Does your Social Security number ever change?

No, your Social Security Number (SSN) is generally permanent and doesn't change, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) can issue a new one in very specific, limited cases, primarily for safety or identity theft, as it's a lifelong identifier for your earnings and benefits. You'd only get a new number if facing severe identity theft, abuse, harassment, or when sequential family numbers cause major issues, requiring official documentation for your case.

Can your Social Security number ever change?

Yes, you can change your Social Security Number (SSN), but only under specific, serious circumstances like being a victim of identity theft, facing harassment/abuse, or for certain family/religious reasons, requiring proof and an in-person visit to the Social Security Administration (SSA) office. It's not for general convenience, but the SSA links your records so your earnings history remains connected to you. 

What determines the first 3 digits of your SSN?

Prior to June 25, 2011, the first three digits (the area number) indicated the geographic region where the person applied for their Social Security card. Numbers were assigned by state or territory. After 2011, the SSA implemented randomization, and these digits no longer have geographical significance.

Does your Social Security number ever expire?

No, a Social Security Number (SSN) does not expire; it is a unique, permanent identifier assigned to you for life, even if you move out of the U.S. or stop working, though your work authorization might expire, meaning you can't work until it's renewed. The SSN itself remains the same and is used for tracking earnings and taxes.
 

Did Social Security numbers change?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) changed the way Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are issued on June 25, 2011. This change is referred to as "randomization." The SSA developed this new method to help protect the integrity of the SSN.

Did You Know You Can Change Your Social Security Number? Here's How!

Can two people have the same SSN?

No, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is designed to assign a unique number to each person, but due to human error, fraud, or very similar application details (especially historically), duplicates can occur, creating major problems with credit, taxes, and benefits that require contacting the SSA to correct. While it shouldn't happen, errors mean some people genuinely share an SSN, necessitating a fix by the SSA to assign one person a new number. 

What are signs someone is using my SSN?

Warning signs

Watch for unusual activity with your tax and Social Security accounts or personal and financial information, like: Tax return rejected. Form W-2 or Form 1099 from employer you didn't work for. Form 1099-G unemployment benefits you didn't get or apply for.

How much Social Security will I get if I make $60,000 a year?

If you consistently earn $60,000 annually over your career, you could receive roughly $2,300 to over $2,600 per month at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), depending on the year you retire and the exact formula used (around $2,311 using 2025 bend points for an AIME of $5,000), but this can vary, with lower amounts if you claim early and higher if you delay, with official estimates from the SSA Social Security Administration (SSA) being most accurate. 

Can a SSN start with 00?

No, a valid Social Security Number (SSN) cannot start with 00 because the first three digits (area number) never use 000, 666, or 900-999, and the group number (middle two digits) also avoids 00 and the serial number (last four) avoids 0000. While SSNs are now randomized and can start with other digits in the 001-899 range, any SSN starting with 00 is likely invalid, potentially fabricated, or a typo, so you should verify it through official channels like the SSA. 

Will Social Security change in 2026?

After several years of above-average cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security, beneficiaries will receive a slight increase in the cost-of-living allowance (COLA) in 2026 based on the current inflation environment. Recipients will get a 2.8% raise, which is higher than the 2.5% increase last year.

Is SSN linked to date of birth?

No, your Social Security number (SSN) doesn't directly encode your exact birth date, but older numbers (issued before 2011) reveal the approximate area and time period you applied, while newer ones (post-2011) are randomized, with no connection to your birth details. The first three digits used to indicate the state/area of issuance (linked to your birth state if applied for early), but this changed as numbers became centrally issued and then randomized. 

Do social security numbers get reused after death?

No, Social Security numbers (SSNs) are not reused or recycled after a person's death; they are retired and marked as inactive in the Social Security Administration (SSA) system, preventing reassignment to anyone else, ensuring they remain available for estate, inheritance, and benefit processing long after the original owner passes, with randomization ensuring enough numbers for future generations. 

Who was the first person to receive Social Security?

The first person to receive recurring monthly Social Security payments was Ida May Fuller, a legal secretary from Ludlow, Vermont, who received her first check for $22.54 on January 31, 1940, after working just three years under the program and paying $24.75 in taxes. While some people received one-time lump-sum payments earlier, Fuller was the first to get ongoing retirement benefits, and she lived to be 100, collecting nearly $23,000 in benefits. 

Can I legally get a new Social Security number?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a list of valid reasons to change an SSN, including identity theft, risk of harassment or endangerment, cultural objections, and administrative issues like sequential or duplicated numbers.

Are they changing Social Security in 2025?

The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025.

What happens to my old SSN if I get a new one?

When issuing a new SSN, the Social Security Administration (SSA) links your old number to your new one so all of your wages earned will still be associated with you. As long as you let lenders know that you've changed your number, credit bureaus will be able to connect your credit history to your new SSN.

Is 999 99 9999 a real SSN?

No valid SSN has 9 identical digits or has the 9 digits running consecutively from 1-9. For example, all of the following SSNs are invalid: 111-11-1111. 999-99-9999.

What is the oldest SSN?

This particular record, (055-09-0001) belonged to John D. Sweeney, Jr., age 23, of New Rochelle, New York. The next day, newspapers around the country announced that Sweeney had been issued the first SSN.

Do Amish have SS numbers?

No, most Old Order Amish do not have Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and are exempt from paying SS/Medicare taxes, as they provide for their own elderly and needy, but they must file IRS Form 4029 for this exemption; if they work for non-Amish employers or need federal benefits, they typically get an SSN, though some individuals and children may still not have one due to religious objection, often filing tax returns by mail for dependents without an SSN. 

How much do you have to make to get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

To get around $3,000/month in Social Security, you generally need a high earning history, around $100,000-$108,000+ annually over your top 35 years, but waiting to claim until age 70 maximizes this amount, potentially reaching it with lower yearly earnings, say under $70k if you wait long enough, as benefits are based on your highest indexed earnings over 35 years. The exact amount depends heavily on your specific earnings history and the age you start collecting benefits. 

Is $1 million enough to retire at 65?

Yes, $1 million can be enough to retire at 65, but it heavily depends on your lifestyle, location, healthcare needs, and spending habits, with factors like Social Security, investment returns (bonds vs. stocks), and inflation playing huge roles, potentially lasting decades in low-cost areas or just a few years in expensive cities like California. 

How much super do I need to retire on $80,000?

The short answer: to retire on $80,000 a year in Australia, you'll need a super balance of roughly between $700,000 and $1.4 million. It's a broad range, and that's because everyone's circumstances are different.

Can someone access your bank account with your SSN?

Scammers can use your SSN and information to open bank accounts or apply for credit cards without your knowledge. These accounts can be used to take out loans or rack up massive debts—all under your name.

What should you not do with your SSN?

There are several things you should do to prevent identity theft:

• Do not routinely carry your SSN.
• Never say your SSN aloud in public.
• Beware of phishing scams (emails, internet links, and phone calls) trying to trick you into revealing personal information.

How is an SSN assigned at birth?

Through EAB, the bureaus of vital statistics electronically send birth registration information to us, and we assign an SSN, issue a card, and automatically update our records with proof of birth. Currently, the national average processing time for EAB cases is 2 weeks.