying information is encoded in the SSN itself--not the person's date of birth, place of birth, or race.
How much is a metal Social Security card worth?
The first cards were of paper. The metal cards were made by private companies and there are countless varieties - from the "official" (appearing) to the comical. These are considered novelty items, by and large and sell in the range of $20-$30 for older examples (pre-1960's) in excellent condition.
What does the red number on the back of your Social Security card mean?
The number is your bank account number at a federal reserve bank & the letter informs you which one of the twelve federal reserve banks your account belongs to, while also providing with your routing number to use with your bank account number.
Can you tell what state you were born in by Social Security number?
Generally no, a social-security number does not show where you were born. At the beginning, the number had a structure where the first three digits were an area number. The area number identified the state or the SSA office where the card was issued.
Can an SSN be 123456789?
Social Security Number
All zeros (000000000) All ones (111111111) All threes (333333333) Consecutive digits in numerical order (123456789)
How to get a 2nd Social Security number and start over legally?
- Apply in-person at your local Social Security office.
- Complete the application for a Social Security card.
- Provide a statement explaining why you need a new Social Security number.
- Provide third-party evidence documenting your reasons for needing a new number.
What do the first 3 digits of your SSN mean?
For SSNs issued between 1936—when they were first introduced—and 1972, the three digit area number (A) corresponds to the state in which the individual applied for their SSN.
Is it bad if someone knows the last 4 digits of SSN?
The bottom line: Even just the last four digits of your SSN can put you at risk of identity theft and fraud. Always try to keep the digits of your SSN and Social Security card private and secure.
How much is my Social Security number worth?
The Reality. There is no monetary value to a birth certificate or a social security number/EIN, and TreasuryDirect accounts must be funded by the owner (from the owner's personal bank account) to have any value.
Can you collect Social Security from two husbands?
Yes, you can. Notify the Social Security Administration that you were married more than once and may qualify for benefits on more than one spouse's earnings record.
Do Social Security numbers get reused after death?
Q20: Are Social Security numbers reused after a person dies? A: No. We do not reassign a Social Security number (SSN) after the number holder's death.
Can 2 people have the same last 4 digits of their Social Security number?
Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are unique to each individual, meaning no two people can have the exact same full SSN. Since there are only 10,000 possible combinations for the last four digits (0000 through 9999), it is statistically inevitable that many people will share the same last four digits.
What does the middle number on your Social Security card mean?
Group number
So, what do the middle numbers in Social Security mean? In the early days, the group number was used to identify records. Because the SSA issued SSNs before the era of computers, program administrators used the middle two numbers to organize the records into sub-groups.
Who was the first president to dip into Social Security?
Roosevelt signed the Social Security Bill into law on August 14, 1935, only 14 months after sending a special message to Congress on June 8, 1934, that promised a plan for social insurance as a safeguard "against the hazards and vicissitudes of life." The 32-page Act was the culmination of work begun by the Committee ...
What is the letter H on the back of my Social Security card?
It's not the number that you look up it's the letter. All letters on the back of social security cards is linked to a certain Federal Reserve Bank for example The letter H. Is for a Federal Reserve Bank in St.