What Size Is A Social Security Card

Nine-digit number issued to U.Southward. citizens and permanent residents

In the United States, a Social Security number (SSN) is a ix-digit number issued to U.South. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, codification as 42 U.s.C. § 405(c)(ii). The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an independent agency of the United States authorities. Although the original purpose for the number was for the Social Security Administration to rails individuals,^[1] the Social Security number has become a de facto national identification number for taxation and other purposes.^[2]

A Social Security number may be obtained by applying on Form SS-5, Awarding for a Social Security Number Card.^[3]

History [edit]

Social Security numbers were starting time issued by the Social Security Administration in Nov 1935 as part of the New Deal Social Security plan. Within three months, 25 one thousand thousand numbers were issued.^[4]

On November 24, 1936, ane,074 of the nation's 45,000 post offices were designated "typing centers" to type upwardly Social Security cards that were and then sent to Washington, D.C. On December ane, 1936, equally part of the publicity campaign for the new program, Joseph L. Fay of the Social Security Administration selected a record from the height of the first stack of 1,000 records and announced that the first Social Security number in history was assigned to John David Sweeney, Jr., of New Rochelle, New York. However, since the Social Security numbers were not assigned in chronological order, Sweeney did not receive the lowest Social Security number, 001-01-0001. That stardom belongs to Grace D. Owen of Concord, New Hampshire.^[five] ^[6]

Before 1986, people ofttimes did not obtain a Social Security number until the historic period of about fourteen,^[vii] since the numbers were used for income tracking purposes, and those under that historic period seldom had substantial income.^[8] The Revenue enhancement Reform Act of 1986 required parents to list Social Security numbers for each dependent over the historic period of 5 for whom the parent wanted to claim a tax deduction.^[9] Before this act, parents claiming tax deductions were merely trusted not to prevarication nigh the number of children they supported. During the first year of the Tax Reform Act, this anti-fraud alter resulted in 7 million fewer pocket-size dependents being claimed. The disappearance of these dependents is believed to accept involved either children who never existed or revenue enhancement deductions improperly claimed by non-custodial parents.^[ten] In 1988, the threshold was lowered to two years old, and in 1990, the threshold was lowered withal again to ane year old.^[eleven] Today, an SSN is required regardless of the kid'southward historic period to receive an exemption.^{[ citation needed ]} Since then, parents take often applied for Social Security numbers for their children presently after nativity; today, it tin be done on the application for a birth certificate.^[12]

Purpose and use [edit]

The original purpose of this number was to track individuals' accounts within the Social Security program. It has since come to exist used as an identifier for individuals within the United States, although rare errors occur where duplicates do be. A few duplications did occur when prenumbered cards were sent out to regional SSA offices and (originally) post offices.

Employee, patient, student, and credit records are sometimes indexed by Social Security number.

The U.South. Armed Forces accept used the Social Security number as an identification number for Army and Air Force personnel since July 1, 1969, the Navy and Marine Corps for their personnel since January ane, 1972, and the Coast Baby-sit for their personnel since October one, 1974.^[13] Previously, the United States armed forces used a much more complicated system of service numbers that varied by service.

Beginning in June 2011, the DOD began removing the Social Security number from military identification cards, replacing them with a unique DOD identification number, formally known as the EDIPI.^[fourteen]

Not-universal status [edit]

An old Social Security card with the "not for identification" bulletin

Social Security was originally a universal tax, but when Medicare was passed in 1965, objecting religious groups in being prior to 1951 were immune to opt out of the arrangement.^[15] Because of this, not every American is office of the Social Security program, and non everyone has a number. However, a Social Security number is required for parents to claim their children as dependents for federal income tax purposes,^[12] and the Internal Revenue Service requires all corporations to obtain SSNs (or culling identifying numbers) from their employees, equally described below. The Old Society Amish accept fought to prevent universal Social Security past overturning rules such as a requirement to provide a Social Security number for a hunting license.^[16]

Social Security cards printed from Jan 1946 until Jan 1972 expressly stated that people should not utilise the number and card for identification.^[17] Since nearly everyone in the United States at present has an SSN, it became convenient to employ it anyway and the message was removed.^[18]

Since then, Social Security numbers accept become de facto national identification numbers.^[2] Although some people do not take an SSN assigned to them, it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage in legitimate fiscal activities such as applying for a loan or a banking concern account without one.^[19] While the government cannot require an individual to disclose their SSN without a legal basis, companies may refuse to provide service to an individual who does not provide an SSN.^[xx] ^[21] The menu on which an SSN is issued is notwithstanding not suitable for master identification every bit information technology has no photograph, no physical clarification, and no nativity date. All it does is confirm that a particular number has been issued to a particular name. Instead, a driver'south license or state ID bill of fare is used as an identification for adults.

