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<h1 itemprop="headline">The Story of the Social Security Number</h1>
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<div id="hByline">by <span itemprop="author">Carolyn Puckett</span><br>Social Security Bulletin, <abbr title="Volume">Vol.</abbr> 69, <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 2, 2009 (released July 2009)</div>
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<div id="breadcrumbs" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList">You are here: <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Administration</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="1" /></span> > <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/policy/index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Research, Statistics & Policy Analysis</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="2" /></span> > <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/policy/docs/ssb/index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Bulletin</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="3" /></span> > <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name"><abbr title="Volume">Vol.</abbr> 69, <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 2</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="4" /></span></div>
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<h4>Related Content</h4>
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<div class="rcItems">
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<p><a href="/history/ssn/firstcard.html">The First Social Security Number and the Lowest Number</a></p>
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<p><a href="/employer/randomization.html">Social Security Number Allocations</a></p>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="introBox">
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<p id="synopsis" itemprop="description">The use of the Social Security number (<abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>) has expanded significantly since its inception in 1936. Created merely to keep track of the earnings history of <abbr>U.S.</abbr> workers for Social Security entitlement and benefit computation purposes, it has come to be used as a nearly universal identifier. Assigned at birth, the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> enables government agencies to identify individuals in their records and businesses to track an individual's financial information. This article explores the history and meaning of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> and the Social Security card, as well as the Social Security Administration's (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s) <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> master file, generally known as the Numident. The article also traces the historical expansion of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> use and the steps <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has taken to enhance <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> integrity.</p>
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<hr />
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<div class="eightypercent">
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<p>The author is with the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Social Security Administration.</p>
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<p><i>Acknowledgments</i>: The author would like to thank <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> Historian Larry DeWitt, along with Kitty Chilcoat and the other reviewers in the Office of Legislation and Regulatory Affairs for their excellent suggestions. The author also wishes to thank the many employees in the Office of Income Support Programs and the Office of Earnings and Enumeration and Administrative Systems who reviewed the article for technical correctness.</p>
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<p>Contents of this publication are <a href="/policy/accessibility.html">not copyrighted</a>; any items may be reprinted, but citation of the <i>Social Security Bulletin</i> as the source is requested. The findings and conclusions presented in the <i>Bulletin</i> are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Social Security Administration.</p>
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</div>
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</div>
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<h2>Introduction</h2>
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<div class="abbrtable">
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<table role="presentation">
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<caption>Selected Abbreviations</caption>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr></td>
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<td>Department of Homeland Security</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">DoS</abbr></td>
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<td>Department of State</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr></td>
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<td>Enumeration at birth</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr></td>
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<td>Enumeration at entry</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">EIN</abbr></td>
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<td>Employer identification number</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">EO</abbr></td>
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<td>Executive order</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">FTC</abbr></td>
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<td>Federal Trade Commission</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">INS</abbr></td>
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<td>Immigration and Naturalization Service</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">IRS</abbr></td>
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<td>Internal Revenue Service</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">IRTPA</abbr></td>
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<td>Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">P.L.</abbr></td>
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<td>Public Law</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-4</span></td>
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<td>Application for an employer identification number</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span></td>
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<td>Application for a Social Security number</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr></td>
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<td>Social Security Administration</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr></td>
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<td>Social Security number</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">USES</abbr></td>
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<td><abbr>U.S.</abbr> Employment Service</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">WPA</abbr></td>
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<td>Works Progress Administration</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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</div>
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<p>The Social Security number (<abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>) was created in 1936 for the sole purpose of tracking the earnings histories of <abbr>U.S.</abbr> workers, for use in determining Social Security benefit entitlement and computing benefit levels. Since then, use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> has expanded substantially. Today the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> may be the most commonly used numbering system in the United States. As of December 2008, the Social Security Administration (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>) had issued over 450 million original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, and nearly every legal resident of the United States had one. The <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>'s very universality has led to its adoption throughout government and the private sector as a chief means of identifying and gathering information about an individual.</p>
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<p>How did the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> come to be, and why has it become an unofficial national identifier? This article explores the history and meaning of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> and the Social Security card, along with <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> master data file, generally known as the Numident. The article also traces how use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> has expanded since its introduction and the steps <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has taken to enhance the integrity of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> process.</p>
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<h2>Crafting the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr></h2>
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<p>At its inception, the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>'s only purpose was to uniquely identify <abbr>U.S.</abbr> workers, enabling employers to submit accurate reports of covered earnings for use in administering benefits under the new Social Security program. That is still the primary purpose for the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>.</p>
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<p>However, creating the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> scheme and assigning <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s to <abbr>U.S.</abbr> workers was no easy task. Passage of the Social Security Act in August 1935 set in motion a huge effort to build the infrastructure needed to support a program affecting tens of millions of individuals. Many said the task was impossible (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1952; <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1965, 26). Employers were to begin to deduct payroll taxes from worker's wages in January 1937, giving the agency little time to establish the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> process.<sup><a href="#mn1" id="mt1">1</a></sup> Besides clarifying program policy, the agency needed to hire and train employees (7,500 by March 1938), set up facilities, develop public education programs, and create an earnings-tracking system (Corson 1938, 6).</p>
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<p>Establishing the Social Security infrastructure was impeded for 3½ months by the lack of funds due to a filibuster of the 1936 Deficiency Bill (a government-wide appropriation bill similar to current Omnibus Budget Reconciliation bills) by Senator Huey Long (D–LA). The Roosevelt administration circumvented this obstacle by engineering a Works Progress Administration (<abbr class="spell">WPA</abbr>) allotment of $112,610 from the Department of Labor and by borrowing staff from the demobilizing National Recovery Administration, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and the National Youth Administration. On February 9, 1936, Congress finally passed the deficiency bill containing the fiscal year 1936 appropriation for the Social Security Board (precursor of the <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>), and Roosevelt signed it on February 11. As late as March 15, 1936, there were still only five employees of the Social Security Board's Bureau of Old-Age Benefits—including the director and his assistant (McKinley and Frase 1970, 18, 28, and 49).</p>
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<p>Additionally, the <abbr>U.S.</abbr> Supreme Court declared the Agricultural Adjustment Act invalid in January 1936, raising the possibility that the Social Security Act might also be declared unconstitutional (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">22–23;</span> <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1952). It would not be until May 1937 that a series of Supreme Court decisions cemented the constitutionality of the Social Security Act (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> <abbr>n.d.</abbr> a).</p>
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<p>One of the first steps in administering the Social Security Act was to devise a means to track the earnings of each individual, as Social Security benefit computations consider a worker's earnings from 1937 on.</p>
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<p>Why didn't the Social Security Board just use an individual's name and address as the identifier? The deficiency of such a scheme was already well known. A 1937 publication recounts, "A recent news account states that the Fred Smiths of New York City have had so much trouble in being identified by their creditors, the courts, and even their friends, that they have joined together in forming the 'Fred Smiths, Incorporated,' to serve as a clearing house for their identification problems." Some government agencies, such as the <abbr>U.S.</abbr> War and Navy Departments, the Veterans Administration (for paying pensions and for adjusted compensation certificates), and the Post Office Department (for Postal Savings depositors) used fingerprints for identification. However, the use of fingerprints was associated in the public mind with criminal activity, making this approach undesirable (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, <span class="nobr">45–47).</span> A numbering scheme was seen as the practical alternative. Thus, the employer identification number (<abbr class="spell">EIN</abbr>) and the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> were created.</p>
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<p>Today we take the <span class="nobr">9-digit</span> composition of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as a given, but in 1935 and 1936 many other schemes were considered. In early November 1935, the Social Security Board adopted an identifier composed of 3 alphabetic characters representing geographic areas and 5 numeric characters. However, the Board made this decision without consulting other federal agencies. The <abbr>U.S.</abbr> Employment Service (<abbr class="spell">USES</abbr>), the Census Bureau, the Central Statistical Board, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics all used numeric symbols without alphabetic characters since most standard statistical machines used this scheme. With alphabetic symbols, these agencies, as well as many private companies, would have had to buy new machines. Only two companies manufactured tabulating machines using a combination of alphabetic and numeric characters, and the government had previously brought suit against them under the Sherman Antitrust Act for dividing market territory between them (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">320–322).</span></p>
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<p>The Board called a meeting of all interested agencies to discuss the numeration issues.<sup><a href="#mn2" id="mt2">2</a></sup> In a November 1935 report, a subcommittee of this interdepartmental group proposed three alternatives:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>a <span class="nobr">9-digit</span> number consisting of a <span class="nobr">4-digit</span> serial number, a <span class="nobr">2-digit</span> year of birth indicator, and a <span class="nobr">3-digit</span> number indicating the geographic area of registration;</li>
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<li>an <span class="nobr">8-digit</span> number with a <span class="nobr">5-digit</span> serial number and a <span class="nobr">3-digit</span> geographic indicator; or</li>
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<li>a <span class="nobr">7-character</span> version consisting of 4 digits and 3 alphabetic characters (McKinley and Frase 1970, 322).</li>
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</ul>
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<p>On December 17, 1935, the Board approved the <span class="nobr">9-digit</span> option (McKinley and Frase 1970, 323). The Board planned to use the year one attained age 65 as part of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, thinking that once an individual attained age 65, the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> would be reassigned to someone else. But at a meeting on January 23, 1936, the unemployment compensation delegates objected to the use of digits to signify age because they thought a number of workers would falsify their age. As a result, a new scheme adopted by the Board on February 14 consisted of a <span class="nobr">3-digit</span> area code, a <span class="nobr">2-digit</span> month of birth, and a <span class="nobr">4-digit</span> serial number.</p>
