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When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, you need to provide your Social Security number (SSN). People often understand that these nine-digit numbers are part of their official identity but have questions about what they mean. Depending on when yours was issued, it can have a variety of meanings. Here, the disability attorneys at David W. Kapor & Associates in Cincinnati, OH, explain how these numbers were derived and how that method has changed over the years.

What Do the Social Security Numbers Mean?

attorneyThe first three digits of a Social Security number are referred to as the area number. Before 1972, these numbers corresponded to the state the card was distributed in. That changed when the SSA started allocating numbers according to the zip code of the applicant’s mailing address. Typically, lower numbers were given out in the northeastern states, and they gradually got higher as they moved towards the western states.

The two middle digits of an SSN are known as the group number. This represents the order in which the Social Security Administration (SSA) assigns numbers to new applicants. These are given out beginning with odd numbers between 01 and 09, then move on to even numbers 10 through 98. Once those have all been designated, it starts back at the even numbers 02 to 08 and then proceeds with odd numbers 11 to 99.

The last four digits of your SSN are called the serial number. These follow a strict numerical pattern that indicates when your application was submitted in your particular area and group.

Why Did This Change?

In June 2011, this all changed as the SSA opted to start utilizing a process to randomly assign numbers without using any special technique. Since then, the first three digits have ceased to have any kind of geographical significance, and new numbers have emerged that were never used before. Attorneys suggest that this will eventually improve security. In addition, this change has affected the way banking institutions detect fraudulent SSNs and discover cases of identity theft.

For those applying for disability benefits, it’s helpful to understand how the changes in the SSN affect you. The attorneys at David W. Kapor & Associates are the go-to source for more insight into the way the SSA works, particularly when it comes to giving out disability benefits. Call (513) 721-2820 today to schedule a consultation, or visit their website for an overview of the legal services they offer.

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