Steve Morris Decoding Social Security Numbers (2024)

FAQs

How do you decode your Social Security number? ›

A completely random guess at a 9-digit SSN should be a one in one billion chance. But instead, their newly educated guesses have narrowed the odds down to roughly 1 in 1,000.

If the first number must be a 0, how many different social security numbers are there? There are 1 possible first numbers. For each possible first number there are 10 possible second numbers. For each possible pair, first and second, there are 10 possible third numbers.

The government has long been aware of this, which is why your social security number is also divided up; it's easier for you to remember your number when it's broken into chunks of three digits, two digits, then four digits, instead of nine numbers all together.

SSA-1099 Form with full SSN (including SSA-1099-SM, SSA-1099-R-OP1, etc.) Non-SSA 1099 Form with full SSN (including 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC, etc.) 1098 Form with full SSN (including 1098-C, etc.) Bank, loan, or financial documents with full SSN.

The last four digits of the SSN are the serial number. The serial number represents a straight numerical series of numbers from 0001–9999 within each group. Serial number 0000 is not assigned.

Social Security Number

All zeros (000000000) All ones (111111111) All threes (333333333) Consecutive digits in numerical order (123456789)

No, there is no way to search for your Social Security number online. You'll need to search through your personal records to find your SSN or request a new Social Security card. How can I look up my SSN? Your Social Security number might be on some of your tax records or financial documents.

Footnote: It is true that the application form for an SSN asks for identfying information, such as date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and (optionally) the applicant's race. But none of this identifying information is encoded in the SSN itself--not the person's date of birth, place of birth, or race.

The group numbers are the two middle numbers of a social security number. These numbers do not represent the geographical region, but they do represent the order in which a number was issued for a particular region.

What's the formula for Social Security? ›

Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)

After we determine the number of years, we choose those years with the highest indexed earnings, sum such indexed earnings, and divide the total amount by the total number of months in those years. We then round the resulting average amount down to the next lower dollar amount.

There are millions of people who have SSNs, and some people think it is unique, but it is not, your number can match several people.

Were you aware that the first three digits of the Social Security Number (SSN) had a geographical significance? Since the inception of SSNs, the first three digits were determined by the Zip Code of the mailing address shown on the application for an SSN -- but this is slated to change in 2011.

Do not store your Social Security card in your wallet or other easily accessible places, and do not write it down on notepads (physical or digital). Try to memorize your number if possible, and store your physical card in a safe place where you can reference it as needed.

The group numbers are the two middle numbers of a social security number. These numbers do not represent the geographical region, but they do represent the order in which a number was issued for a particular region.

The Social Security number is a nine-digit number in the format "AAA-GG-SSSS". The number has three parts: the first three digits, called the area number because they were formerly assigned by geographical region; the middle two digits, the group number; and the last four digits, the serial number.

The first group of three digits is the area number. It represented the issuing state. States could have more than one number, depending on how many people needed SSNs. Examples of area numbers include 001 to 003 for New Hampshire and 575 to 576 for Hawaii.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal , the first three digits of a U.S. Social Security number is a code that may indicate the state or territory in which your application stated you were born (because the code reveals the state in which you registered).