The first three-digit field is called the "area number". The central, two-digit field is called the "group number". The final, four-digit field is called the "serial number". The process of assigning numbers has been changed at least twice. Until 1965, only half the group numbers were used. Before 1972, numbers were assigned by field offices; since 1972, they have all been assigned by the central office. The order in which numbers were assigned was changed in the 1972 transition. There may have been other changes, but it's difficult to get information on how things used to be done.
The area numbers are assigned to geographical locations. They were originally assigned the same way that zip codes were later assigned (in particular, area numbers increase from east to west across the continental US as do the ZIP codes). Most area numbers were assigned according to state (or territorial) boundaries, although the series 700-729 was assigned to railroad workers regardless of location (this series of area numbers was discontinued in 1964 and is no longer used for new SSNs). Area numbers assigned prior to 1972 are an indication of the SSA office which originally issued the SSN. Since 1972 the area number in SSNs corresponds to the residence address given by the applicant on the application for the SSN. In many regions the original range of area number assignments was eventually exhausted as population grew. The original area number assignments have been augmented as required. All of the original assignments were less than 585 (except for the 700-729 railroad worker series mentioned above). Area numbers of "000" have never been issued.
| 001-003 NH | 400-407 KY | 530 NV |
| 004-007 ME | 408-415 TN | 531-539 WA |
| 008-009 VT | 416-424 AL | 540-544 OR |
| 010-034 MA | 425-428 MS | 545-573 CA |
| 035-039 RI | 429-432 AR | 574 AK |
| 040-049 CT | 433-439 LA | 575-576 HI |
| 050-134 NY | 440-448 OK | 577-579 DC |
| 135-158 NJ | 449-467 TX | 580 VI Virgin Islands |
| 159-211 PA | 468-477 MN | 581-584 PR Puerto Rico |
| 212-220 MD | 478-485 IA | 585 NM |
| 221-222 DE | 486-500 MO | 586 PI Pacific Islands* |
| 223-231 VA | 501-502 ND | 587-588 MS |
| 232-236 WV | 503-504 SD | 589-595 FL |
| 237-246 NC | 505-508 NE | 596-599 PR Puerto Rico |
| 247-251 SC | 509-515 KS | 600-601 AZ |
| 252-260 GA | 516-517 MT | 602-626 CA |
| 261-267 FL | 518-519 ID | 627-645 TX |
| 268-302 OH | 520 WY | 646-647 UT |
| 303-317 IN | 521-524 CO | 648-649 NM |
| 318-361 IL | 525 NM *Guam, American Samoa, | 362-386 MI |
| 526-527 AZ Philippine Islands, | 387-399 WI | 528-529 UT Northern Mariana Islands |
| 650-699 unassigned, for future use | ||
| 700-728 Railroad workers through 1963, then discontinued | ||
| 729-799 unassigned, for future use | ||
| 800-999 not valid SSNs. | ||
Some sources have claimed that numbers above 900 were used when some state programs were converted to federal control, but current SSA documents claim no numbers above 799 have ever been used.
The group number is not related to geography but rather to the order in which SSNs are issued for a particular area. Before 1965, only half the group numbers were used: odd numbers were used below 10 and even numbers were used above 9. In 1965 the system was changed so assignments continued with the low even numbers and the high odd numbers. So, group numbers for each area number are assigned in the following order: Odd numbers, 01 to 09 Even numbers, 10 to 98 Even numbers, 02 to 08 Odd numbers, 11 to 99 Group codes of "00" aren't assigned.
In each region, all possible area numbers are assigned with each group number before using the next group number. This means the group numbers can be used to find a chronological ordering of SSNs within a region. When new group numbers are assigned to a state, the old numbers are usually used up first. SSA publishes a list every month of the highest group assigned for each SSN Area. For example, if the highest group assigned for area 999 is 72, then we know that the number 999-04-1234 is an invalid number because even Groups under 9 have not yet been assigned.
Serial numbers are assigned in chronological order within each area and group number as the applications are processed. Serial number "0000" is never used. Before 1965, when number assignment was transferred from field offices to the central office, serial numbers may have been assigned in a strange order. (Some sources claim that 2000 and 7000 series numbers were assigned out of order. That no longer seems to be the case.) Currently, the serial numbers are assigned in strictly increasing order with each area and group combination. Invalid SSNs Any SSN conforming to one of the following criteria is an invalid number:
A pamphlet entitled "The Social Security Number" (Pub. No. 05-10633) provides an explanation of the SSN's structure and the method of assigning and validating Social Security numbers. This description of the structure of the Social Security Number is based on messages written by Jerry Crow and Barbara Bennett. The information has been verified by its correspondence to the SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS) Part 01, Chapter 001, subchapter 01, which can be found at Federal Depository Libraries. (SSA Pub. No. 68-0100201.)