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<p>Finally, on June 2, 1936, the Board decided to keep the <span class="nobr">9-digit</span> scheme, although using the fourth and fifth digits to represent the month of birth was abandoned. Instead, those two digits would be a "group number" that could be used to maximize the utility of mechanical equipment and to verify the accuracy of punch cards. This scheme would permit the prenumbering of registration forms and was capable of expansion to nearly 1 billion accounts (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">342–344).</span> The numbering scheme would also facilitate storing the applications since the agency's files were organized by region as well as alphabetically.</p>
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<h2>Deconstructing the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr></h2>
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<p>As a result of the June 1936 decision, the current <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> is composed of three parts:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>The first three digits are the <b>area number</b></li>
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<li>The next two digits are the <b>group number</b></li>
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<li>The final four digits are the <b>serial number</b></li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Area Number</h3>
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<p>The <span class="nobr">3-digit</span> area number is assigned by geographic region. In 1936 the Social Security Board planned eventually to use area numbers to redistribute work to its 12 regional centers to serve workers in those areas. One or more area numbers were allocated to each state based on the anticipated number of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> issuances in the state.<sup><a href="#mn3" id="mt3">3</a></sup> Prior to 1972, the numbers were issued to local offices for assignment to individuals; it was thought this would capture information about the worker's residence. So, until 1972, the area number represented the state in which the card was issued. (Barron and Bamberger 1982, 29).</p>
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<p>Generally, area numbers were assigned in ascending order beginning in the northeast and then moving westward. For the most part, people on the east coast have the lowest area numbers and those on the west coast have the highest area numbers. However, area numbers did not always reflect the worker's residence. During the initial registration in 1936 and 1937, businesses with branches throughout the country had employees return their <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> Application for Account Number to their national headquarters, so these <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s carried the area number where the headquarters were located. As a result, the area numbers assigned to big cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago, were used for workers in many other parts of the country (McKinley and Frase 1970, 373). Also, a worker could apply in person for a card in any Social Security office, and the area number would reflect that office's location, regardless of the worker's residence.</p>
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<p>Since 1972, when <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began assigning <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and issuing cards centrally from Baltimore, <abbr title="Maryland">MD</abbr>, the area number has been assigned based on the <abbr>ZIP</abbr> code of the mailing address provided on the application for the original Social Security card. The applicant's mailing address may not be the same as the place of residence.</p>
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<p>Some exceptions to the general east-to-west, ascending-order area numbering scheme exist:</p>
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|
<ul>
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|
<li>Sequence 700 through 728 was assigned to railroad workers until July 1963.</li>
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|
<li>586 was divided among American Samoa, Guam, the Philippines, Americans employed abroad by American employers and, from 1975 to 1979, Indochinese refugees.</li>
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<li>580 was assigned to Puerto Rico and the <abbr>U.S.</abbr> Virgin Islands; sequences 581 through 584 and 596 through 599 were also assigned to Puerto Rico.</li>
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<li>Sequence 577 through 579 was assigned to the District of Columbia.</li>
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<li>Sequences 587 through 588 and 589 through 595 were assigned to Mississippi and Florida, respectively, for use after those states exhausted their initial area number allotments.</li>
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<li>Sequence 729 through 733 has been allocated to the Department of Homeland Security (<abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr>) for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s issued through the Enumeration at Entry (<abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr>) program, described below.</li>
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<li>No <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s with an area number in the 800s or 900s, or with a 000 area number, have been assigned.</li>
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<li>No <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s with an area number of 666 have been or will be assigned.</li>
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</ul>
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<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has many years' worth of potential <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s available for future assignment. However, because of population shifts, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> now faces an imbalance in the geographic allocation of area numbers. Some states have a current allocation of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s that will last for many years, while others have a pending shortage. As a result, given present rates of assignment and existing geographic allocations, several states currently have fewer than 10 years' worth of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s available for assignment.</p>
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<p>In a July 3, 2007, Federal Register notice, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> solicited public comment on a proposal to change the way <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are assigned (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2007b). Under this proposal, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> would randomly assign <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s from the remaining pool of available numbers, and the first three digits would no longer have any geographic significance. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> contends that doing so would ensure a reliable supply of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for years to come, and would also reduce opportunities for identity theft and <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> fraud and misuse. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> plans additional discussion with other government entities and the private sector before implementing any change.</p>
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<h3>Group Number</h3>
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<p>The group number (the fourth and fifth digits of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>) was initially determined by the procedure of issuing numbers in groups of 10,000 to post offices for assignment on behalf of the Social Security Board's Bureau of Old-Age Benefits. The group numbers range from 01 to 99 (00 is not used), but for administrative reasons, they are not assigned consecutively. Within each area number allocated to a state, the sequence of group number assignments begins with the odd-numbered group numbers from 01 to 09, followed by even group numbers 10 through 98, then even numbers 02 through 08, and finally odd numbers 11 through 99.<sup><a href="#mn4" id="mt4">4</a></sup></p>
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<h3>Serial Number</h3>
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|
<p>The last four digits of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> are the serial number. The serial number represents a straight numerical series of numbers from <span class="nobr">0001–9999 </span>within each group. Serial number 0000 is not assigned.</p>
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<h2>Designing the Social Security Card</h2>
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|
<p>Even at the inception of the program, the Social Security Board understood that individuals would need to have a "token" that would provide a record of the number that had been assigned to them. This token would help employers accurately report an individual's earnings under the program.</p>
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<p>The Board first considered a small card similar to a credit union or trade union card, but some objected that it was too flimsy. Alternatively, a ¾ x 2⅞ inch metal card was proposed by a manufacturer of such cards. It was estimated that it would have taken 250 tons of metal for initial registration. The arguments in favor of the metal card were its permanence, accuracy (records could be imprinted from the embossed token), and economy (because of the imprinting capability). Still, in early June 1936, the Board decided to use a small paper card (McKinley and Frase 1970, 327 and 329).</p>
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<p>In October 1936, the Social Security Board selected a design submitted by Frederick E. Happel, an artist and photo engraver from Albany, <abbr title="New York">NY</abbr>, for the original Social Security card, for which Happel was paid $60.<sup><a href="#mn5" id="mt5">5</a></sup> The Board placed an initial order for 26 million cards. In late 1937, a second version was adopted, and a version just for replacement cards was adopted in 1938 (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1990, 1). Since 1976, the design of original and replacement Social Security cards has been the same. In all, over 50 designs have been used from 1936 to 2008. All versions remain valid since it would be cost-prohibitive to replace all cards previously issued.</p>
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<p>Over time, as the use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> expanded for other purposes, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> recognized that changes were necessary to protect the integrity of the card. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has taken measures to prevent counterfeiting of the card, and a counterfeit-resistant version is now used for both original and replacement cards. Steps taken by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> to improve the card are detailed later.</p>
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<h3>Deciding on Application Data</h3>
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<p>There was also considerable discussion in 1936 about the types of information to collect as part of the registration. Generally, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> collected the information needed to uniquely identify and accurately report an individual's earnings covered under the new Social Security program. Race was considered a necessary piece of information for actuarial purposes because of differences in life expectancy among different races. However, the Board decided to use the term "color" rather than race on the original Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> application for an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">325–326).</span></p>
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<p>The original 1936 version of the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> requested the following information:</p>
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|
<ul>
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|
<li>Employee name</li>
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|
<li>Employee address</li>
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|
<li>Name of current employer</li>
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|
<li>Employer address</li>
|
|
<li>Age of employee</li>
|
|
<li>Date of birth</li>
|
|
<li>Place of birth</li>
|
|
<li>Sex</li>
|
|
<li>Color</li>
|
|
<li><abbr>U.S.</abbr> Employment Service (<abbr class="spell">USES</abbr>) registration card number, if applicable</li>
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|
<li>Date and place of previously completed an <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>, if applicable</li>
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|
<li>Completion date for current <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span></li>
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|
<li>Signature (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1990)</li>
|
|
</ul>
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|
<h2>Registering the Nation's Employers and Employees</h2>
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|
<p>Although issuing <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s is still a large workload for <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>, one rarely thinks about the major undertaking it was to register workers for the first <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. Initial estimates were that 22 million <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s would be issued immediately, with 50 million ultimately to be issued (McKinley and Frase 1970, 15). In fact, 35 million <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s were issued in the first 8 months of the registration effort. The Social Security Board estimated it would also need to assign identifying numbers to 3.5 million employers during this same time (McKinley and Frase 1970, 309).</p>
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|
<p>Assigning responsibility for the vast registration process was a real problem. Debate shifted back and forth over whether the Board's Bureau of Old-Age Benefits could handle the work. The Board first approached the <abbr class="spell">USES</abbr> about assuming the registration workload, but in early May 1936 <abbr class="spell">USES</abbr> declined because President Roosevelt was hoping for an upswing in industrial production that autumn, and <abbr class="spell">USES</abbr> wanted its personnel to concentrate on its job placement service. The Census Bureau also declined, citing legal restrictions on the disclosure of its information to other agencies and confidentiality promises to the public that census information would be used for statistical purposes only (McKinley and Frase 1970, 338–339).</p>
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|
<p>In June 1936, the Social Security Board decided that its Bureau of Old-Age Benefits would handle the registration and that the registration process would begin after the November 3, 1936, presidential election (McKinley and Frase 1970, 29). In May, the executive committee of the interdepartmental committee on enumeration had recommended that the Bureau could handle the registration by setting up 202 field offices and hiring 12,000 to 16,000 employees. The Board estimated that these 202 field offices would cover approximately 67 percent of registrants. On July 17, 1936, the Social Security Board's regional directors were told that 600 Bureau field offices would be open by November, that <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> assignment would begin about November 15, and that registration would be completed within 60 days. Also in July, the Board talked to the Post Office Department about assigning post office personnel to assist in cities where the Board would not yet have field offices to handle the registration (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">342–347).</span></p>
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<p>However, difficulties in recruiting personnel and setting up offices would make it impossible for the Bureau to handle the workload. As of September 30, 1936, Bureau of Old-Age Benefits employees numbered only 164 (Corson 1938, 6). Fortunately, the Board was able to enlist the Post Office Department to issue <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, signing an agreement on September 25, 1936. The Post Office Department had 45,000 facilities and over 350,000 employees at that time (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 52).</p>