Use required for federal revenue enhancement purposes [edit]

Social Security carte du jour with legend "for Social Security and tax purposes" (1961)

Internal Revenue Code section 6109(d) provides: "The social security account number issued to an individual for purposes of section 205(c)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act [codified as 42 U.s.C. § 405(c)(two)(A)] shall, except as shall otherwise be specified under regulations of the Secretary [of the Treasury or his delegate], be used equally the identifying number for such individual for purposes of this title [the Internal Revenue Lawmaking, title 26 of the United states Code]."^[22]

The Internal Revenue Code also provides, when required by regulations prescribed by the secretary of the treasury or their delegate:

Inclusion in returns: Any person required under the authority of this championship to make a return, statement, or other document shall include in such return, statement, or other certificate such identifying number as may exist prescribed for securing proper identification of such person.
Furnishing number to other persons: Any person with respect to whom a return, argument, or other document is required under the authority of this title to be made by another person or whose identifying number is required to be shown on a return of some other person shall furnish to such other person such identifying number equally may be prescribed for securing their proper identification.^[23]

According to U.S. Treasury regulations, any person who, after October 31, 1962, works as an employee for wages subject to Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes, or U.S. federal income tax withholdings is required to utilise for "an business relationship number" using Course SS-five.^[24]

A taxpayer who is non eligible to take a Social Security number must obtain an alternative Taxpayer Identification Number.

[edit]

Four unlike classifications of Social Security cards are issued. Such cards are issued past geographic location (SSN Surface area Number) to:

persons of natural nativity within the territorial boundaries of any one of the member States of the The states;
persons who become U.Southward. citizens by oath, or birth within the exclusive legislative or territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. government;
persons who go U.S. permanent residents;
persons with certain restrictions.

There are two restricted types of Social Security cards:

Ane reads "not valid for employment." Such cards cannot be used as proof of piece of work potency, and are not adequate equally a List C document on the I-ix class.
The other reads "valid for work only with DHS authorisation", or the older, "valid for work only with INS authorization." These cards are issued to people who have temporary work authorization in the U.S from the Department of Homeland Security -- the nation's border bureau. They can satisfy the I-9 requirement, if they are accompanied by a work authorization carte.

The cards commonly display the cardholder's name and number.

In 2004 Congress passed The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act; parts of which mandated that the Social Security Assistants redesign the SSN card to prevent forgery. From April 2006 through August 2007, the SSA and Government Printing Role (GPO) employees were assigned to redesign the Social Security number carte du jour to the specifications of the Interagency Task Forcefulness created by the commissioner of Social Security in consultation with the secretarial assistant of Homeland Security.

The new SSN carte design utilizes both covert and overt security features created by the SSA and GPO blueprint teams.

Identity theft [edit]

Many citizens and privacy advocates are concerned about the disclosure and processing of Social Security numbers. Furthermore, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have demonstrated an algorithm that uses publicly bachelor personal information to reconstruct a given SSN.^[25]

The SSN is ofttimes used by those involved in identity theft. This is because it is interconnected with many other forms of identification and people asking for information technology treat information technology as an authenticator. Financial institutions generally require an SSN to set upward bank accounts, credit cards, and loans—partly because they assume that no one except the person information technology was issued to knows it.

Exacerbating the problem of using the Social Security number as an identifier is the fact that the Social Security card contains no biometric identifiers of any sort, making it essentially impossible to tell whether a person using a certain SSN truly belongs to someone without relying on other documentation (which may itself accept been falsely procured through use of the fraudulent SSN). Congress has proposed federal laws that restrict the utilise of SSNs for identification and bans their use for a number of commercial purposes—e.g., rental applications.^[26]

The Internal Acquirement Service (IRS) offers alternatives to SSNs in some places where providing untrusted parties with identification numbers is essential. Tax render preparers must obtain and use a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) to include on their client's tax returns (equally office of signature requirements).^[27] Solar day intendance services have taxation benefits, and even a sole proprietor should give parents an EIN (employer identification number) to use on their taxation return.

