Social Security Number

Social Security Number (SSN) is the most important number that all legal residents of USA receive and they must remember these 9 digits by heart. You will need SSN for any official paper work or dealings e.g. while filling Tax forms or opening a bank account, getting US passport, buying savings bonds or getting medical insurance.

Social Security Number is given by Social Security Administration. You can find out about the nearest Social Security office by visiting their web site or by calling the toll-free number 1-800-772-1213.

Now, what do these 9 digits mean? The Social Security number is divided into three parts. The first three digits of the SSN are the area number. For numbers assigned prior to 1973, it indicates the specific Social Security office from which the card was issued. Since 1973, certain blocks of numbers have been allocated to each State. The area number indicates the State the number holder showed as his/her mailing address while applying for SSN. The State is derived from the ZIP code in the mailing address.

The middle two digits are the group number and have no geographical significance. They just break the SSN into conveniently sized blocks for use in internal operations and order of issuance. The last four digits are the serial number representing a straight numerical series of numbers from 0001-9999 within each group.

Social Security Numbers are not reassigned when people die. The current 9-digit number provides almost 1 billion SSNs. Each year more than five million new numbers are assigned to new residents. Benefits may be payable to dependents and survivors or the SSN holder long after he/she dies. The Social Secuirty Number is used to administer the payment of these benefits.