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<p>The Social Security Board also enlisted the Treasury Department to assure employer cooperation. Final Treasury regulations, published in the Federal Register on November 6, 1936, required employers to file Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-4</span> (employer's application for an <abbr class="spell">EIN</abbr>) with the post office not later than November 21, 1936, and employees to file Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> (employee's application for an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>) not later than December 5 (McKinley and Frase 1970, 15 and 360). However, delays in getting registration started made these deadlines moot.</p>
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|
<p>The Social Security Board's Informational Service, established in January 1936, prepared a publicity campaign at midyear to encourage employers and workers to complete the application forms, but did not plan to distribute the material until after the November 3 election. However, the Board accelerated the publicity release in response to a September effort to discredit the program launched by Alf N. Landon, the Republican candidate for president. Also that year, many employers, in conjunction with Landon and the Republican Party, began stuffing payroll envelopes with leaflets against the Social Security Act and the required deductions from employee wages. The Social Security Board was so alarmed that the Chairman, John G. Winant, resigned in order to campaign in defense of the Social Security Act. In addition, in October 1936 the Board released a film called "We the People and Social Security" along with a <span class="nobr">4-page</span> pamphlet entitled "Security in Your Old Age."<sup><a href="#mn6" id="mt6">6</a></sup> It is estimated that some 4 million people saw the film and nearly 8 million of the pamphlets were distributed by Election Day (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">357–358).</span></p>
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<p>On November 6, the campaign to encourage employers and employees to register began. A series of press releases outlined the procedure for assigning <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and carried sample Forms <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-4</span> and <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>, as well as a Social Security card specimen. The campaign included three releases on old-age benefits in 24 languages distributed to the country's foreign language press. The Associated Press, the United Press, the Hearst chain, and many individual papers ran a series of articles on old-age benefits and registration for weeks at a time. During the November and December initial registration period, there were also 12 nationwide radio broadcasts by well-known individuals and a host of local broadcasts arranged by the 56 skeletal field offices then in place. Over 3 million posters<sup><a href="#mn7" id="mt7">7</a></sup> were distributed, 50 million more pamphlets were dispersed, and three additional newsreel trailers were shown to some 42 million people (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">364–366).</span></p>
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<p>The registration process was largely directed by the local postmasters. The first task for the postmen was to make up lists of employers on their routes. Their effort resulted in a list of 2.4 million employers (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">344–345</span> and 368).</p>
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|
<p>Beginning November 16, 1936, the post offices sent Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-4</span>s to employers based on the lists they had compiled earlier that month. Along with information about the business establishment, employers were asked for the number of workers they employed. The mail carriers collected the completed <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-4</span>s a week or two later. Based on <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-4</span> information, the post offices delivered Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>s to the employers the following week for distribution to employees (McKinley and Frase 1970, 368).</p>
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|
<p>Employees were permitted to return the completed <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> application either to the employer, to any labor organization of which the employee was a member, to the letter carrier, to the post office by hand, or to the post office via mail (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 54). This last possibility caused another round of negotiations between the Social Security Board and the Post Office Department about whether "return penalty privilege" (requiring no postage) applied. Postal regulations stated that this privilege could only be used if an individual was not required by law to submit the information. The Board argued that no postage was required as there was no law requiring employees to obtain an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. At the same time, however, the Board was requesting the Treasury Department to issue regulations mandating employees to obtain account numbers. In the end, the Board got it both ways—the Post Office Department agreed to accept returned <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>s without postage on October 8, 1936, and the Treasury Department issued the regulations making the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> mandatory on November 6, 1936 (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">351–352</span> and 360).</p>
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<p>Even at this early time, the public was concerned about privacy and confidentiality issues. Many employees were anxious to know how the information on the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> would be used. The Social Security Board issued releases at various times assuring the public that the information on the application would be kept confidential, with access limited to government employees for whom job duties under the Social Security Act required it (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 57). In June 1937, the Social Security Board would issue its very first regulation, formalizing its pledge of confidentiality for information collected and maintained.</p>
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|
<p>The work of the Social Security Board to reassure the public was complicated by the actions of some employers, who circulated additional forms along with the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>. These extra forms requested information such as nationality, religion, education, and union affiliation. On February 26, 1937, the Board issued a press release warning employers against distributing unauthorized questionnaires that appeared to be required by the Social Security Board (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 57).</p>
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|
<p>Of the 45,000 post offices then in existence, 1,017 first-class offices were designated as "typing centers" to assign the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, along with 57 "central accounting" post offices to assign <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for the second, third, and fourth class post offices within their area (McKinley and Frase 1970, 368). The Social Security Board supplied these centers with Office Record Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702,</span> in blocks of 1,000, with the account number preprinted. For each registrant, postal employees typed the information from the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> onto the prenumbered <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span> in duplicate. Each <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span> had a detachable portion on which the employee's name was typed and then returned to the employee—the Social Security card. The post office mailed the completed Social Security cards to the employer, unless the employee had taken the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> to the post office in person and waited for the typed card. Each completed card was accompanied by an informational circular briefly explaining the provisions of Title II (old-age benefits) and Title XVIII (the Social Security tax) of the Social Security Act (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 54 and 58).</p>
|
|
<p>The post offices sent the completed <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> and the corresponding <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span> forms in blocks of 500 to the Bureau of Old-Age Benefit's Records Office in Baltimore, where the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> master files were to be kept. The post offices (and later the Bureau's field offices) kept carbon copies of the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span> to use should an individual request a replacement card (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 58).</p>
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|
<p>The publicity campaign and the Post Office Department's efforts resulted in over 22 million completed applications as of December 22, 1936, 28 days after the initial distribution of employee applications (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 62). During the first 4 months of the registration campaign, nearly 26 million <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and more than 2.6 million <abbr class="spell">EIN</abbr>s were assigned (Corson 1938, 3).</p>
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|
<p>In September 1936, when the Post Office Department signed the agreement to handle the initial registration, the Board had planned for the Bureau of Old-Age Benefits to have 554 field offices set up to take over the enumeration workload in January 1937. However, hiring field staff had to await the results of the "examination for administrative officer" (civil service test) given in August 1936. The resulting register was not made available to the Board until December 1936 (McKinley and Frase 1970, 129). So in November 1936 the Board instead assigned headquarters staff to 56 Bureau field offices, covering all but one of the cities where the Post Office Department had set up its "central accounting" offices. These 56 Bureau offices primarily answered questions and directed applicants to the post offices (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">34–35</span> and 369). The Board twice had to ask the Post Office to extend its handling of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> applications, first through March 1937 and then through June 1937, before the Bureau of Old-Age Benefits could take over.</p>
|
|
<p>Effective July 1937, Bureau field offices, still numbering only 175 with 1,702 total employees, took over the enumeration workload from the post offices (Zwintscher 1952, 90; <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1965, 25). By that time, some 35 million <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s had been issued at a cost of $5.7 million (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1990, 1; McKinley and Frase 1970, 372).</p>
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|
<p>And still the job was not finished. In July 1937 alone, Bureau field offices issued some 1.9 million additional <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s (McKinley and Frase 1970, <span class="nobr">368–373).</span> Even with field office employees working evenings and Saturdays and with "managers and assistant managers, anyone who was available, pounding away at typewriters," the Bureau had to set up additional typing centers in its 12 regional offices to help with the workload (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1985, 10; <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1965, 32; <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1952).</p>
|
|
<p>Not all <abbr>U.S.</abbr> workers obtained <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s during the initial registration period. This was because the original Social Security Act had excluded some types of employment from coverage, such as agricultural workers, domestic servants, casual labor, maritime workers, government employees, and the employees of philanthropic, educational, and similar institutions. The self-employed were also excluded from coverage. Seventy years ago, these exempt workers comprised about 40 percent of the working population. These groups were not covered primarily because of the administrative difficulty in collecting taxes and obtaining accurate wage reports (Department of Treasury 1947, 1; DeWitt, Béland, and Berkowitz 2008, 4).</p>
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|
<p>Initially, only employees working in covered employment and aged 64 or younger were eligible to obtain an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. However, almost from the start, state unemployment compensation agencies began using <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s to identify workers, and some employers tended to prefer hiring individuals who already possessed an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> (Social Security Board 1938, 53). So, after a few months the Bureau began issuing <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s to anyone who applied.</p>
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|
<p>For over 20 years, Bureau field offices assigned <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, using blocks of prenumbered Social Security cards furnished to each office. Office staff simply typed the number holder's name on one of the prenumbered cards. For replacement cards, field office staff manually typed the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> and name on a blank card. In 1961, issuance of original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s was centralized in Baltimore, but local offices continued to issue replacement cards. In March 1972, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began assigning <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and issuing cards exclusively from Baltimore via a computer-based system.<sup><a href="#mn8" id="mt8">8</a></sup> It was also in 1972 that all applicants for federal benefits were required to have their own <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>.</p>
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<h2>Maintaining the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> Records</h2>
|
|
<p>Space to handle the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> application forms was found on three floors of the Candler Building, a large warehouse converted from a Coca-Cola bottling factory on the harbor in downtown Baltimore (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1961). Here the Bureau installed a "great battery" of International Business Machines (<abbr class="spell">IBM</abbr>) equipment<sup><a href="#mn9" id="mt9">9</a></sup> and deployed over 2,300 machine workers and checkers by December 9, 1936, to handle the applications as quickly as they came in (McKinley and Frase 1970, 33 and 364). At this time, a hiring "apportionment" was in effect, which meant the Bureau could only recruit a certain proportion of employees from each state. As a result, employees came from all parts of the country. It was thought that the central operation in the Candler building was temporary, and that the work would soon be dispersed to the 12 regions, so recruitment from distant states was logical (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1952). However, actual operations would reveal that decentralization was not really feasible.</p>
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<p>The Baltimore Records Office used a nine-step process to create a permanent master record and to establish an earnings record for each individual.<sup><a href="#mn10" id="mt10">10</a></sup> One hundred applications and office record cards, numbered consecutively, were sent through each operation together with a control unit of nine cards (one for each step). The appropriate control card was removed at the end of a step and sent to a control file to track the status of each block (McKinley and Frase 1970, 375).</p>
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<p>When the Records Office received the Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> and the accompanying <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span> from the local offices, different clerks working independently converted the two sets of information into numerical codes that could be transferred to punch cards.</p>
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<p>The first group of employees keyed information from the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> into a <i>master punch card</i> for each individual. A tabulating machine used this master punch card to set up a numerical register of accounts stored in huge loose-leaf books. These volumes contained the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, name, and date of birth of each number holder. Each page contained 100 <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s in numerical order. From these volumes, employees could learn the name and identifying information of an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>'s owner in a fraction of the time that would be required to locate the master punch card (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, <span class="nobr">120–121).</span> The master punch card was also used in the earnings-posting operation to establish an earnings ledger for each individual.</p>
