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How Social Security Numbers are Assigned

Learn how Social Security Numbers are assigned

How Are Social Security Numbers Assigned?

This article aims to help you understand how Social Security Numbers are assigned. In 2011, the Social Security Administration (SSA) changed how they assign Social Security Numbers (SSNs). The new method uses a process called “randomization” to assign SSNs.

The Administration developed a new method to help protect the SSN’s integrity and extend the nine-digit SSN’s longevity (instead of adding additional digits).

SSN Randomization changes the assignment process in several ways. First, it eliminates the geographical importance of the first three digits. Also, the new randomization process eliminates the significance of the highest group number.

As a result, the High Group List is frozen in time and can only be used to see the area and group numbers SSA issued before the randomization implementation date.

Overview of Social Security Numbers

A Social Security number is issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary workers in the United States. The number is issued to an individual by the SSA, an agency of the federal government .

Its primary purpose is to track working individuals for taxation purposes and Social Security benefits. Since it was initially introduced, the SSN has become the primary national identification number, even though it was not originally intended to be used as a form of identification.

Since 1972, numbers have been issued by the central office. The first three (3) digits of a person’s social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number.

Previously, before 1972, social security numbers were assigned by SSA field offices. The number merely established that his/her card was issued by one of the SSA offices in that State.

Randomization

In 2011, the SSA changed the assignment process to a process known as SSN randomization. This process eliminates the geographical significance of the number’s first three digits. Below is an explanation of how the numbers were assigned under the old system that was in effect before 2011 .

Social Security Number – Area Group Serial

The Social Security number consists of nine (9) digits, usually written in the format – 1 2 3 – 4 5 – 6 7 8 9. The first three digits of a social security number denote the area (or State) where the original Social Security number application was filed.

Each area’s group number (middle two (2) digits) ranges from 01 to 99 but is not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, group numbers issued first consist of the ODD numbers from 01 through 09 and then EVEN numbers from 10 through 98, within each area number allocated to a State.

After all numbers in group 98 of a particular area have been issued, the EVEN Groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by ODD Groups 11 through 99.

Within each group, the serial numbers (last four (4) digits) run consecutively from 0001 through 9999.

The chart below shows how Group numbers are assigned:

  • ODD – 01, 03, 05, 07, 09——EVEN – 10 to 98
  • EVEN – 02, 04, 06, 08——ODD – 11 to 99

List of Social Security Number Prefixes for Each State

Following is a list of social security number prefixes for each state. The listing is organized in ascending order based on the SSN prefix, with the corresponding issuing state listed. Remember, these apply only to numbers issued before 2011 under the old system.

SSN Prefix = Issuing State

001-003 = New Hampshire 004-007 = Maine 008-009 = Vermont 010-034 = Massachusetts 035-039 = Rhode Island 040-049 = Connecticut 050-134 = New York 135-158 = New Jersey 159-211 = Pennsylvania 212-220 = Maryland 211-222 = Delaware 223-231 = Virginia 232 = North Carolina 232 = West Virginia 233-236 = West Virginia 237-246 = North Carolina 247-251 = South Carolina 252-260 = Georgia 261-267 = Florida (Also 589-595) 268-302 = Ohio 303-317 = Indiana 318-361 = Illinois 362-386 = Michigan 387-399 = Wisconsin 400-407 = Kentucky 408-415 = Tennessee 416-424 = Alabama 425-428 = Mississippi 429-432 = Arkansas 433-439 = Louisiana 440-448 =Oklahoma 449-467 = Texas 468-477 = Minnesota

478 – 485 = Iowa 486 – 500 = Missouri 501 – 502 = North Dakota 503 – 504 = South Dakota 505 – 508 = Nebraska 509 – 515 = Kansas 516 – 517 = Montana 518 – 519 = Idaho 520 = Wyoming 521 – 524 = Colorado 525 = New Mexico 526 = Arizona 526 = New Mexico 527 = Arizona 528 – 529 = Utah 530 = Nevada 531 – 539 = Washington 540 – 544 = Oregon 545-573 = California 574 = Alaska 575-576 = Hawaii 577-579 = District of Columbia 580 = Virgin Islands 580-584 = Puerto Rico 585 = New Mexico 586 = Guam & American Samoa 586 = All Other Pacific Territories 587-588 = Mississippi 589-595 = Florida (also 261-267) 600-601 = Arizona (designated) 602-626 = California (designated) 700-728 = Railroad Retirement 729-999 = Not used until randomization was introduced.

Note: The number 666 has never been used and will not be used in the future.

Please post a comment below if you are aware of any new number ranges.

SSN Requirements

No law directly requires a natural-born United States citizen to apply for a Social Security number to live or work in the United States. However, some people still live without a number because they view it as a voluntary government program. Those who don’t get a number find it difficult to engage in ordinary acts of commerce or banking activities because they can’t provide an SSN.

Additional Resources

If you want to learn more about the process, visit the  Social Security Administration website. On the website, you can:

  • Get more information on how numbers are assigned and the randomization process
  • Find the offices near you and get directions using the office locator. Just enter your zip code.
  • Learn how to get cards and how to request replacement cards

Questions and Comments

If you have any questions, please post a comment below.

38 COMMENTS

What does a Social Security beginning with 200-75-XXXX indicate? I really didn’t understand the middle number, but I believe the first 3 numbers indicate under the old system that the number was applied for in PA.

I didn’t know the numbers were randomized rather than regionalized which makes a lot of sense. I’m a 370 from Michigan. Odd question… why is the prefix 666 unavailable? It’s just a number. I understand it’s Christian significance but it is only a series of digits and this is not a “Christian” domain. I am actually, but my faith is mine not someone else’s concern. The relevance of that number is from The New Testament (St. John’s Revelation)… and that is not fully explained or understood.

i need my grandfathers ssn because he has passed recently and ppl are still calling to collect nothing but they dont believe me they want his number how can i get it

If you are a family member, then you need to look at the DEATH CERTIFICATE. The social security number will be on it. Contact the funeral home, they will have a copy in their files. If you dont; know who handled the service, contact the cemetary, their records should show who the funeral director was. WARNING, if you are not a DIRECT family member no one will give you a copy or any information.

Is a SSN that has the first 5 digits all matching valid? I came across one on a client’s paperwork that had all the same number in the first 5 places. Only the last 4 were different.

I can’t say whether or not the numbers in your particular case are valid, but it would have been possible under the “old” system of issuing numbers. The first three numbers are based don’t the geographic area. The next two numbers are the group numbers, and those numbers are allocated to particular areas within a state.

You say that 729-999 are not in use, but my wife has a SSN that starts with 881. She is from France and got a green card in 2012, and that was the prefix assigned.

Then she got her SSN after June 25, 2011 when they started using random numbers.

Can a person’s prefix be different from the state the were born in? My prefix suggests I was born in Washington, but I was not.

Can group numbers be used to narrow down a location within a state (prior to randomization)?

It is difficult to find official information on the specific manner in which the numbers were issued. However, the group numbers weren’t based on a geographical area. The group numbers were determined by the sequential order in which they were assigned.

With the advent of some financial institutions wishing to make you give them the last six or your social security number, it seems as though they do not understand nor does the government understand the sanctity that should be afforded Social Security identification numbers. With crooks having access to screaming fast computers today, it really is not much of a problem with a nine-digit password to eventually obtain it by searching. And it makes it much easier with the last four that the majority of institutions require for identification. However, with the last six, you might as well just give them the entire number and see your personal security go down the tube. This should be a top priority of our government to band the use of any more numbers being given out to anybody for identification.

Are there duplicates of the last four digits?

Yes. There are social security numbers that have the last four digits that match.

Are SSN’s for noncitizens coded to shos they are not citjzens?

I believe the SSA assigns the numbers using the randomization process that was put in place in 2011. So, they shouldn’t be coded to identify that an individual is a non-citizen. Check the SSA.gov website for more information.

I’m wondering the same thing,

Please remember: the SSN is assigned based on the address provided on the application submitted to the Social Security Administration. This address is supposed to be the applicant’s permanent address. If you have a question, you should contact the Social Security Administration. >>> ASSIGNMENT METHODOLOGY USED STARTING JUNE 26, 2011 <<< The U.S. SSN (Social Security Number) is assigned RANDOMLY. However, the methodology is not public knowledge.

