huapy 2 ef ng/PrvacyHO_SSN_ngerprnting/ssn_sctue. article 18/13/10 14-08 Structure of Social Security Numbers information contributed by Jerry Crow (crow@anasaz.com) and Barbara Bennett A Social Security Number (SSN) consists of nine digits, commonly written as three fields separated by hyphens: AAA-GG-SSSS. ‘he first three-digit field fs called the “area number". The central, two-digit field is called the “group number". The final, four-digit field is called the "sorial number". Area Numbers The area numbers were assigned to geographical locations in a manner analogous to the way in which ZIP codes were later assigned (in particular, Grea 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 serics 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). with few exceptions, each geographical area is assigned @ range of area numbers. Area numbers assigned prior to 1972 are an indication of the location of the SSA office which originally issued the SSN. Since 1972 SSNs have been issued centrally and the area number in SSNs assigned since 1972 corresponds to the residence location of the applicant as indicated on the application for the SSN. whe original range of area number assignments for a particular region, was, jn many cases, eventually exhausted because of population increases. The original area number assignments have been augmented as required. All of the original assignments were less than 600 (except for the 700-729 railroad worker series mentioned above). Only recently bave group numbers in the 600 Series been allocated. An area number in the 800 series is bogus, so any SSW beginning with an "8" is invalid. an area number of *000" is also invalid. 000 pnuged 387-399 WI 528-529 UT. 001-003 NH 400-407 Ky 530 nv 004-007 ME 408-415 TN 531-539 WA 008-009 vr 416-424 AL 540-544 OR 010-034 MA 425-428 MS 545-573 CA 035-039 RI 429-432 AR 574 AR 040-089 cr 433-439 LA 575-576 HT 050-134 NY 440-448 OK 577-579 DC 135-158 NT 449-467 TX 580 VI Virgin Islands 159-211 PA 468-477 MN 581-584 PR Puerto Rico 212-220 MD 478-485 TA 585 NM 221-222 DE 486-500 MO 586, PI Pacific Islands* 223-231 VA 501-502 ND 587-588 MS 232-236 WV 503-504 SD 89-595 FL 237-246 NC 505-508 NE 596-599 PR Puerto Rico 247-251 8c 509-515 KS 600-601 az 252-260 GA 516-517 MT 602-626 CA 261-267 FL 518-519 ID *Guam, American Samoa, Page 1 of 3tgs 2 ng /Prvay/10_SSN fingerprinting een structure. article 3/10 11:08 Fst 268-302 O8 520 WY Northern Mariana Islands, 303-317 IN 521-524 CO -—«- Philippine Islands 318-361 TE 525 MM 362-386 MI 526-527 AZ 627-699 unassigned, for future use 700-728 Railroad workers through 1963, then discontinued 729-899 unassigned, for future use 900-999 not valid SSNs, but were used for program purposes when state aid to the aged, blind and disabled was converted to a federal program administered by SSA. Group Numbers The group number is not related to geography but rather to the order in which SSNs are issued for a particular area. The group sumbers for each area number are assigned in the following orde: 1. Odd numbers, 01 to 09 2. Even numbers, 10 to 98 3. Even numbers, 02 to 08 4. Odd numbers, 11 to 99 A group code of "00" is invalid. SSA publishes 2 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 serial numbers are assigned in chronological order as the applications are processed (except that all 2000 and 7000 series serial numbers are special; gee below). Serial number "0000" is invalid. Composite SSN Assignment ‘The composite numbers are assigned starting with serial number 0001 and running through all assigned area numbers for the first group code. Then serial number 0002 is used with all assigned area numbers for the first Group code. Etc., etc. Thus, the area numbers vary first (ascending order within the assigned range of numbers), followed by the seriel numbers (in ascending order, except for 2000 and 7000 series; see below), followed by the group numbers (according to the rules above). Since the group number is non-repeating and assigned according to a fixed (albeit weird) rule set, it is an indicator of the age of the SSN. For example, Idaho is assigned area numbers 518-519. The SSNs in Tdaho, then, were assigned in the following order: 518-01-0001, $19-01-0001, 518-01-0002, 519-01-0002 . 