When was ssn issued

This information isn't really a secret. It just isn't very well known. The first three digits are known as the "area number". Thereafter, the number was randomly assigned. The second two numbers are known as the "group numbers". They really do not have any geographical or data significance. The third set of four numbers is simply the numerical sequence of digits to issued within each group. By using the first three numbers of anyone's SSN, you can often tell in which State they were born, or at the least, one of the States where they once lived.

Try it! The first three digits of a Social Security Number correspond to locations as follows:. If the same area number appears above more than once, it is because certain numbers were transferred from one State to another or that the area number was divided for use amongst certain geographical locations. Any number beginning with "", "", "", has a middle "00", or ends in "" will never be a valid SSN. Sweeney, Jr. The next day, newspapers around the country announced that Sweeney had been issued the first SSN.

It would be more accurate to say that the first Social Security record was established for John David Sweeney, but since master records were invisible to the public and the Social Security card was a very visible token of the program, the newspapers overlooked the nuance.

And so John David Sweeney, Jr. John David Sweeney, Jr. Sweeney was the son of a wealthy factory owner, and had grown up in a room Westchester County home staffed with servants.

In an effort to learn the family business, Mr. Sweeney was working as a shipping clerk for his father at the time he filled out his application for a social security card. John Sweeney died of a heart attack in at the age of 61 without ever receiving any benefits from the social security program; however, his widow was able to receive benefits based on his work until her death in The Lowest Number We do know who received the Social Security card with the lowest number, card Since the Board controlled the issuance of the account numbers to the post offices, and since they were to be distributed geographically by area number, the agency was in a position to at least control where the number was issued--and it tried to control who it was issued to.

Social Security numbers were grouped by the first three digits of the number called the area number and assigned geographically starting in the northeast and moving across the country to the northwest. But if you look closely at the distribution pattern you will see an apparent anomaly. The lowest area numbers are assigned to New Hampshire, rather than to Maine, even though Maine in the most northeasterly of the states. Subsequent legislation over the next few decades expanded the eligible Social Security pool until it included all American citizens—including children.

When the U. Likely, the system that necessitates we all memorize our own nine-digit number will continue for a long time. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Recommended for you.