Concerning? I was noting my son’s ssn this year while gathering tax information, and it starts with 881. My concern is that it won’t be valid when he goes to work- as it says numbers starting with 729-999 = Currently not in use???? What could have happened?

It was randomized near the year 1972 because some areas ran out of numbers.

I am a Veteran living in the Houston, Texas area and am enrolled in VA Healthcare. I have recently discovered, when checking in at the DeBakey VA Hospital in Houston, that their VA computer shows that there are 3 Veterans in their system, including myself, that have the same exact last name and the same exact last 4 numbers of their SSN. Should I be concerned?

We’re not in a position to interpret whether it is something that should be of concern. However, it may be something that you should inquire about with VA Healthcare. It is possible that you may have multiple accounts within their system. The records that you see with the same last name and same last four numbers of the SSN may all be referring to you. You may want to give them a call to get more information.

Here it said that the 800 are not in use . 800 are good numbers or bugs number please advice

The SSA changed the way they issue social security numbers, so numbers beginning with 800 are certainly possible.

Both my kids born 2004 & 2009 are 766 and it’s now required to file for them at birth to which they were born in FL but it says the 766 aren’t in use yet when they have been in use for at least 15years now. Strange.

I was born in S.C. but the first 3 digits show it came from Arkansas

I live in NE. Everyone in my family and my first born all start with the 505, 508. This past year I had a baby. His SSN starts with 358. Why is this?

your would indicate you and your family was born in Nebraska, But your sons would indicate he was born in Illinois, so if he wasn’t that is strange, better check into so he don’t have problems later in life with his number

its not where you were born that determines the number, it is the state where the application for an original Social Security number was filed. In my case, I didn’t file till I was 13 and had moved multiple times.

The numbers are now picked at random & are not picked by state. The first three numbers of your baby’s ssn have nothing to do with his state of birth or the state in which his ssn was applied for. Since 2011, the Social Security Administration has been assigning SSNs by randomization. This process eliminates the geographical significance of the first 3 numbers.

I was born in 1980 so my social security number should be from the state I was born in since the change was not started till 2011 where your social security number is pick random

My daughter was born in Connecticut it was issued a social security number while living in Connecticut but she has a New York social security number

I was born in Georgia and I have a New York number. My cousin was born the same month and in the same hospital as me and she has a Georgia number. What could be the reason?

I have an FL ssn and i wasnt born in FL accoding to my birth certificate.

I was born in Alabama, but my SSN was issued at about age 8 (this was many years ago) while living in North Dakota. Therefore, I have a North Dakota SSN.

i have a question it says the 1st 3 numbers say where one was born i have 149 the list says that is the number for new Jersey and i was born in Oklahoma. why?

The first three numbers actually represent the geographic area where the social security number was issued, rather than where a person was born.

In 2011 the first 3 of 808 was used. Every where I have seen says it isn’t, but it was given to my child.

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Social Security

Frequently asked questions, comments and questions, how are social security numbers assigned.

We assign Social Security numbers randomly . We changed to a random process in 2011 to help protect the integrity of the Social Security number. 

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  • Why You Need a SSN
  • When Not to Use Your SSN
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The Bottom Line

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  • Social Security

The Purpose of Having a Social Security Number

Amy Fontinelle has more than 15 years of experience covering personal finance, corporate finance and investing.

how is someone's social security number determined

Pete Rathburn is a copy editor and fact-checker with expertise in economics and personal finance and over twenty years of experience in the classroom.

how is someone's social security number determined

A Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number that the United States government issues to all U.S. citizens and eligible U.S. residents who apply for one. The government uses this number to keep track of your lifetime earnings and the number of years worked.

When the time comes to retire, or if you ever need to receive Social Security disability income, the government uses the information about your contributions to Social Security to determine your eligibility and calculate your benefit payments. Most people will use the same Social Security number their entire lives, though some people might need to apply for a replacement number at some point because of identity theft .

Keep reading below to find out more about when and why you need a Social Security number, as well as when you should avoid using it.

Key Takeaways

  • A Social Security number (SSN) is a unique identifier assigned to U.S. citizens and some residents to track their income and determine benefits. 
  • In addition to Social Security, the SSN is now also used for a wide range of purposes.
  • These include obtaining credit, opening a bank account, obtaining government benefits or private insurance, and buying a home or a car, among many other pursuits.

When and Why You Need a Social Security Number

Anytime you get hired for a new job, your employer will ask for your Social Security number. Your employer’s accounting department will use this number to report your income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and your Social Security wages to the Social Security Administration.

Your employer will also use it for state income tax reporting, unless your state doesn’t have an income tax. Employers who participate in E-Verify, a program to make sure employees can legally work in the U.S., also must obtain your Social Security number before you can begin work.

Below are some other common scenarios where you’ll need to provide your Social Security number.

When Opening an Account with Any U.S. Financial Institution

Since 1970, the federal government has required banks to obtain customers’ Social Security numbers or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) . Financial institutions use your SSN to check your credit, to report your interest and investment income or losses to the IRS, to report your tax-deductible mortgage interest to the IRS, and to manage your account.

As an alternative, some financial institutions will accept a taxpayer identification number (on some forms, also called an Employer Identification Number, or EIN), which you’ll need to apply for through the IRS. 

When Applying for a Federal Loan

The government will use your Social Security number to make sure you’re eligible when you apply for a federal loan, such as a federal student loan. For example, to qualify for federal student loans , you must not be in default on another federal loan, you must have eligible citizenship or visitor status, and most male applicants must have registered with Selective Service.

When Applying for Certain Types of Public Assistance

Public assistance programs, such as unemployment benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) , are usually managed by federal or state government agencies that use Social Security numbers to identify people and make sure they aren’t claiming benefits that they aren’t entitled to.

When Enrolling in Medicare

The Social Security Administration works with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enroll people in Medicare.  

When Applying for a Passport

Federal law requires you to provide a Social Security number if you have one when you apply for a U.S. passport. If you don’t have an SSN, you must provide a sworn statement that you were never issued one.

On Your Tax Return

The IRS uses this number to match the income you report on your tax return to the income that your employer and financial institutions report having paid to you. Also, you’ll need to provide your child’s SSN to claim your child as a dependent on your tax return.

To Get a Driver’s License

If you have an SSN, many states require you to provide it when you apply for a driver’s license.  

Noncitizens who don’t have Social Security numbers are exempt from providing a Social Security number in many situations that normally require it, including getting a driver’s license, registering for school, getting private health insurance, or applying for public assistance like subsidized housing. The government doesn’t like to give Social Security numbers to noncitizens who aren’t authorized to work in the U.S. It says that even banks and credit companies usually can’t require you to provide a Social Security number if you don’t have one.

However, without this number, financial institutions won’t be able to run a credit check on you. This could make it difficult, if not impossible, to get a credit card or loan.

When to Avoid Using Your Social Security Number

Federal law basically lets anyone ask for your Social Security number, but that doesn’t mean you need to give it out. You should use your Social Security number as infrequently as possible. Just because someone asks for it doesn’t mean they truly need it.

For example, though most medical providers will ask for your SSN, you can leave the line asking for it blank when filling out medical paperwork, and often, no one will question it. Your doctor’s office and other businesses can use other information to identify you and keep track of your records. That said, while you can refuse to provide your SSN, the other party can also refuse to do business with you.

You also shouldn’t carry your Social Security card around with you unless you will be using it for a specific purpose that day, such as when you’re filling out paperwork to start a new job, and you have to show it to your employer as proof of citizenship (though if you can show a valid passport, you don’t need to provide your Social Security card).

You don’t want to risk losing your card or having it stolen since thieves can use this number, in combination with your other personal data, to apply for credit, take out loans, get a job, or even get healthcare in your name, creating a potentially massive identity theft problem for you to clean up.

Instead, keep the card in a secure place at home or in a safe deposit box at the bank. If your card is lost or stolen, you’ll want to apply for a new one.