The Social Security Administration has suggested that, if asked to provide their Social Security number, a citizen should ask which police requires its use.^[28] In accordance with §7213 of the nine/11 Commission Implementation Deed of 2004 and 20 CFR 422.103, the number of replacement Social Security cards per person is generally limited to three per calendar twelvemonth and x in a lifetime.^[28]

Identity confusion has besides occurred considering of the use of local Social Security numbers by the Federated States of Federated states of micronesia, the Republic of the marshall islands, and the Republic of Palau, whose numbers overlap with those of residents of New Hampshire and Maine.^[29]

Similarly, Social Security numbers are often valued information for hackers to gain in attacks such as social engineering attacks, where attackers endeavor and dispense people into disclosing private data. For case, in the social applied science attack involving Hewlett-Packard, executives hired private investigators to manipulate phone companies into disclosing calling information and social security numbers of employees they suspected were leaking information to the press.

Replacement numbers [edit]

A person tin asking a new Social Security number, merely only nether sure atmospheric condition:^[30]

Where sequential numbers assigned to members of the same family are causing bug.
In the event of duplicates having been issued.
In cases where the person has been a victim of domestic violence or harassment, and there is a clear need to change their number for their personal safety.^[31]
When a person has been a victim of identity theft, and his/her Social Security number continues to be problematic.
Where a person has a demonstrable religious objection to a number (such as certain Christians existence averse to the number 666).

For all of these weather condition, credible tertiary-party evidence such equally a restraining order or police report is required.

Structure [edit]

The Social Security number is a 9-digit number in the format "AAA-GG-SSSS".^[32] The number is divided into three parts: the showtime three digits, known as the expanse number considering they were formerly assigned past geographical region; the eye two digits, known as the grouping number; and the final four digits, known as the serial number.

On June 25, 2011, the SSA changed the SSN assignment process to "SSN randomization".^[33] SSN randomization affected the SSN assignment process in the post-obit ways:

Information technology eliminated the geographical significance of the offset 3 digits of the SSN, referred to equally the expanse number, by no longer allocating specific numbers by state for consignment to individuals.
It eliminated the significance of the highest grouping number assigned for each expanse number, and, as a result, the High Group Listing is frozen in time and can be used for validation of merely those SSNs issued prior to the randomization implementation date.
Previously unassigned area numbers have been introduced for assignment, excluding area numbers 000, 666 and 900–999.

Because Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) are issued by the IRS, they were not affected past this SSA modify.

Historical structure [edit]

Prior to the 2011 randomization process, the first 3 digits or area numbers were assigned by geographical region. Prior to 1973, cards were issued in local Social Security offices around the country and the expanse number represented the part code where the card was issued. This did not necessarily have to be in the area where the applicant lived, since a person could apply for their card in whatever Social Security office. Beginning in 1973, when the SSA began assigning SSNs and issuing cards centrally from Baltimore, the area number was assigned based on the Zip Lawmaking in the mailing accost provided on the application for the original Social Security menu. The bidder's mailing address did non take to be the same equally their identify of residence. Thus, the area number did not necessarily represent the state of residence of the bidder regardless of whether the menu was issued prior to, or after, 1973.

Generally, numbers were assigned first in the northeast and moving due south and westward, so that people applying from addresses on the east coast had the lowest numbers and those on the w declension had the highest numbers. As the areas assigned to a locality were exhausted, new areas from the pool were assigned, so some states had noncontiguous groups of numbers.

The middle two digits or group number range from 01 to 99. Even earlier SSN randomization, the grouping numbers were not assigned consecutively within an area. Instead, for administrative reasons, group numbers were issued in the post-obit order:^[34]

odd numbers from 01 through 09
fifty-fifty numbers from 10 through 98
even numbers from 02 through 08
odd numbers from eleven through 99

As an example, group number 98 would be issued before xi.