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|
<p>A second group of employees independently keyed the same information coded from the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span> to create an <i>actuarial punch card</i> (Fay and Wasserman 1938, 25). The actuarial punch card was created for actuarial and statistical purposes and was also used to set up the "visible index." Later known as the "National Employee Index Flexoline File" or just "Flexoline," the visual index consisted of strips of thin bamboo, 3/16 of an inch wide by 9 inches long—one for each <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> issued—set in a steel panel. The strips were inserted into the frame one by one, with some employees filing as many as 300 strips an hour. Each strip began with a <span class="nobr">3-digit</span> entry based on the Russell Soundex System (in which all surnames having the same basic consonants are grouped together), followed by the individual's surname, given name, middle initial, and <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. The strips were mechanically prepared from the actuarial punch card and manually posted on the panel, sorted by the first letter of the surname and within each letter by phonetic code, then in each code group by the first seven letters of the first name, middle initial, year and month of birth, and <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. Up to 1,600 panels were then hung on each rack (Staruch 1978, 29). The primary function of the visible index was to aid in the location of accounts when only the name of the owner and not the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> was known (Wyatt and Wandel 1937, 121). For instance, employees referred to the index when a worker who had lost his or her card and did not know the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> applied for a duplicate (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1964 and Staruch 1978, 29). Reportedly, experienced clerks were able to find any name and its corresponding account number in less than 60 seconds (Fay and Wasserman 1938, 25).</p>
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|
<p>In addition, the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>s were filmed on 16 millimeter, noninflammable film strips. In June 1938, officials bragged "This film is so compact that the entire file of 40 million photographed <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>s is stored in 10 ordinary letter-size file cabinets" (Fay and Wasserman 1938, 25).</p>
|
|
<p>In all, eight separate files were maintained:</p>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>The <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> applications, sorted in numerical order.</li>
|
|
<li>Photographs on 16 millimeter film strips of the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>s, in numerical order.</li>
|
|
<li>The master punch cards, in numerical order.</li>
|
|
<li>The numerical register, in large loose-leaf books.</li>
|
|
<li>Ledger sheets for maintaining earnings records, in numerical order.</li>
|
|
<li>The <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span> Office Records, in alphabetical order.</li>
|
|
<li>The actuarial punch cards, in phonetic code surname order.</li>
|
|
<li>The visible index, in phonetic code surname order (Fay and Wasserman 1938, <span class="nobr">25–26).</span></li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
<p>By 1958, the Flexoline (visible index) contained 160 million strips in 750 steel A-frame stands, and <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> was adding an average of 7 million new strips each year. In August 1958, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began converting the Flexoline index to microfilm and began capturing new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> records on magnetic tape, using a special machine to then transcribe the code directly from magnetic tape into a readable microfilm record (Staruch 1978, <span class="nobr">29–30).</span> By 1964, the 200 million names in the National Employee Index were contained on 2,005 reels of magnetic tape that Bureau employees accessed by means of high-speed microfilm readers (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1964).<sup><a href="#mn11" id="mt11">11</a></sup></p>
|
|
<p>In 1972, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> created an electronic file, the Numerical Index File or Numident, to house the numerically-ordered master file of all assigned <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. In 1973, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began converting its legacy <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> records to the Numident electronic database, completing the conversion in 1979. There is one Numident record for each <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> ever assigned.</p>
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|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> makes changes in Numident <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> data only upon receipt of updated information from the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> holder. Changes in the Numident result in the addition of a new entry or iteration to the Numident record for the individual; information is never overlaid on a previous <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> Numident entry.<sup><a href="#mn12" id="mt12">12</a></sup> Most changes are initiated when an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> holder completes an <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> requesting a replacement card or a change in the name, sex, or date of birth information on the Numident. Additionally, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> employees may take action to change identifying information on the Numident for a person while taking a claim or processing postentitlement events. Each Numident record can contain up to 300 Numident entries (iterations) representing an addition or change to the Numident information for a person. About half of Numident records have multiple entries.</p>
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|
<p>Until recently <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> also maintained a separate <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> master file indexed by cardholder name. The Alpha Index File or Alphident enabled <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> employees to search by name if the number was unknown. In the process of modernizing <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s master files, this file was converted to an <abbr class="spell">IBM</abbr> <abbr class="spell">DB</abbr>2 relational database linked to the Numident file. This database provides the same basic functionality as the Alphident. Like the Flexoline, the <abbr class="spell">DB</abbr>2 uses the Russell Soundex Coding System to group all surnames that have the same basic consonant sounds. When an individual's identifying information is available, an <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> employee can attempt to locate the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> using a key based on the Soundex version of the last name, plus the first 4 characters of the first name, plus the century, year, and month of birth. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has designated this database a sensitive file and access is restricted.</p>
|
|
<h2>Handling <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> Assignment Problems</h2>
|
|
<p>From the beginning, the process of assigning <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s included quality checks. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> employees had to account for every number and explain any missing serial numbers fully. Also, the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>s and the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">OA</abbr>-702</span>s were coded separately by different clerks and were later compared as a quality check (Fay and Wasserman 1938, 24).</p>
|
|
<p>Still, as one might expect, an undertaking as enormous as enumerating 35 million workers in one concentrated effort was bound to encounter some problems. Many individuals received multiple <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. Some people were under the impression that the more <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s they received, the better. Others thought they needed a new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for each new job. Workers sometimes lost their original number and applied for a new one. Also, a great many unemployed and <abbr class="spell">WPA</abbr> employees applied for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s both during the initial registration and again through <abbr class="spell">WPA</abbr> or private employment registration. Sample studies in 1937 or early 1938 indicated that duplicate account numbers had been issued to not more than 3 or 4 percent of the applicants (Corson 1938, 4).</p>
|
|
<p>In 1938, a wallet manufacturer in Lockport, New York, the <abbr class="spell">E.H.</abbr> Ferree Company, decided to promote its product by showing how a Social Security card would fit into the wallet. The company vice president thought it would be clever to use a sample card with his secretary's actual <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. The wallet was sold at Woolworth's<sup><a href="#mn13" id="mt13">13</a></sup> and many other large department stores, and the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> was widely distributed. Many purchasers adopted the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as their own—5,755 people were using it in the peak year 1943, and 12 were still using it as late as 1977. In all, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> received 40,000 incorrect earnings reports under this <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, which had to be reassigned laboriously to proper <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> voided the much-used number and issued a new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to the secretary (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> <abbr>n.d.</abbr> c).</p>
|
|
<p>About a dozen similar cases of individuals adopting a made-up <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> shown on a facsimile card have occurred. In one case, the Social Security Board itself issued a pamphlet with the made-up number <span class="nobr">219-09-9999</span> that was adopted by an individual (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> <abbr>n.d.</abbr> c).</p>
|
|
<p>Also, prior to 1961 <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> field offices issued new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. Only a fraction of these <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> assignments were screened at the central office for a previously assigned <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, and then only manually (Long 1993, 84). Thus, issuing duplicate <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s was possible. Beginning in 1961, the central office in Baltimore issued all new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, but it was not until 1970 that an electronic method of checking for previously issued <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s (called "<abbr class="spell">EVAN</abbr>" for "electronic verification of alleged numbers") was devised (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1990, 4). Today, automated systems with sophisticated matching routines screen for previously issued <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s.</p>
|
|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has since introduced more rigorous verification procedures. On April 15, 1974, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> implemented evidence requirements (age, identity, and citizenship/alien status) for applicants for an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> who are foreign-born, or are <abbr>U.S.</abbr>-born and age 18 or older. Then, on May 15, 1978, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began requiring evidence of age, identity, and citizenship/alien status from all applicants for original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, and evidence of identity for replacement Social Security cards. In addition, all foreign-born applicants for replacement cards were required to submit evidence of citizenship/alien status.</p>
|
|
<p>Also, in 1979 <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> created an electronic file called <abbr>MULTX</abbr> from a set of punch cards identifying multiple <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s that was maintained by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Office of Earnings Operations. As of December 2007, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> had identified and cross-referenced in the <abbr>MULTX</abbr> file over 4.7 million individuals with multiple <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, about 93 percent of whom have only two <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. Generally, those with multiple <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are the "very old" on the Numident; a study conducted in 2002 showed a weighted average age of 82.9 (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2002). The requirement for proof of age and identity for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> applicants beginning in 1974 combined with the implementation of an automated <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> screening system in 1984 have significantly reduced the multiple-<abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> problems.</p>
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|
<p>Under a few rare circumstances, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> may legitimately issue a new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to a person with a prior <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. The conditions are highly restrictive. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> will assign a new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to a victim of harassment, abuse, or life endangerment if the individual provides evidence to substantiate the allegations. In addition, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> may assign a new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to an individual who is a victim of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> misuse, which means that the number has been used with criminal or harmful intent and the individual has been subjected to economic or personal hardship. Third party evidence is necessary for <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> to substantiate an individual's allegation of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> misuse. However, an individual should consider changing his or her <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> only as a last resort because getting a new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> may adversely impact one's ability to interact with federal agencies, state agencies, and employers, as all of the individual's records will be under the former <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>.</p>
|
|
<h2>Applying for an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> Today</h2>
|
|
<p>Just as it was in 1936, today a person must complete an application to obtain an original or replacement <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> or to change the information in <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Numident records. There are a number of ways to initiate the application process.</p>
|
|
<p>The paper form a person completes to apply for an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> or a replacement card or to make changes to <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Numident record is still the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>. The <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> application is available online<sup><a href="#mn14" id="mt14">14</a></sup> or in any <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> field office. The application and required evidence can be taken or mailed to any Social Security office for processing. An in-person interview is required if the applicant is age 12 or older and is applying for an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. The Veterans Affairs Regional Office (<abbr>VARO</abbr>) in Manila also accepts <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> applications for an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> or a replacement card, as do all <abbr>U.S.</abbr> Foreign Service posts and all military posts outside the United States. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> employees key the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> application data and evidence into the <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> computer system, which uses the information to create or update the Numident. The signed <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> application is retained for a short period in the field office, and then is sent to a records center in Pennsylvania for microfilming. Once microfilmed, the original <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> is destroyed.<sup><a href="#mn15" id="mt15">15</a></sup></p>