Similarly, you should keep any documents that contain your SSN, such as your tax returns, in a secure place. If someone were to break into your house, it would be better for you if they could only make off with your stuff and not your identity. You also need to carefully safeguard your electronic documents that contain your Social Security number. If you have an unencrypted PDF of your tax return on your laptop, you’re effectively carrying your Social Security card every time you take your computer with you on a trip or to a coffee shop.

Do I have to provide my Social Security number (SSN) if asked?

There are some situations where you must provide your Social Security number (SSN)—mainly when a government agency requests it for identification. However, private companies may request your SSN, but you are not required to provide it.

Can I change my Social Security number?

Your SSN typically stays with you for life. However, if you are a victim of identity theft, you may be issued a new SSN to protect your future privacy.

When are Social Security numbers issued?

If you are born in the United States, your SSN will be assigned shortly after your birth. If you are a noncitizen, your SSN can be issued after becoming a permanent resident.

When the U.S. government introduced the Social Security program with its numbers in 1936, it was never meant to be so widely used to identify and track individuals. Today, this number is used for everything from its original purpose—to track your lifetime earnings and calculate your Social Security benefits—to opening a checking account or filling out a new-patient form at the doctor’s office.

Many businesses will ask for your Social Security number simply because it’s a convenient way for them to identify customers. Unfortunately, criminals can use your Social Security number to commit identity theft, so you should guard your SSN carefully and only give it out when absolutely necessary.

Internal Revenue Service. “ Publication 915 (2022): Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits ,” Page 2.

E-Verify. “ What Is E-Verify ?”

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. “ Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, and Office of Foreign Assets Control ,” Page 10.

Social Security Administration. “ The Story of the Social Security Number .”

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “ Policy Guidance Regarding Inquiries into Citizenship, Immigration Status and Social Security Numbers in State Applications for Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Food Stamp Benefits .”

Social Security Administration. “ Plan for Medicare .”

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. “ Frequently Asked Questions ,” select “3. Social Security Number Requirement.”

Internal Revenue Service. “ Dependents 9 .”

State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. “ Social Security Number .”

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. “ How to Apply for a ‘Standard’ License without a Social Security Number or Ineligibility Letter .”

Social Security Administration. “ Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens ,” Page 1.

Social Security Administration. “ Social Security Numbers for U.S. Permanent Residents .”

how is someone's social security number determined

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Social Security and how it works

Social Security provides a source of income when you retire or if you cannot work due to a disability. Learn how to replace your Social Security card, apply for benefits, and more.

Get a Social Security number or card

You will need a Social Security number to:

  • Apply for a job
  • Open a bank account
  • Get retirement or disability benefits

Find out how to apply for a Social Security number or replace your Social Security card.

Learn about the types of Social Security benefits and how to apply

There are four main types of Social Security benefits. Learn about each, and find out if you qualify and how to apply:

  • Retirement benefits
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Benefits for spouses and other survivors of a family member who has died

When are Social Security benefits paid?

The day you will get your Social Security retirement benefits each month is based on your birthdate. Find out when you will get paid.

If your Social Security payment is more than 3 days late, contact the Social Security Administration.

How to get help with your Social Security benefits

In many cases, you can manage your Social Security benefits online by creating a free “my Social Security” account. You will be able to:

  • Check on your Social Security benefit application status
  • Update your name, address, and other information 
  • Set up or update your direct deposit information to receive benefits
  • Find tax documents to report income from Social Security on your tax return
  • Get a benefit verification letter to show what benefits you receive

If you have specific questions about your Social Security benefits, you can:

  • Review the Social Security Administration's frequently asked questions
  • Contact the Social Security Administration directly

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5 Ways to Find Your Social Security Number

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Table of Contents

How to find your Social Security number

How to find your child’s social security number.

You can find your Social Security number by checking your card, asking your guardian if they know it, checking certain documentation, talking with a former employer or requesting a new Social Security card.

Your Social Security number (SSN) is a key piece of your identity in the United States. But with only a small card to remind you of the number, it’s easy to find yourself in a situation where you’ve forgotten your SSN. If you’re struggling to remember your or your child's nine-digit number, here are five ways to find it.

» MORE: See our list of phone numbers to the Social Security Administration

how is someone's social security number determined

1. Look at your card

Checking your Social Security card is the fastest way to find your SSN. All Social Security cards have the person’s name and Social Security number printed on the front, even if the person is not allowed to work in the United States. If you were assigned an SSN, you were issued a physical card when the number was assigned to you. Just because you don’t have the card doesn’t mean you weren’t assigned an SSN.

2. Talk to someone who might know your SSN

If you think someone else might know your Social Security number, give them a call. It’s often a parent or legal guardian who requests the initial issuance of a child’s SSN — and it’s common for that adult to supply the child’s SSN on forms as the child grows up. For this reason, a parent or guardian might have their child’s SSN memorized and be able to provide it if asked.

3. Check tax and financial documents

Your Social Security number often appears on tax documents and financial statements. Check tax forms such as your old W-2s , 1099s , or tax returns to see if your SSN is on one of them. If you don’t have access to your tax forms, look at other financial documents you have available. Some bank statements or summaries from investment accounts may include your SSN at the top.

» MORE: How to change the name on your Social Security card

4. Contact a former employer

The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires all employers to verify employees’ SSNs [0] IRS.gov . Hiring Employees . Accessed Aug 23, 2023. View all sources . This ensures that an employee’s wages are correctly reported for tax purposes and that any Social Security payroll tax contributions go to the right person’s record [0] SSA.gov . SSNVS Overview . Accessed Aug 23, 2023. View all sources . If you’ve forgotten your Social Security number, you can contact a former employer to see if they can provide you with it. The employer is unlikely to give you the information over the phone without verification of identity, so be prepared to visit the employer in person and talk to HR.

5. Request a new Social Security card

If you’ve exhausted all of your resources and still can’t figure out what your SSN is, you can request a replacement Social Security card . The replacement card is free, and if you just need a replacement without updating any information, you can probably request the new card online [0] SSA.gov . Replace Social Security Card . Accessed Aug 23, 2023. View all sources . You’ll have to provide a state-issued ID, and you might need to take additional documentation to a local Social Security Administration office to prove your identity.

The Social Security Administration limits how many replacement cards you can request. You can only request three replacements a year and 10 over your lifetime. So it’s a good idea to keep your Social Security card in a safe place where it’s unlikely to be stolen and is protected from potential dangers such as flooding or fire.

1. Look at your child's Social Security card

Just like with your card, your child’s card will have their name and Social Security number printed on the front. This is the fastest way to verify your child's SSN.

2. Call their school or doctor's office

Some providers and organizations request your child’s SSN to confirm their identity. If you’ve provided this information previously, ask if you can get that information from them. You will likely have to provide proof of your identity as the child’s guardian to get the information.

You are not required to give your or your child’s Social Security number to doctor’s offices, except at VA hospitals. However, medical facilities can refuse to provide you with service if you do not give them the information. And your insurance provider might require your SSN to process a claim.

3. Request a new Social Security card for your child

You can request a new card for your child. To do so, you will need to fill out Form SS-5 and provide documentation of [0] SSA.gov . Frequently Asked Questions . Accessed Aug 23, 2023. View all sources :

Your identity.

Your relationship to your child or custody of the child.

Your child’s identity.

Your child’s U.S. citizenship status if it hasn’t been established with the SSA previously.

You can fill out the form online and go to a local SSA office to provide the necessary documentation.

» MORE: Can you change your Social Security number?

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.

Your Social Security number might be on some of your tax records or financial documents. You might also be able to get it from a family member who knows it, or you might ask a former employer that maintained records of your employment.

No, the Social Security Administration won’t provide that information to you over the phone.

On a similar note...

how is someone's social security number determined

Social Security

Request a social security number for the first time, what is a social security number.

A Social Security number (SSN) is a unique identifier issued by the Social Security Administration. You need an SSN to work, and it’s used to determine your eligibility for Social Security benefits and certain government services.

Why might you need one?

Many financial institutions, such as banks and credit companies, also ask for your number when you open an account. If you are a noncitizen living in the United States, you may also need an SSN.

