Random SS#

Starting in June 2011, the Social Security Administration is adopting a new method,
called “randomization”, which will change the way social security numbers are issued. Randomization will keep the SSA from running out of SSNs in certain states and help protect against identity theft.

The following changes will be implemented by the SSA:

• SSA will no longer issue SSNs by geography;

• SSA will issue SSNs beginning with the number “8”;

• SSA will include all possible SSNs with the number “7” in position 1; and

• The High Group list will be frozen.

These changes will allow the SSA the ability to issue SSNs for the next 30 years without having numbering problems. Some aspects of the SSN assignment will not be changed with randomization. SSA will not issue SSNs beginning with the number “9”, “666” or “000” in positions 1-3, “00” in positions 4-5, “0000” in positions 6-9, or with “123-45-6789”.

The SSA will provide education and outreach to all of the stakeholders that may be affected by randomization.