For Social Security numbers (SSNs) issued before June 25, 2011, the first three digits—the "area number"—indicate the state or territory where the card was applied for, not necessarily where the person was born. For numbers assigned after that date, the digits are randomized, and no geographical information is indicated.
The first three numbers are called the area number. The area number shows the region or state where a person was born, and was first adopted in 1936.
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.
An SSN trace can show multiple names, including maiden names and aliases. Results may also indicate that the candidate has lived at multiple locations. Employers can use this information to cast a wider net when running additional background check screenings, such as state or county criminal record checks.
Since 1972, the Social Security Administration has been issuing SSN's centrally from its headquarters in Baltimore. The area code now indicates the person's State of residence as shown on the SSN application. There are several exceptions to these rules.
The results show when and where the number was issued, along with the names and past addresses connected to it, helping you confirm the information provided by a job applicant. The intended purpose of the SSN trace is to confirm that the SSN is valid and matches the job candidate's name and date of birth.
Footnote: It is true that the application form for an SSN asks for identfying information, such as date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and (optionally) the applicant's race. But none of this identifying information is encoded in the SSN itself--not the person's date of birth, place of birth, or race.
To run an SSN trace, employers can either perform the process on their own or with the help of a background check company, like Checkr. Partnering with a third-party provider is often the most efficient to run a background check with an SSN trace.
Yes, when they get your SSN they can verify your information such as birth date.
An SSN Trace's intended use is to help locate relevant places and names associated with the Social Security Number for criminal search purposes. An SSN Trace is an essential tool for expanding the scope of a background check to include locations where a person has lived and other names they may have used.
No, your Social Security Number (SSN) is generally not printed on your birth certificate; birth certificates list vital birth info (name, date, place, parents), while the SSN is a separate, sensitive federal identifier issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA). While the hospital often sends info to the SSA to get you an SSN at birth, the SSN itself doesn't appear on the official state-issued birth certificate for privacy and space reasons, though some state records might have a different internal "birth number" that gets confused with an SSN.
Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.
Your social security number is attached to one name and one birthday. If you have a common name, say like John Smith, your SSN, birthday, middle name, and other corresponding information such as driver's license number and addresses you've lived together confirm that you are the John Smith in question.
Your Social Security number serves as the primary means to confirm your identity. It's uniquely tied to your name and date of birth. In cases where individuals share common names, additional details like your middle name, driver's license number, and previous addresses help establish your specific identity.
Top tips for finding someone's date of birth
Use civil registrations, parish baptisms, censuses, and even gravestone inscriptions together. Check newspapers. Birth announcements in local papers can confirm dates and parents' names. Look for military or school records, as these often include full birth dates.