Request a Social Security Number for the first time

Click the Start below and we’ll tell you the best way to apply and documents you will need.

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All documents submitted must be either originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. You will need proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of identity to get a Social Security Card.

Please do not mail original primary documents that should be kept secure in your possession, such as driver’s licenses, passports, or immigration documents. Please call or visit your local Social Security office if you have questions.

Social Security Number Services are Always Free

Some businesses offer Social Security name changes or cards for a fee. Social Security provides those services and more for free. Social Security is the best place to get information about Social Security.

Assisting someone else

If you are filing an application on behalf of someone else, you also must show us evidence of your relationship to, or responsibility for, that person. You must also show us proof of your identity.

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how is someone's social security number determined

Are Social Security Numbers Assigned by Race?

Rumor claims the u.s. government assigns social security numbers on the basis of race, a practice that permits employers to screen applicants and weed out those of color., barbara mikkelson, published apr 11, 1999.

False

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The Social Security "middle digit" rumor is yet another Big Brother conspiracy theory, this one purporting that the federal government and its policies help promote racism. We're told the fifth digit of Social Security numbers denotes race, thus identifying blacks and minorities to mortgage lenders, university admissions officers, employers, and others in application processes that should be color blind. Armed with the foreknowledge of who is black and who is white, perhaps the resumes and applications of African Americans are being shuffled to the bottom of the pile.

It's a chilling thought because we know in our heart of hearts if an exploitable resource did exist for pegging sight unseen what color any of us was, there are bigots out there who would not hesitate to use it. Thankfully, it doesn't. The e-mailed warnings quoted above are bunk; none of the digits in a Social Security number has anything to do with race. The only information 'hidden' in an SSN is where and when it was issued.

Each SSN is composed of nine digits, commonly written as three fields separated by hyphens: AAA-GG-SSSS. The first three-digit field is the area number and indicates what state was listed in the applicant's mailing address when the number was issued. Someone with a mailing address in Oregon, for instance, would have a SSN beginning with 540 to 544, while the SSN of someone with a mailing address in Alabama would begin with 416 to 424.

The second set of numbers (a grouping of two, which includes the supposed infamous 'race' digit) shows when the SSN was issued, not to whom. Note that it does not directly correspond to the year of issue: a 42 in this field does not indicate this particular SSN was handed out in 1942. Different states go through this two-digit code at different rates. Moreover, when a state is done with a particular group number, the next one it begins using comes off the line according to a numbering system which makes perfect sense to the government, but to no one else. (Even so, we're going to attempt to explain it here.)

Before 1965, only half of the potential group numbers were used: odd numbers below ten and even numbers above nine. In 1965, the system was changed so that assignments continued with the low even numbers and the high odd numbers. Therefore, group numbers for each area number are exhausted in the following order:

Odd numbers, 01 to 09 Even numbers, 10 to 98 Even numbers, 02 to 08 Odd numbers, 11 to 99

The last four digits on an SSN are unique to the individual and are known as the series numbers. They are handed out in chronological order within each area and group number. Simply put, if two people living in the same area apply for a SSN during the same year, the first five digits of both numbers will be identical. If their applications hit the desk at the SSA at the same time, there will be a one-number difference, say, 3456 vs. 3457.

Getting back to the 'race' digit possessed of a better understanding of how the SSA assigns that number, we find that prior to 1965, a bushelful of SSNs with even numbers in this position were generated (45) as compared to a mere handful of odd (5). The more densely populated the area, the greater the amount of group numbers exhausted, resulting in SSNs in highly-populated areas more closely patterning themselves to the pre-1965 nine-to-one optimal result for this field. In less populated areas, however, the discrepancy between odd and even is less noticeable, because the five odd numbers are used up first (e.g., if in Alaska only twenty group numbers have been used up, then five are odd and fifteen even, resulting in a three-to-1 ratio.)

From 1965 on, group numbers continue to be assigned on the above basis, but now with the second set of potential codes (49 only this time; there is no 00) being called into service when the first fifty are used up. Consequently, group codes have to achieve a ten-to-one even-to-odd imbalance before the numbers begin resetting themselves towards parity.

So how does this impact the rumor?

At the wildest point of the numbering swing, the odds are 10-to-1 any given person's SSN group code is an even number. Therefore, the claim that "I polled 35 African-Americans, 34 had an EVEN fifth digit in their SS#, the 35th person was White/Puerto Rican," isn't all that surprising. Especially when you consider that the five odd group numbers were handed out first, it's almost a leadpipe cinch that the SSNs of most of the people you meet will contain an even group code.

All of the foregoing can be summed up thusly: The first five digits of an SSN say nothing about who the number is assigned to — they merely reflect the state and year of issue. The last four digits are particular to the individual subscriber, but they're handed out randomly, with the sole determining factor being when the paperwork is processed. Other than his state of residence at the time of application, nothing about the SSN-holder's identity is coded into the number assigned to him.

Let's face it, many of us don't trust the government. Any random tidbit that seems to confirm the rightness of that stance will be seized upon by those who already believe the worst of Uncle Sam. In this case, because Social Security numbers are constructed to conform with certain arcane and almost incomprehensible numbering schemes, it's not that far of a stretch to conclude that some of the 'secret information' encoded into them could be used against us. We already harbor mistrust over being identified by a number, and the revelation that secret stuff is going on with how the numbers are handed out only serves to heighten that anxiety.

White, black, or green, no one likes being reduced to a number; it smacks too much of governmental impersonalization, and its Orwellian overtones disturb us. In the case of African-Americans, this more general unease is further enhanced because of how their government treated them in the past, as Patricia Turner, a University of California-Davis African-American and African Studies professor noted in her book, I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture :

There is no denying that African Americans have suffered unduly at the hands of the government. The Social Security number theory's got that sort of element of the government wanting to track Black people. It's a theory typical of a suspicion or mistrust of the government that also exists in the non-Black community. Segments of the white community initially resisted implementation of the Social Security card system because they didn't like the idea of Big Brother government nationally numbering people"

Additional information:

The SSN Numbering Scheme (Social Security Administration)

A Myth About Social Security Numbers (Social Security Administration)

Blocksma, Mary.   Reading the Numbers .     New York: Penguin, 1989   ISBN 0-140-10654-5   (pp. 162-164).

Johnson, L.A.   "Cyberconspiracy Theories."     Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.   30 July 1998   (p. E1).

Turner, Patricia.   I Heard It Through the Grapevine .     Berkeley, CA: Univ. of California, 1993.   ISBN 0-520-08185-4   (pp. 103-104).

By Barbara Mikkelson

Researchers say they can guess your SSN

There's a new reason to worry about the security of your Social Security number.  Turns out, they can be guessed with relative ease.

A group of researchers at Carnegie-Mellon University say they've discovered patterns in the issuance of numbers that make it relatively easy to deduce the personal information using publicly available information and some basic statistical analysis.

The research could have far-ranging implications for financial institutions and other firms that rely on Social Security numbers to ward off identity theft. It could also unleash a wave of criminal imitators who will try to duplicate the research.

Details of the research were published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal and will be explained at the annual Black Hat computer hacker convention in Las Vegas later this month.

The report means companies and other agencies should once and for all stop using Social Security numbers as passwords or unique identifiers, said Professor Alessandro Acquisti, who authored the report.

"We keep living as if they are secure, a secret," he said. "They're not a secret."

The Social Security Administration says SSNs are issued using a complex process that is effectively random, making them impossible to guess in practical terms.  But Acquisti and fellow researcher Ralph Gross used public lists of Social Security numbers to look for patterns.  They found several. The two say they can guess the first 5 digits of the Social Security number of anyone born after 1988 within two guesses, knowing only birth date and location. The last four digits, while harder to guess, can be had within a few hundred guesses in many situations -- a trivial hurdle for criminals using automated tools.

"Someone filling out credit card applications using a Web site and a botnet could easily succeed (in getting someone's number)," he said.

'Public should not be alarmed'

Acquisti shared the report with the Social Security Administration's office before publication.  He said he could not disclose what steps the agency is taking in response to the research.

