FROM: Barbara Bennett
\nSUBJECT: The Social Security Number<\/p>\n
SSA has continually emphasized the fact that the SSN identifies a particular
\nrecord only and the Social Security Card indicates the person whose record
\nis identified by that number. In no way can the Social Security Card identify
\nthe bearer. From 1946 to 1972 the legend “Not for Identification” was printed
\non the face of the card. However, many people ignored the message and the
\nlegend was eventually dropped. The social security number is the most widely
\nused and carefully controlled number in the country, which makes it an
\nattractive identifier.<\/p>\n
With the exception of the restrictions imposed on Federal and some State
\nand local organizations by the Privacy Act of 1974, organizations requiring
\na unique identifier for purposes of controlling their records are not
\nprohibited from using (with the consent of the holder) the SSN. SSA records
\nare confidential and knowledge of a person’s SSN does not give the user access
\nto information in SSA files which is confidential by law.<\/p>\n
Many commercial enterprises have used the SSN in various promotional efforts.
\nThese uses are not authorized by SSA, but SSA has no authority to prohibit
\nsuch activities as most are not illegal. Some of these unauthorized uses are:
\nSSN contests; skip-tracers; sale or distribution of plastic or metal cards;
\npocketbook numbers (the numbers used on sample social security cards in
\nwallets); misleading advertising, commercial enterprises charging fees for
\nSSN services; identification of personal property.<\/p>\n
The Social Security Number (SSN) is composed of 3 parts, XXX-XX-XXXX, called
\nthe Area, Group, and Serial. For the most part, (there are exceptions), the
\nArea is determined by where the individual APPLIED for SSN (before 1972) or
\nRESIDED at time of application (after 1972). The areas are assigned follows:<\/p>\n
000 unused 387-399 WI 528-529 UT
\n001-003 NH 400-407 KY 530 NV
\n004-007 ME 408-415 TN 531-539 WA
\n008-009 VT 416-424 AL 540-544 OR
\n010-034 MA 425-428 MS 545-573 CA
\n035-039 RI 429-432 AR 574 AK
\n040-049 CT 433-439 LA 575-576 HI
\n050-134 NY 440-448 OK 577-579 DC
\n135-158 NJ 449-467 TX 580 VI Virgin Islands
\n159-211 PA 468-477 MN 581-584 PR Puerto Rico
\n212-220 MD 478-485 IA 585 NM
\n221-222 DE 486-500 MO 586 PI Pacific Islands*
\n223-231 VA 501-502 ND 587-588 MS
\n232-236 WV 503-504 SD 589-595 FL
\n237-246 NC 505-508 NE 596-599 PR Puerto Rico
\n247-251 SC 509-515 KS 600-601 AZ
\n252-260 GA 516-517 MT 602-626 CA
\n261-267 FL 518-519 ID *Guam, American Samoa,
\n268-302 OH 520 WY Northern Mariana Islands,
\n303-317 IN 521-524 CO Philippine Islands
\n318-361 IL 525 NM
\n362-386 MI 526-527 AZ<\/p>\n
627-699 unassigned, for future use<\/p>\n
700-728 Railroad workers through 1963, then discontinued
\n729-899 unassigned, for future use
\n900-999 not valid SSNs, but were used for program purposes
\n when state aid to the aged, blind and disabled was
\n converted to a federal program administered by SSA.<\/p>\n
As the Areas assigned to a locality are exhausted, new areas from the pool
\nare assigned. This is why some states have non-contiguous groups of Areas.<\/p>\n
The Group portion of the SSN has no meaning other than to
\ndetermine whether or not a number has been assigned. SSA
\npublishes a list every month of the highest group assigned for
\neach SSN Area. The order of assignment for the Groups is: odd
\nnumbers under 10, even numbers over 9, even numbers under 9
\nexcept for 00 which is never used, and odd numbers over 10. For
\nexample, if the highest group assigned for area 999 is 72, then
\nwe know that the number 999-04-1234 is an invalid number because
\neven Groups under 9 have not yet been assigned.<\/p>\n
The Serial portion of the SSN has no meaning. The Serial is not
\nassigned in strictly numerical order. The Serial 0000 is never assigned.<\/p>\n
Before 1973, Social Security Cards with pre-printed numbers were issued to
\neach local SSA office. The numbers were assigned by the local office. In 1973,
\nSSN assignment was automated and outstanding stocks of pre-printed cards were
\ndestroyed. All SSNs are now assigned by computer from headquarters. There are
\nrare cases in which the computer system can be forced to accept a
\nmanual assignment such as a person refusing a number with 666 in it!<\/p>\n
A pamphlet entitled “The Social Security Number” (Pub. No.
\n05-10633) provides an explanation of the SSN’s structure and
\nthe method of assigning and validating Social Security numbers.<\/p>\n
