Many businesses ask for your SSN because it is a convenient way to identify you in their system. As a result, your social security number can now reveal all kinds of information about you, including places you've lived, your credit history, and maybe even medical conditions.
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.
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.
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.
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].
The serial number ranges from 0001 to 9999 and is assigned consecutively within each group 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.
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.
"Social Security numbers can be associated with multiple individuals, and that individuals can have multiple SSNs associated with them.
The two-digit group number divided numbers into blocks within those geographic areas, and the four-digit serial number individualized each full number within that block. The original system reflected the record-keeping needs of a bygone era when Social Security data was organized for storage in filing cabinets.
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.
You can't change your Social Security number simply because your card has been lost or stolen, or to avoid bankruptcy or legitimate debts. The only other reasons Social Security will consider assigning a new number are: Sequential numbers assigned to members of your family are causing confusion.
Generally speaking, a background check for employment may show identity verification, employment verification, credit history, driver's history, criminal records, education confirmation, and more.
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.
To date, 453.7 million different numbers have been issued. Q20: Are Social Security numbers reused after a person dies? A: No. We do not reassign a Social Security number (SSN) after the number holder's death.
If you do not begin the application online, you will need to fill out and print an Application for a Social Security Card and bring it to your local Social Security office. There is no charge for a Social Security card. This service is free.
You will not be charged to apply for or receive the new card, which should arrive 10 to 14 days after your application is processed. Your Social Security number will not change. The Social Security website has an interactive page with more detailed information on what you need to get a new card.
The claim that numbers on a Social Security card can be used as a routing and account number to make purchases is FALSE, based on our research. The Fed has debunked the claim on numerous occasions.
There are approximately 420 million numbers available for assignment. However, the previous SSN assignment process limited the number of SSNs available for issuance to individuals by each state.
You may receive no more than three replacement social security number cards in a year and ten replacement social security number cards per lifetime. We may allow for reasonable exceptions to these limits on a case-by-case basis in compelling circumstances.
Serial number 0000 is never used. Each State goes through all of its area numbers with group number 01 and serial numbers 0001-9999 and 7999 before using group number 03. Thus, 989,901 SSN's can be issued for each area number. The g-digit number provides the capacity for assign- ing nearly 1 billion SSN's.
One of the most common red flags on a background check is inconsistency. If a background check for employment pulls up different information than what the candidate and their resume told you, you need to investigate the matter.
The most popular form of background check is Level 3 background check. Criminal records, schooling, past employment, and reference checks are all part of this process. If desired, pre-employment drug test results can be included in Level 3 background check reports.
Fortunately, you won't have to worry about your Social Security benefits if you change your number—the Social Security Administration links your new number to your old one so your benefits get transferred to the new number.