The Social Security administration played down the discovery.  In a statement to msnbc.com, Social Security spokesman Mark Lassiter called any suggestion that Acquisti had cracked the code for predicting Social Security numbers "a dramatic exaggeration."

"The public should not be alarmed by this report because there is no foolproof method for predicting a person's Social Security Number," the statement read.

But privacy expert Daniel Solove, a law professor at George Washington University who reviewed the report, called the discovery a "really big deal."

"If you have a password and you can readily figure it out, that's absurd," he said. "This paper points out just how ridiculous it is that we think there's a way to really keep Social Security numbers confidential.  There effectively is no way you can keep them totally confidential. It's just not possible."

How it works

Acquisti said he's discovered simple patterns in the Social Security numbering system. It involves the elusive concept of randomness. To most people, a number is either random or it's not. But to mathematicians, randomness is a sliding scale. Developing perfectly random numbers -- the science of cryptography -- is nearly impossible. Often, software programs designed to create random numbers erroneously spit them out with a faintly distinguishable pattern. With a large enough sample, the numbers begin to form clusters.  Even a small discovery of such a cluster can make an enormous difference to someone trying to crack a crypto code, making predictions of supposedly random numbers an order of magnitude easier.

That's what the Carnegie Mellon researchers found.

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. Making matters worse, because of changes in the way the numbers have been issued since 1988, the numbers are getting easier and easier to guess as time passes. In one example, the researchers said, they can uncover a Delaware resident's 9-digit SSN within 10 guesses about 5 percent of the time.

The SSN is actually broken up into three parts - the first three digits are the "area number," the second two are "group number" and the last four are the "serial number." The Social Security Administration already offers considerable information about the first part of the number.  The area number is based on the zip code used in the application for an SSN.  High population states have many area numbers -- New York has 85, for instance – but many others, like Delaware, have only one.

The other two parts the number, however, are assigned in a way that the Social Security Administration believes it nearly impossible for someone to guess. But the Carnegie Mellon work shows they are not.

He took the largest publicly available list of SSNs -- the agency's master death file, which publishes numbers of the deceased to make them hard to use by imposters -- and sorted the list by state and date of birth.  Immediately, it became clear that the second portion -- the group number  -- was sequentially issued and also trivial to guess. For example, every SSN issued in Pennsylvania during 1996 contains the middle two numbers 76.

That made guessing the first 5 digits of someone's SSN easy in some cases. During a test, the group was able to predict the first five digits of Vermont residents born in 1995 with 90 percent accuracy.

That's important, because there are many ways to determine the last four digits of someone's Social Security number. Some data brokers sell truncated SSNs, with either the first five or the last four numbers visible to the purchaser. And many financial firms use those numbers as a PIN code for verification.

Also, endless customer service operators ask for the last four digits when consumers call for help.  Any agent who knows where and when a caller was born could quickly amass a large set of complete Social Security numbers.

The report contains even more bad news.

The serial numbers -- the last four digits -- can often be guessed using formulas and patterns, he said. It turns out that the Social Security Administration doesn't utilize true randomization to create serial numbers. For example, a graph plotting the numbers issued to Oregon residents in 1996, shown below, shows bands that cluster around certain numbers. In fact, there are five discernable lines.  A truly random issue would show dots scattered throughout the chart.

With additional analysis, Acquisti said, the researchers were able to discern that the serial numbers are issued sequentially, in a way that ties them to the holder's birth date.

"The SSA believes that scheme is so complex that it's sufficiently random," he said. "We show it is way less random than apparently they believe."  As a result, instead of a the four digits yielding a 1 in 10,000 chance in guessing SSNs, he said he can improve the odds to at least 1 in 1,000, and in some cases, far less than that.

The Social Security Administration seems to agree with Acquisti on this issue. In its statement to msnbc.com, the agency said that "for reasons unrelated to this report, the agency has been developing a system to randomly assign SSNs. This system will be in place next year."

Birth dates easy to obtain

For now, an attacker who wanted to guess someone's SSN would still need a birthday and hometown, but these data points are readily available from a number of sources. Many people volunteer such information on social networking sites like Facebook. Voter registration lists and other public databases also include such information, and it is often available for a small charge (or free) from data brokers that operate on the Internet.

There are additional challenges in guessing SSNs for residents born before 1988, because many older Americans did not receive a Social Security number at birth -- so their hometown and their Social Security number application zip code might differ.  But beginning that year -- in a move ironically intended to combat fraud -- the Social Security Administration began forcing many families to order SSNs at birth,  thereby eliminating one more element of chance for a would be SSN-guesser. It's far easier to guess SSNs for anyone born in 1988 or later, Acquisti said.

The formula for issuing the numbers is, in fact, not designed to withstand attacks from cryptography experts or mathematicians.   It was invented in 1936 as a simple numbering system for paper file cabinets.

"This was before there were computers," Acquisti said. "SSNs were never designed for the purpose we use them."

The group is not disclosing the precise formula, because doing so would be akin to publishing the list of all Social Security numbers.  But Acquisti said one "provocative" strategy that government officials might take: Setting a date in the future -- perhaps in three to five years -- where all SSNs are made public, so companies and government agencies stop using SSNs for security purposes.

He called current efforts to protect Social Security numbers from public view "well intentioned, but misguided."

The researchers recommend that the Social Security Administration immediately implement a much more random formula for generation SSNs. But that won't  help the millions of Americans whose SSNs are now easily guessable.  For that, there is only one answer, the report says:

"Industry and policy-makers may need, instead, to finally reassess our perilous reliance on SSNs for authentication and on consumers' impossible duty to protect them," it said.

how is someone's social security number determined

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Forbes

What Is a Taxpayer Identification Number and How Do I Get One?

E ach taxpayer in the U.S. needs to have a unique nine-digit number that can identify them to the IRS. Many Americans use their Social Security number, or SSN, to confirm their identity on tax returns and other IRS correspondence.

But those without SSNs"whether they're individuals, businesses or other organizations"also need nine-digit numeric IDs that enable the IRS to keep track of their accounts.

The umbrella term 'taxpayer identification number' (TIN) signifies all tracking numbers used by the IRS to organize tax filings by individuals and entities.

Taxpayer Identification Numbers

Several varieties of TIN exist. You may even need more than one, depending on your circumstances.

Social Security Number

For individuals, the most commonly used TIN is an SSN. The Social Security Administration issues SSNs to individuals, monitoring their earnings and determining their eventual Social Security benefits . At the same time, the IRS uses SSNs to track individuals' tax returns, forms and other documents.

How To Get an SSN

  • Determine eligibility. Any U.S. citizen can request an SSN. Some noncitizens can get an SSN if they work or attend school in the U.S. or have a valid reason unrelated to work. Additional eligibility information can be found at the Social Security Administration's website .
  • Gather the required documentation. Collect documents that prove your citizenship, age and identity. This can include a U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport, a state-issued driver’s license or identification card, or an identification card from your employer or school. The SSA requires you to provide at least two separate documents. The documents must be either originals or certified copies from the agency that issued them.
  • Apply online. You can request an SSN at the SSA website. You’ll need to answer questions about your citizenship and provide some basic information, such as your legal name, date of birth, state of residence and parents’ names.
  • Take your documents to a Social Security office. If you've submitted your request online, you must provide documentation within 45 calendar days by visiting a local Social Security office . Or, instead, you can choose to go through the full application process during the in-person visit.
  • Wait for your card. After your application is approved, a Social Security card with your number on it will arrive by mail. Expect it within 14 days.

Employer Identification Number

Businesses and other entities use an employer identification number, or EIN"sometimes called a federal employer identification number, or FEIN"for tax reporting. This number is essential for hiring employees, opening business bank accounts and applying for licenses.

How To Get an EIN

  • Determine eligibility. To get an EIN, your principal place of business must be in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. You must have a valid SSN or ITIN to apply for an EIN at the IRS website.
  • Complete an online application. Filling out the free EIN application online takes just a few minutes"but you'll need to do it on a weekday, as the application is only available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. You’ll provide your name, SSN or ITIN and the business’s name and address , and answer a few questions about your business's structure, ownership and physical location. Keep in mind that you'll have to complete the application in one session"you can’t save your progress and return later.
  • Get your EIN. Once you submit a valid application, you’ll get your EIN immediately. Download or print a copy of the EIN confirmation notice for your records.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

The IRS will issue an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) to an individual who's required to file a federal tax return in the U.S. but who is not eligible for an SSN.