The last 4 digits, which are serial numbers, "are the most important to protect" and they can "open up credit in your proper name, steal your money" and more.^[35] Before SSN randomization took effect, they represented a straight numerical sequence of digits from 0001 to 9999 within the group.

Valid SSNs [edit]

Prior to June 25, 2011, a valid SSN could not have an surface area number between 734 and 749, or to a higher place 772, the highest area number the Social Security Administration had allocated. Constructive June 25, 2011, the SSA assigns SSNs randomly and allows for the assignment of expanse numbers between 734 and 749 and to a higher place 772 through the 800s.^[36] This should not exist confused with Tax Identification Numbers (TINs), which include boosted area numbers.^[37]

Some special numbers are never allocated:

Numbers with all zeros in any digit group (000-##-####, ###-00-####, ###-##-0000).^[38] ^[39]
Numbers with 666 or 900–999 (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) in the first digit group.^[38]

Until 2011, the SSA published the last group number used for each area number.^[40] Since group numbers were allocated in a regular design, it was possible to identify an unissued SSN that contained an invalid group number. At present numbers are assigned randomly, and fraudulent SSNs are not easily detectable with publicly bachelor data. Many online services, however, provide SSN validation.

Unlike many similar numbers, no check digit is included.

Burnout and re-use [edit]

The Social Security Administration does not reuse Social Security numbers. It has issued over 450 million since the start of the programme, and at a use rate of nearly 5.v million per yr. It says it has enough to last several generations without reuse or irresolute the number of digits.^[41] However, there take been instances where multiple individuals have been inadvertently assigned the aforementioned Social Security number.^[42]

SSNs used in advertising [edit]

Some SSNs used in advertizing take rendered those numbers invalid. One famous case of this occurred in 1938 when the East. H. Ferree Visitor in Lockport, New York, decided to promote its production by showing how a Social Security card would fit into its wallets. A sample card, used for display purposes, was placed in each wallet, which was sold by Woolworth and other department stores across the state; the wallet manufacturer's vice president and treasurer Douglas Patterson used the actual SSN of his secretarial assistant, Hilda Schrader Whitcher.

Even though the card was printed in cherry (the existent bill of fare is printed in blue) and had "specimen" printed across the front, many people used Whitcher's SSN as their own. The Social Security Assistants's account of the incident also claims that the simulated carte du jour was half the size of a existent bill of fare, despite a miniature carte being useless for its purpose and despite Whitcher'southward holding two cards of obviously identical size in the accompanying photograph. Over time, the number that appeared (078-05-1120) has been claimed by a total of over 40,000 people as their own.^[43] The SSA initiated an advertising entrada stating that information technology was incorrect to utilise the number (Hilda Whitcher was issued a new SSN). Notwithstanding, the number was plant to be in utilise past 12 individuals as tardily equally 1977.^[43]

More recently, Todd Davis distributed his SSN in advertisements for his company's LifeLock identity theft protection service, which allowed his identity to be stolen over a dozen times.^[44] ^[45]

[edit]

List showing the geographical location of the first three digits of the Social Security numbers assigned in the United States and its territories from 1973 until June 25, 2011. Repeated numbers indicate that they have been transferred to another location or they're shared by more than 1 location.

On June 25, 2011, the SSA changed the SSN assignment process to "SSN randomization".^[46] SSN randomization affects the SSN consignment process. Amid its changes, it eliminates the geographical significance of the first 3 digits of the SSN, previously referred to equally the Area Number, by no longer allocating the Area Numbers for assignment to individuals in specific states.

