if a person is 6 years older than me and his social security # start with 551 and my starts 550 is this right?

Question

is there a system used when a social securtiy number is issued to an individual, or is it random. I assumed that if someone was older the social security number would be lower. example the older would start with 551 and the younger person would be for instance 553 not the other way around. Educated me on this matter

Answer 1

The first 3 digits of a SSN are determined by two things:
1) In general, by where you live. I got mine in Hawaii, so mine is a higher number. If you get yours in Maine, it will be a lower number.
2) There is no central computer than dishes out numbers one at a time. Offices are allocated ranges of numbers to use. So it isn't surprising that a newer number is lower than an older number. They aren't allocated sequentially.

Answer 2

The first three are controlled byt the region of the country you were born in, or actually the regional office you apply to for a card. It could be that the slight difference is an effect of a million numbers being used up by that office, but it's hard to say, even for the ss admin. That right though that the numers are issued randomly rahter than in order.

Answer 3

The first person is correct on one thing, the first 3 numbers are determined by where the SSN is issued.
But the reason yours is lower is because you got yours issued to you before they did. You are not automatically given one at birth, your parents get yours for you when they decide to. Or, if they don't get it for you, you get it yourself when you are old enough to need it.

Answer 4

The first three digits reflect location. Follow this link to see how they are assigned.