ITINs are available to both resident and nonresident aliens. The number's only purpose is for tracking federal tax returns. It doesn’t authorize you to work in the U.S. or make you eligible for Social Security benefits.

How To Get an ITIN

  • Determine eligibility. You must be someone in a category that requires an ITIN, such as a nonresident alien who must file a U.S. tax return.
  • Complete Form W-7. The application process for an ITIN begins with completing IRS Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number . The form requires detailed personal information, including your name, mailing address, foreign address (if applicable), birth date and location and your reason for applying.
  • Attach a valid federal income tax return. Generally, you must apply for an ITIN when you file a federal income tax return. However, there are some exceptions, which are covered in the Form W-7 instructions .
  • Include identity and foreign status documents. You must include original documents or certified copies from the issuing agency to prove your identity and foreign status. The IRS accepts a range of documents, such as a passport, birth certificate, U.S. or foreign driver’s license and other government-issued identification. Ensure that any documents you submit are current; at least one must contain a photograph to help confirm your identity. The Form W-7 instructions include a table showing the acceptable types of supporting documentation.
  • By mail. Send your Form W-7, tax return (if applicable) and documentation to the IRS address listed in the Form W-7 instructions.
  • Through an IRS acceptance agent. A certified acceptance agent can help you complete and submit your application. They can also certify your documents, so you don’t have to mail original documents to the IRS.
  • At an IRS taxpayer assistance center (TAC). Make an appointment at a local IRS TAC that can process your application and verify your documents in person. That way, you won’t have to mail your original documents.
  • Wait for processing. The IRS usually processes ITIN applications within about seven weeks. Once yours has been processed, you'll receive a letter from the IRS with your ITIN.

Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number

An adoption taxpayer identification number, or ATIN, is a temporary TIN issued by the IRS to a child whose adoption is pending. Adoptive parents need an ATIN when they can't get the child's regular SSN in time to file their federal tax return. With an ATIN, a parent could claim the child as a dependent and, if eligible, get the child tax credit and other dependent-related tax benefits.

How To Get an ATIN

  • Confirm eligibility. To be eligible for an ATIN, the child must be legally placed in your home for adoption by an authorized placement agency. It must be either a domestic adoption or a foreign adoption in which the child has a permanent resident alien card or certificate of citizenship.
  • Complete an application. Fill out Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions . The form is fairly straightforward. It requires the adoptive parent’s name and address, the child’s name and birth information, and information on the placement agency.
  • Gather supporting documentation. You must attach supporting documentation to your Form W-7A to prove that a domestic adoption is in process. This documentation may include a placement agreement from an authorized agency, a court order or other legal documents indicating that the child has been placed in your home for adoption. You should send copies of these documents rather than originals, as the IRS won’t return the documents you provide.
  • Submit your application. Mail your completed Form W-7A to the IRS along with the supporting documentation. The address to which you should send your application is provided in the instructions for Form W-7A. Ensure that all information on the form is accurate and complete to avoid delays in processing.
  • Wait for processing. Processing an ATIN application generally takes four to eight weeks, according to the IRS.

Preparer Tax Identification Number

The IRS issues a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) to paid tax preparers aged 18 years or older. All individuals who prepare or assist with preparing federal tax returns in exchange for compensation must include their PTIN on clients' returns. PTINs help the IRS track tax return preparers and their compliance with current tax laws and regulations.

How To Get a PTIN

  • Create an account at IRS.gov. Visit the IRS website and navigate to the Tax Professionals section to access the PTIN system. You will need to create an account if you are a new user. This involves providing your personal information, including your name, mailing address and email address.
  • Complete the PTIN application. Once you have an account, you can complete the PTIN application online. You’ll need to provide your name and mailing address, your business name and mailing address, explanations for any felony convictions or problems with tax obligations, and certification information on any professional credentials you hold, such as CPA, EA or attorney.
  • Pay the PTIN application fee. The fee to receive or renew a PTIN is $19.75. You can pay online through the PTIN system using a credit or debit card.
  • Await confirmation. After you complete the application, review it for accuracy and pay the fee, go ahead and submit the form. You should get your PTIN immediately.

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CBP Releases January 2024 Monthly Update

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released operational statistics today for January 2024. Migrant encounters along the southwest border were significantly lower than experienced in December. CBP monthly reporting can be viewed on CBP’s Stats and Summaries webpage .

“As a result of seasonal trends, as well as enhanced enforcement efforts by the men and women of CBP and our international partners, southwest border encounters between ports of entry dropped by 50% in January. We continue to experience serious challenges along our border which surpass the capacity of the immigration system,” said Troy A. Miller, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. “CBP remains on the frontline in preventing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs from entering our country, enforcing our nation’s laws and interdicting 34% more fentanyl and 68% more cocaine than the previous month.”

CBP continues to work closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to quickly process individuals encountered at the border and remove those who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States, utilizing consequences strengthened by the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Rule.  Since May 12, 2023 to January 31, 2024, DHS has removed or returned over 520,000 individuals, the vast majority of whom crossed the southwest border, including more than 87,000 individual family members. The majority of all individuals encountered at the southwest border over the past three years have been removed, returned, or expelled.  Total removals and returns since mid-May exceed removals and returns in every full fiscal year since 2013.

Below are key operational statistics for CBP’s primary mission areas in January 2024. View all CBP statistics online. 

Ensuring Border Security and Managing Migration  

CBP has taken significant steps to surge personnel and resources to impacted areas and address challenges we have experienced across the southwest border. CBP continues to expeditiously process and remove individuals who do not have a legal basis to remain in the country. We are working together with our domestic and foreign partners to jointly limit disorderly migration across the region, offering lawful pathways and cutting out ruthless smugglers who continue to spread falsehoods and show disregard for the safety and well-being of vulnerable migrants. CBP is targeting and disrupting transnational criminal organizations and smugglers who take advantage of and profit from migrants.

In January 2024, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded 124,220 encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border, a decrease of 50% from December 2023.

CBP’s total encounters along the southwest border in January 2024 were 176,205, a decrease of 42% from December 2023. Total encounters include U.S. Border Patrol encounters between ports of entry, as well as individuals who presented themselves at ports of entry (including those with CBP One appointments, detailed further below).

Among CBP’s 176,205 total southwest border encounters in January 2024, encounters with single adults decreased by 35% compared to December 2023, encounters with unaccompanied children decreased by 37% , and encounters with family unit individuals decreased by 51% .

CBP continually analyzes and responds to changes in migration patterns, particularly irregular migration outside of legal pathways and border crossings. We work with our federal and international partners to combat human smuggling. The fact remains: the United States continues to enforce immigration law, and our borders are not open for those without a legal basis to enter the country. Migrants attempting to enter without authorization are subject to removal under Title 8 authorities.

CBP’s message for anyone who is thinking of attempting to circumvent lawful pathways to enter the United States is simple: don’t do it. When noncitizens cross the border unlawfully, they put their lives in peril. The U.S. Border Patrol has undertaken significant efforts in recent years to expand capacity to aid and rescue individuals in distress. To prevent the loss of life, CBP initiated a Missing Migrant Program in 2017 that locates noncitizens reported missing, rescues individuals in distress, and reunifies decedents’ remains with their families in the border region. In January, the U.S. Border Patrol conducted 245 rescues, totaling 1,611 rescues in FY 2024 .

View more migration statistics and rescues statistics .  

CBP One™ App   

The CBP One™ mobile application remains a key component of DHS’s efforts to incentivize noncitizens to use lawful, safe, humane, and orderly pathways and disincentivize attempts to cross between ports of entry. In January, CBP processed approximately 45,000 individuals through appointments at ports of entry utilizing advanced information submitted in CBP One™

CBP One appointments accounted for 87% of noncitizens processed at ports of entry;  demonstrating that noncitizens will follow an orderly process when one is available. Since the appointment scheduling function in CBP One™ was introduced in January 2023 through the end of January 2024, 459,118 individuals have successfully scheduled appointments to present at ports of entry using CBP One™  instead of risking their lives in the hands of smugglers. The top nationalities who have been processed are Venezuelan, Mexican, and Haitian.