|
|
<p>In August 1987, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began a three-state pilot of the "Enumeration at Birth" (<abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr>) process in which the parent of a newborn can request an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as part of the state's birth registration process. Additional states began to participate in <abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr> in July 1988. By the end of 1991, 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and New York City had signed agreements (Long 1993, 83). Today, over 90 percent of parents use the <abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr> process offered in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> receives nearly <span class="nobr">three-quarters</span> of original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> applications through the <abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr> process and issues over 4 million <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s via <abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr> each year (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2006). No microfilm <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> exists for a record created through the <abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr> process.</p>
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|
<p>Beginning in 2002, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began another pilot program referred to as Enumeration at Entry (<abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr>) that allows noncitizens admitted for permanent residence to obtain <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and Social Security cards based on data collected as part of the immigration process. This pilot was expanded worldwide in early 2003. <abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr> is a joint effort involving the Department of State (<abbr class="spell">DoS</abbr>), <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr>, and <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>. Under <abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr>, a person aged 18 or older can apply for both an immigrant visa and an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> at a <abbr class="spell">DoS</abbr> office in his or her home country. If the visa is granted, then <abbr class="spell">DoS</abbr> transmits the identifying data from the person's visa/<abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> application to <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr>. If and when the person is physically admitted to the United States, <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr> updates certain data, if necessary, and sends it to <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> for the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to be assigned and the card to be issued. All noncitizens enumerated through <abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr> receive an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> in the special area number series 729 through 733. As of January 20, 2009, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> had issued 429,959 original and 114,714 replacement <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s through the <abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr> process. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> is currently working with <abbr class="spell">DoS</abbr> and <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr> on expanding the <abbr class="spell">EaE</abbr> process to additional noncitizens.</p>
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|
<p>Also in 2002, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began to open offices dedicated entirely to handling Social Security number business. The first Social Security Card Center (<abbr class="spell">SSCC</abbr>) opened in Brooklyn, <abbr title="New York">NY</abbr>, in November 2002. Six more <abbr class="spell">SSCC</abbr>s have since opened: Las Vegas, <abbr title="Nevada">NV</abbr>, in April 2005; Jamaica, <abbr title="New York">NY</abbr>, in July 2006; Downtown and North Phoenix, <abbr title="Arizona">AZ</abbr>, in October 2007; Orlando, <abbr title="Florida">FL</abbr>, in March 2008; and Sacramento, <abbr title="California">CA</abbr>, in November 2008. Generally, any individuals who live in the service area of a Card Center and need an original or replacement card must visit the Card Center rather than their local field office.</p>
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|
<p>The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (<abbr class="spell">IRTPA</abbr>) of 2004 (Public Law (<abbr>P.L.</abbr>) 108-458) placed limits on the number of replacement Social Security cards an individual can receive. Beginning with cards issued on or after December 17, 2005, individuals may only receive three Social Security cards per year and 10 in a lifetime, with certain exceptions, such as correcting errors or name changes.</p>
|
|
<p>The information currently requested on the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> is:</p>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>Name to be shown on the card</li>
|
|
<li>Full name at birth, if different</li>
|
|
<li>Other names used</li>
|
|
<li>Mailing address</li>
|
|
<li>Citizenship or alien status</li>
|
|
<li>Sex</li>
|
|
<li>Race/ethnic description (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> does not receive this information under <abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr>)</li>
|
|
<li>Date of birth</li>
|
|
<li>Place of birth</li>
|
|
<li>Mother's name at birth</li>
|
|
<li>Mother's <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> collects this information for the Internal Revenue Service (<abbr class="spell">IRS</abbr>) on an original application for a child under age 18. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> does not retain these data.)</li>
|
|
<li>Fathers' name</li>
|
|
<li>Father's <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> collects this information for <abbr class="spell">IRS</abbr> on an original application for a child under age 18. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> does not retain these data.)</li>
|
|
<li>Whether applicant ever filed for an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> before</li>
|
|
<li>Prior <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s assigned</li>
|
|
<li>Name on most recent Social Security card</li>
|
|
<li>Different date of birth if used on an earlier <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> application.</li>
|
|
<li>Date application completed</li>
|
|
<li>Phone number</li>
|
|
<li>Signature</li>
|
|
<li>Applicant's relationship to the number holder</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
<h2>Evidentiary Requirements</h2>
|
|
<p>At the inception of the program, all <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s were assigned and cards issued based solely on information provided by the applicant. However, in the 1970s, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began requiring proof of age, identity, and citizenship.</p>
|
|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has instituted numerous evidentiary requirements to further safeguard and preserve the integrity of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> and to ensure assignment of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and issuance of cards only to eligible individuals. Exhibit 1 shows the effective dates of changes in policy on evidentiary requirements.</p>
|
|
<div class="table" id="exhibit1">
|
|
<table class="textTable">
|
|
<caption><span class="tableNumber">Exhibit 1. </span>Changes in Social Security card evidence requirements, <span class="nobr">1936–2008</span></caption>
|
|
<colgroup span="1" style="width:10em"></colgroup>
|
|
<colgroup span="1" style="width:50em"></colgroup>
|
|
<thead>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stubHeading" scope="col">Date </th>
|
|
<th class="align-left" scope="col">Evidence requirements </th>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</thead>
|
|
<tbody>
|
|
<tr class="topPad1">
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">November 1936</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are assigned based on the applicant's allegations. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">November 1971</th>
|
|
<td>Evidence of identity required of applicants aged 55 or older for original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">October 1972</th>
|
|
<td>Evidence required establishing age, true identity, and citizenship or alien status of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> applicants. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">April 1974</th>
|
|
<td>Evidence required establishing age, identity, and citizenship or alien status of <abbr>U.S.</abbr>-born applicants aged 18 or older for original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and all foreign-born applicants for original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">May 1978</th>
|
|
<td>All applicants are required to provide evidence of:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>Age, identity, and <abbr>U.S.</abbr> citizenship or lawful alien status for original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s; and</li>
|
|
<li>Identity for replacement cards.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
In-person interviews are required for individuals aged 18 or older applying for original or new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. <br> An individual signing the <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> on behalf of another (for example, a parent for his or her child) must establish his or her own identity. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">May 1987–May 1988</th>
|
|
<td>Aliens living in the United States since before 1982 are offered lawful temporary resident status. Because many aliens were unable to submit the proper identity documents, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> accepted Immigration and Naturalization Service (<abbr class="spell">INS</abbr>) documents as proof of identity.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">January 1996</th>
|
|
<td>A "valid nonwork reason" for an alien to have an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> is defined as a federal, state, or local statute or regulation requiring an individual to have an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> in order to obtain a benefit or service. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">June 2002</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> begins verifying birth records for all <abbr>U.S.</abbr>-born individuals aged 1 or older when requesting an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> or when changing the date of birth on the Numident record. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">September 2002</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> begins verifying all immigration documents for all aliens requesting original or new <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, or replacement cards. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">October 2003</th>
|
|
<td>In-person interviews are required of all applicants aged 12 or older applying for original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s.<br> Evidence of identity is required of all applicants regardless of age. <br> A valid nonwork reason is defined as a federal statute requiring an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to receive a benefit or a state/local statute requiring an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to receive a public assistance benefit. (<abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are no longer assigned for the sole purpose of obtaining a driver's license.) </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">October 2004</th>
|
|
<td>Foreign students who do not have an employment authorization document from the <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr> and are not authorized for curricular practical training (<abbr class="spell">CPT</abbr>) as shown on the student's Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (<abbr class="spell">SEVIS</abbr>) Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status, will no longer be presumed to have authority to work without additional evidence. Before <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> will assign an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> that is valid for work in such cases, the F-1 student must provide evidence that he or she has been authorized by the school to work and has secured employment. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">December 2005</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">IRTPA</abbr> of 2004 changes evidence requirements for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> applications and sets limits on the number of replacement cards an individual may receive:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> verifies birth records for all <abbr>U.S.</abbr>-born individuals requesting an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> (except for those who obtain an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> through the <abbr class="spell">EAB</abbr> process). Additionally, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> verifies birth records for <abbr>U.S.</abbr>-born applicants (nonclaimants) who want to change the date of birth on the Numident.</li>
|
|
<li>Applicants for replacement cards beyond the <span class="nobr">3-card</span> yearly or <span class="nobr">10-card</span> lifetime limits need to provide evidence to establish that a valid exception to the limits applies.</li>
|
|
<li>Acceptable evidence of identity is revised; there are new guidelines for evaluating these documents and their acceptability for <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> purposes. In addition, the evidence of identity must show the applicant's legal name. In name change situations, the applicant must submit the document that shows the name change event.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</td>
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|
</tr>
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|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0 nobr" scope="row">February 2008</th>
|
|
<td>Domestic birth records are no longer verified with the custodian of the record unless the document appears to have been modified or is questionable. (Change is based on study results). For foreign-born individuals requesting a change to the Numident date of birth, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> continues to verify with <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr> any immigration document presented as evidence.</td>
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|
</tr>
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|
</tbody>
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|
<tfoot>
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|
<tr>
|
|
<td class="onlyNote" colspan="2">SOURCE: <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> <abbr>n.d.</abbr> b, section <abbr class="spell">RM</abbr> 00203.001.</td>
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|
</tr>
|
|
</tfoot>
|
|
</table>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<h2>Expanding Uses of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr></h2>
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|
<p>The original purpose of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> was to enable the Social Security Board to maintain accurate records of the earnings of individuals who worked in jobs covered under the Social Security program. The card was never intended to serve as a personal identification document—that is, it does not establish that the person presenting the card is actually the person whose name and <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> appear on the card. Although <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has made the card counterfeit-resistant, the card does not contain information that would allow it to be used as proof of identity. However, the simplicity and efficiency of using a unique number that most people already possess has encouraged widespread use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> by both government agencies and private enterprises, especially as they have adapted their recordkeeping and business systems to automated data processing. Use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as a convenient means of identifying people in large systems of records has increased over the years and its expanded use appears to be an enduring trend. Generally, there are no restrictions in federal law precluding the use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> by the private sector, so businesses may ask individuals for an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> whenever they wish (Streckewald 2006).</p>
