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What
Can A Social Security Number Tell You?
A
Social Security Number (SSN) consists of nine digits,
commonly written as three fields separated by hyphens:
AAA-GG-SSSS. The first three-digit field is called the
"area number". The central, two-digit field is
called the "group number". The final, four-digit
field is called the "serial number"
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The
first three-digit field called the "area
number".
The
first three digits of the SSN are the area number. For
Numbers assigned prior to 1973, it indicates the
specific Social Security office from which the card was
issued. Since 1973, certain blocks of numbers have been
allocated to each State. The area number indicates the
State the number holder showed as his/her mailing
address on the application for a number. The State is
derived from the ZIP code in the mailing address. The
area numbers are assigned to geographical locations.
They were originally assigned the same way that zip
codes were later assigned (in particular, area numbers
increase from east to west across the continental US as
do the ZIP codes). Most area numbers were assigned
according to state (or territorial) boundaries, although
the series 700-729 was assigned to railroad workers
regardless of location (this series of area numbers was
discontinued in 1964 and is no longer used for new SSNs).
Area numbers assigned prior to 1972 are an indication of
the SSA office which originally issued the SSN. Since
1972 the area number in SSNs corresponds to the
residence address given by the applicant on the
application for the SSN. In many regions the
original range of area number assignments was eventually
exhausted as population grew. The original area number
assignments have been augmented as required. All of the
original assignments were less than 585 (except for the
700-729 railroad worker series mentioned above). Area
numbers of "000" have never been issued.
The process of assigning numbers has been changed at
least twice. Until 1965, only half the group numbers
were used. Before 1972, numbers were assigned by field
offices; since 1972, they have all been assigned by the
central office. The order in which numbers were assigned
was changed in the 1972 transition. There may have been
other changes, but it's difficult to get information on
how things used to be done
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The
central, two-digit field called the "group
number".
The
middle two digits are the group number and have no
geographical significance. They just break the SSN into
Conveniently sized blocks for use in internal operations
and order of issuance. The SSN is used to administer the
payment of benefits.
The
last four digits are the serial number representing a
straight numerical series of numbers from 0001-9999 within
each group. A SSN is not reassigned when people die.
Benefits may be payable to dependents and survivors or the
SSN holder long after the SSN holder dies
Chart
Below = Area Number Assignments
001-003
NH
004-007 ME
008-009 VT
010-034 MA
035-039 RI
040-049 CT
050-134 NY
135-158 NJ
159-211 PA
212-220 MD
221-222 DE
223-231 VA
232-236 WV
237-246 NC
247-251 SC
252-260 GA
261-267 FL
268-302 OH
303-317 IN
318-361 IL
362-386 MI
387-399 WI
400-407 KY
408-415 TN
416-424 AL
425-428 MS
429-432 AR
433-439 LA
440-448 OK
449-467 TX
468-477 MN
478-485 IA
486-500 MO
501-502 ND
503-504 SD |
587-588
MS
505-508 NE
509-515 KS
516-517 MT
518-519 ID
520 WY
521-524 CO
525 NM *Guam, American Samoa
526-527 AZ Philippine Islands
528-529 UT Northern Mariana Islands
530 NV
531-539 WA
540-544 OR
545-573 CA
574 AK
575-576 HI
577-579 DC
580 - VI Virgin Islands
581-584 PR Puerto Rico
585 NM
586 PI Pacific Islands*
587-588 MS
589-595 FL
596-599 PR Puerto Rico
600-601 AZ
602-626 CA
627-645 TX
646-647 UT
648-649 NM
650-699 unassigned, for future use
700-728 Railroad workers through 1963, discontinued
729-799 unassigned, for future use
800-999 not valid SSNs. |
Some
sources have claimed that numbers above 900 were
used when some state programs were converted to
federal control, but current SSA documents claim
no numbers above 799 have ever been used
As of Feb 10, 1999 the most recent area numbers to
have been assigned include 650-658, 667-675, and
680. This list is from the SSA's web site, which
shows the highest group number assigned for each
area
The group number is not related to geography but
rather to the order in which SSNs are issued for a
particular area. Before 1965, only half the group
numbers were used: odd numbers were used below 10
and even numbers were used above 9. In 1965 the
system was changed so assignments continued with
the low even numbers and the high odd numbers. So,
group numbers for each area number are assigned in
the following order
Odd numbers, 01 to 09
Even numbers, 10 to 98
Even numbers, 02 to 08
Odd numbers, 11 to 99
Group codes of "00" aren't assigned
In each region, all possible area numbers are
assigned with each group number before using the
next group number. This means the group numbers
can be used to find a chronological ordering of
SSNs within a region. When new group numbers are
assigned to a state, the old numbers are usually
used up first
SSA publishes a list every month of the highest
group assigned for each SSN Area. For example, if
the highest group assigned for area 999 is 72,
then we know that the number 999-04-1234 is an
invalid number because even Groups under 9 have
not yet been assigned
Serial numbers are assigned in chronological order
within each area and group number as the
applications are processed. Serial number
"0000" is never used. Before 1965, when
number assignment was transferred from field
offices to the central office, serial numbers may
have been assigned in a strange order. (Some
sources claim that 2000 and 7000 series numbers
were assigned out of order. That no longer seems
to be the case.) Currently, the serial numbers are
assigned in strictly increasing order with each
area and group combination
Any SSN conforming to one of the following
criteria is an invalid number: Any field all
zeroes (no field of zeroes is ever assigned)
First three digits above 740
The
Social Security Administration publishes a list
every month of the highest group that is assigned
for each SSN Area. For example, if the highest
group assigned for area 999 is 72, then we would
know that the number 999-04-1234 is an invalid
number, because the "even" Groups under
9 have not yet been assigned. See
the latest Social Security Number Monthly Issuance
Table for the latest SSN area ranges issued to
date.
Serial
numbers are assigned in chronological order within
each area and group number as the applications are
processed. Serial number "0000" is never
used. Before 1965, when number assignment was
transferred from field offices to the central
office, serial numbers may have been assigned in a
strange order. (Some sources claim that 2000 and
7000 series numbers were assigned out of order.
That no longer seems to be the case.) Currently,
the serial numbers are assigned in strictly
increasing order with each area and group
combination. (Social Security Numbers are
currently assigned by computer in Social Security
Administration headquarters in Washington, DC.
There are relatively rare cases in which the
computer system can be over-ridden by manual
assignment --- such as a recipient refusing a
number containing the sequence 666.) SOCIAL
SECURITY: YOUR NUMBER
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