A percentage of daily available appointments are allocated to the earliest registered CBP One™ profiles, so noncitizens who have been trying to obtain appointments for the longest time will be prioritized. CBP is continually monitoring and evaluating the application to ensure its functionality and guard against bad actors. 

CHNV Parole Processes

Through the end of January 2024, over 357,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans arrived lawfully and were granted parole under the parole processes. Specifically, over 75,000 Cubans,  144,000 Haitians,  64,000 Nicaraguans, and  92,000 Venezuelans were vetted and authorized for travel; and over  74,000 Cubans,  138,000 Haitians,  58,000 Nicaraguans, and  86,000 Venezuelans arrived lawfully and were granted parole.

As Safeguarding Communities by Interdicting Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs

As the largest law enforcement agency in the United States, CBP is uniquely positioned to detect, identify, and seize illicit drugs before they enter our communities. CBP’s combination of interdiction and intelligence capabilities, complemented by its border search authorities, scientific services, non-intrusive inspection equipment, and canine detection teams, places it at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat illicit fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.

CBP continues to conduct operations, including Operation Apollo, which target the smuggling of illicit fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. These operations leverage intelligence and investigative information to target drug traffickers’ supply chains and interdict items required in the production of illicit fentanyl, including precursor chemicals, pill presses and parts, movement of finished product, and illicit proceeds.

Nationwide in January, fentanyl seizures increased 34% and cocaine seizures increased 68% from December to January.

To date in FY 2024 through January, CBP has seized 7,000 pounds of fentanyl. CBP has stopped more fentanyl in the last two years than in the previous five years combined, and we continue to optimize our intelligence and field operations to stop these deadly substances from reaching American communities. 

Additional CBP drug seizure statistics can be found on the Drug Seizure Statistics webpage .

Facilitating Lawful Trade and Travel and Promoting Economic Security 

 As international travel continues to increase, CBP is leveraging technology to streamline efficiency and increase security at air and land ports of entry. Travelers are encouraged to utilize CBP’s mobile apps to enhance their travel experience, including the Global Entry Mobile Application and Mobile Passport Control , as well as new Global Entry Touchless Portals at nearly all international airports across the United States, which protect passenger privacy and expedite arrival processing by eliminating paper receipts.

Travelers arriving by air into the United States increased 14% from January 2023 to January 2024, and pedestrians arriving by land at ports of entry increased 2.6% over the same period.  

CBP works diligently with the trade community and port operators to ensure that merchandise is cleared as efficiently as possible and to strengthen international supply chains and improve border security. In January 2024, CBP processed more than 2.7 million entry summaries valued at more than $267 billion , identifying estimated duties of nearly $7 billion to be collected by the U.S. government. In January, trade via the ocean environment accounted for 44% of the total import value, followed by air, truck, and rail.

Consumers are encouraged to be alert to the dangers of counterfeit goods especially when shopping online as they support criminal activity, hurt American businesses, and often have materials or ingredients that can pose serious health and safety risks. Every year CBP seizes millions of counterfeit products worth billions of dollars had they been genuine. In January, CBP seized 1,814 shipments that contained counterfeit goods valued at more than $718 million . More information about CBP’s intellectual property rights enforcement is available at https://www.cbp.gov/trade .

View more travel statistics , and trade statistics . 

Protecting Consumers and Eradicating Forced Labor from Supply Chains     

CBP continues to lead U.S. government efforts to eliminate goods from the supply chain made with forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. In January, CBP stopped 424 shipments valued at more than $236 million for further examination based on the suspected use of forced labor.

Intellectual property rights violations continue to put America’s innovation economy at risk. Counterfeit and pirated goods threaten the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, the livelihoods of American workers, and the health and safety of consumers. 

View more UFLPA enforcement statistics , and intellectual property rights enforcement statistics.  

Defending our Nation’s Agricultural System     

Through targeting, detection, and interception, CBP agriculture specialists work to prevent threats from entering the United States.  

CBP issued 6,248 emergency action notifications for restricted and prohibited plant and animal products entering the United States in January 2024. CBP conducted 102,987 positive passenger inspections and issued 898 civil penalties and/or violations to the traveling public for failing to declare prohibited agriculture items.   

View more agricultural enforcement statistics . 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

Social Security Benefits Recipients: Do You Need to File Taxes This Year?

We'll help you determine if you'll need to submit a tax return in 2024.

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About 40% of recipients pay taxes on Social Security.

Picture of a Social Security card and tax forms

Tax season  is now over three weeks old, and the IRS has so far processed more than 25 million returns. If you're a  Social Security beneficiary  wondering whether you should file a tax return this year, we'll help you find out.

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Your age, marital status and how much income you earn outside of Social Security benefits all have an impact on whether you need to submit a tax return to the IRS. Even if you aren't required to file, it might be a good idea if you want to receive refundable tax credits or a refund for income taxes you paid during the year. 

We'll help you find out if you'll need to file your taxes in 2024. For more, here's why you want to hold on to that COLA letter you received last year . Also, here's the maximum amount of Social Security money you can receive each month, how much of a COLA increase you should get and our picks for the  best tax software .

Read more:   File Early and Get Up to 20% Off Your 2023 Taxes With TurboTax

How can I find out if my Social Security benefits are taxable?

Your Social Security benefits may be taxable if one-half of your Social Security benefits plus all of your other income is greater than the base amount of your filing status (the base amount for determining tax liability) which is:

  • $25,000 for single filers, head of household, or a qualifying surviving spouse.
  • $25,000 for married people filing separately who lived apart from their spouse in 2023.
  • $32,000 for married couples filing jointly. 
  • $0 for married people filing separately who lived with their spouse.

Other forms of income include wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other reported taxable income . 

One way to understand whether your benefits are taxable is to consider gross income, which is your total earnings before taxes. 

You will need to file a return for the 2024 tax year:

  • If you are an unmarried senior at least 65 years old and your gross income is more than $14,700. 
  • If you are filing a joint return with a spouse who is also 65 or older and your gross income is more than $28,700.
  • If you are filing a joint return with a spouse who is under 65 years old and your gross income is more than $27,300.

Another way to understand whether your Social Security benefits are taxable is to look at combined income, which is your adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of your Social Security benefits. 

  • If you are a single tax filer and your combined income is between $25,000 and $34,000, the SSA says you may have to pay income tax on up to 50% of your benefits.
  • If you are a single tax filer and your combined income is more than $34,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 85% of your benefits. 
  • If you are filing a joint return and your combined income is between $32,000 and $44,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50% of your benefits.
  • If you are filing a joint return and your combined income is more than $44,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 85% of your benefits. 
  • If you are married filing separately and didn't live with your spouse last year, your Social Security benefits are taxed as if you were a single filer .
  • If you are married and filing separately while living with your spouse you probably will have to pay taxes on your benefits. 

On line 6b of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, you will report the taxable portion of your Social Security benefits. 

Should I file my 2023 taxes even if I'm not required to?

The biggest reason to file a tax return even if you don't have to is to receive a tax refund. 

If you had federal tax income withheld from your pay or if you made estimated tax payments in 2023, you may want to file a tax return this year. You could receive a tax refund of any surplus withholding. 

Another circumstance where filing is encouraged is if you qualify for tax credits that provide you with refunds, including the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit or the child and dependent care tax credit. The earned income tax credit is fully refundable, meaning it goes toward your tax refund if you have no tax liability.

How can I find my Social Security benefit amount for 2023? 

The Social Security Administration sends out a Social Security Benefit Statement by mail or online in January with your benefits from the previous year disclosed inside. The information in the statement provides you with the earnings you will disclose in your tax return if you end up filing one.

For more information on Social Security and tax season, here's  how to create an online IRS account .

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How are Social Security benefits calculated?

Throughout your working life, you accumulate an earnings record (sometimes called a work record). That’s the foundation the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to calculate your benefits, using a three-step process.