SSN area number	Location^[47]
001–003	New Hampshire
004–007	Maine
008–009	Vermont
010–034	Massachusetts
035–039	Rhode Island
040–049	Connecticut
050–134	New York
135–158	New Bailiwick of jersey
159–211	Pennsylvania
212–220	Maryland
221–222	Delaware
223–231	Virginia
232–236	West Virginia
232, 237–246	Northward Carolina
247–251	S Carolina
252–260	Georgia
261–267	Florida
268–302	Ohio
303–317	Indiana
318–361	Illinois
362–386	Michigan
387–399	Wisconsin
400–407	Kentucky
408–415	Tennessee
416–424	Alabama
425–428	Mississippi
429–432	Arkansas
433–439	Louisiana
440–448	Oklahoma
449–467	Texas
468–477	Minnesota
478–485	Iowa
486–500	Missouri
501–502	N Dakota
503–504	Southward Dakota
505–508	Nebraska
509–515	Kansas
516–517	Montana
518–519	Idaho
520	Wyoming
521–524	Colorado
525, 585	New Mexico
526–527	Arizona
528–529	Utah
530, 680	Nevada
531–539	Washington
540–544	Oregon
545–573	California
574	Alaska
575–576	Hawaii
577–579	Commune of Columbia
580	U.S. Virgin Islands
580–584	Puerto Rico
586	Pacific Body of water territories Guam American Samoa Philippine Islands (under U.Southward. rule until 1946) Northern Mariana Islands
587–665	California (Southern California and the Central Valley) & The states Military Bases Worldwide
676–679	Not issued
700–728	Railroad Retirement Board (discontinued July 1, 1963)
729–730	Enumeration at entry
750-751	Hawaii
752-755	Mississippi
756-763	Tennessee
764-765	Arizona
766-772	Florida

References [edit]

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^ ^a ^b Kouri, Jim (March 9, 2005). "Social Security Cards: De Facto National Identification". American Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^ 20 CFR 422.103(b)
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^ Long, Wayne South. (Spring 1993). "Social Security Numbers Issued: A 20-Yr Review" (PDF). Social Security Journal. 56 (1): 82. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^ Goldberg, Jack (October 17, 1993). "A strategy for assembling samples of adult twin pairs in the U.s.". Statistics in Medicine. 12 (18): 1693–1702. doi:10.1002/sim.4780121805. PMID 8248662. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
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^ "Social Security Number Chronology". Social Security Administration. Retrieved Oct 19, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Social Security Numbers For Children". Social Security Administration. December 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^ "Service Numbers and Social Security Numbers". National Archives. 2016-08-15. Retrieved Oct 19, 2018.
^ Garamone, Jim (April 4, 2011). "DOD removes SSAN from ID cards". U.S. Ground forces . Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^ ""Pay Unto Caesar": The Amish & Social Security". AmishNews.com. Retrieved October xix, 2018.
^ "Amish turn down giving Social Security numbers to go licenses". The Chippewa Herald. August 30, 1999. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^ "Version History". Social Security History. United States Social Security Administration. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved October nineteen, 2018.
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^ 26 United statesC. § 6109(d)
^ 26 U.South.C. § 6109(a)
^ 26 C.F.R. sec. 31.6011(b)-ii(a)(1)(ii)
^ Timmer, John (July 17, 2009). "New algorithm guesses SSNs using date and identify of birth". Ars Technica. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^ Broache, Anne. "Congress may slap restrictions on SSN use - CNET News". News.cnet.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved October xix, 2018.
^ "PTIN Requirements for Tax Return Preparers | Internal Revenue Service". www.irs.gov . Retrieved 2021-02-20 .
^ ^a ^b "Your Social Security Number And Card, "How tin can I protect my Social Security number?"". Social Security Administration. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^ Meyer, Bill (Baronial 17, 2009). "How many Americans' Social Security numbers were officially duplicated for Pacific islanders?". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved Oct 19, 2018.
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^ "New Numbers for Domestic Violence Victims" (PDF). Social Security Assistants . Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^
^ "Social Security Number Randomization". Socialsecurity.gov. Retrieved Oct nineteen, 2018.
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^ "Did y'all know…? The last four digits of your Social Security ..."
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External links [edit]

Social Security Administration
United States Social Security Death Index—Database list over 85 million SSNs, all of which entered the public domain upon the death of their owners
"Woolworth SSN Menu"—"The background of the almost misused Social Security number in history" at Snopes
Social Security Cards Issued by Woolworth: "The most misused SSN of all time was (078-05-1120)."
Consummate listing of area number groups from the Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration's FAQ for Social Security Numbers
Social Security card application
Hearing on Removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare Cards—Joint Hearing earlier the Subcommittee on Social Security and Subcommittee on Wellness of the Committee on Ways and Ways, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, August 1, 2012
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Security Card
Puckett, Carolyn (2009). "The Story of the Social Security Number". Social Security Bulletin. 69 (ii): 55–74. PMID 19697506. Retrieved October 19, 2018. (PDF version)