How are Social Security Numbers Picked? Is it random?

Question

I deal with Social Security numbers everday, and I've always wondered what designates someone's number. Its obviously not in ascending order. Does it have to do with where you were born?

Answer 1

The Social Security number is a nine-digit number in the format "111-11-1111." The number is divided into three parts.

The Area Number is assigned by the geographical region. Prior to 1975, cards were issued in local Social Security offices around the country and the Area Number represented the office code in which the card was issued. This did not necessarily have to be the in the area 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.
Generally, numbers were assigned beginning in the northeast and moving westward, so that people on the east coast had the lowest numbers and those on the west coast had the highest numbers. As the areas assigned to a locality are exhausted, new areas from the pool are assigned, so some states have noncontiguous groups of numbers.

Complete list of area number groups from the Social Security Administration
The middle two digits are the group number. They have no special geographic or data significance but merely serve to break the number into conveniently sized blocks for orderly issuance.
There is a theory that the two middle digits can be used to identify a person's ethnic background. This is debunked as an urban legend on snopes.com as well as on the Social Security Administration's website.
The group numbers range from 01 to 99. However, they are not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, group numbers are issued in the following order:

ODD numbers from 01 through 09
EVEN numbers from 10 through 98
EVEN numbers from 02 through 08
ODD numbers from 11 through 99
As an example, group number 98 will be issued before 11.

The last four digits are serial numbers. They represent a straight numerical sequence of digits from 0001-9999 within the group.

Answer 2

Random Social Security Number

Answer 3

Are Social Security Numbers Random

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How are Social Security Numbers Picked? Is it random?
I deal with Social Security numbers everday, and I've always wondered what designates someone's number. Its obviously not in ascending order. Does it have to do with where you were born?

Answer 5

the first 3 digits are area#, each state is assigned a certain range of area # based on population.

the middle 2 # are the group numbers, groups range from 01-99. these # are not assigned in a straight numerical order. the S S A uses the odd-even-even odd system to assign these #: that first group of # are the odd groups under 10, the first groups to be assigned would be 01, 03, 05, and 09. once 09 is reached the even groups between 10 & 99 are assigned,

very often fake SS# cards will have a valid area # but wil use groip# that are not yet activated.

the last 4 # are the serial # ranging from 0001 to 9999.

a few years ago the S S A published a table od nubers that had been issued between 1951 and 1978. the way to dtermine the years of issue of a particuler # ia to consult the area chart on the left side of chart the follow the column over until you find the grp# given at the top will be the years issued.

Answer 6

No its not random. The 1st three numbers are for the state you live in, next two numbers have to do with when you was born, and the last 4 are picked for unknown reasons.

Answer 7

Every State has it's on numbers

Answer 8

In regards to the first three numbers, low ones are on the east coast and goes higher as you go west. For example, my first three start with 249- which is South Carolina. Those in California and Hawaii start with 5--.

Answer 9

Social Security Disability Form - http://DisabilityHelp.siopu.com/?MdY

Answer 10

I think its just that they reuse dead people's numbers and then you end up with someone else's number. Just random, not assigned in any special way.