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|
<p>The expansion of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> use began in 1943 with Executive Order (<abbr class="spell">EO</abbr>) 9397 requiring federal agencies to use the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for the purpose of identifying individuals in any new record systems. Although there was considerable delay in other agencies adopting its use, the coming of the computer age in the 1960s led government agencies and private industry alike to find many uses for the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>.</p>
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|
<p>In 1971, an <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> task force studied issues raised by nonprogram use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> and proposed that <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> take a "cautious and conservative" position and do nothing to promote its use as an identifier. In 1973, a report of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now Health and Human Services) concluded that the adoption of a national identifier was not desirable, and that the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> was not suitable for such a purpose (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1997). Nevertheless, Congressional legislation and federal agency regulations require the collection of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for myriad purposes, as detailed in Exhibit 2.</p>
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|
<div class="table" id="exhibit2">
|
|
<table class="textTable">
|
|
<caption><span class="tableNumber">Exhibit 2. </span>Legislated and regulatory requirements for using Social Security numbers (<abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s), <span class="nobr">1943–2008</span></caption>
|
|
<colgroup span="1" style="width:5em"></colgroup>
|
|
<colgroup span="1" style="width:55em"></colgroup>
|
|
<thead>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stubHeading" scope="col">Date </th>
|
|
<th class="align-left" scope="col">Requirements </th>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</thead>
|
|
<tbody>
|
|
<tr class="topPad1">
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1943</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">EO</abbr> 9397 requires all federal agencies to use <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s whenever the head of the agency finds it advisable to establish a new system of permanent account numbers for individuals.</td>
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|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1957</th>
|
|
<td>Military personnel are covered under Social Security and are enumerated in mass. </td>
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|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1961</th>
|
|
<td>The Civil Service Commission adopts the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to identify federal employees. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1962</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">IRS</abbr> begins using the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for federal tax reporting.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1964</th>
|
|
<td>The Department of Treasury requires Series H savings bond buyers to provide <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s.</td>
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|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1965</th>
|
|
<td>Medicare enrollment requires enumerating those aged 65 or older.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1966</th>
|
|
<td>The Veterans Administration begins to use <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s to keep hospital admissions and patient records, and <abbr>U.S.</abbr> Indian programs begin using <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s.</td>
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|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1969</th>
|
|
<td>The Department of Defense starts using the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as a military identification number.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1970</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and securities dealers to obtain the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s of all customers.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1972</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation authorizes <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> to assign <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s to all legally admitted noncitizens at entry and to anyone receiving or applying for a federal benefit. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1973</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are used for the Supplemental Security Income program. Also, the Department of Treasury requires buyers of Series E savings bonds to provide an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1975</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires an individual to have an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as a condition of eligibility for federal benefits.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1976</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation authorizes states to require an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for taxes, eligibility for state programs, driver's licenses, and motor vehicle registrations. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1977</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires disclosure of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for members of Food Stamp households.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1981</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires disclosure of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s of all adult members of a household that includes children applying for the school lunch program.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1982</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires applicants for federal loan programs to furnish <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1983</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for all interest-bearing accounts.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1984</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation authorizes states to require <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for beneficiaries of certain state-administered programs, requires persons engaged in a trade or business to file a report including an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to the <abbr class="spell">IRS</abbr> for cash transactions over $10,000, and requires an alimony payer to furnish the <abbr class="spell">IRS</abbr> with the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> of the ex-spouse receiving the payments.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1986</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for all dependents older than age 5 reported on a tax return, for commercial motor vehicle operator's licenses, and for student loan applicants.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1988</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for eligibility under Housing and Urban Development programs, for the parents of newborn children when a state issues a birth certificate, for dependents aged 2 or older of tax filers, for blood donors, and for all Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) beneficiaries.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1989</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires that the National Student Loan Data system include <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s of borrowers and that the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s of the parents of school lunch program applicants be provided.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1990</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation requires an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, for each dependent aged 1 or older claimed by a tax filer, and for officers of stores that redeem Food Stamps.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1994</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation authorizes <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> use for jury selection and federal workers' compensation.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1996</th>
|
|
<td>Welfare reform legislation requires the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> to be recorded on numerous official documents, including professional licenses, driver's licenses, death certificates, birth records, divorce decrees, marriage licenses, support orders, and paternity determinations. (In 1999, Congress would repeal the requirement for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s to be displayed on some of these documents, such as driver's licenses and birth records). </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">1997</th>
|
|
<td>Legislation authorizes the Attorney General to require noncitizens to provide an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for any records maintained by the Attorney General or the <abbr class="spell">INS</abbr>. It also mandates that an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> appear on driver's licenses (repealed in 1999). Additional legislation requires an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> applicant under age 18 to provide his or her parents' names and <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">2003</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> no longer issues <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s solely for the purpose of obtaining a driver's license.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">2004</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> is required to verify the last four digits of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, name, and date of birth for voter registration in federal elections only when an individual cannot provide a driver's license, except where a waiver applies.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th class="stub0" scope="row">2008</th>
|
|
<td><abbr class="spell">EO</abbr> 13478 rescinds the 1943 <abbr class="spell">EO</abbr> 9397 requiring federal agencies to use the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> when establishing a system of permanent account numbers and makes such use optional. </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</tbody>
|
|
<tfoot>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td class="onlyNote" colspan="2">SOURCE: <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> <abbr>n.d.</abbr> d.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</tfoot>
|
|
</table>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<p>With the many purposes legally requiring an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, the need for a <abbr>U.S.</abbr> resident to possess one has become nearly universal. The universality of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> ownership has in turn led to the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>'s adoption by private industry as a unique identifier.</p>
|
|
<p>Unfortunately, this universality has led to abuse of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. Most notoriously, the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> is a key piece of information used to commit identity theft. According to the Federal Trade Commission (<abbr class="spell">FTC</abbr>), "Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes." The <abbr class="spell">FTC</abbr> estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year (<abbr class="spell">FTC</abbr> <abbr>n.d.</abbr>). Identity theft has reached such proportions that President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13402 on May 10, 2006, establishing the President's Identity Theft Task Force. The task force reported:</p>
|
|
<blockquote>The simplicity and efficiency of using a seemingly unique number that most people already possessed encouraged widespread use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as an identifier by both government agencies and private enterprises, especially as they adapted their record-keeping and business systems to automated data processing. The use of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s is now common in our society.</blockquote>
|
|
<blockquote>Employers must collect <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for tax reporting purposes. Doctors or hospitals may need them to facilitate Medicare reimbursement. <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s also are used in internal systems to sort and track information about individuals, and in some cases are displayed on identification cards. In 2004, an estimated 42 million Medicare cards displayed the entire <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, as did approximately 8 million Department of Defense insurance cards. In addition, although the Veterans Health Administration (<abbr class="spell">VHA</abbr>) discontinued the issuance of Veterans Identification Cards that display <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s in March 2004, and has issued new cards that do not display <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, the <abbr class="spell">VHA</abbr> estimates that between 3 million and 4 million previously issued cards containing <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s remain in circulation with veterans receiving <abbr class="spell">VA</abbr> health care services. Some universities still use the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as the students' identification number for a range of purposes, from administering loans to tracking grades, and may place it on students' identification cards, although usage for these purposes is declining.</blockquote>
|
|
<blockquote><abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s also are widely available in public records held by federal agencies, states, local jurisdictions, and courts. As of 2004, 41 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 75 percent of <abbr>U.S.</abbr> counties, displayed <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s in public records. Although the number and type of records in which <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are displayed vary greatly across states and counties, <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are most often found in court and property records (President's Identity Theft Task Force 2007, <span class="nobr">23–24).</span></blockquote>
|
|
<h2>Verifying <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s</h2>
|
|
<p>Because individuals sometimes use <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s that do not belong to them, either through error or deliberately, it is important to ensure that an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> matches <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> records before accepting it.</p>
|
|
<p>Today, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> electronically verifies that an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> and the name associated with it match those in <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s records before issuing a replacement Social Security card, posting a wage item to the Master Earnings File, or establishing a claims record. Also, when disclosure laws allow, many federal and state agencies use an <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> verification system to verify <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s. Registered private employers can also verify a worker's <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. In addition, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> receives requests for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> verification from third parties who have obtained the consent of the individuals involved.</p>
|
|
<p>However, <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s were in use for many years before electronic verification was in place. During the 1950s, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> initiated a manual screening routine of the microfilm file to search for a previously assigned number.</p>
