What does the first 3 numbers of your Social mean?

Asked by: Chelsea Steuber  |  Last update: July 14, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (11 votes)

Number Has Three Parts
The first set of three digits is called the Area Number. The second set of two digits is called the Group Number. The final set of four digits is the Serial Number.

How are the first 3 digits of your social security number determined?

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. Prior to 1973, social security numbers were assigned by our field offices.

Does your social security number tell where you were born?

SSNs have never been assigned directly to note a person's birthplace; before 1972, the number reflected the location of the office issuing the number, and since 1972, numbers have been assigned by the address written on the application.

What does the beginning of a social security number mean?

Since 1972, the Social Security Administration has been issuing SSN's centrally from its headquarters in Baltimore. The area code now indicates the person's State of residence as shown on the SSN application.

Do the numbers in your social security number mean anything?

The first set of three digits was the Area Number, and originally represented the state in which a person first applied for a Social Security card. The numbers started in the northeast and moved westward, so that northeasterners had the lowest numbers, and people in the West Coast had the highest ones [source: SSA].

What Your Social Security Number Means

30 related questions found

How much is my Social Security number worth?

The company found that buyers are currently willing to pay just $1 for a Social Security number, which is the same amount they'll pay for user and password information to Brazzers, a pornographic website.

How do I decode my Social Security number?

The nine-digit SSN is composed of three parts:
  1. The first set of three digits is called the Area Number.
  2. The second set of two digits is called the Group Number.
  3. The final set of four digits is the Serial Number.

What state was my SSN issued?

1. The first three digits (the area number) of a SSN are determined by the state where the number was issued. You can get the state-assigned list for each 3-digit origination code by visiting http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/stateweb.htm.

Who has Social Security number 1?

This particular record, (055-09-0001) belonged to John D. Sweeney, Jr., age 23, of New Rochelle, New York. The next day, newspapers around the country announced that Sweeney had been issued the first SSN.

How do you tell what year a SSN was issued?

How to Find the Date When a Social Security Number Was Issued
  1. Visit USATrace.com (see reference). ...
  2. Read the page that opens up and enter the subject's SSN in the provided field. ...
  3. Enter your information into the following page and read the "Terms and Conditions" provided.

What your SSN says about you?

The Serial Number

As you can see, your social security number does not expressly say anything about you. Even the area number, which was tied to a location for 76 years, cannot be used to accurately pinpoint a residence.

Can someone have the same last 4 digits of SSN?

Out of 119 people, there is a 50% chance that two of them will have the same last 4 digits in their SSN. Out of 180 people, there is a 80% chance that two of them will have the same last 4 digits in their SSN.

What can someone do with the last 4 digits of your SSN?

As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.

Do twins have the same Social Security number?

We found that similarity between the Social Security Numbers of twin pairs varies markedly by age, and MZ twin pairs have significantly more similar Social Security Numbers than DZ pairs at all ages. Among older twins, there are also significant differences by sex and race.

How are Social Security numbers assigned at birth?

Through EAB, the bureaus of vital statistics electronically send birth registration information to Social Security, and we assign a number and issue a card.

Is your Social Security number a bond?

a good samaritan: There's ten bonds associated with one SSN at the Fed. The number on the back of the card is only one of ten numbers which identifies the bond it's associated with. The bond, which is held by the Fed, has an account associated with it.

Can I have 2 Social Security numbers?

Most persons have only one SSN. In certain limited situations, SSA can assign you a new number. If you receive a new SSN, you should use the new number. However, your old and new number will remain linked in our records to ensure that your earnings are credited properly.

What was the most misused SSN?

The most misused SSN of all time was (078-05-1120). In 1938, wallet manufacturer the E. H. Ferree company in Lockport, New York decided to promote its product by showing how a Social Security card would fit into its wallets. A sample card, used for display purposes, was inserted in each wallet.

What does a Social Security number starting with 9 mean?

The Social Security Administration does not issue SSNs beginning with the number 9. Numbers beginning with a “9” may be a Social Security Administration issued Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN is a tax processing number issued by the IRS that has 9 digits beginning with the number 9.

Is Social Security getting a $200 raise per month?

A benefits boost: $200, plus COLA changes

Anyone who is a current Social Security recipient or who will turn 62 in 2023 — the earliest age at which an individual can claim Social Security — would receive an extra $200 per monthly check. There are some additional tweaks that would boost benefits over the long-term.

What is the maximum Social Security you can get?

The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2022, your maximum benefit would be $3,345. However, if you retire at age 62 in 2022, your maximum benefit would be $2,364. If you retire at age 70 in 2022, your maximum benefit would be $4,194.

How much is a Social Security number worth on the dark web?

Passport information sells for $62.61 on the dark web according to the Dark Web Index, while other proof-of-identity documents are running just under $30. A separate Experian estimate from 2017 has driver's licenses selling for $20 while, surprisingly, Social Security numbers can sell for as little as $1.

Does SSN show age?

The Serial Number, itself, doesn't say anything about your location or age that the Group Number and Area Number don't already say, although since they are assigned consecutively, they could potentially reveal your relative age within a Group and an Area.

What do the middle Social Security numbers mean?

The group numbers are the two middle numbers of a social security number. These numbers do not represent the geographical region, but they do represent the order in which a number was issued for a particular region.