US Trivia

[jjefferies]

Applicable to US citizens only. Your SS number means what?

The first 3 digits indicate where you were resident when you applied. And here they are:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/stateweb.htm

The last 4 are basically random numbers. The middle 2 are for extensions.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Hmmmm. It's strangely satisfying to know this.

[mrbiggs]

Should that be the state you were born in?

If it's not, then why isn't it?

I suddenly think I'm adopted...

[Fencergrl]

Should that be the state you were born in?

If it's not, then why isn't it?

I suddenly think I'm adopted...

I think this answers your question.

The first 3 digits indicate where you were resident when you applied.

[mrbiggs]

I think this answers your question.

But when do you apply? I assumed that was only for non-native citizens.

[latenight]

This is totally true. Anyone who works in healthcare is familiar with this. If you see tons of socials, you can tell where someone was from, just by the first set of digits.

[wahrman]

Until the mid 80s one did not normally get a SSN until you enough income to report.

I didn't have a number until I was 15 or so.

But when do you apply? I assumed that was only for non-native citizens.

[jjefferies]

Until the mid 80s one did not normally get a SSN until you enough income to report.

I didn't have a number until I was 15 or so.

Likewise, I think I was in my early teens and had to have a SSN to sell cokes in the old Memphis Chicks Baseball stadium.

Does this mean that they now automatically issue a SSN to new borns?

[chefencer]

You are now required to get a SSN for your kid before you can file taxes.
Back in the day, my parents didn't get me one, in case there was a draft when I was 18 and I wanted to stay governmentally invisible, but I had to have one to get into college...
I believe I'm now safe from the draft, unless things become 1864 Confederacy bad and they start drafting geezers.

[Fencergrl]

But when do you apply? I assumed that was only for non-native citizens.

LOL... in Canada we apply for our SIN*when you get your first job. It's government tracking for work (jobs, income etc...). I assumed the SSN was the same.

*Stands for Social Insurance Number... applications are not required for sinning, in case you were wondering.

[jjefferies]

LOL... in Canada we apply for our SIN*when you get your first job. It's government tracking for work (jobs, income etc...). I assumed the SSN was the same.

*Stands for Social Insurance Number... applications are not required for sinning, in case you were wondering.

Can you tell anything from your SIN number? Just wondering before I go dig mine out. Haven't seen the card for years.

[Philistine]

Likewise, I think I was in my early teens and had to have a SSN to sell cokes in the old Memphis Chicks Baseball stadium.

I think I got one when I first opened a bank account--this would be late '70's--when I was 12 or 13.

Does this mean that they now automatically issue a SSN to new borns?

IIRC it was part of the paperwork we filled out at the hospital when my daughter was born. I'm not sure you have to do it--but as chefencer said, you need one if you're going to claim them on your taxes.

--Philistine

[Empty Wallet]

As an ALIEN I got a number when I was went to Illinois as a grad student. So perhaps the numbers mean something - 111-11-1111.

Because of spousal relationship and citizenship, the kids were born in my home country but registered as US citizens. SSN was issued at the same time as their registration certificates.

Added expense for poor old Empty Wallet is that they have to have 2 passports.

EW

[Fencergrl]

Can you tell anything from your SIN number? Just wondering before I go dig mine out. Haven't seen the card for years.

I looked on the government website and couldn't find anything then I found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_insurance_number

Apparently our system works in a similar fashion.

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


The Swedish personal numbers combine DOB, gender, and place of birth. For example, take mine:

660216-5315

The first 6 digits mean that I was born Feb 16th, 1966. 53 stand for the place I was born, Gothenburg. I moved from there when 7 years old, so I do not have that accent. Thus, I am often asked about it when I present my PN. The 9th digit is odd, since I am male. The final 5 is a parity bit.

Swedes use their PN´s for all sorts of stuff, and the Swedish society is so designed so that a criminal can not by knowing my PN use it for his own good and my detriment - the checks are harder than that.

The DOB´s of all active licensed fencers in Sweden are available via a file under our NGB website (which never goes down, BTW), so that any BC can check age group data via their computer.

Many organizations in Sweden use PN´s as membership numbers.

The state sells organized lists of PN´s to advertizers, but you can opt out by specifically asked to do so. I have done that - cuts down on the crap post.


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[Mr Epee]

That's all fine, Peter... but please let us know when your country manages to provide free advanced education, quality health care, and a decent standard of living for its citizens.


Oh....

But, hey... you'd think such a great country would find a way to beat the lowly Swiss.

--------------------

If you folks find SSN's to be fascinating then you might enjoy trying this site on for size.

It provides a detailed history, and explanation of, the US Numbered Highway system.

[Nicksmom]

Does this mean that they now automatically issue a SSN to new borns?

Yes, any child under the age of 12 will have been issued a Social Security Number when he/she is born.

[Nicksmom]

You would not believe the number of people that "lose" their child's Social Security Card, and come to the office to get documentation that the child is who they say he/she is in order to get a new one.

[Right-Handed Lefty]

You would not believe the number of people that "lose" their child's Social Security Card, and come to the office to get documentation that the child is who they say he/she is in order to get a new one.

So that's who those creeps are that show up at my niece's softball game claiming their obviously older children (a team of fully developed amazon women) are still eligible to play against the third graders.

[Inquartata]

*cough* Actually, the two middle digits indicate the number of illegal aliens currently using your SSN.