|
|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s first electronic system was not developed until 1970, when electronic verification of alleged numbers (<abbr>EVAN</abbr>) was introduced for internal use at field offices with Advanced Records System (<abbr class="spell">ARS</abbr>) submission. In 1975, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Bureau of Data Processing implemented the Full Registration and Identification System (<abbr class="spell">FRIS</abbr>) which expanded electronic screening capabilities and added electronic validation of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 1990, 5). In 1983, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> implemented the Enumeration Verification System (<abbr class="spell">EVS</abbr>) for verifying batches of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s; <abbr class="spell">EVS</abbr> employed a series of verification routines that are still in use. In 1984, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> created the Automated Enumeration Screening Process (<abbr class="spell">AESP</abbr>) to run every application for an original or replacement card through the Alphident (since converted to a database linked to the Numident file) to determine if the data on the incoming record match one or more existing records using a complex scoring system. If a potential match is indicated between an existing record and an application for an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, the field office is alerted to resolve the matter. If no previously established record is found, an original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> is issued to the applicant (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2003, <span class="nobr">8–12).</span></p>
|
|
<p>In more recent years, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has developed a number of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> verification systems for internal and external use. Having multiple systems allows <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> to customize the input and output. Those for external entities generally indicate whether the data submitted match <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> records, and whether the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> holder has died, but will not disclose additional information to the requestor. A few examples are described below.</p>
|
|
<p>The Consent Based <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> Verification Service (<abbr class="spell">CBSV</abbr>) is available to enrolled private companies and federal, state, and local agencies to verify that the submitted name and <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> match <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> records. The recent consent of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> holder to release the information is required.<sup><a href="#mn16" id="mt16">16</a></sup></p>
|
|
<p>When a person lacking a valid driver's license registers to vote, the individual can provide his or her name, date of birth, and the last four digits of his or her <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> instead. The state then submits this information to <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Help America Vote Verification (<abbr>HAVV</abbr>) system to verify that the submitted data match <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> records.</p>
|
|
<p>State Departments of Motor Vehicles use the Social Security OnLine Verification (<abbr>SSOLV</abbr>) system to verify names and <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for the issuance of new and renewal driver's licenses and identity cards.</p>
|
|
<p>The <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> Verification Service (<abbr class="spell">SSNVS</abbr>) is a free Internet-based system that can be used by registered employers for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> verification prior to wage reporting. Real-time service is provided for 10 requests or less, and overnight processing is provided for up to 250,000 <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s.<sup><a href="#mn17" id="mt17">17</a></sup></p>
|
|
<p>The E-Verify program (previously known as the Basic Pilot/Employment Eligibility Verification System), administered by <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr> with <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s support, can be used by employers to verify the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> and confirm employment authorization under immigration law for newly hired employees. The employer enters the name, <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>, date of birth, and alleged citizenship/alien status from <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr> Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification into the E-Verify system. E-Verify automatically matches this information against <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Numident, as well as <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr> immigration records if the hire is a noncitizen. The employer receives an electronic response indicating either that employment is authorized or that the data do not match the information in <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s or <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr>' records. Use of the verification program is voluntary in most parts of the United States, but 13 states require certain employers to use it for new hires. The <abbr>U.S.</abbr> Citizenship and Immigration Services website indicates that 109,211 employers, representing close to 434,000 worksites, were registered to use E-Verify as of February 2009.</p>
|
|
<p>A proposed amendment to the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act to extend authorization for the E-Verify program for 5 years was tabled; the bill instead extended authorization through September 30, 2009.</p>
|
|
<h2>Enhancing the Social Security Card</h2>
|
|
<p>In addition to developing verification systems to allow authorized users to determine if <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> information matches <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> data, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has also taken steps to help guard against fraudulent Social Security cards. Because an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> is needed for work and has been adopted for many other uses, a market for counterfeit Social Security cards has developed.</p>
|
|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has taken and continues to take steps to strengthen the integrity of the Social Security card and guard against its misuse. One of the first steps was to distinguish whether cards were valid for work purposes. In 1974, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began assigning <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s for nonwork purposes when such use of an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> was authorized by law. Initially, the nonwork cards looked the same as cards issued to citizens and aliens authorized to work. In May 1982, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began annotating cards issued for nonwork purposes with the legend "not valid for employment."</p>
|
|
<p>The 1981 Omnibus Reconciliation Act (<abbr>P.L.</abbr> 97-123) added alteration and forgery of a Social Security card to the list of prohibited acts and also increased the penalties for such acts. In 1983, section 205(c)(2)(G) of the Social Security Act was amended to require that the "social security card shall be made of bank-note paper and (to the maximum extent practicable) shall be a card which cannot be counterfeited" (<abbr>P.L.</abbr> 98-21). <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> worked with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (<abbr class="spell">FBI</abbr>) to design a card that met these requirements. Changes were made to the card stock to make any attempt to erase or remove data easily detectable, and a form of printing with a raised effect that is difficult to replicate was used. Other features not obvious to the naked eye were also added.</p>
|
|
<p>In 1988, to prevent photocopy counterfeits, a security feature that displays as "void" when photocopied was added. Also in 1988, legislation increased the monetary penalties for <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> violations. In September 1992, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began to annotate Social Security cards for aliens with temporary work authorization "valid for work only with <abbr class="spell">INS</abbr> [now <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr>] authorization."</p>
|
|
<p>Immigration and welfare reform legislation enacted in August 1996 (<abbr>P.L.</abbr> 104-208 and <abbr>P.L.</abbr> 104-193, respectively) directed <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> to develop a prototype of a counterfeit-resistant Social Security card and report to Congress on the feasibility of using such cards. The prototype was to be made of a durable, tamper-resistant material such as plastic or polyester; was to employ technologies that provide security features, such as magnetic stripes, holograms, and integrated circuits; and was to provide individuals with reliable proof of citizenship or legal resident alien status.</p>
|
|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> interpreted this provision as calling for consideration of techniques that could link the card to the assigned number holder, such as including identifying information about the card holder on the card itself, or adding the number holder's picture, fingerprint, biometric identifier, or some combination of such features in or on the card (Donnelly 1999).</p>
|
|
<p>In September 1997, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> published its findings in the <i>Report to Congress on Options for Enhancing the Social Security Card.</i> The seven options that <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> developed included:</p>
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|
<ul>
|
|
<li>Plastic card</li>
|
|
<li>Card with the number holder's picture</li>
|
|
<li>Card with a secure barcode data storage stripe</li>
|
|
<li>Card with an optical memory storage stripe</li>
|
|
<li>Card with magnetic stripe</li>
|
|
<li>Card with magnetic stripe and the number holder's picture</li>
|
|
<li>Microprocessor card with a magnetic stripe and a picture</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> estimated that the cost at that time of issuing an enhanced card to almost 300 million card holders would range, depending on the type of card, from $5.1 billion to $10.5 billion. The estimates included the costs of verifying the identity of the applicant and establishing a system to collect a user fee (Donnelly 1999). <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> was not required to adopt any of the options. To some extent, passage of the <abbr>REAL</abbr> <abbr class="spell">ID</abbr> Act in 2005, which imposes standards on states for the issuance of driver's licenses and identification cards, diminished the need for <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> to develop a card for identification (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2008).</p>
|
|
<p>In 2004, the <abbr class="spell">IRTPA</abbr> legislation required <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>, in consultation with <abbr class="spell">DHS</abbr>, to form an interagency task force to establish requirements for further improving the security of Social Security cards and numbers and to provide for implementation of those requirements. The task force was formed in January 2006 and included several other agencies, such as the <abbr class="spell">FBI</abbr>, the <abbr class="spell">DoS</abbr>, and the Government Printing Office. The task force issued its recommendations in May 2006. As a result, additional security features were added to the card in 2007. These include:</p>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>Latent images that can be seen when the card is viewed at an angle.</li>
|
|
<li>Color shifting ink (similar to that used on $20 bills) that changes colors when the card is viewed from different angles.</li>
|
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<li>A new production method that blends different color inks on the background of the card (colors flow from blue to aqua).</li>
|
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<li>Adding issuance date to the front of the card.</li>
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</ul>
|
|
<p>Other features added to the card are not apparent to the naked eye and for security reasons are not disclosed to the public.</p>
|
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<p>Another change made to the Social Security card in 2007 was to put the first name and last name of the card holder on separate lines. This change was recommended by employer groups to help them distinguish the correct last name of an employee.</p>
|
|
<p>The expertise of counterfeiters and the widespread availability of state-of-the-art technology make it increasingly difficult to develop and maintain a document that cannot be counterfeited. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> continues to evaluate new technology as it becomes available to determine if additional features should be included to make it more difficult to alter or counterfeit the card. In addition to the physical changes made to the Social Security card, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> has taken many other steps to strengthen the integrity of the enumeration process by requiring evidence of age, citizenship, and identity, and by verifying this information, as noted in the section on evidentiary requirements.</p>
|
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<h2>Conclusion</h2>
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|
<p>The use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> has expanded substantially since its inception in 1936. Created merely to keep track of the earnings history of <abbr>U.S.</abbr> workers for Social Security entitlement and benefit computation purposes, it has become a number assigned at birth and used by many government agencies to identify individuals and by private industry to track an individual's financial history.</p>
|
|
<p>That trend has begun to shift. As early as December 2004, <abbr class="spell">IRTPA</abbr> legislation prohibited states from displaying the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> on driver's licenses or motor vehicle registrations. In 2007, the President's Identity Theft Task Force (2007, 3) included among its <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> recommendations that "federal agencies should reduce the unnecessary use of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s, the most valuable commodity for an identity thief."</p>
|
|
<p>On November 18, 2008, President George W. Bush issued <abbr class="spell">EO</abbr> 13478 rescinding the 1943 <abbr class="spell">EO</abbr> requiring all federal agencies to use the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as an identifier. Then in December, the <abbr class="spell">FTC</abbr> (2008) issued a plea to companies, schools, and other private entities to find better ways to authenticate identities than using the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>. State and local entities have begun to delete <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s on electronic versions of public records. Congress has also considered legislation that would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to use an alternative to the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as the Medicare claim number. Even <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>, which created the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for its program use, has ceased to print the full <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> on some of its correspondence with beneficiaries (Lockhart 2002). The agency now advises individuals to keep their Social Security card in a safe place and not to carry it with them (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2007a).</p>
|
|
<p>Federal survey-takers are also finding that as respondents have become more aware of the risk of identity theft, they are less willing to supply <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s that are useful in linking the agency's survey data with administrative records from other agencies. For the Census Bureau's Survey of Income and Program Participation, the share of respondents who did not provide their <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> increased from 12 percent in 1996 to 35 percent in 2004. Likewise, the share of respondents who did not provide an <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> for the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey increased from 10 percent in 1994 to almost 23 percent in 2003 (Bates 2004, 4). The National Center for Health Statistics reports a similar problem.</p>
