Social Security Number

Social Security number (or SSN) is a 9 digit number issued to 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 agency of the federal government. Its primary purposes are to track individuals' Social Security benefits, and to track individuals for taxation purposes

The SSN Numbering Scheme

The nine-digit SSN is composed of 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 Area Number The Area Number is assigned by the geographical region. Prior to 1972, cards were issued in local Social Security offices around the country and the Area Number represented the State in which the card was issued. This did not necessarily have to be the State where the applicant lived, since a person could apply for their card in any Social Security office. Since 1972, when SSA began assigning SSNs and issuing cards centrally from Baltimore, the area number assigned has been based on the ZIP code in the mailing address provided on the application for the original Social Security card. The applicant's mailing address does not have to be the same as their place of residence. Thus, the Area Number does not necessarily represent the State of residence of the applicant, either prior to 1972 or since.

Group Number
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. 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. Group numbers are assigned as follows:
ODD - 01, 03, 05, 07, 09------EVEN - 10 to 98
EVEN - 02, 04, 06, 08------ODD - 11 to 99

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

How to Get SSN ??

Location of Social Security Offices

Application Forms

New Rules for Getting SSN

Important Links

http://www.ssa.gov/

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Social Security Number