As the use of SSNs has expanded, changes have been made in the card's design to prevent counterfeiting. Today, a counterfeit-resistant version is now used for both original and replacement cards. Your SSN is required frequently, and that means it's stored in many places.
But can you count on everyone who collects your SSN for business purposes to protect it properly? Probably not. The SSN is a key piece of information used to commit identity theft. SSNs have become increasingly available to identity thieves, at least in part because they are so widely used as identifiers. Criminals can steal SSNs from workplace records, mail, wallets, or public records. And high-tech ways such as phishing or hacking into a computer database are increasingly a concern.
When criminals steal an SSN and the victim's identity, they can do a lot of damage. They can use an SSN to file an income tax return in your name to steal your refund. They can use it to facilitate opening new accounts, gain access to existing accounts, commit medical identity theft, seek employment, secure a payday loan, or obtain government benefits.
See boxed insert, "Identity Theft Prevention Tips. In recent years, high-profile data breaches have increased the concern for protecting personal data—with the SSN rating near the top in priority. Community organizations and businesses conduct "shred days" for safely destroying documents containing personal data.
Office supply stores have responded by stocking shelves with crisscross shredders. The demand for greater protection has created new markets as millions of U. Personal data-protection businesses that offer online subscription services, advertise free trials, and provide automatic direct billing of monthly fees for different coverage plans have sprung up.
The choices continue to increase. There are plans designed to monitor credit card, debit card, and bank accounts. In response to the concern for protecting personal data, both government and business SSN usage has decreased in recent times.
For example, laws have changed to prohibit using SSNs on driver's licenses or requiring them on birth records. These actions are a response to the identity theft concern—and change will continue.
Accurate records of workers' earnings were necessary for administering benefits under the Social Security program. That is still the primary purpose for the SSN. But it has evolved into so much more. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Prev NEXT. Area numbers - The first three numbers originally represented the state in which a person first applied for a Social Security card.
Numbers started in the northeast and moved westward. Area Numbers The area numbers were assigned to geographical locations in a manner analogous to the way in which ZIP codes were later assigned in particular, area numbers increase from east to west across the continental US as do the ZIP codes. Most area numbers were assigned according to state or territorial boundaries, although the series was assigned to railroad workers regardless of location this series of area numbers was discontinued in and is no longer used for new SSNs.
With few exceptions, each geographical area is assigned a range of area numbers. Area numbers assigned prior to are an indication of the location of the SSA office which originally issued the SSN.
Since SSNs have been issued centrally and the area number in SSNs assigned since corresponds to the residence location of the applicant as indicated on the application for the SSN. The original range of area number assignments for a particular region, was, in many cases, eventually exhausted because of population increases.
The original area number assignments have been augmented as required. All of the original assignments were less than except for the railroad worker series mentioned above. Only recently have group numbers in the series been allocated. An area number in the series is bogus, so any SSN beginning with an "8" is invalid. An area number of "" is also invalid. Membership My Account. Rewards for Good. Share with facebook. Share with twitter. Share with linkedin.
Share using email. Besides being better suited to the digital age, randomization serves two main purposes: It makes life harder for identity thieves. It extends the longevity of the nine-digit Social Security number. The old system limited the range of numbers that could be issued in a given state. Keep in mind Randomization will apply if you get a new Social Security number to replace a number assigned before the switch. Published February 20, How do I change the name on my Social Security card?
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