|
|
<p>Still, it is highly unlikely that use of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> as a unique identifier will cease entirely. In order to share data among government agencies or between commercial firms, a unique identifier to match records is critically important, and the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> is the one unique tag that follows an individual throughout life. People may change their names and addresses throughout their lives, but their <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s generally will remain the same. Of course, the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> will also still be used for its original purpose—to track earnings in <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> records. The <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> is here to stay for the foreseeable future.</p>
|
|
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> will continue to assess its policies and procedures to further strengthen the integrity of the enumeration process to prevent <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> fraud and misuse, as well as to protect the important personal information with which it is entrusted. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> is a member of the Identity Theft Task Force and will continue to work with other members to protect, to the maximum extent possible, the integrity of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>.</p>
|
|
<div id="notes">
|
|
<h2>Notes</h2>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt1" id="mn1">1</a> In addition, effective January 1, 1937, workers attaining age 65 could apply for a lump-sum payment (equal to 3.5 percent of wages earned after December 31, 1936) in lieu of monthly benefit payments. Payment of monthly benefits was initially postponed until January 1942; the 1939 Amendments to the Social Security Act moved the date up to January 1940.</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt2" id="mn2">2</a> Stuart Rick, a Census Bureau representative on this committee, foresaw that the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> would eventually become part of three registration episodes—birth, employment, and death—and looked "toward the ultimate acceptance of universal registration" (McKinley and Frase 1970, 322).</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt3" id="mn3">3</a> Assignment of area numbers by state is available at <a href="/employer/randomization.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/stateweb.htm</a>.</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt4" id="mn4">4</a> <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> makes a list of which groups of <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s have been assigned available at <a href="/employer/ssnvhighgroup.htm">www.socialsecurity.gov/employer<wbr>
|
|
/ssnvhighgroup.htm</a>.</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt5" id="mn5">5</a> An image of the original design of the Social Security card is available at <a href="/history/ssn/designssn.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssn<wbr>
|
|
/designssn.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt6" id="mn6">6</a> This pamphlet is available at <a href="/history/ssb36.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssb36.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt7" id="mn7">7</a> Images of the posters are available at <a href="/history/pubaffairs.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/pubaffairs.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt8" id="mn8">8</a> For the number of original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s issued each year, see <a href="/history/ssn/ssnvolume.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssn<wbr>
|
|
/ssnvolume.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p> <a href="#mt9" id="mn9">9</a> Some early <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> officials credit <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> with providing the specifications for the collating machine that was responsible for <abbr class="spell">IBM</abbr>'s takeoff in the business world. See <i>Interview with Jack Futterman</i> at <a href="/history/jackforal.html ">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/jackforal.html </a>and <i>The Bureau—a profile</i> at <a href="/history/oasis/oasisnews3.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/oasis<wbr>
|
|
/oasisnews3.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt10" id="mn10">10</a> For a more detailed explanation of the early <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> records maintenance process, see the June 1938 <i>Social Security Bulletin</i> at <a href="/history/fay638.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/fay638.html</a> and <i>Your Social Security Record—1955</i> at <a href="/history/ssa/yourss55.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssa/yourss55.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt11" id="mn11">11</a> For pictures of the Flexoline and the subsequent magnetic tape operation, see <a href="/history/ssa/usa1964-3.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssa<wbr>
|
|
/usa1964-3.html</a> and also <a href="/history/candlerops.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/candlerops.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt12" id="mn12">12</a> In certain limited situations, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> may delete an iteration and add a new one to correct errors.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt13" id="mn13">13</a> A major retailer, Woolworth's was the Wal-Mart of its era.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt14" id="mn14">14</a> The Form <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span> Application for a Social Security Number is available at <a href="/forms/ss-5.pdf">www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf</a>.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt15" id="mn15">15</a> However, <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SS</abbr>-5</span>s for applicants aged 18 or older for original <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s are retained for 5 years before being destroyed.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt16" id="mn16">16</a> See <a href="/cbsv/">www.socialsecurity.gov/cbsv/</a> for additional information about <abbr class="spell">CBSV</abbr>.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="#mt17" id="mn17">17</a> See <a href="/employer/ssnvs_handbk.htm">www.socialsecurity.gov/employer<wbr>
|
|
/ssnvs_handbk.htm</a> for additional information about <abbr class="spell">SSNVS</abbr>.</p>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div id="references">
|
|
<h2>References</h2>
|
|
<p>Barron, Erma, and Felix Bamberger. 1982. Meaning of the Social Security number. <i>Social Security Bulletin</i> 45(11): <span class="nobr">29–30.</span></p>
|
|
<p>Bates, Nancy. 2004. Quantitative testing of informed consent questions in an <abbr class="spell">RDD</abbr> survey: Summary report, phase 2: 2004 questionnaire design and evaluation research survey. Unpublished Census Bureau document.</p>
|
|
<p>Corson, John J. 1938. Administering Old-Age Insurance. <i>Social Security Bulletin </i>1(5): <span class="nobr">3–6.</span> Available at <a href="/history/corson538.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/corson538.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Department of Treasury, Division of Tax Research. 1947. The extension of old-age and survivors insurance to agricultural and domestic service workers and to the self-employed. As reported in Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>. <i>Reports Book, <span class="nobr">1935–36</span></i>. Vol 2. Washington, <abbr class="spell">DC</abbr>.</p>
|
|
<p>DeWitt, Larry W., Daniel Béland, and Edward D. Berkowitz. 2008. <i>Social Security: A documentary history</i>. Washington, <abbr class="spell">DC</abbr>: Congressional Quarterly Press.</p>
|
|
<p>Donnelly, Glenna. 1999. Prepared testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims. <i>Counterfeiting and misuse </i>of the Social Security card and state and local documents. (July 22). 106<sup>th</sup> Cong., 1<sup>st</sup> sess. Committee on the Judiciary Serial <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 60. Available at <a href="/legislation/testimony_072299.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/testimony<wbr>
|
|
_072299.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>[<abbr class="spell">FTC</abbr>] Federal Trade Commission. 2008. Security in numbers: <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s and <abbr class="spell">ID</abbr> theft. Available at <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/security-numbers-social-security-numbers-identity-theft-federal-trade-commission-report-providing">www.ftc.gov/os/2008/12<wbr>
|
|
/P075414ssnreport.pdf</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. No date. About identity theft. Available at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers<wbr>
|
|
/about-identity-theft.html.</p>
|
|
<p>Fay, Joseph L., and Max J. Wasserman. 1938. Accounting operations of the Bureau of Old-Age Insurance. <i>Social Security Bulletin</i> 1(6): <span class="nobr">24–28.</span> Available at <a href="/history/fay638.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/fay638.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Lockhart, James B. 2002. Testimony before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security and the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims. <i>Preserving the integrity of Social Security numbers and preventing their misuse by terrorists and identity thieves.</i> (September 19). 107<sup>th</sup> Cong., 2<sup>nd</sup> sess. Committee on Ways and Means Serial <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 107-81, Committee on the Judiciary Serial <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 102. Available at <a href="/legislation/testimony_091902.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation<wbr>
|
|
/testimony_091902.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Long, Wayne S. 1993. Social Security numbers issued: A <span class="nobr">20-year</span> review. <i>Social Security Bulletin</i> 56(1): <span class="nobr">83–86.</span></p>
|
|
<p>McKinley, Charles, and Robert W. Frase. 1970. <i>Launching Social Security: A capture-and-record account, <span class="nobr">1935–1937.</span> </i>Madison, <abbr title="Wisconsin">WI</abbr>: The University of Wisconsin Press.</p>
|
|
<p>President's Identity Theft Task Force. 2007. Combating identity theft: A strategic plan. Available at www.idtheft.gov/reports/StrategicPlan.pdf.</p>
|
|
<p>[<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>] Social Security Administration. 1952. The Bureau—a profile. <abbr>OASIS</abbr> News 12(1). Available at <a href="/history/oasis/oasisnews3.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/oasis<wbr>
|
|
/oasisnews3.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 1961. "Then and now" in the Division of Accounting Operations. <i>The Bulletin</i> 23(45): <span class="nobr">2–14.</span> Available at <a href="/history/candlerops.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/candlerops.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 1964. From account number to benefit—how we operate. <i>Social Security <abbr>U.S.A</abbr>—the program & its administration</i>. Available at <a href="/history/ssa/usa1964-3.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssa/usa1964-3.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 1965. Social Security Act: 30 years of building. <i><abbr>OASIS</abbr></i> 11(8): <span class="nobr">24–29.</span> Available at <a href="/history/oasis/august1965.pdf">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/oasis<wbr>
|
|
/august1965.pdf</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 1985. <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> pioneers recall the early days. <i><abbr>OASIS</abbr>.</i> 31(7): <span class="nobr">12–17.</span> Available at <a href="/history/oasis/julyaugust1985.pdf">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/oasis<wbr>
|
|
/julyaugust1985.pdf</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 1990. <i>The history of the Social Security card.</i> Baltimore, <abbr title="Maryland">MD</abbr>: <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> Historian's Office.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 1997. <i>Report to Congress on options for enhancing the Social Security card. </i>Available at <a href="/history/reports/ssnreport.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/reports<wbr>
|
|
/ssnreport.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 2002. Study results and options for the <abbr>MULTX</abbr> file. Unpublished internal document.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 2003. <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> verification policy, process, and recommendations: A report of the <abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr> verification sub-team to the Enumeration Response Team. Unpublished internal document.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 2006. Follow-up of the enumeration at birth program. Audit report A-08-06-26003. Baltimore, <abbr title="Maryland">MD</abbr>: <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>, Office of the Inspector General. Available at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF<wbr>/audittxt<wbr>/A-08-06-26003.htm.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 2007a. Identity theft and your Social Security number. Publication <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 05-10064. Available at <a href="/pubs/EN-05-10064.pdf">www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 2007b. Protecting the integrity of Social Security Numbers (<abbr class="spell">SSN</abbr>s). <i>Federal Register</i> (72)127: 36540 (July 3). Available at <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2007-07-03/pdf/E7-12831.pdf">edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-12831.pdf</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. 2008. <i>The Social Security Administration's compliance with Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 provision regarding security of Social Security cards and numbers.</i> Audit report A-08-08-18058. Baltimore, <abbr title="Maryland">MD</abbr>: <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>, Office of the Inspector General. Available at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF<wbr>/audittxt<wbr>/A-08-08-18058.htm.</p>
|
|
<p>———. No date a. In-depth research—early issues: Constitutionality of Social Security Act. Available at <a href="/history/court.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/court.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. No date b. <i>Program operations manual system.</i> <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> internal document.</p>
|
|
<p>———. No date c. Social Security numbers: Social Security cards issued by Woolworth. Available at <a href="/history/ssn/misused.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssn/misused.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>———. No date d. Social Security numbers: Social Security number chronology. Available at <a href="/history/ssn/ssnchron.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssn/ssnchron.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Social Security Board, Bureau of Old-Age Insurance, Analysis Division. 1938. Old-age insurance. <i>Social Security Bulletin.</i> 1(5): <span class="nobr">49–54.</span></p>
|
|
<p>Staruch, George. 1978. Filing little wooden sticks. <i><abbr>OASIS</abbr></i>. (March): <span class="nobr">29–30.</span> Available at <a href="/history/oasis/march1978.pdf">www.socialsecurity.gov/history/oasis<wbr>
|
|
/march1978.pdf</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Streckewald, Frederick G. 2006. Testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security. <i>Fourth in a series of subcommittee hearings on Social Security number high risk issues.</i> (March 16). 109<sup>th</sup> Cong., 2d sess. Committee on Ways and Means Serial <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 109-58. Available at <a href="/legislation/testimony_031606a.html">www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation<wbr>
|
|
/testimony_031606a.html</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Wyatt, Birchard E., and William H. Wandel. 1937. <i>The Social Security Act in operation: A practical guide to the federal and federal-state Social Security programs. </i>Washington, <abbr class="spell">DC</abbr>: Graphic Arts Press.</p>
|
|
<p>Zwintscher, Paula E. 1952. <i>A study of the establishment of the field office of the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivor Insurance: A thesis presented to the graduate council of the faculty of the School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs.</i> Washington, <abbr class="spell">DC</abbr>: American University.</p>
|
|
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