First, Social Security adjusts your earnings for historical changes in U.S. wages, takes your 35 best-paid years and produces what it calls your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). Only income up to the maximum taxable earnings — the annually adjusted cap on how much of your earnings are subject to Social Security taxes — is counted. (The maximum taxable earnings in 2023 are $160,200.)

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Second, they apply a formula to that monthly average to determine your primary insurance amount (PIA) — the amount you’ll get each month from Social Security if you claim benefits at your full retirement age. That's 66 and 4 months for people born in 1956, and two months later for someone born in 1957. The age is gradually rising to 67 for people born in 1960 or later.

The formula breaks down your average monthly wage into three parts. In 2023, it is:

  • 90 percent of the first $1,115 of your AIME;
  • plus 32 percent of any amount over $1,115 up to $6,721;
  • plus 15 percent of any amount over $6,721.

The sum of those three figures is your PIA, also known as your full retirement benefit. The sliding scale is designed to weight the benefit to help low-wage earners, who need retirement money the most.

Finally, the SSA plugs in the age at which you claim benefits. They take a bite from the full benefit if you are younger than full retirement age — you can lose more than a quarter of your benefits  by starting Social Security at 62, the earliest possible age. But they add to your benefit for each month between full retirement age and 70 that you delay claiming benefits. You can gain up to 32 percent extra in benefits this way.

Keep in mind

  • The SSA recalculates your benefit annually, adjusting for inflation and figuring in the previous year’s income.
  • If your previous year’s income ranks in your top 35 years of earnings, Social Security will shove aside a lower-earning year. That means your average monthly earnings figure will go up.
  • If you worked fewer than 35 years, Social Security credits you with zero earnings for each year up to 35.

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  1. Your Guide to What Social Security Numbers Mean

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  2. Why Do I Need a Social Security Number?

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  3. SSN Search

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  4. How to Find Someone's Social Security Number: Your Full Guide

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  5. How to Find Someone's Social Security Number?

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  6. Social Security Number

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COMMENTS

  1. How Are Social Security Numbers Assigned?

    Social Security numbers, also known as SSNs, are allocated through a process called randomization that was introduced in June 2011. This system retains the long-standing nine-digit format but assigns a number to each new Social Security cardholder randomly, eliminating methods that date to the inception of Social Security in the mid-1930s.

  2. Social Security Numbers (SSNs) How they are assigned by State

    The first three (3) digits of a person's social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number. Previously, before 1972, social security numbers were assigned by SSA field offices.

  3. The Story of the Social Security Number

    Introduction The Social Security number ( SSN) was created in 1936 for the sole purpose of tracking the earnings histories of U.S. workers, for use in determining Social Security benefit entitlement and computing benefit levels. Since then, use of the SSN has expanded substantially.

  4. Social Security number

    In the United States, a Social Security number ( SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205 (c) (2) of the Social Security Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. § 405 (c) (2). The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an independent ...

  5. Social Security Number Format

    Frequently Asked Questions What is the maximum number of digits in a Social Security number? What is the last digit of a SSN? How are the first three digits of your Social Security number determined? Social Security Number Format

  6. How are Social Security numbers assigned?

    We assign Social Security numbers randomly. We changed to a random process in 2011 to help protect the integrity of the Social Security number. We changed to a random process in 2011 to help protect the integrity of the Social Security number.

  7. What Is an SSN? Facts to Know About Social Security Numbers

    By Julia Kagan Updated January 28, 2024 Reviewed by Margaret James Investopedia / Candra Huff What Is a Social Security Number (SSN)? The term Social Security number (SSN) refers to a...

  8. PDF Meaning of the Social Security Number

    Each State goes through all of its area numbers with group number 01 and serial numbers 0001-9999 and. numerical series from 0001 to 9999 within each group. The order in which the SSN's are issued is as follows: 7999 before using group number 03. Thus, 989,901 SSN's can be issued for each area number.

  9. The Purpose of Having a Social Security Number

    Pete Rathburn. A Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number that the United States government issues to all U.S. citizens and eligible U.S. residents who apply for one. The government ...

  10. Social Security Number and Card

    Update or correct your personal information (e.g. name, citizenship, sex identification, date of birth) Request a Social Security Number for the first time See what card services you can do online Applying online is the fastest way to obtain a Social Security card.

  11. Social Security and how it works

    In many cases, you can manage your Social Security benefits online by creating a free "my Social Security" account. You will be able to: Check on your Social Security benefit application status. Update your name, address, and other information. Set up or update your direct deposit information to receive benefits.

  12. 5 Ways to Find Your Social Security Number

    You can find your Social Security number by checking your card, asking your guardian if they know it, checking certain documentation, talking with a former employer or requesting a new...

  13. Social Security Number Secrets: What It Reveals

    Here's how it works: The first two-digit number issued is 01, followed by 03, 05, 07 and 09, then every even number from 10 through 98. Then the even numbers between 02 and 08 are issued,...

  14. Social Security number & card

    Manage your Social Security number, which is your first and continuous connection to us. Replace card. Replace your card if it's lost, stolen, or damaged and you need it to get something done. Number for the first time. Request a Social Security number if you don't have one. Stolen number.

  15. Social Security Number and Card

    Why might you need one? Many financial institutions, such as banks and credit companies, also ask for your number when you open an account. If you are a noncitizen living in the United States, you may also need an SSN. Request a Social Security Number for the first time

  16. Are Social Security Numbers Assigned by Race?

    The first three-digit field is the area number and indicates what state was listed in the applicant's mailing address when the number was issued. Someone with a mailing address in Oregon, for ...

  17. Researchers say they can guess your SSN

    A group of researchers at Carnegie-Mellon University say they've discovered patterns in the issuance of numbers that make it relatively easy to deduce the personal information using publicly...

  18. Social Security Number (SSN) Prefix

    Social Security numbers are made up of 3 sets of numbers. The first set, as described above, is 3 numbers, called the Area Number, and denotes the state the social security card was issued. For the majority of people, this will be the state you were born in. Following the Area Number, the next two digits form the Group Number.

  19. SSN Lookup By State and Year

    Learn More > Issuance State: Issuance Year: SSN Search Tool Social Security Numbers by State The "Area" group is the first 3-digits of a Social Security Number. This number tells you where an SSN was issued. Top

  20. What Is a Taxpayer Identification Number and How Do I Get One?

    E ach taxpayer in the U.S. needs to have a unique nine-digit number that can identify them to the IRS. Many Americans use their Social Security number, or SSN, to confirm their identity on tax ...

  21. The Maximum Social Security Benefit: Explained for 2024

    The highest Social Security retirement benefit for an individual starting benefits in 2024 is $4,873 per month, according to the Social Security administration. This amount will be paid to workers ...

  22. Verifying Social Security Numbers

    Social Security offers two options to verify Social Security numbers: The Social Security Number Verification Service - This free online service allows registered users to verify that the names and Social Security numbers of hired employees match Social Security's records.

  23. CBP Releases January 2024 Monthly Update

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation's borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

  24. What Is a Taxpayer Identification Number?

    Each taxpayer in the U.S. needs to have a unique nine-digit number that can identify them to the IRS. Many Americans use their Social Security number, or SSN, to confirm their identity on tax ...

  25. February Social Security Payments: When Is Your Money Coming?

    Feb. 2: Social Security payments for people who've received Social Security since before May 1997. Feb.14: Social Security payments for people with birthdays falling between the first and 10th of ...

  26. Social Security Benefits Recipients: Do You Need to File Taxes This

    If you are an unmarried senior at least 65 years old and your gross income is more than $14,700. If you are filing a joint return with a spouse who is also 65 or older and your gross income is ...

  27. PDF Your Retirement Benefit: How It's figured

    Social Security account may be limited for users outside the United States. If you don't have access to the internet, we offer many automated services by telephone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you may not need to speak with a representative. If you need to speak with someone, call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number,

  28. How Retirement Benefits Are Calculated By Social Security

    Second, they apply a formula to that monthly average to determine your primary insurance amount (PIA) — the amount you'll get each month from Social Security if you claim benefits at your full retirement age. That's 66 and 4 months for people born in 1956, and two months later for someone born in 1957.