518-01-9999, 519-01-9999, 518-03-0001, 519-03-0001, etc. hese ranges are not he 2000 and 7000 series serial numbers are specia’icp]? rg/Prvay/1D_S8N_Angerpunting/ssn_structue article 15/13/10 11.08 m6 assigned in chronological order. Rather, every fifth applicant is assigned @ serial number in one of these ranges. These serial number groups fepresent a random sampling of SS participants and are used for statistical analysis. Invalid SSNs Any SSN conforming to one of the following criteria is an invalid number: 1. any field all zeroes (no field of zeroes is ever assigned). 2. First digit "8" (no area numbers in the 800 series have been assigned). 3. First two digits 73-79 (no area numbers in the'700 series have been assigned except for the "railroad" series, 700-729). very few SSNs with an area number in the 900 series have been allocated and virtually all of them are special numbers (i.e., they are not assigned to individuals). A pamphlet entitled "The Social Security Number” (Pub. No. 05-10633) provides an explanation of the SSN's structure and the method of assigning and validating Social Security numbers. Page 3 0f 3ecoding Socal Security Numbers in One Step 5/13/10 1:08 rm Decoding Social Security Numbers in One Step Stephen P. Morse, San Francisco Trees ofS Nobo Three-Digit Decoder SSN starting with 040t0089 : - XX - XXXX was issued in Connecticut Where card was issued, not where person was born Five-Digit Decoder he Five-Digit Decode: Due to heavy usage. I've had to restr E h person is allowed only ten such decod s per day SSN starting with 001: - 01 + -XXXX was issued in 001-01: New Hampshire, 1936-1950" Where and when card was issued, not where and when person was born Three-Digit Assignment Chart Oxx,txx | 2xx,3xx [| 4xx_ [Sax Ss 6x | Tx por-oos aia wp fo” ae ae *oo-o1 az [700-728 ay _p2t-222 DE Ae [503-504 sb tinal (502-626 CA Vr p23-231 VA Ae [505-508 ae \627-645 TX co De a : Ras4?8 [509-515 KS 575-576 HI [730-791 HE hae aaa pr baa ve wr 429-432 [516-517 577-579 lea qe8 MAC ttc stevernarseorafssn/ssn.hml Page 1 of 2Decoding Soca Security Numbers in One Step 15/13/40 11-08 porve na evereow YAR Mr De a0-049 1137-246 NC en 518-519 1D [580-580 V1 650-653 CO {756-763 TN (050-134 [440-448 [520-520 qi ae ee NY _ aacon ee K lwy 581-584 PR 654-658 SC |764- AZ 135-158 NJ f252-260Ga [49-467 Ph 524 (585-585 [659.665 LA (766-772 FL z. x _|NM. a 159-211 [468-477 586-586 [666-666 ie | oscocin MIN NI _pr poe [526-527 (587-588 | —_possan on fre-a8sia az” Ms 667-675 GA [486-500 [528-529 |, 0s-3171N Mo fur 589-595 FL [576-679 AR 318-361 IL NY 596-599 PR |680-680 NV 5 = (ae [531-539 =e z 1362-386 ML _ iva __fst-evonc {387-399 WI a [691-699 VA NW = North Carolina if next two digits are 30, otherwise West Virginia PI* = Pacific Islands (Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Philipines) RR* = Railroad Workers EE* = Enumeration at Entry XX* = Unassigned The structure of Social Seeurity Numbers can be found in esn Croan Barbra Bennet saris Later number assignments can be found at the Sucial Se website This page is aulomnatically updated monthly Stephen P, Morse, 2007 hp /stevemorse ora/ssn/ssn.tmt age 2 of?